Moffat Trust boosts international work opportunities for QMU students
Four International Hospitality and Tourism Management students from Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh, have fulfilled a lifetime dream to work overseas, thanks to the Moffat Trust Scholarship Fund.
The Moffat Charitable Trust has made a generous donation of £50,000 to QMU to set up the Fund and help students gain study-related work experience in some of the world’s most prestigious hospitality and tourism venues.
Kevin Scott, Cameron Simpson, Miroslava Bajzikova and Ryan Paterson made successful applications to the Fund in 2014 to help finance their industry placements in New York, Connecticut and Slovakia. The placements provided the students with experience in conference and event management, as well as new customer service skills in luxury hotels and leisure resorts.
The Moffat Trust’s gift has allowed QMU to set up the ten-year Scholarship Fund, which provides financial support to second year students on the BA International Hospitality and Tourism Management programme.
A core part of the programme is a nine month placement in industry. The Fund helps ensure that all students, irrespective of their financial background, have equal access to achieving an overseas placement, should they wish to pursue this option.
Each year until 2024, five selected QMU students will receive up to £1,000 towards the cost of their overseas industry placement.
Dr Jamie Moffat from the Moffat Charitable Trust plays an active role in selecting potential scholars to benefit from the Fund. Commenting on the success of the Fund’s first student recipients, Dr Moffat, said “The Trust is delighted to support student scholarships as these will assist the students in travelling overseas as part of their wider education within the hospitality industry.”
As part of the Scholarship, students are asked to take part in community engagement in their chosen country. Upon return, they submit a reflective portfolio describing how the Fund has supported and enhanced their overseas experience and they will also give a presentation to the next year’s cohort, building recognition for the Fund.
Professor Petra Wend, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of QMU, said “The University is extremely grateful for the generous support of the Moffat Charitable Trust, which will greatly enhance the experience of our International Hospitality and Tourism Management students who receive the Scholarship.
“Scholarships like this really enrich students’ academic experience, broaden their horizons and allow them make a real contribution to their field or to serving society’s needs.
“We congratulate Kevin, Cameron, Miroslava and Ryan as the first cohort of the Fund and hope they serve as an inspiration to future International Hospitality and Tourism Management students at QMU.”
QMU teaches hospitality and tourism in the UK, India, Nepal, Athens and Singapore, at both undergraduate and Masters level. The University has a thriving PhD community whose research in hospitality, tourism and events management develops research based approaches to current industry challenges.
For more information on the Moffat Trust Scholarship Fund and to apply, contact the Development Office at QMU, E: development@qmu.ac.uk, T: 0131 474 0000
Notes to Editor
For further media information please contact Jonathan Perkins, Press and PR Officer, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, tel: 0131 474 0000, Email: jperkins@qmu.ac.uk
Photography by Tracey Largue Photography.
