International Relations
Details
The role of Aberdeen City Council in international engagement is to provide strategic leadership in international activity for the City of Aberdeen by:
- influencing and responding to emerging European legislation and policy;
- sourcing and assisting others to source European and international funding to support priority projects;
- generating appropriate, strategic alliances with other international cities and bodies that contribute to the delivery of Aberdeen's priorities
- promoting Aberdeen internationally as a place to live, work, study and visit and providing appropriate support to the city's international communities
Aberdeen City Council currently delivers a wide and growing variety of European and international activities across its range of services, such as:
- international trade development
- strategic trade alliances, known as Memoranda of Understanding
- twin city partnerships
- international activities in schools and continuing professional development for teaching staff
- support in attracting European funding to the city
- international events and festivals
- communication support services for the City's international communities
Contact
- Elaine Robertson
International Strategist
Aberdeen City Council
Balgownie One
AECC
Conference Way
Bridge of Don
Aberdeen AB23 8AQ
Tel +44 (0)1224 814599
Fax +44 (0)1224 814590
Email elrobertson@aberdeencity.gov.uk
- Nicolas Ellison
International Partnerships Officer
Aberdeen City Council
Balgownie One
AECC
Conference Way
Bridge of Don
Aberdeen AB23 8AQ
Tel +44 (0)1224 814635
Fax +44 (0)1224 814590
Email: nellison@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Downloadable Forms
Related Links
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
Who is Aberdeen twinned with?
- Regensburg, Germany, twinned since 1955
- Clermont-Ferrand, France, twinned since 1983
- Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, twinned since 1986
- Gomel, Belarus, twinned since 1990
- Stavanger, Norway, twinned since 1990
What are twin city partnerships all about?
Twinning started after the Second World War as a way of encouraging reconciliation between people in Europe. Most twinning links were between French and German towns initially, but the UK quickly got involved too and now there are more than 28000 twinning links between villages, towns and cities throughout wider Europe. At the start, exchanges between towns often focused on school exchanges, sporting and cultural events and these three areas remain an important part of twin city activities. The broad aim of twinning is to use international links to provide a wide range of benefits (educational, social, cultural, sporting, economic, personal development) to people in each city.
Relationships between the twin cities have evolved in recent times though and Aberdeen's twin city activities in recent years have included education, culture and the arts, sport, tourism, commerce, science and technology, health and medical matters, environmental projects, community engagement and language learning.
What would I get out of being involved in a twin city project?
- Meet people from other countries and cultures
- Broaden your horizons
- Gain an insight into what life is like for people in those countries
- Break down barriers and tackle or prevent prejudices
- Overcome stereotypes
- Make new friends
- Develop confidence, communication and organisational skills
- Get an international perspective on different issues, local or global, and what they mean for Aberdeen and Scotland
- Promote the image of the City of Aberdeen and raise its profile overseas
- Appreciate cultural, linguistic, social and geographical diversity
- Share views and opinions, articulate your beliefs, based on exposure to another culture, another point of view
- Make use of an international forum for the exchange of knowledge, experience, ideas, skills and best practice
How can I get involved?
- Have an idea about what kind of visit or exchange you would like to take part in or organise (eg what activities, which twin city, when, who, what you want out of it, what kind of fundraising you can do, how you would host an incoming visit)
- Contact the International Strategist at Aberdeen City Council – Elaine Robertson - on 522690 or email elrobertson@aberdeencity.gov.uk to discuss the idea (giving as much notice as possible but at least 2-3 months) and find out if it's eligible for a grant. (You must live within Aberdeen City and be prepared to raise at least 50% of the cost of the visit or exchange).
- Fill in a grant application form, which is available on the Council website www.aberdeencity.gov.uk - or request a copy from Elaine)
