Read stories from across the University's global activity, projects, partnerships and community work. Uniting African innovators at unique Enterprise School 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. IT donation helps rebuild Ukraine partners' computer centre 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. Study and Work Away - latest developments 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. Finding home through art 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. Shaping the future: Uganda’s Digital Education Practitioners Discover how MSc Digital Education programme participants from Uganda are transforming their institutions with innovative digital practices. AI and robotics partnership with Kerala 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. Executive Director of Cara receives honorary degree Stephen Wordsworth was presented with an honorary degree by Professor Sir Peter Mathieson at the summer 2024 graduations. Nadin and Iona join Education Beyond Borders 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. Refugee Week 2024 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. Students making a difference for refugees and asylum seekers through STAR Edinburgh 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. Nadin Akta: Building Community in Edinburgh 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. From Syria to Scotland: Ahmad’s journey as a New Scot 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. Afraa’s inspiring work with Syrian teenagers through STTEPS 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). Welcoming refugees through community access to classrooms Local charity, The Welcoming, are using University rooms for free to teach English to refugees and those seeking sanctuary. Resilience in academia during wartime 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. Teaching Award for Scholars' Program Coordinator Inga Ackermann 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. The Future of Europe 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. University’s Staff Immigration Service Recently appointed, Jen Todd, who is an Immigration Legal Advisor at Edinburgh Global, talks about recent changes to the University’s Staff Immigration Service. Una Europa: open to all Master of Public Health and online Kenyan student Amanda Wanyonyi takes us through her rewarding Una Europa experiences. The role of university autonomy in Higher Education 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. Arctic Science Summit Week 2024 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. The Global Collaborative for the Liberal Arts 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 2024 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. Photography competition winners - My Edinburgh 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. Principal’s African Partnership Fund: One year on 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. Spotlight on Confucius Institute for Scotland The Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh is a national centre that promotes educational and cultural ties between Scotland and China. Africa 2024: Prospects and Forecasts On 6 February the University hosted Africa 2024: Prospects and Forecasts, in partnership with the Royal African Society. Education Beyond Borders launches 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 welcomes two new Regional Directors Edinburgh Global is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Regional Directors. Edinburgh participates in Global Refugee Forum Representatives from Edinburgh will attend the world’s largest international gathering uniting to address the challenges faced by refugees. Educate, collaborate, unite: Our Edinburgh-Kyiv partnership A recent conference took place to mark a key stage in our partnership. Edinburgh Global’s 2023 summer activity 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. Edinburgh co-hosts International Staff Week 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. Una Europa Student Board member awarded the Sir William Darling Memorial Prize 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. Galápagos decarbonisation: sustainable energy transition 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. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: phase one impact report Our new impact report site summarises learnings and reflections gathered over the seven years of phase one of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Student and staff mobility after Erasmus 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. Connected learning in crisis settings 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. Edinburgh Alum Dajana Dzanovic shares her refugee story 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. At-risk academic continues his profession at 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 Amanullah's story, as he continues his profession in Edinburgh. This article was published on 2024-06-24
