MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK postgraduate training for hundreds of Chileans

Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley signed Friday in London a Memorandum of Understanding on Educational Scholarships, the first of its kind and which will help increase the number of Chilean students in the UK.

The Memorandum underpins the education scholarship agreements signed by Chile and representatives of Universities UK and the Russell Group of Universities. "This Memorandum of Understanding is a great example of the excellent and rapidly-growing cooperation between the UK and Chile. Our education links have always been strong, and today we are delighted to be a partner in this programme to develop still further UK and Chilean human capital and skills" said Foreign Secretary Miliband. "By developing academic partnerships between our institutions of higher education, and helping to create strong human and institutional networks, these agreements will play an important role in increasing understanding between the young people of our two countries". Chile plans to expand its Human Capital Development program and increase the numbers of Chilean students who study at UK academic institutions and other overseas countries For this purpose it's investing 6 billion USD funded by the rise in copper prices in the program. At present Chile funds 200 overseas students, their target is to be funding 6500 by 2012 and there's a special interest in having a significant number of them to enrol in UK universities. To date Chile has similar agreements with Canada, New Zealand and Australia. "This agreement will not only provide access to the UK's excellent higher education institutions but also allows young people in the UK and Chile to develop the cultural insights and understanding they will need to prosper in today's world. We are delighted to have helped bring about this agreement which will be of huge benefit to the UK and Chile" said Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council. Professor Rick Trainor, President, Universities UK, the major representative body and membership organisation for the higher education sector, was most enthusiastic about the understanding. "Universities UK is delighted to sign this MoU on behalf of its members. Chilean scholars will obtain the best postgraduate training the UK has to offer, while campuses and communities across the UK will benefit from hosting hundreds of Chilean students each year." "As world-class research-intensive institutions, Russell Group universities are working with their peers internationally to address the major scientific and social challenges facing humanity. We are pleased to sign this Memorandum of Understanding, which will allow our universities to benefit from enhancing our partnerships with Chile and to enable some of the best and brightest Chilean students to study alongside their international peers. In a global economy, it will be those universities that are operating in partnership with the best in the world that will be able to harness leading-edge research, teaching and innovation for the benefit of the UK." Director General of The Russell Group, Dr Wendy Piatt. The Russell Group of Universities comprises 20 major research-intensive UK universities.