Attending the event were the university’s Vice Chancellor, Dr. Peter Noyes; the Director of Higher Education Wales, Amanda Wilkinson; Arvid Peteresen, Global Executive Chairman of Study Group as well as a range of past and present students at the centre.

168 students have enrolled at the centre since it opened two years ago with two routes into undergraduate study available to them, one for students of law and business the other designed for students of future engineering and science. Last year sixty students progressed from the WISC into universities in Wales, including Cardiff and Aberystwyth.

Vice Chancellor, Dr. Peter Noyes said at the event: “International students bring different cultures and different ways of learning to our campus and we’ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback from all of our students. The Students’ Union has started social clubs to appeal to our international students and welcome them to the university. We want to achieve the right mix of students here and we value the two-way benefit that currently exists between UK and international students. We’re currently satisfied with a 10-15% internationalisation of the student population.”

Dr Noyes also believed that international students represent a positive future for Wales saying that many of these students would go on to be heads of industry in their countries and a are therefore an essential business prospects for Welsh industry.

The event was a joint celebration of two years of the WISC and a thank you to Study Group , the organisation responsible for running the WISC. Arvid Peterson, Global Executive Chairman of the leading international education provider said: “We’ve found on a global basis that the recipe for International Study Centre success is to encourage a diversity of nationalities, there are around 23 at the WISC at the moment, to study numerous disciplines. The WISC fully immerses its students treating them as members of the university from day one. This allows them the best possible preparation for their future undergraduate and postgraduate courses.”

One such student at the WISC is 19-year-old Raisa Mia from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Raisa described how she had always wanted to study law, ever since she was a child. She is currently studying a business foundation degree and has just been offered a conditional place at Cardiff Law School. Describing her time at the WISC, Raisa said: I’m the only Malaysian at the WISC but it hasn’t stopped the feeling of extended family that I have become accustomed to. All the teachers act as personal mentors as well which makes it really easy to settle in and progress with your studies.”

The WISC is one of twelve successful ISCs located on campuses across the UK.

Several universities in Wales have launched new scholarships for 2009-2010 or increased existing provision meaning that over £17,000,000 worth of scholarships are available in Wales for 2009-2010. Wales International Consortium is also currently in talks with several potential partners to increase the scholarship provision even further anticipating  that this amount is set to increase again by 2010 – 2011.

Aberystwyth University has recently launched a range of International Excellence Scholarships in addition to a range of postgraduate awards from the School of Management and Business, Computer Science, International Politics and the Institute of Mathematics and Physical Sciences.

Bangor University announced a five million pound investment in up to 125 new research studentships and bursaries launching a five year programme of postgraduate expansion at Bangor University. The expansion, announced for the academic year 2009-10, forms part of the University’s 125th anniversary celebrations. Bangor University also has a range of international scholarships available for all subjects. Bangor Business School also offers a range of Gold and Silver Awards to all international students.

Cardiff University offers scholarships for Business, Journalism, Public Relations, Psychology, Pharmacy, Law and Engineering It has also recently announced the launch of two schemes available to students from the US. In conjunction with the Fulbright Commission, it has established two prestigious awards schemes for postdoctoral research to study at Cardiff University. It has also welcomed two Marshall Scholars as part of the new Partnership Scholarships with the Marshall Foundation.

Glyndwr University offers a unique package deal to all its international students giving students free accommodation for the first year of their degree.

University of Glamorgan offers students from Bangladesh, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, Zambia, Zimbabwe awards as part of its Undergraduate International Development Scholarships. This is in addition to offering every international student with a confirmed place the opportunity to receive a scholarship. This means that the University of Glamorgan offers the largest range of scholarships in Wales.

Swansea University offers international office scholarships for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses in addition to offering Swansea alumni the opportunity to receive a bursary to continue their studies at Swansea. The James Callaghan Scholarships are also available to students from Commonwealth countries.

The International Film School Wales at University of Wales Newport recently announced the launch of two new scholarships of £8,750 to US students to study MA/MFA Film and MA/MFA Animation programmes. Additionally University of Wales Newport offers international scholarships for all courses and an Academic Excellence Scholarship to postgraduate students from India.

In May this year, the Prince of Wales officially launched a groundbreaking £11.4 million Welsh scholarship programme at Clarence house, his official residence in London. The scheme aims to attract the world’s best graduates to place them within research and development-focused businesses in Wales to undertake key research projects.

Virginia West, Director of Wales International Consortium said “Universities in Wales have placed internationalisation at the heart of their strategies and recognizes that an integral component of that is attracting the best international students to study in Wales. International students are key to attracting strategic links with international universities, faculty partnerships and research collaborations.

There are currently almost 10,000 full-time international students in Wales an increase of 19% on the previous year. Wales is committed to ensuring that these figures continue to increase by ensuring that its range of scholarships, bursaries and awards are the best in the UK to ensure that the highest calibre of international student is choosing to study in Wales.”

Read original press release from Wales Intenational Consortium (WIC)