Five students from Queen Margaret University in Musselburgh, East Lothian, are amongst the first in the world to receive financial support linked to the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland.
The group of students, who study on the BA (Hons) International Hospitality and Tourism and the BA (Hons) Events Management, each received a one-off payment of £1,000. Ryder Cup Europe has made a commitment to QMU to fund five tourism, hospitality and event student bursaries per year for a total of four years. The bursary scheme means that a total of twenty QMU students will benefit by receiving £1000 each .
The bursaries will help the students pay for their travel and accommodation costs and ensure they can access courses relevant to The 2014 Ryder Cup.
Richard Hills, European Ryder Cup Director, said: “The 2014 Ryder Cup will bring major benefits to the local and Scottish economy and we want to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. The bursary schemes will help support QMU students with their living expenses. We hope that these students will go on to contribute to the Scottish tourism and hospitality industries for years to come.”
Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, said: “The Ryder Cup is more than just golf, and good hospitality and management can help make the event truly great. This investment places young people at the heart of our legacy commitment and will give young people new skills in their chosen career path and the best training to go on to work, whether it is in the hospitality and event management industry, or as the next generation of industry leaders.”
International Hospitality and Tourism student, Calum McEachern (pictured above), from QMU, was delighted to receive a Ryder Cup bursary. He said: “I take on quite a lot of paid employment to support my studies. However, the bursary will relieve some of the financial pressure associated with being a student and I can hopefully spend a bit more time focusing on my studies. I am extremely grateful for the support and freedom which this investment brings. I’m excited about the Ryder Cup coming to Scotland and will be trying to get involved in some way.”
The Ryder Cup Bursary Scheme is running at QMU as well as Perth College UHI and the University of Stirling. The Scheme completes a range of educational commitments made by Ryder Cup Europe, covering primary through to further education initiatives.