Scotland and China are developing closer links via a science-based student exchange programme.

Students from both countries have started arriving in their host cities prior to starting their three month British Council International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) placements.

The Scottish government's Chief Scientific Office is funding five placements for Chinese students in an exchange that also sees five students from Scotland travel to China for work placements.

The Chinese students visit has been made possible after the announcement in April by Fiona Hyslop, ‘Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning’ to fund the placements of Chinese students in order to enhance links between the two countries.

The students from China will be taking up placements with Fisheries Research Services in Aberdeen, Scottish Agricultural Science Agency in Edinburgh and the Edinburgh International Science Festival. Students from Scotland will be working with Innovalue Design in Chang Zhou, Yantai Wanhua in Beijing, and the Harbin Institute for Technology.

Former IAESTE participant Scott Hutchison – who studied with Innovalue Design himself last year - gave the Scottish participants a presentation prior to their departure for China.

He said about the programme: ‘Through IAESTE I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to travel and work in China. The experience was incredible; it exceeded all of my expectations and has made me reconsider what I value in life. It was very exciting and humbling to work in a developing country and live with the Chinese people and their culture’.

The placements are coordinated by IAESTE (The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) a global work experience programme that arranges paid placements for undergraduate students studying science, engineering and architecture.

IAESTE is managed in the UK by the British Council as part of an international association of over 85 member countries.