A total of 333 Chinese students in Scotland have successfully
applied for a talent-seeking scheme to remain and work in the
country for two years after graduation without requiring a work
permit.
Latest figures show that 1,176 international students have taken
advantage of the 'Fresh Talent Working in Scotland' scheme. It was
launched last June by the Scottish Executive and Home Office. The
scheme and figures were outlined by the Scottish Executive in
Beijing on Saturday.
To date no applicants for the initiative have failed.?
The scheme, which enables non-EU students who graduated with a
Higher National Diploma from a Scottish college to stay for two
years without work permits, aims to attract talented youngsters to
live and work in Scotland, the only country within the UK whose
population is projected to decline.
Mr Steven Szymoszowskyj, Scottish Executive Fresh Talent Policy
development officer, said the scheme would be promoted
this?year and especially to students from China. Mr
Szymoszowskyj was in Beijing at the weekend attending the 11th
China International Education Exhibition Tour.
He said the scheme would help solve one of the biggest
difficulties encountered by international students who may wish to
stay in Scotland to find legal employment within a very limited
period of time.
Applicants may either leave the country at the end of the period
or switch to one of the migration schemes. However, figures show
that only 1,176 of an estimated 6,000 eligible students have
applied so far. And the number of Chinese applicants was not
significant compared to the total population of Chinese graduates
in Scotland.
"Considering the scheme is in its first year we're satisfied
with the response and are optimistic the number of applicants will
increase," said Mr Szymoszowskyj .
Currently around 4,000 Chinese students are in Scottish colleges
and the number continues to rise, say the Scottish Executive.
Applicants are required to prove only that they are non-EU students
and graduates from Scottish colleges. But the scheme doesn't
guarantee work so applicants will compete against other students,
including those from Scotland and other parts of the UK.
Mr Szymoszowskyi said they will establish close contacts with
successful applicants but as yet they're not clear how many and in
which specific fields Chinese graduates have been employed.
A two-day education exhibition, which ended yesterday in
Beijing, attracted about 350 colleges from 27 countries. Xi'an,
provincial capital of northwest China's Shaanxi
Province, will be its next stop.
(China Daily February 20, 2006)