The British Council Northern Ireland is launching the “Choose Northern Ireland” campaign which showcases the excellent education provision Northern Ireland has to offer. It aims to highlight the 'full package' available to international students in terms of investment for the future, innovation and invention, pioneering research and high levels of support. This poster will draw on the publication ‘Get a firm grip on your future’ which supports the campaign and promotes the tradition of ideas and innovation that drives both business and education in Northern Ireland.
Speaker: Wendy Waring, Head of FE/HE programmes, British Council Northern Ireland
The University of Manchester was formed in October 2004 and the strategic plan of the institution, ‘Manchester 2015’, publicly outlined specific internationalisation goals including ambitious targets for increasing revenue from international recruitment. But in 2005 Manchester could have been considered to be underperforming in its recruitment from India, and therefore India was identified as a priority market. Manchester’s experience between 2005 and 2008 no doubt mirrors the strategic prioritisation of recruitment from India for a large number of UK HEIs. This poster attempts to present and analyse the Manchester experience as a case study of targeted recruitment in a highly competitive global context.
Speaker: Fiona Brown, Senior International Officer, The University of Manchester.
This poster presentation will use the experience of CampusFrance to discuss the potential for European promotion initiatives to co-exist with and complement national ones. It will also examine the relationship between the unique selling points of European and French higher education. Within the context of the Bologna Process, CampusFrance has been involved in promotional activities with a European dimension for several years. For example, in 2000 the agency first implemented self-funded European Higher Education Fairs (EHEFs) with partner organisations from other EU Member States, a concept that has also been adopted by the European Commission. CampusFrance is also the lead agency of a consortium composed of the British Council, the DAAD and Nuffic for the organisation of a series of EC-funded events in seven Asian countries between 2006 and 2008. This poster presentation will present some of their different activities, as well as related feedback from participating Member States and institutions.
Speakers: Louise Watts, International Programmes Coordinator, CampusFrance and Solange Pisarz, International Programmes Coordinator, CampusFrance
In an interconnected world, knowledge of different cultures and working practices are highly desired attributes by many employers. However, while the UK has played a major role in increasing participation in international higher education, UK students are amongst the most reluctant to share in this beneficial experience. To improve outbound mobility, there is a need for greater understanding of the attitudes and opinions of tomorrow’s potential students. Since 2006 A Star Future, a specialist marketing consultancy, has conducted extensive research into the preferences of UK students aged 16-18 to assess the impact of many of the often quoted barriers to participation in international education, thus enabling international educators to gain a better understanding of the factors influencing UK outbound mobility. Tuition fees and language skills are both important considerations, but there are many other factors which play a significant role in the decision making process. This research gives a clearer understanding of the subjects, types of courses, and locations that most appeal to UK students. This research also addresses the pivotal role of parents, teachers and other advisors in improving awareness of international higher education. Equally important is the creation of effective means of communicating to them the benefits of international education. A Star Future has developed effective solutions to demonstrate how international universities can improve the number of enquiries, applications and enrolments they receive over time by taking a general approach to promoting education overseas. Many of the lessons learnt are also relevant to raising awareness of, and interest in, exchange programmes offered by UK universities. While general interest in international opportunities, such as gap years or work abroad, is high amongst UK young people, there is a clear need for systematic provision of information about international higher education. By utilising the knowledge gained from future UK students asked about their intentions we can maximise the effectiveness of this information provision.
Speaker:Mark Huntington, Managing Director, A Star Future Ltd, UK
This poster presentation will focus on the successful web tutorial Tick off to take off (TOTTO) used by Keele University to prepare students to study abroad. As part of the Intercultural Communication module taken by all Keele undergraduate students planning to study abroad, or used as a separate recourse, TOTTO assists students through the post-selection process and application to partner universities. TOTTO covers the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and Iceland. TOTTO gives structure to the application process, helps to reassure students that they are complying with all necessary requirements and provides a resource to answer any questions they might have. TOTTO has received very positive feedback from students.
Speakers: Dr Annette Kratz, and Louise Watts
This poster presentation will focus on the School of Russian Studies (SRS), founded in 2004, which aims to provide quality education on Russia by utilising the excellent teaching recourses and research opportunities available at the State University of Higher Economics and its rich infrastructure for educating international English-speaking students and researchers interested in Russian studies. The primary aim of SRS is to create a more distinct focus on Russia’s historical, cultural and social sciences research of past and present to thereby improve the environment for joint and individual research on Russia, including interdisciplinary and comparative approaches. SRS offers international students and researchers a wide range of courses including Economy, Politics and International Relations, History, Culture and the Russian Language. Lectures and seminars are delivered by renowned Russian and internationally recognised professors. Leadings academic figures and top policy makers are also involved. SRS works closely with Russia’s leading analytical centres, international organisations and agencies. Since 2004, SRS has been a source of education on Russia for more than 300 international students. International students are given academic credits which can be transferred to their home universities’ according to specific policies. SRS offers a summer school and courses in the autumn and spring semesters and from 2008 an international Master’s programme in Political Science.
Speaker: Ivan TsarikovExecutive Director, School of Russian Studies, State University Higher School of Economics , Russia.
This poster explores whether global economic developments are in fact changing the shape of international student mobility. The needs of international students remain essentially the same, even if recruitment models have changed. This poster will examine student mobility and recruitment, including inward v outward mobility, exchange programmes, recruitment methods and the application process. It will also explore student mobility is - a euphemism for exchange programmes or a smokescreen for recruitment? The poster will demonstrate the increasing sophistication of the student recruitment market, showing the increasing demand for selective candidates the needs of institutional and government sponsors. It seeks to examine how providers are reacting to these changes and the needs of applicants. The poster also explores what the removal of a fee cap for EU students could mean for internationalisation and non-EU recruitment.
Speaker:Gérard Goulé, International Education Consultant and University Placement Adviser, GG Education Consultancy, UK
The Erasmus student exchange programme aims to increase student mobility within Europe. However, UK involvement as a source for Erasmus students has lagged behind that of other leading nations. This poster represents research conducted as part of an ESRC sponsored PhD studentship at the University of Bristol. Three aspects related to UK Erasmus participation rates are explored - the socio-economic background of Erasmus students, the subjects represented by Erasmus students and the experiences of UK students during their Erasmus participation. UK Erasmus students tend to come from upper socio-economic groups, to attend pre-1992 universities and to study language-related subjects. Additionally, many Erasmus students experience living as part of a separate community of international students, rather than integrating with local students and residents. The poster display the research, which used statistical databases, focus groups and interviews with returning Erasmus students, plus reflections upon photographs taken by students during the exchange.
SpeakerCraig Whittaker, PhD student, University of Bristol
This poster presentation will outline the impact of international student recruitment on language planning and syllabus design at Universiti Malaysia Pahang. At the university, English language subjects are offered as in-sessional compulsory courses across all faculties of engineering and technology with foreign languages such as Arabic, Mandarin, Japanese and German as electives. Most tertiary level English for Academic Purposes (EAP) syllabuses in Malaysia, where English is a second language, have been designed for ESL learners. EAP practitioners have found themselves having to review their syllabuses and address the needs of prospective international students, particularly those from China. The poster will discuss this impact of international student recruitment.
Speaker: Noor Raha Mohd RaduzanHead of Modern Languages, Universiti Malaysia Pahang
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