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News Archive
Free School Meals
2 June 2009
44, 000 more young people will get free school meals from August 2009.
Learning opportunities for young people
13 May 2009
Young people in Scotland are guaranteed entitlement to a place in learning and training, as part of the Scottish Government's '16+ Learning Choices'.
Tuition Fees Support for foreign exchange students
6 May 2009
Scottish university students who take part in any overseas exchange programme will get full tuition fee support from 2010.
MAC (Migration Advisory Committee) update
30 April 2009
UK Border Agency Website.Population Increase
30 April 2009
Scotland's population has risen to its highest for 28 years. It is the sixth year in a row that the population has increased.
Find Scotlands Population Figures 2008
Recruitment Fairs 2009
6 April 2009
Careers Scotland are running a series of events in April to help people with their interview skills and CVs.
200 more Financial Jobs in Edinburgh from Tesco
20 March 2009
The supermarket Tesco will create more than 200 new financial jobs in Scotland's captial city over 2010.
New Policy Guidance for Tier 1 (General)
19th March 2009
Find out about
changes to Tier 1 (General) From 31st March 2009.
Tier 1 ( Post Study Route )
18 March 2009
Tier 1 (Post Study route) From 31st March 2009 applicants will recieve no points for post graduate certificates and diplomas other than UK Postgraduate Certificates of Education.
Polish Cultural Festival, 20-26 April 2009
12 March 2009
The Polish Cultural Festival in Edinburgh is running for the first time this year from 20-26 April.
UK Border Agency News
11 March 2009
The UK Border Agency is extending the range of applications that can be made in person at their public enquiry offices.
From 6 April 2009, you will be able to use the
'premium service'
Scotland is the Place Survey Results
4 March 2009
Thank you to everyone who completed the Scotland is the Place Survey in January. Your feedback is very helpful to us.
Tier 4 - Students
3 March 2009
From the end of March 2009, non-EEA students will have to be sponsored by a licensed education provider to be eligible to come to the UK to study under the new Tier 4, student tier under the new Points Based System.
Find out more about the new Tier 4, student tier.
Best Fish and Chips in Britain
3 March 2009
The Anstruther Fish Bar and Restaurant in Fife has been awarded the title of 'Best fish and chip shop in the UK.'
Seafood supply website launched
3 March 2009
A new, foreign language website to help foreign buyers was launched: www.seafoodscotland.org.
Scotland is the Place Survey
10 February 2009
- Irune Gurtubai
- Bernard Sabran
- Michael Meyers
Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to our prize draw by completing the mini online survey which we ran in January.
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Contact us on: info@scotlandistheplace.com
Education News bites
30 December 2008
Free School Meals
All primary one to primary three school pupils will benefit from
free school meals.
Children with additional support needs
Changes to the additional Support for Learning Act 2004 will strengthen the rights of
children with additional support needs and their parents
School Building fund
Four new low energy schools will be built in Inverclyde following £80 million
school building fund.
Polish Saturday School
22 December 2008
Polish Saturday school 'Our Kids' ('Nasze Dzieci') in Glasgow and Edinburgh is currently recruiting for the coming year 2008/2009. Both schools are registering school kids between the ages of 5 and 6 years old.
'Our Kids' staff have devised new educational programmes, which they have piloted within specially chosen groups in London's Leyton branch. The 'Our Kids' curriculum in Edinburgh and Glasgow for the 2008/2009 school year was officially extended after the success of the programme, which includes:
- 'Homework' – polysensory pupil stimulation with literature
- 'Art Therapy' – polish language lessons abroad with art
- 'Healthy Lifestyle Promotion and Addictions Prevention' – advantages of debate and verbal communication in Polish language'
For more information and recruitment details visit
www.naszedzieci.co.uk.
National Identity Cards
18 December 2008
Within three years all foreign nationals applying for leave to enter or remain in the UK will be required to have a card, with around 90% of foreign nationals in Britain covered by the scheme by 2014/15.
Saltire Prize Challenge
8 December 2008
What is required to win the £10 million Saltire Prize Challenge?
Relocation Advisory Service reaches out in Poland
4 December 2008
Staff from the Relocation Advisory Service (RAS) team recently travelled to Poland for the fourth consecutive year, to exhibit at careers fairs in Poznan and Rzeszow and give advice and information about living and working in Scotland.
Host the perfect St Andrew's Day dinner
4 November 2008
30th November is St Andrew's Day. What better excuse to gather friends together to celebrate Scotland’s national saint.
Find out what's happening for St Andrew's Day.
Over 200 Graduates receive Post Study Visas
4 November 2008
Since Fresh Talent Scotland ( FTwiss) changed to post study work in June 2008, over 200 succesful applications have been made by graduates eager to work in Scotland.
Record Number of Graduates in Scotland
4 November 2008
Figures published this week show that a record number of 77,380 people graduated from Scottish universities and colleges last year.
Support for Scottish Businesses
4 November 2008
The first ever Scottish national portal for public contracting opportunities was officially launched this week as part of the Scottish Government's Economic Action Plan.
Young Tourism Entrepreneur Award finalists
4 November 2008
Ross McKinnon of Amazing Days Scotland, Philip Price of Loch Visions and Catherine Brunn of Highland Campervans have just been announced as the 3 finalists for Visit Scotland's Thistle Awards Young Tourism Entrepreneur category.
Enterprise Month 2008
3 November 2008
Enterprising young people will be key to the recovery of the global economy, according to Maureen Watt, Minister for Schools and Skills.
Importance of Language skills
2 November 2008
Recent events in the global economy mean Scots youngsters will have to become much more adaptable and creative in determining their futures.
Pink Tartan Blossoms for Japan
1 October 2008
A designer, who has previously created tartan for ten European countries including Poland, France and Norway, has now come up with one for Japan.
Science news from Life Sciences Scotland
1 October 2008
Find all the science news on the
Life Sciences Scotland news page.You can choose to sign up for two electronic magazines.
Migration Advisory Service Committee publishes shortage occupation list for the UK and Scotland
10 September 2008
New recommended lists of occupations for which there is a shortage of skilled workers in the UK and Scotland were published today by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), as part of the Committee's first major report.
Buskers Take to the Streets for Cancer Charity
1 September 2008
Scottish singer-songwriter Sandi Thom is one of many artists taking part in this year's national busking event, 'Busking Cancer'. Running from 6th September for one week across the UK, the event aims to raise funds for Cancer Research.
Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival 2008
1 September 2008
The Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival (SMHAFF) - the only festival in Scotland to explore issues around mental health – takes place across the country between 1-19 October 2008.
Gaelic TV Launch Announced
29 August 2008
New Gaelic TV service, BBC ALBA will be launched at 9pm on 19 September. Co-funded by MG Alba (formerly known as the Gaelic Media Service) and the BBC, the channel will be available on satellite and cable throughout the UK and online.
Scotland's Gaelic-language short film competition offers £5000
29 August 2008
FilmG, Scotland's Gaelic-language short film competition, is looking for fresh and exciting faces, voices and ideas. This is your chance to showcase your talent, develop your short as a broadcast pilot and win £5000.
Heart tests for young athletes
13 August 2008
Scotland's first cardiac assessment programme for young amateur athletes was officially launched today.
More Fresh Talent funding for retention of international students
18 August 2008
Further investment of £232,761 has been announced to support international students wishing to remain and work in Scotland following completion of their studies.
New Project wants your true life stories
31 July 2008
Days Like This is a nationwide writing project being run by the Scottish Book Trust and BBC Radio Scotland. It aims to gather thousands of extraordinary tales from across Scotland, written by everyone from born-and-bred Scots to newly-arrived immigrants, based throughout the country from Moffat to Orkney.
PlaceBook Scotland wants your photos, prose, poetry and songs
31 July 2008
Is there somewhere in Scotland that you have a strong association with? It could be the place you were brought up, or where you live, study or work now. PlaceBook Scotland wants to know what makes your place distinct, and for you to capture it using music, song, words or photographs.
New system to control migration to the UK
3 July 2008
From today all highly skilled workers, entrepreneurs and investors wanting to come to Scotland will be able to apply for their UK visa under a new style points based system.
Help with an online survey and win Tartan Heart Music Festival tickets or Amazon vouchers!
3 July 2008
We need people in the 15-30 age group to have their say about living, working and studying in the Highlands and Islands.
You can take part in the 10-minute survey by visiting
www.youthmigration.org and be in with a chance of winning one of six pairs of Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival tickets or one of twenty five Amazon vouchers worth £20.
Closure of Highly Skilled Migrant Programme and other work-based categories
23 June 2008
On Monday 30 June 2008, Tier 1 of the new points-based system will open globally. The Home Office will complete the roll-out of Tier 1 (General) worldwide and introduce the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), Tier 1 (Investor) and Tier 1 (Post Study Work) categories.
Homecoming 2009
27 June 2008
Join us in 2009 when Scotland will host its first ever Homecoming year. Anyone who is Scottish, of Scottish descent or who just loves Scotland is invited to the celebrations.
Home Office issues Statements of Intent for Tier 2 and Tier 5
6 May 2008
The Home Office has issued 2 new important documents in relation to its programme of immigration reform.
sportscotland investment in sports facilities
6 May 2008
Sportscotland, which is Scotland’s national agency for sport, will invest £595, 451 in sport facilities. The investment is part of the Building for Sport Programme.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning visit to China
7 April 2008
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop visited China from 5-12 April.
In Beijing, she met with China's Vice Minister of Education, Wu Qidi, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
£10 Million Award for Renewable Energy
3 April 2008
The Scottish Government will offer the world’s largest single prize for innovation in green energy in Scotland. The prize will award innovations using wave and tide power.
£100 Million to join Roslin Institute with the Edinburgh University Vet School
3 April 2008
Edinburgh University's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine will join with the Roslin Institute by a £100m investment.
Scotland Celebrates 500 Years of Printing
2 April 2008
Scotland celebrates 500 years of printing on Friday 4 April.
The first book published in Scotland was called 'The Complaint of the Black Knight'.
Scotland Week 2008
14 March 2008
The First Minister today unveiled details on Scotland Week 2008 at the SCDI's 37th International Forum in St Andrews.
New Highly Skilled Migrants Tier goes live 29 February
13 February 2008
From 29 February those applying to extend their stay in the UK as a highly skilled migrant will apply to go on to the General sub-category of Tier 1.
Funding for Fresh Talent
8 February 2008
Funding is announced for schemes which aim to attract fresh talent by encouraging international students and graduates to stay on in Scotland.
Changes to the National Shortage Occupation List for Work Permits
5 February 2008
With effect from 18 March 2008, 38 healthcare-related occupations will be removed from the national shortage occupation list for work permits.
Knowledge of language and life requirement for settlement applications - extension of transitional arrangements
4 February 2008
Applicants who apply for settlement but do not meet the knowledge of language and life requirement currently have their applications considered instead as an application to extend temporary permission to stay in the United Kingdom (we call this 'further leave to remain').
Read the full story on the Border and Immigration Agency website
Dundee a Top Destination for International Students
Press Release from the University of Dundee
February 2008
The University of Dundee has been rated one of the best destinations for international students in a major new survey of British universities.
£9 million for English language training
4 February 2008
Asylum seekers and others new to Scotland are to benefit from £9 million of funding for English language classes
Over the next three years the new funding could deliver up to 7,000 more places for migrant workers, asylum seekers, refugees and others who are eager to learn English.
Read the full story on the Scottish Government website
Scottish MBA Student Wins Prestigious Engineering Award
31 January 2008
MBA student Mamta Singhal has been awarded the prestigious Women's Engineering Society prize at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards
Telecoms giant invests in University of Glasgow students
20 January 2008
One of the world's largest telecoms firms is to help students at the University of Glasgow.
Read the full story on Glasgow University's website
Bogus Colleges
16 January 2008
The UK Government holds a register of approved colleges for overseas students:
www.dfes.gov.uk.
Visitors' Visas
7 January 2008
The Home Office has made new proposals to ensure tourists in the UK follow their visa conditions.
Fresh Talent turns Post Study
4 January 2008
Following the announcement by the Home Secretary of the Statement of Intent for Tier One of the new Points Based System for managed migration, we can now tell you how the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme (FT:WiSS) will be integrated into the new points based system once it is launched around Springtime 2008.
People in the UK are Richer
8 January 2008
People in the UK are earning more money than people in America for the first time since the 19th century.
Universities Collaborate On Technologies for the Ageing Workforce - Press Release
7 January 2008
The University of Dundee has formed a collaboration with IBM and the University of Miami to develop new software technology tools to accommodate the needs of older workers and help them adapt to and remain productive in the changing workplace of the 21st century.
New Points Based System for Immigration – Home Office Release
14 December 2007
A new points based system will be introduced from 2008.
Edinburgh University honours Scottish International Scholarship winners
10 December 2007
The achievement of students who have been awarded a Scottish International Scholarship has been marked by a special ceremony at Edinburgh University.
Dundee named among top international workplaces for scientists
News Release, University of Dundee, November 2007
The University of Dundee has again been named one of the world's most attractive workplaces in an international poll of scientists.
Welcome to Scotland website launches in Chinese
30 November 2007
A new Scottish Government website to encourage people from China to come to Scotland to visit, study, work and do business has launched today.
New tartan designed by Scottish International Scholarship students
30 November 2007
A new tartan designed by Scottish International Scholarship Students to mark St Andrew's Day was launched today.
Grab yourself a free Scottish ringtone!
November 2007
One of the world's most popular songs has received a stunning makeover from one of Scotland's hottest live acts, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
Winter Festival
November 2007
Scotland's Winter Festival runs from November, with celebrations around the country from St Andrew's Day on 30 November through to Burns Season at the end of January.
Mitchell Library, Glasgow 130th anniversary
November 2007
One of Glasgow's most famous landmarks the Mitchell Library is celebrating its 130th birthday on 5 November 2007.
Scotland's warm welcome
12 October 2007
Scotland has been listed by travel experts as one of the friendliest Countries in the world. Noted as one of the top ten places that "must be visited" for 2008, Scotland ranks as a top location for travellers.
Why are opportunities for work experience in the UK so hard to come by?
Non-EU students pay high fees, so why are opportunities for work experience in the UK so hard to come by?
Read the full story at the Guardian website
European jobs fair success
October 2007
The EU Job Days, which took place simultaneously in 230 towns and cities around Europe during September & October 2007, attracted more than 200,000 participants.
Glasgow International College opens for first intake of students
News Release, University of Glasgow, October 2007
The new Glasgow International College – which prepares students from around the world to take up places at the University of Glasgow – has opened its doors to its first intake of almost 100 students.
Why are opportunities for work experience in the UK so hard to come by?
6 October 2007, The Guardian
* Archived Material - May 2007 Alex Salmond was elected as First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon is Deputy First Minister
Fresh Talent hits 5,000!
1 October 2007
The Relocation Advisory Service (RAS) are delighted to announce that 5,000 international students have been successful with with their Fresh Talent Scheme applications.
Paisley University civic reception
October 2007
Paisley University, hosted a civic reception for students from all around the world. Over 270 people attended the event in Paisley town hall. Music by ceilidh band Skerryvore enticed them to join in with traditional Scottish dancing.
Laura McFadyen, The Universities overseas marketing manager said "We are delighted that Renfrewshire Council continues to support our International students by organising civic events such as this which welcomes new students joining our courses at the University."
More Information about
Paisley University.
Harry Potter casts a spell over Edinburgh Castle
25 July 2005
Just after midnight on Saturday 16 July 2005, in the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, J K Rowling read from the sixth book in the Harry Potter series; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
The alternative G8 Summit
22 July 2005
It started as an idea at a dinner party one July evening in 2004 and ended with the Dunning Declaration being delivered by bicycle, to the Prime Minister at Downing Street.
Scotland hosts G8 Summit of world leaders
2 June 2005
The G8 Summit takes place in Gleneagles in Perthshire in July and will bring together the leaders of the world’s major industrial democracies.
The participants are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the President of the European Commission.
Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell* said: "Bringing the world's leaders to Gleneagles is not only a privilege it is further recognition of the international reputation of Scotland and its people and of our excellent facilities and infrastructure."
You can find out more about the G8 Summit at:
- UK Government's G8 2005 website: www.g8.gov.uk
- Perthshire G8 2005: www.perthshireg8.com
- J8 Global Citizen Programme: www.j8changetheworld.com
- Gleneagles Hotel: www.gleneagles.com
Promoting Scotland in the USA
15 April 2005
Find out what is being done to promote Scotland in the USA and to encourage American people to move to Scotland. Visit www.scotlandinusa.com for more information.
Increase in graduate salaries and opportunities
10 February 2005
A new survey shows that employers in Scotland are expected to pay new graduates a median starting salary of £22,000 in 2005 – an increase of 4.8% on last year and the biggest predicted increase for five years.
The survey also revealed that the number of graduate positions is predicted to increase by 14.5%. Last year vacancies increased by 15.5%
Find out more about studying and working in Scotland
American students urged to pursue 'Scottish dream'
28 October 2004
In San Francisco, Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace* said he wants to see more American students pursuing the 'Scottish dream'.
World-leading research in areas such as the life sciences makes Scotland an attractive option for students.
Mr Wallace said: "We want to attract more fresh talent to Scotland. American students have been quick to recognise Scotland's potential. The number of US students in Scotland has already doubled to 2,200 since 1997-1998."
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