Editorial
Appendix A to
Paper OS 013
This report covers the year to 31 March 1992 which was a difficult one for the economy and many companies who
would normally be expected to host CBI scholars have been unable to do so. Despite this the placing of candidates held up reasonably well over the year as a whole even though conditions were at their most difficult over the last few months to the 31 March.
147 candidates were put forward by 45 countries and a total of 81 scholarships were awarded in the year
year compared
compared with 114
with 114 in the previous year
and well over 90 in each of the two preceding years. The relatively high number of awards made last year ensured that the number of scholars in Britain at any one time was maintained at a good average monthly figure of 77, although numbers had declined to 66 by the end of March 1992.
Three new countries, Algeria, Malawi and St Lucia were represented amongst the year's arrivals, bringing to 85 the number of countries which have produced scholars since the Scheme began.
The Scholarships Board is keen to see the Scheme's facilities used to a greater extent by firms who undertake the training of engineers in the furtherance of current or prospective overseas trade. The trend in this direction has increased over the last few years, but with only 11 in this category out of the 81 awards this year, there must be a great deal more scope for such directly trade-targeted awards and companies with an active or proposed interest in overseas markets are urged to make use of this
of this facility. Sponsorship of suitable overseas graduate engineers for practical experience in Britain is rendered both simpler and less expensive if advantage is taken of the CBI Overseas Scholarships Scheme.
The CBI Scheme accepts as candidates only those who hold an engineering degree or diploma, who have had at least one year's post-graduate working experience in their profession and are currently employed in their own country. The normal upper age limit is 35 years. Given that engineers in overseas countries are in the mainstream for advancement to senior posts in industry or even in government, it may be said that the CBI Scheme is an exceptionally suitable medium through which companies may develop existing relationships or seek
establish new contacts in countries
to
of
interest to them.