“enhancing the student experience,” icos seminar, june 10 2010© tim rogers, international...
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“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
What do students need: from essentials to “nice-to-haves”
Tim RogersInternational Education Consultant
tim@intedco.com
“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
The ACA study: setting the scene
• With more international student travelling for education, the level and elements of competition have become more diverse
• The provision of services – academic and others – is increasingly seen by students as a significant factor in their decision-making process
• The recognition of this situation amongst European universities, however, is inconsistent and has a potentially adverse impact on the attractiveness of these universities
“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
ENATIS: Enhancing attractiveness through international student services
The principal aims of the study were to:
• to discover the support needs of international degree students, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and especially those coming from significantly different cultural and religious backgrounds;
• to provide recommendations on how to meet those needs at institutional and other levels in strategic and organisational terms, based on a series of examples of good practice;
• propose guidelines of good practice for international student support at European level
“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
“Must haves” for international students
• Two clear concerns for non-EU students pre-arrival: housing and visa advice
• There is an expectation that support will be actively provided for both demands
• Other aspects appear to be dependent on a mix of perception of the availability of services, tuition fees and pre-arrival contact
• Pre-arrival academic advice regarding programme content is increasingly important for many non-EU Masters students
• Information provided by universities is, in the main, generic rather tailored to students
“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
Expectations: important pre-arrival services
“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
• On arrival and during study: continued support for housing, orientation and study support are essential
• Significant evidence to suggest that provision in these areas is inconsistent
• Lack of clear “sign posting” for all of these services• Balance between duty of care responsibilities and what
a student is right in demanding• Organised peer-to-peer contact addresses many of
these issues, particularly where an institution has insufficient resources
“Must haves” for international students
“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
Expectations: important arrival services
“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
Expectations: important study services
“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
“Nice-to-haves” for international students
• The “Rolls Royce” service offered by many institutions is almost always related to the level of tuition fees levied
• “Nice-to-haves” not only depend on the expectations of incoming students, but their level of study and their background
• Clearest distinction between exchange and full-degree students
• But the connectedness of today’s student dictates the relative importance of many of these services
“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
• Pre-departure briefings• Alumni and current student contact• Arrival pick-up• Extensive social activities during orientation• Formal welcome• Cultural programmes• Formal cross-cultural training
“Nice-to-haves” for international students
These services include:
“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
How important are services on study choice?
“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
Problem areas• Accommodation• Visas: information and support• Registration: national and academic (institutional)• Bank accounts and other financial issues• Work opportunities and internships
• Information: at all levels• Language• Integration• Support for families
• Feedback mechanisms: institutionally and at the department level
• Acknowledgement of “duty of care” responsibilities
“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd“Enhancing the student experience,” ICOS Seminar, June 10 2010 © Tim Rogers, International Higher Education Consultants UK Ltd
Conclusion
• The provision of services for international students is now significant
• Only 20% in the ACA survey say it is “not important” in their decision making process
• The awareness of this change in behaviour needs to be acknowledged and discussed throughout the institution
• Clear priorities need to be set• And resources allocated• But, there is also an awareness amongst students that in
some cases, a country’s education system is “not good” for services and so they arrive with a diminished level of expectation
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