Educational Links between Scotland and Malawi

Following his visit to Malawi in May 2005, the First Minister made a firm commitment to support Malawi, specifically in the fields of education and health.  The Scottish Executive are currently working on developing a number of educational initiatives with Malawi and Elizabeth Williamson will speak about some of these.  An official from the Malawian Educational Ministry will also speak about these developments from a Malawian perspective.  There will also be a presentation by Sanday Community School from Orkney, who won the Scottish Schools Africa Challenge.  They will speak about their visit to Malawi in May 2005, about establishing a link with Minga Secondary school in Malawi and what they have learned from this.

Elizabeth Williamson, Scottish Executive Education Department

Elizabeth has worked in international education and relations at the Scottish Executive for the last 12 years.  She moved from European Structural Funds to the Education Department in 2000, and has developed particular expertise in the areas of international exchange and collaboration with Commonwealth and African countries. 

Elizabeth was Events Director for the 15th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (15CCEM) held in Edinburgh in October 2003, for which she received an MBE.  More recently, she has co-ordinated the Education Department’s engagement with Malawi, visiting the country as part of an official delegation prior to the First Minister’s visit there in 2005.