International students to celebrate Commonwealth Day

Five international students from the University of the Highlands and Islands have been invited to a prestigious event at the Scottish parliament.

The students, who have come from Canada, India, New Zealand and Australia to study at the University, will take part in a programme of events on Wednesday 14 March to celebrate Commonwealth Day. The group, which includes students based at Moray College UHI, West Highland College UHI and Perth College UHI, will join other international students from Universities around Scotland.

Attendees will hear an address by famous Scottish singer, Annie Lennox OBE, who is the special envoy of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Scottish branch. They will also have the opportunity to pose questions to the singer about her humanitarian work and role as special envoy. The Commonwealth Day celebrations will conclude with a reception where the students can mix with the other invited guests who include MSPs, Consuls and representatives from organisations and charities.

Ciera Harvey (22) is one of the University of the Highlands and Islands students going to the Commonwealth Day celebration. Originally from Canada, she moved to Fort William to study Scottish Cultural Studies with the University at West Highland College UHI.

Ciera said: “I’m very excited about the event. It’s not just a great opportunity to meet other international students, but also a chance to create bonds across campuses.

“It’s also a fantastic opportunity for the University’s international relations,” she added. “As a Scottish Cultural Studies student, I chose UHI because of its proximity to famous archaeological sites and because it uses the country’s diversity to provide a unique education. UHI has provided me with the chance to learn from Neolithic sites that I would only have seen in textbooks if I had continued to study in Canada.”

Scottish Parliament presiding officer, Tricia Marwick MSP, said: “Commonwealth Day is an opportunity for the Scottish Parliament to focus beyond our borders and draw attention to the connections that we have made across the globe.”

Media contact

Susan Szymborski
Communications officer
01463 279222
susan.szymborski@uhi.ac.uk