Prof Colin Riordan at the Study in Wales launch
This week has seen the culmination of an ambitious joint project involving Universities Wales, British Council Wales, Welsh Government and Visit Wales, with the UK launch of a vibrant new brand to sell Welsh universities to the world.
Having launched internationally at the prestigious NAFSA conference in Boston last month, the UK launch of the Study in Wales brand took place during Cardiff University’s annual International Scholars Celebration, where Chair of Universities Wales and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University, Professor Colin Riordan, attended a ceremony for international students nearing the end of their degrees to wish them well for the future.
Study in Wales will serve as an informative gateway showcasing what Wales has to offer as a study destination – from its universities and courses through to its history and culture, as well as practical information on how students can apply.
Director of British Council Wales, Jenny Scott, said that they were “pleased to be backing the new Study in Wales brand as Wales has so much to offer international and UK students – excellent universities, culture and environment, plus, what must be one of the most cost effective locations. The new brand will undoubtedly help us to promote Welsh higher education internationally and we found the response in Boston to be very positive.”
With almost a fifth of its students drawn from across the globe, Welsh universities already boast some of the most vibrant and diverse campuses of anywhere the UK. However, in an increasingly competitive environment it was felt that an overarching “Wales” brand was needed to build upon the country’s growing reputation as an attractive destination for international students and help maintain the positive impact they make in enriching the student experience, along with the vital contribution they make to the local economy, which is worth over £400m every year.
Also supporting the initiative is the Welsh Government’s Minister for Education and Skills, Huw Lewis, who said that “Wales is a truly fantastic place to study, work and live in. Through our excellent universities and their growing international reputation for world-leading research we have a lot to attract young people, from all over the world, to come and learn in Wales.
“I am pleased that our nine universities are working together through Universities Wales to promote Wales as an international destination of choice through the Study in Wales brand. The economic benefits to Wales of international research and incoming students is well documented. International students are not only a benefit to their host institutions, they also enrich the cultural experience of home students and that is why I want Wales to be a place which is open and welcoming to students from all over the world.”
Chair of Universities Wales, Professor Colin Riordan, said: “Following the recent excellent set of results for Welsh universities in the Research Excellence Framework exercise, we are keen to promote what Wales has to offer as a premier international destination for students – both inside and outside the classroom.
“Universities Wales is successfully engaging in a number of initiatives with partners to communicate the benefits of a higher education experience in Wales, and we’re extremely grateful to the British Council, Visit Wales and the Welsh Government for helping us realise our vision for the Study in Wales brand. Our campuses are amongst the most diverse of anywhere in the UK, and we firmly believe that we can offer a unique, vibrant and enriching student experience that will be of benefit to prospective students, our universities and to wider Welsh society.”
Further information on Study in Wales can be found at www.studyinwales.ac.uk.
