30 November 2012
First Minister welcomes Fulbright first for Scotland
Fulbright first for Scotland
Dundee and Strathclyde universities sign agreement to host summer institute
One of the world's most prestigious international exchange programmes will launch its first summer school for American students in Scotland next year.
The University of Dundee and the University of Strathclyde have won a bid to host the first Fulbright Scotland Summer Institute in a unique partnership between the two institutions.
Ten students from universities in the United States will be selected competitively to spend five weeks in Dundee and Glasgow starting in June 2013 for an intensive programme of lectures, seminars and cultural visits on the theme 'Scotland: Culture, Identity and Innovation'.
The Fulbright Programme is the flagship educational and cultural exchange programme of the US Department of State which promotes mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those in more than 155 countries.
The successful bid to the US-UK Fulbright Commission for the three year programme was announced today following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Commission and the universities of Dundee and Strathclyde.
The First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond MSP said: "Scotland has a rich and proud tradition of excellence in education and has long attracted students from around the world. We are extremely proud of this heritage and want to ensure that this remains the case for future generations.
"That is why I am pleased that this prestigious international organisation will host its first Scottish summer school shortly. I believe this will build on our existing work with the Fulbright Commission and further cement the links between American and Scottish universities."
Professor Pete Downes, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Dundee said: "Education and travel transforms lives and is central to our vision at Dundee. We are delighted to bring young Americans to Dundee and to Scotland to experience our international excellence and the richness and variety of our country and culture."
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Strathclyde said: "Strathclyde endorses the Fulbright objectives to promote leadership, learning and empathy between nations through educational exchange. The partnership between Dundee and Strathclyde, that has successfully attracted this programme, demonstrates the value of global outreach central to Scotland's HE reputation. We expect the high-calibre US students visiting under the Fulbright initiative to have an academically stimulating and enjoyable experience that will enhance their careers."
Penny Egan, Executive Director, US-UK Fulbright Commission said: "The Fulbright Commission has been growing its programme in Scotland with the welcome support of the Scottish Government. We are delighted that Dundee and Strathclyde universities are combining forces to host our first summer school in Scotland."
The Fulbright Scotland Summer Institute is being led by staff and scholars at the Centre for Archive and Information Studies at the University of Dundee in collaboration with historians in the School of Humanities at the University of Strathclyde.
Edinburgh-based strategic consultancy Forman & Partners advised both universities on the programme bid and will develop the institute's three year programme of cultural and study visits across Scotland.
Further information on the Fulbright Scotland Summer Institute will be announced in due course.
For further information please contact:
Notes to Editors
- The US-UK Fulbright Commission was created by treaty in September 1948 to realise the vision of US Senator J William Fulbright. Today, the worldwide Fulbright Programme operates in over 155 countries with over 300,000 alumni. Some 15,000 UK nationals have studied in the US and over 12,000 US nationals in the UK.
- Scottish Fulbright alumni include the former leader of the Liberal Democrats Charles Kennedy MP, crime writer Ian Rankin, the Dundee-trained artist Simon Reekie, and Professor Sir Patrick Forrest, whose work led to the introduction of the UK breast screening programme.
Fulbright Fast Facts
- 28 Fulbright alumni have served as head of state or government
- 11 Fulbright alumni have been elected to the US Congress
- 1 Fulbright alumnus has served as Secretary-General of the UN
- 43 Fulbright alumni from 11 countries have received the Nobel prize
- 78 Fulbright alumni have received Pulitzer prize
For media enquiries contact:
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University of Dundee
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E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
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