Tag: INSA

Warm Welcome: Scotland embraces India’s brightest minds with open arms

 The Consul General of India in Edinburgh, Mr. Bijay Selvaraj, has hosted a warm welcome event for new Indian students arriving in Scotland to pursue their academic aspirations (writes PRIYA CHADDA). 

Held on November 24, 2023, the event brought together prominent guests and  members of the Indian community to celebrate the achievements of these students and  welcome them to their new home away from home. 

Cllr Robert Aldridge, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, extended a warm welcome to the  students on behalf of the city, highlighting Edinburgh’s rich history, vibrant culture, and  welcoming atmosphere. The Lord Provost warmly greeted each student and engaged in  meaningful conversations, exemplifying Edinburgh’s commitment to embracing its  diverse student population. 

Dr. Sreevas Sahasranamam, Senior Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, shared  his insights into the Scottish academic landscape and offered valuable advice to the  Indian students, emphasizing the importance of striking a balance between personal,  academic, and professional well-being. His insights provided a roadmap for success,  both academically and personally. 

Gopalan Rajagopal, Head of TCS Scotland, offered insights into the growing  opportunities in the Scottish technology sector and emphasized the significance of AI in  shaping sustainable career paths. His perspective highlighted the dynamic and  promising nature of the Scottish tech industry and the relevance of AI in the current job  market. 

An INSA student leader from Edinburgh shared his personal experiences and  highlighted how INSA’s support has positively impacted his journey as a student in  Scotland. His firsthand account demonstrated the tangible impact of INSA’s efforts in  fostering a supportive environment for Indian students.

Enhancing the engagement of students and attendees, INSA organized a lively quiz  testing their knowledge of Indian culture and Scottish traditions. The quiz not only added  a touch of fun but also fostered a sense of camaraderie among the Indian students,  creating a sense of belonging and shared identity. 

INSA honored the remarkable contributions of Prof. Pankaj Pankaj, Personal Chair of  Computational Biomechanics and International Dean for South Asia, with a prestigious 

Lifetime Achievement Award. Prof. Pankaj’s unwavering dedication to education and his  unwavering support for Indian students have had a profound impact on countless  individuals, making him a true inspiration to the Indian student community. 

Rittika Chanda Parruck MBE, Director Education India had an amazing speech thereafter. Her  speech highlighted compelling data reinforcing the strong cultural ties between the UK  and India, emphasizing how this enduring relationship contributes to the growth of the  UK economy. Her insights underscored the mutual benefits of cultural exchange and  collaboration between the two nations. 

Mr. Bijay Selvaraj, Consul General of India message to students focuses on reminding them of  India’s rich academic heritage, he expressed his unwavering confidence in their ability  to excel in their studies. His words of encouragement and support resonated with the  students, instilling a sense of pride in their academic heritage and fueling their  determination to succeed. 

Puneet Dwivedi, INSA Scotland President, aware everyone with the initiatives INSA is  working on tirelessly for the welfare of Indian students, and welcomed the students to  INSA’s current leadership team representing various Scottish universities and  encouraged them to join the organization as volunteers, contributing to the well-being of  fellow Indian students. His invitation highlighted the importance of peer support and the  role of INSA in fostering a sense of community among Indian students. 

INSA extends a heartfelt gratitude to the exemplary students – Priya Chadha from  Dundee University, Jayanth and Ninad from Edinburgh, and Jaimin Desai from Glasgow  University – along with a multitude of other dedicated volunteers who have selflessly  invested their time and effort in supporting Indian students transitioning from India to  Scotland. Their unwavering commitment has been instrumental in guiding and assisting  countless students, making their journey to Scotland smoother and more enriching. 

INSA also expresses its deepest appreciation to the Consul General staff including  Shobna and Hari for their meticulous planning and execution of this warm welcome  event. Their unwavering dedication created a truly memorable experience for all  attendees, exemplifying the spirit of hospitality and inclusivity that Scotland extends to  its international students. 

The event concluded with a networking reception, providing an opportunity for the new  Indian students to connect with their peers, representatives from Indian organizations,  and other members of the Scottish community. The delectable snacks provided during the reception were an added touch that perfectly complemented the warm and  welcoming atmosphere. 

INSA (Indian National Students Association) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare  and advancement of Indian students in Scotland.

INSA provides a platform for Indian students  to connect, socialize, and engage with the wider community, fostering a sense of belonging and  support.

Indian Student Welcome Event

Indian Student Welcome Event hosted by Consulate General of India along with Indian National Student’s Association (UK).

By Sakshi Jain (INSA member and graduate from University of Glasgow)

The Consulate General of India (CGI) in Edinburgh, in partnership with INSA (Indian National Student Association), organised a Welcome event for new Indian Students in Scotland over the weekend; here is a report from an INSA UK member.

