Collaborative Benefits of International Exchange Scholarships

Abstract

<jats:p> Consulting engineers Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick and the University of Reading established a TCS (Teaching Company Scheme) programme in 1993 to introduce the application of information technology to support project management methods used within the firm. Young graduates in TCS are eligible to compete for an annual scholarship to visit Hong Kong and China. The scholarship, sponsored by the British Council, provides an allowance for a six-week visit. In this article, Carrie Thomas, the 1995 scholar, details her experiences during the visit, which enabled further investigation of the methods, techniques and circumstances surrounding the management of engineering projects in Hong Kong compared to those in the UK. She also comments on the benefits of this kind of academic-industrial collaboration and of international exchange scholarships. </jats:p>