Maggie Stewart-Grant
2003-07-02 23:14:34 UTC
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=421167
Better be British, Scots told
By Paul Kelbie Scotland Correspondent
03 July 2003
Students at one of the UK's oldest universities have been advised to
call themselves British rather than Scottish, Welsh or Irish on job
applications, in case prospective employers regard them as troublesome
nationalists.
Career advisers at Aberdeen University have issued a guide to students
seeking work outside Scotland, which warns them that their best chance
is to declare British nationality.
The advice has caused political outrage. "Scotland is a nation and not
a region," said the Aberdeen MSP Richard Lochhead, who has complained
to the university.
"We have our national Parliament and when the country should be
rebuilding its confidence, we shouldn't be advising our young people
to deny their birthright."
The guide book is the idea of Locker Madden, head of the careers and
appointments service, who says his sole purpose is to help graduates
gain good jobs by assisting them with application letters, CVs and
interviews.
"Some employers might see 'Scottish' on the application form and
think, 'This might be a daft bloke in a kilt who will celebrate
Bannockburn and upset me'," Mr Madden said.
In leaflets and brochures distributed to students at Aberdeen, English
scholars are also advised to call themselves British.
A spokesman for Aberdeen University said: "In the feedback from our
business contacts we have been told applicants who declare their
nationality as British are more likely to get an interview than those
who put down Scottish, Welsh or Irish."
This is the first time I've gone to the "Independent" web site. What aBetter be British, Scots told
By Paul Kelbie Scotland Correspondent
03 July 2003
Students at one of the UK's oldest universities have been advised to
call themselves British rather than Scottish, Welsh or Irish on job
applications, in case prospective employers regard them as troublesome
nationalists.
Career advisers at Aberdeen University have issued a guide to students
seeking work outside Scotland, which warns them that their best chance
is to declare British nationality.
The advice has caused political outrage. "Scotland is a nation and not
a region," said the Aberdeen MSP Richard Lochhead, who has complained
to the university.
"We have our national Parliament and when the country should be
rebuilding its confidence, we shouldn't be advising our young people
to deny their birthright."
The guide book is the idea of Locker Madden, head of the careers and
appointments service, who says his sole purpose is to help graduates
gain good jobs by assisting them with application letters, CVs and
interviews.
"Some employers might see 'Scottish' on the application form and
think, 'This might be a daft bloke in a kilt who will celebrate
Bannockburn and upset me'," Mr Madden said.
In leaflets and brochures distributed to students at Aberdeen, English
scholars are also advised to call themselves British.
A spokesman for Aberdeen University said: "In the feedback from our
business contacts we have been told applicants who declare their
nationality as British are more likely to get an interview than those
who put down Scottish, Welsh or Irish."
crock of....baloney! After cruising through most of the site and doing a
quick check of some of the information provided on several of the articles,
I find the validity of the articles questionable, and certainly negative
when it comes to its feel for the national and ethnic identity of any member
of the UK. I would rank it lower than used toilet tissue.
I've just written to Mr. Madden, referencing this article. For anyone else
who might be interested in letting Mr. Madden know their thoughts, his
e-mail address is as follows:
Senior Careers Advisory Officer
Student Affairs, Careers & Appointments
***@abdn.ac.uk
I'm sure he would be interested in hearing the thoughts of others on this
issue, so that he has the opportunity to refute the article that has been
posted, or attempt to support his position.
By the way, has Logan met the inimitable Henderson? They're clearly two of
a kind. Logan just hit my killfile. I should have done it sooner.
~M.