First Minister announces £745k funding for China study scheme

Nicola Sturgeon has announced a £745,000 investment to give Scottish students the chance to live and study in China.

She made the announcement on the first day of her official visit to the country as she met some of the current students on the scholarship scheme.

The cash will go to the Confucius Institute for Scotland’s Schools (CISS) Scholarship Programme, despite the institute facing criticism from some campaigners.

The joint scheme between CISS and Tianjin Education Commission provides places for a number of Scottish students to study and live in China for a year.

A total of 70 Scottish students have been awarded scholarships since the partnership started in 2012.

In 2017 and 2018 there are 22 places, which CISS hopes to increase next year.

Sixth year pupils in Scotland’s 22 Confucius Classroom Hubs can apply for the scholarships.

The First Minister said: “Scotland and China have longstanding links which we want to strengthen and one of the most important ways in which we can do that is through education.

“The work of the Confucius Institute for Scotland’s schools has helped to engage more of our young people in learning about the culture, history and language of China, through the growing network of Confucius Classrooms.”

The institutes have previously faced criticism from campaign group Free Tibet, which called for a rethink and claimed there was “little scrutiny” of the organisations in Scotland.

Picture: PA. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is visiting China.