Consul General of India Mr Bijay Selvaraj hosted a welcome event at his office in the capital city of Scotland, in collaboration with INSA with its mission of “Creating a home away from home” for new students who have stepped into Scotland. The programme was joined by Indian students from various levels and subjects of study from major Scottish universities. “Unity in Diversity” was at full display at the event, as these students represented various states and languages of India.

The event started with a brief introduction of INSA and their mission by Mr Kishore Dattu, head of INSA North. He highlighted the work that INSA has undertaken to support Indian students in UK, the prominent role they had played during the pandemic, and encouraged people to get involved to help fellow students from the Indian community.

Miss Sakshi Jain, founding member of INSA chapter at University of Glasgow, shared her experience of being a member of INSA and how it has enabled her to help fellow Indian students at her university and fulfil INSA’s crucial motto of contributing back to the Indian community.

Rt Honourable Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge was the chief guest of this evening, who highlighted how Edinburgh is open for all international students. He expressed how he had something in common with all the students present in the hall since he was once an international student.

He emphasized the importance of having a support network and suggested more student to get involved with INSA. He also shed light in Scotland’s and India’s common heritage and the link between India and Edinburgh.

Mr. Karan Patil gave a very inspiring speech to the students who attended the event. His words – “Work towards creating a solution for a social problem. Make sure your solution reaches the entire world.” made quite an impression on the audience.

Professor Pankaj’s words – “I believe that a diverse classroom, a classroom which has students from all nationalities enriches both research and education”, resonated deeply throughout the room. He also shared valuable insights into India and Scotland’s continued partnership to improve education, culture, and industry.

His Excellency Shri Bijay Selvaraj, Consulate General of India in Edinburgh, made the keynote address, expressing his support for Indian students across the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland. He underlined the significance of adhering to safety standards and being responsible while in the United Kingdom. He also extended a warm welcome to all of the students and assured them of his assistance in their time of need.

Mr. Puneet Dwivedi offered the vote of thanks. He expressed his gratitude to the Consulate General of India and all the dignitaries in the room for hosting the event and sharing their valuable knowledge and experience with the Indian students.

The students also had the opportunity to network and enjoy a delicious Indian dinner organised by the Consulate General.

The event was anchored by Miss Krithika Iyer, who is a student at University of Glasgow.

 Miss Sakshi Jain

First INSA Meet & Greet event for Indian students in Scotland

Indian National Students Association-UK (INSA) in Association with the Consulate General of India  (CGI), Edinburgh organized the “Meet & Greet event for Indian Students in Scotland”, over the  weekend. 

Taking INSA’s motto of “Creating a home away from home,” to Scotland, the event was a success in  terms of being insightful, instructive, and motivating to students who attended.

The programme was  joined by Indian students from various levels and subjects of study from major Scottish universities.  “Unity in Diversity” was at full display in the event as these students represented various states and  languages in India. 

The event started with everyone standing for the Indian National Anthem and needless to say that it  brought back patriotic and emotional connect to the motherland from far a distance. 

Mr. Sagar Kumar Indian Society President for UcLan University shared his experience of being guided  by INSA and its objectives to nurture his ambition of helping his fellow Indian students at his  university. 

Later, Prof. Roger Jefferey, Associate Director, Edinburgh India Institute, lent his support to Indian  students and warmly welcomed Indians to the city, even proposing to organize an Indian history tour  at the city. He highlighted the historical connect between India and Scotland which was all very new to all the attendees. 

Mr. Alok Tripathy, Director, Wipro UK & Ireland, delivered an inspirational message to the students.  He emphasized on how as international students they need to come out of their comfort zones of languages / regions and try new experiences while interacting with people of different regions of the  world.

He provided valuable tips for students with regards to improving their communicating skills  which will help in securing right job opportunities. 

The keynote address was delivered by His Excellency Shri Bijay Selvaraj, Consular General of India,  Edinburgh as he expressed his support for Indian students across the United Kingdom and  particularly in Scotland.

He encouraged them to seize opportunities and offered to assist them in any  way they needed. He assured the students that the Consulate intends to be their Home away from  Home and invited them to pop-in if and when they are in need of support. 

Vote of thanks came from Mr. Amit Tiwari, President-INSA UK who spoke about INSA’s next steps and encouraged new students to join in and get involved.

This was followed by delicious dinner  offered by the CGI. Mr. Kishore Dattu (Head of Media & Public Relations – Incharge of North Zone),  Mr. Puneet Dwivedi (Co-ordinator, Scotland), and Mr. Niranjan Sharma (Co-ordinator, Scotland)  were among the National INSA Team members who attended the event.

The CGI staff, notably  Consul Shri Satyaveer Singh and Consul Shri Asif Saeed, contributed to the success of the occasion. Altogether, it was wonderful to be the anchor for the evening, and a great opportunity to get out on  a sunny day and network with such accomplished industry executives.

With excellent feedback  received from students, INSA – UK is looking forward to launching more valuable events in the future.

Puneet Dwivedi