25 March 2004

University of Dundee welcomes Italian Students

Photo opportunity: 11.00am, Friday 26 March, Seminar Room, Department of Economics, University of Dundee.

The University of Dundee will welcome Professor of Economics, Francesco Daveri, from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Parma, Italy, on Friday 26 March. Professor Daveri and University of Dundee Vice Principal, Professor James Calderhead will sign an accord between the two institutions, signalling the beginning of a long term relationship.

As a result of this partnership, the MSc in International Business, newly set up by the University of Dundee, will become an integral part of the postgraduate provision of the University of Parma. As from the next academic year, up to twenty students from the University of Parma’s Faculty of Economics will join the University of Dundee to take this exciting new degree. As part of this new venture, participating students will be awarded certificates accredited by both Universities.

One of the main objectives of the new Post Graduate School is to develop and strengthen inter disciplinary and cross faculty teaching at the taught post graduate level. This follows the success of new undergraduate degrees offering students the opportunity to acquire specialised cross-disciplinary skills, for example, the BSc in Design and Engineering that gives them specific know-how in product design attractive to industry and employers.

Within the new School, the Department of Economics will coordinate the MSc degree in International Business. This degree has a strong interdisciplinary flavour. In addition to core economics and international business courses students can choose from relevant options offered by the Faculty of Law: Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy and the Department of Accountancy and Business Finance.

This is the first degree to be validated by the post graduate school. The school hopes to introduce many other post graduate courses targeted particularly to overseas students. Once this partnership is fully embedded, both partners look forward to extending its scope to encompass other EU universities.

"Signing this accord is an exciting step forward for the University," explains Professor Calderhead. "The partnership with the University of Parma establishes a route for Italian students to come and study in Dundee, and contributes to the international community of postgraduate students that the University is developing. Dundee's international postgraduate community is itself seen as an attractive feature in recruiting students from around the world."

For further information please contact Dr Catia Montagna, Department of Economic Studies on 01382 344845

By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk