Global stories

With the awards season in full swing, Edinburgh Global has plenty to celebrate. Our staff have won three different University awards, and many more have been recognised with numerous nominations.

As the MScR component of the WESAF Doctoral Programme draws to a close, we reflect back on one of the highlights of the year. In April and May of 2024, Mastercard Foundation WESAF Fellows and a delegation of 13 academics from the University of Edinburgh participated in a 10-day Sustainability School at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

A unique Enterprise School for African student-entrepreneurs took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, in July 2024. The opportunity formed through the partnership between the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and the University of Edinburgh, united 72 postgraduate students from 13 countries to develop innovative skills and deliver business pitches to expert mentors and judges.

The Maksymovych Scientific Library at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU) has celebrated the opening of a newly equipped computer centre, made possible by a donation of IT equipment led by Edinburgh Global.

The Study and Work Away Service (SWAY) supports a range of student mobility opportunities for our student community. Here, we share a round-up of updates, new services, recent support activities and student feedback.

Shatha Altowai and Saber Bamatraf, former Artist Protection Fund Fellows at the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), share their experience of coming to Edinburgh as artists at risk, becoming part of the city’s artistic community, and exploring through art what it means to be in a place and belong to a place.

Discover how MSc Digital Education programme participants from Uganda are transforming their institutions with innovative digital practices.

The University has entered into a significant partnership with Digital University Kerala, collaborating with the Alan Turing Institute, to establish a Centre for Artificial Intelligence at the Digital Science Park in Kerala, under the aegis of State Government of Kerala, India.

Stephen Wordsworth was presented with an honorary degree by Professor Sir Peter Mathieson at the summer 2024 graduations.

Nadin and Iona share their experiences joining Education Beyond Borders, which brings together programmes and initiatives across the University to support students and academics who have been forcibly displaced due to conflict, violence or persecution.

The theme for Refugee Week 2024 was “Our Home.” The University proudly supports this annual festival, and throughout the week, we celebrated the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary in our community.

STAR (Student Action for Refugees) is a UK-wide network of student societies volunteering and campaigning for and with refugees. Edinburgh's President, Max Altara, shares what the society has been up to over the past year.

Education Beyond Borders Programme Manager, Nadin Akta, shares her experience as a British-Syrian, finding a new home in Edinburgh and now supporting others like her into education.

After fleeing Syria, Ahmad shares his story of gaining educational support and skills from the University’s initiatives, STTEPS (Syrian Teenager Tutoring and Education Programme) and Syrian Futures.

Like many others, Afraa, a recent graduate of Neuroscience, was deeply moved by the challenges faced by Syrians and admired their bravery, and decided to volunteer as a mentor with STTEPS (Syrian Teenage Tutoring and Education Programme).

Local charity, The Welcoming, are using University rooms for free to teach English to refugees and those seeking sanctuary.

Oksana, a dedicated PhD student, fled Kyiv amidst Russia’s invasion. This article chronicles her resilience after arriving at Edinburgh and her efforts in organising Ukrainian Week to raise awareness and understanding of Ukrainian culture.

Inga Ackermann from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars’ Program team was acknowledged for her ‘Outstanding Contribution to Social Justice and Sustainability’ at the Edinburgh University Students' Association’s annual Teaching Awards in April 2024.

To mark Europe Day on 9 May 2024, and across the week, the University celebrated its ongoing commitment to European values, its European partnership links and continued opportunities for increased collaboration and exchange through the University’s membership of the Una Europa Alliance.

Recently appointed, Jen Todd, who is an Immigration Legal Advisor at Edinburgh Global, talks about recent changes to the University’s Staff Immigration Service.

Master of Public Health and online Kenyan student Amanda Wanyonyi takes us through her rewarding Una Europa experiences.

On International Education Day, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson joined other university leaders in Zurich to speak about university autonomy - the lessons learned and future efforts.

Edinburgh hosted the Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) during 21-29 March 2024, welcoming over 800 delegates to share knowledge and collaborate on Arctic research and policy.

In March 2024, the Global Collaborative for the Liberal Arts met in person for the first time at the University of Edinburgh. The Collaborative is a partnership of Vassar College, the University of Edinburgh, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and the University of Global Health Equity. This meeting brought the partners together to share challenges and aspirations around institutional strategy and impact.

Ukrainian Week will take place at the University, from 8-10 April 2024, featuring a series of lectures, events and film screenings highlighting Ukrainian language, literature, culture, and history.

The annual student photography competition winners have been announced! The competition was open in Semester 1 under the theme ‘My Edinburgh’. Open to international students and students who have had a study or work away experience, the submissions totalled over 150 photos.

One year on from the launch of the Principal’s African Partnership Fund, Edinburgh is about to embark on a series of collaborative events in Ghana and Zimbabwe.

The Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh is a national centre that promotes educational and cultural ties between Scotland and China.

On 6 February the University hosted Africa 2024: Prospects and Forecasts, in partnership with the Royal African Society.

Education Beyond Borders brings together work across the University of Edinburgh, including funding, support, collaborative and staff and student-led initiatives to ensure access and pathways to education for displaced scholars.

Edinburgh Global is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Regional Directors.

Representatives from Edinburgh will attend the world’s largest international gathering uniting to address the challenges faced by refugees.

A recent conference took place to mark a key stage in our partnership.

Over 60 Edinburgh students joined worldwide partner institutions to participate in several summer school programmes provided by Edinburgh Global services. The students took part in seminars, activities and networking to develop their intercultural skills and tackle global challenges.

September 2023.

Starting at the University of Edinburgh and proceeding midweek to the University of Amsterdam, 37 delegates from 31 partner institutes were immersed in an interactive learning environment.

Third year School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences student, Baby Wang, has been awarded the University's Sir William Darling Memorial Prize 2023 in recognition of her leadership shaping the role that the University of Edinburgh's student body can play in European Higher Education.

Through a collaboration between the University of Edinburgh, Universidad San Francisco de Quito and the British-Ecuadorian Chamber of Commerce, the Living Lab for Energy Innovation is working to deliver objectives of the Galápagos Plan 2030. Interdisciplinary teams have been researching the challenges and opportunities in sustainable and inclusive decarbonisation of the islands, the focus of a three-day summit held there in July 2023.

Our new impact report site summarises learnings and reflections gathered over the seven years of phase one of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

2023 has brought considerable changes to the landscape of international mobility for students and staff at the University of Edinburgh and across the higher education sector.

The University of Edinburgh is a key partner in the Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium (CLCC) - a collaborative effort of academic institutions and organisations focused on advancing the field of education in crisis settings – conflict, natural disasters, and displacement.

This Refugee Week 2023 we are celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary alongside the theme of Compassion. Read Edinburgh alum Dajana's personal story of overcoming extraordinary barriers.

This Refugee Week 2023 we are celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary alongside the theme of Compassion. Read Amanullah's story, as he continues his profession in Edinburgh.

This Refugee Week 2023 we are celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary alongside the theme of Compassion. Read Edinburgh academic Salim's personal story of huge disruption in his academic career, and finding his way in Scotland.

The University of Edinburgh has long been committed to its role as a University of Sanctuary, working in partnership with the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) to help protect vulnerable scholars and refugees. Here, we look at the role the University played in supporting renowned Viennese composer, Hans Gál, after fleeing from Nazi occupied Austria.

Explore our European alliance’s recent initiatives

The University has created a world first by introducing a Cátedra Cervantes/Cervantes Chair in Edinburgh

In early 2023 the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) committed to funding up to 20 postgraduate scholarships each year, for a five year period.

Two Edinburgh Global staff have received the 2022-23 Changemaker award. Inga Ackerman and Izi Robe have been recognised for the positive impact they have made within the University through their socially responsible projects, and their commitment to encouraging others to act in a more socially responsible or sustainable way.

This Europe Day, we marked the impact of over 35 years of our involvement in the Erasmus+ programme through stories from student and staff participants, as we recognise the ongoing opportunities, activities, and partnerships for which it has been the foundation.

A collaboration between Edinburgh and KNU involving guest lectures, joint seminars, sharing online resources and research mobility.

A collaboration between Edinburgh and KNU, exchanging experiences, knowledge and ideas between students and staff from both universities, which looks to limit damage, achieve justice and aid sustainable and inclusive reconstruction.

Air pollution is amongst the five highest risk factors for global health. In India, it’s no exception. The ‘Delhi Air Pollution: Health and Effects’ (DAPHNE) project is a collaborative research initiative that is creating innovative solutions for people with asthma.

The University of Edinburgh announced a multi-year commitment to support a Principal’s African Partnership Fund during a recent visit to Ghana.

The Una Europa alliance was launched in 2019 with its 3-year pilot project, 1Europe. To highlight the achievements, outputs and measures of success, we have developed an Edinburgh and Una Europa Impact Report covering 2019-2022.

We have been deepening and strengthening key partnerships in North America, to access funding and build links to research and industry. Combining expertise and resources through partnerships has grown the opportunity for Edinburgh to contribute to solving global challenges more effectively and impactfully.

The student and staff community at the University of Edinburgh wishes to express our solidarity with all of those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

More than a year has passed since the launch of the Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action, in September 2021.

The annual student photography competition winners have been announced! The competition was open in Semester 1 under the theme ‘Extraordinary Edinburgh’. Open to international students and students who have had a study or work away experience, the submissions totalled close to 300 photos.

We spoke with Dr Luicer Anne Ingasia Olubayo and Dr David Twesigomwe, recipients of the Sydney Brenner Fellowship.

On Monday 7 November 2022, the University of Edinburgh had the privilege of hosting a series of events paying tribute to the centenary of Julius Kambarage Nyerere’s birth.
The first president of the Republic of Tanzania, Nyerere remains one of the University’s most renowned and accomplished alumni, working tirelessly for the independence of Tanzania and against oppressive regimes such as Apartheid.

We are delighted to welcome new colleagues Chioma Dibia, Ameena Almeer and Vivian MacDonald to join our Global Community Team.

