Events celebrate migrant contribution

University schools and groups are taking part in a national day of action, celebrating the contribution of migrants to the UK.

The benefit of people from abroad living, working and studying in the UK is being highlighted by the One Day Without Us campaign.

Participants are invited to take photos and share personal messages of support on social media using the hashtag #1DayWithoutUs.

Weekend of events

One Day Without Us is celebrated on Saturday 17 February.

University events will take place on Friday 16 February and on the UN World Day of Social Justice on Monday 19 February.

There are many ways to take part in the events happening across schools and societies throughout the University.

One Night With Us – Migrants Ball

The University is hosting an evening of live music & dancing, international food and fundraising.

One Night With Us takes place at South Hall, 18 Holyrood Park Rd on Saturday 17 February from 6.30 pm.

More information can be found here.

Around the University

Many schools and departments, including Social and Political Science (SPS), the Centre for Global Health Research, the Roslin Institute, the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre and Edinburgh Global will be hosting international lunches, organising photos of their staff from around the world and sharing content via social media.

Social and Political Science

Colleagues from SPS will show their support for Edinburgh’s international community of staff, students, family and friends with a series of events.

The Chrystal Macmillan Building will host a drop-in lunch, featuring food from around the world.

Interactive Twitter and Post-it note walls will be available to share thoughts on migration.

A digital map display will outline the countries and locations from where Edinburgh’s staff and students come from and where SPS research, fieldwork and collaborations take place.

Events take place from 10 am – 2 pm, Chrystal Macmillan Building, 15a George Square.

International students and staff

The University benefits greatly from student and staff mobility and collaborations across borders.

Edinburgh’s international students represent 43 per cent of the total University community, coming from 156 nations - 12 per cent of our student intake is from the EU and 30 per cent is from outside Europe.

Just under a third of University’s staff are international - 33 per cent of University staff come from 105 nations – 19 per cent from the EU, and 12 per cent from outside Europe.

The University has been built on the global exchange of people, ideas and values and it’s important to recognise the huge contribution of our international community, support it, and celebrate it.

Professor James SmithVice Principal - International