Press release

Life-changing Saltire Scholarships give QMU students a new world of opportunities

Two students from Queen Margaret University are currently taking part in life-changing scholarship programmes which provide them with the opportunity to work abroad with some of the world’s most influential business leaders. These students, who successfully secured internships with the 2012 Saltire Scholarship programme, are benefiting from outstanding work experience opportunities in the USA and Dubai.

Rebecca Irving, a Psychology and Sociology student from Pilrig, Edinburgh and Events Management student, Shereen Fazeli from Barnton, Edinburgh are the first students from QMU to gain Saltire Scholarships. These high-calibre placements challenge Scotland’s top students to develop their own skills while working on projects of real significance to their host companies. Not only does the Saltire Foundation organise and fully fund the programmes, they assist students in accessing, networking and learning from some of the world’s top business people.

Currently, 22 year old Rebecca is undertaking a development focused internship with Gallus BioPharmaceuticals in St Louis, USA, while Shereen, also 22, is having the opportunity to specialise in events management with Grand Hyatt in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Both students not only experience working life abroad, they are encouraged to immerse themselves in the culture of the country. So when they are not conducting project work or presenting their research findings to the board of directors, they are taking part in local sporting events, exploring the country’s cultural heritage and even volunteering.

In St Louis, Rebecca is working very hard but is also making time to experience the city’s fantastic recreational pursuits including the 4 th of July celebrations. She also had VIP passes for the Fair St. Louis party, has attended her first baseball game where she saw the St. Louis Cardinals in action, has explored museums in the evening via torchlight, and is also volunteering at the city’s stray dog centre.

During her scholarship, Rebecca has conducted focus groups, taken part in interviews with senior staff, carried out projects and made recommendations to the Board of Directors. Talking about her Scholarship experience, she wrote in her recent blog: “ The Saltire Scholarships really is the best experience I have ever had! All of what I have learned over the past three years in University is being put into practice, in both my everyday world and the business world, so I am leaning more than I ever thought I would. This trip is a psychologist’s and sociologist’s dream!”

Having been initially very daunted by the challenge of working at Gallus, she said: “The feedback I have received from those who I report to at Gallus, has been flattering and builds my confidence every day, to the point where I know now that I can do this, and not only here in the USA, but next year when I have graduated. My success is all up to me.”

With access to all team briefings and management meetings, Shereen Fazeli has greatly benefited from seeing how the Grand Hyatt creates an event from start to finish by gaining an insight into each detailed step of the event management process. Since starting her internship she has been involved in a graduation ceremony as well as traditional celebratory events for Ramadan. During her spare time, Shereen has been sampling some of the delights of the Middle East by having high tea at the 7 star Burj Al Arab hotel and visiting the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

Professor Petra Wend, Principal of Queen Margaret University, said: “The Saltire Scholarships provide students with global business experience and we are delighted that two of our top students have been able to benefit from these outstanding learning opportunities. It is very rewarding to see QMU students creating their own goals, rising to the challenges set by these high profile businesses, gaining exposure to high level decision making and being able to offer their own ideas and solutions to business issues. It is clear from Rebecca’s blog that her confidence in growing every day as she meets and even surpasses some of her goals. There is no doubt that the skills, knowledge and life experience gained during their scholarships will give students like Rebecca and Shereen a competitive advantage when entering the jobs market.”

Professor Wend continued: “Queen Margaret University is committed to enhancing the student experience. As a direct result of Rebecca’s and Shereen’s positive experiences we have become a Saltire Foundation University Partner. This should open up more world class placement and networking opportunities for future QMU students.”

Sandy Kennedy, CEO of the Saltire Foundation concluded: “We are delighted that Queen Margaret University has become one of our university partners.  Rebecca and Shereen have performed fantastically during their internships this summer and we look forward to welcoming more QMU students onto the programme in future years.”

ENDS

Notes to editor:

About the Saltire Foundation

• The Saltire Foundation, which was founded five years ago and is backed by the organisation GlobalScots, targets Scotland’s most talented students, most of whom would not normally have access to such opportunities, and provides them with paid internships in such stellar international businesses. The programme has already enabled over 1000 young Scots to get a taste of global business experience.
• The Saltire Foundation is a registered charity.
• More information on GlobalScots can be found at http://bit.ly/cqlGvV
• A full list of the 2012 Saltire Scholars can be found at: http://bit.ly/l0BHkj and the Saltire Scholar blogs at: http://bit.ly/inYNdg .
• For more information see www.saltirefoundation.com or contact claire.johnston@saltirefoundation.com . 

About Queen Margaret University

Queen Margaret specialises in professional education and research that informs the development of policy and practice in health, drama & creative arts, media & social science and business & enterprise. The expert knowledge developed at Queen Margaret touches people's everyday lives.

Blog from QMU student Rebecca Irving: http://www.saltirefoundation.com/cs/blogs/undergraduates/archive/2012/07/11/camels-cardinals-and-caves-in-fair-st-louis.aspx

For further media information please contact Lynne Russell, Press and PR Officer, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, tel: 0131 474 0000, mob: 07711 011239, Email: lrussell@qmu.ac.uk