Edinburgh Global continues to evolve through 2022 with the creation of several new roles which aim to support strategic initiatives for our global community of staff, students and visitors.

The University received an award at the 2022 British Business Awards in China earlier this month. Edinburgh was recognised for its partnership with Shanghai Jiaotong University (SJTU) and their work together on the UK-China Low Carbon College.

October saw the launch of the Edinburgh Earth Initiative website. The initiative, launched in 2021, aims to accelerate the University of Edinburgh’s response to the climate crisis.

From 26 to 30 September 2022, the University of Edinburgh hosted Una Europa partner Universities for a week of collaboration, celebration, reflecting and planning. Over 250 delegates gathered to participate in the 49 different activities.

A new evaluation handbook gives us the evidence to understand the value of partnerships – and to use that evidence to inform decision-making.

Beth Mills, based at the Queen’s Medical Research Institute, has worked with Aravind Eye Care Systems (AECS) since 2017, exploring diagnostic strategy for cornea infections using SmartProbes. She shared her experiences and the project’s successes with us.

As part of its 2022 centennial celebrations, the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg has awarded three short-term fellowships for researchers based at the University of Edinburgh.

Yesterday's announcement that the Una Europa alliance has secured funding for its Una.Universitas project presents new and unique opportunities for Edinburgh students and staff further to develop joint activity with Una Europa member universities.

From 25 July to 5 August, more than 50 students from the University of Edinburgh and European partner universities came together to tackle One Health issues.

The Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention (CPSP) is a philanthropically funded research and policy initiative within the University of Edinburgh, working to reduce the number of pesticide suicides worldwide.

HEECA is the Higher Education Export Control Association. This national network was founded by professionals at the UK’s leading research universities including the University of Edinburgh. HEECA was formed to develop, maintain and promote best practice in Export Control Compliance across the UK Higher Education sector.

Edinburgh will be the host location for the next Arctic Science Summit Week and the Arctic Observing Summit in 2024, the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) announced this week. This is the most important annual gathering of Arctic Research Organisations and will attract around 1,000 Arctic researchers from around the world to the city.

An interview with Respect Rungano Musiyiwa, a multi-awarding social leader and founder of a nonprofit CASL Trust

Interested in joining in Refugee Activism? There are many ways to make a difference. Read about Anna, Nula, and Hammed's journeys into Refugee Activism and their starts at the University of Edinburgh.

Hear from the Identities in Transition Project Researchers as they share their experiences as part of the Mastercard Foundation programme of participants and how they came to join the Identities in Transition research project. Find out more about the Identities in Transition project here. 

Following a highly competitive application process, an undergraduate student from the University of Edinburgh has been selected to the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) Student Ambassador Programme.

The annual Edinburgh Global international student photography competition winners have been selected.

Una Europa’s leading research universities welcome a new member from the Netherlands, with Leiden University joining the European alliance.

Johanna Holtan has been instrumental in the success and growth of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (MFSP) at Edinburgh since its beginnings in 2016. She takes up a new role in the Edinburgh Earth Initiative in the new year and shared her thoughts as she looks back at her time leading the program.

Four joint PhD scholars at the University, who are combining their research at European universities, talk about their scholarships, the importance of collaboration and how they’re handling student life through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Edinburgh Global is committed to supporting students and colleagues affected by the crisis in Afghanistan. We have been working with partners across the University and beyond to provide support and advice.

The Ekasi podcast team are launching their second season, this time focusing on community heroes.

The University held a series of events during Refugee Week (14-20 June) to showcase Edinburgh’s support of refugee projects, centring around World Refugee Day on 20 June.

To coincide with the G7 Summit, the University joined its U7+ Alliance partners to call on global leaders to prioritise the climate crisis in the global post-pandemic recovery and to recognise the important role universities can play in supporting G7 climate action. The Alliance cited this priority was driven by the need to preserve the rights of the young and future generations.

Edinburgh Global hosted the 2021 Chevening Conference on 3 June, with speeches from Professor Peter Mathieson and Professor James Smith and sessions from leading academics.

The University of Edinburgh has developed a series of European bilateral partnerships in the post-Brexit era.

On 9 May, we celebrated Europe Day. We reflected on the innovative community of European partnerships that we have built over the year, based on complementary strengths in research and student exchange.

The University has been recognised for its work in supporting persecuted scholars and defending academic freedom as a Sustaining Member of the Scholars at Risk (SAR) network.

We invited students who participated in eTandem Global in Semester 1 to create a vlog with their language partner based on their eTandem experience. Check out the video prize winners.

Shannon Vallor, Baille Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, and Steve Brusatte, Palaeontologist in the School of Geosciences, participate in world’s largest free literary festival.

Two students from the University of Edinburgh have been selected to the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) Student Ambassador Programme.

Professor Drew Scott reflects on his experiences and achievements as Dean International for Europe, while Dr Chad Damro looks to the future as he begins his new role at this crucial time.

The seed funding is the first of its kind between the two universities. Find out more about the five successfully awarded joint projects.

The winners of the 2020 Photography Competition have now been selected.