University of Highlands and Islands: Fostering Educational Needs on an International Platform

Waheeb Ulla
Indian students are the second largest group, comprising of 5.3 percent of international students across the United Kingdom. Largely contributing to the rise Indian Students in the United Kingdom, the University of Highlands and Islands tells a tale of its own repute. Indian students at University of Highlands and Islands constitute more than 50 percent of the total international student population. Located across the vast state of Scotland with 13 prestigious institutions, the University of Highlands and Islands encapsulates the very best of Scottish culture, heritage, history and traditions.

Scotland's 'University of Highlands and Islands' offers courses with domain specializations across a unique range of specialist courses such as Aviation, Marine Science, Archaeology, and Energy Engineering courses. Students also have the liberty and choice of studying in a larger urban center of the region, such as Perth, Inverness, Elgin; or in smaller towns or island communities, including the Western and Northern Isles. Many undergraduate and postgraduate courses of the university take advantage of the unique environment, landscape and culture of the located region.

The University, a federation of colleges and world class research centers, has established many associations with number of universities from across the world. Many of its staff have industry experience and are currently involved in research areas such as Aviation, Formula One (Force One India), Renewable Energy (hydrogen cell, tidal energy), and Mountain studies to illustrate. Supporting the research actively is an infrastructure that adds to the university's assets. Aerospace, Engineering, Mountain Studies in Perth Campus; Marine Biology, Aquaculture in SAMS Campus; Forestry, Rivers and Lochs, Rural Studies in Inverness Campus and others are the prominent infrastructural assets of the University of Highlands and Islands that foster to the needs of its students' research initiatives.

Student life in the University is as exciting and diverse as each of the 13 campuses has more than 70 learning centers spread throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Over the years, the University has welcomed hundreds of students from over 50 countries from around the world. "We welcome applications for all our courses from international students and are happy to discuss their suitability and content with applicants. However, Aircraft Engineering, MBA in Aviation, M.Sc in Air Transport Operations and Management, Bachelors in Business are the commonly chosen courses among international students, especially Indians," puts forth a Governing body of the University.

International Students feel at home in the University of Highlands and Islands through an attribute of the University called 'International Centre' that actively supports and backs up international students. The International Centre is staffed with people who have experience and qualifications to help an overseas student with any problem or concern from arranging accommodation, providing useful information to prepare an immigrant student for travelling to Scotland. A Governing body of the University says, "From your first day in College, our International Induction Programme will ensure that an immigrant student has all the information they need to settle into their studies and their new life in Perth including advice sessions by our local Community Police Officer and a representative from the National Health Service."

Once a student has settled into their classes, the university invites them to join the International Students' Social Programme. This gives students the opportunity to visit interesting and historical places around Scotland as well as taking part in fun activities such as 10-pin bowling, rock-climbing and kayaking. In the Easter and October breaks, the University offers a residential excursion where one gets a chance to explore further afield into the Highlands and Islands.

A combination of face-to-face lectures and tutorials in the classroom, with teaching by video conference from other UHI campuses, and online study via the university's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE); the Faculty at the University of Highlands and Islands ensures quality imbibed teaching that gets students to adapt to the environment and hit the ground running in academia. A significant amount of time is spent to increase students' skills through practical experiential learning as part of the curriculum.

Students from Indian Subcontinent especially have deducted special rates at the University to make UK education more affordable. The University is always looking for long term sustainable partnership opportunities such as summer school, articulation and collaboration. It has forged partnerships with many Indian institutions and has experienced staff to deal with such associations for Indian students at the University of Highlands and Islands. The University is currently pursuing to explore further affiliations with interested institutions to help foster and guide any International student in their pursuit of UK education, especially towards students from India.

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