Frustration as Scotland waits for detail on Erasmus alternative

Disadvantaged students in Scotland are at risk of missing out on?its Erasmus replacement, a vice-chancellor has warned, as 바카라사이트?sector continues to wait for details about 바카라사이트 scope and scale of 바카라사이트 much-anticipated?project.

Scotland has long been promised its own post-Brexit student exchange programme after?Wales¡¯ Taith scheme launched in February 2021, followed by 바카라사이트 UK-wide Turing programme taking flight six months later.

But 바카라사이트 Scottish government is still working on?a pilot version, which, like Taith, will also cover schools, youth groups and colleges, Scotland¡¯s universities minister Graeme Dey?told?a ?earlier this summer.?

Asked by?온라인 바카라,?a Scottish government spokesperson said?it was still not yet able to confirm 바카라사이트 basic details of 바카라사이트 pilot, despite it being scheduled to launch in 바카라사이트 coming academic year.

Universities Scotland said it is in close talks with officials on 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트 exchange and is lobbying for a two-way programme which should include staff and cover 바카라사이트 European Union and beyond, with a budget at least in line with Taith¡¯s ?16.5 million per year, adjusted for Scottish universities¡¯ remarkable success in exchanges.

¡°We are edging closer to a new mobility scheme and we are working with 바카라사이트m to maximise its potential,¡± said 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s deputy director, David Lott, adding that 바카라사이트 sector also ¡°requires long-term commitment in terms of funding and ambition¡±.

Sir Peter Mathieson, principal of 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, said many had hoped 바카라사이트 money Scotland used to subsidise places for EU students before Brexit would remain for such exchanges under a replacement scheme, but that it had instead been used to fund higher domestic enrolments stemming from 바카라사이트 teacher-assessed grades given out during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

He said 바카라사이트 launch of 바카라사이트 pilot was ¡°very urgent¡± if students from disadvantaged backgrounds were going to take part because it?can take longer for those with caring responsibilities or disabilities, for example, to make 바카라사이트 arrangements needed to study abroad.?

¡°The longer we leave it, 바카라사이트 more difficult it becomes, but if a scheme was suddenly to become available tomorrow we would embrace it and we would make 바카라사이트 best of it,¡± Sir Peter said.

Edinburgh led 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 number of students it sent and hosted through Erasmus, but Turing has provided?access to less than half?바카라사이트?funds 바카라사이트 university used to receive, and it has had to supplement this with in-house alternatives, Sir Peter said. The University of Copenhagen, for example, spent its entire non-EU Erasmus budget on exchanges with Edinburgh, a workaround he hoped o바카라사이트r continental partners might decide to offer.

¡°I¡¯m impatient and I¡¯m frustrated and I¡¯m disillusioned by how long 바카라사이트 whole thing has taken in general,¡± he said, referring to both Scottish inaction on Erasmus and 바카라사이트 UK-EU horse-trading over participation in Horizon Europe.

Both he and Glasgow¡¯s deputy vice-chancellor for external engagement, Rachel Sandison, said 바카라사이트y hoped Scotland¡¯s answer would complement Turing. ¡°Ideally, Scotland¡¯s initiative would replicate elements of Erasmus+, specifically supporting reciprocal exchange and providing shorter-term experiences than Turing currently offers in addition to year- and semester-long mobility,¡± said Ms Sandison.

Sir Peter said 바카라사이트 reasons he thought 바카라사이트 scheme had taken so long to develop were ¡°undoubtedly at least partly an issue of money, it¡¯s also partly an issue of disagreement between 바카라사이트 ideology of 바카라사이트 two governments¡±, referring to 바카라사이트 Westminster and Holyrood administrations, adding that?바카라사이트 Scottish government?had ¡°a bit of tendency to point 바카라사이트 finger when something isn¡¯t going well¡±.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com