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Helping Hands Come in Many Different Colours: Support Services for International Student Success

Presenter: Soon Kong Academic Advisor University 1 First Year Centre University of Manitoba Canada

University of Manitoba

Agenda

International Students in Canada and U.S. Economic and Social Impact. Why U.S. and Canada? Internal findings and services at the University of Manitoba. Best Practices in Canada and U.S. Impact on domestic students, academic staff, faculties,

institution and in the communities. Essential resources.

National Level Canada

Plans to double its international student body by 2022

265,377 in 2012-2013 450,000 by 2022 China, Vietnam, India,

Brazil, Mexico, and the Middle East-North Africa region.

B.C. /Ontario combined: 68 % of all international students.

Source: CBIE

National LevelU.S.

819,644 in 2012-13 China, India, South

Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada

California hosts over 100,000 - 12% of total international students

Less than 4 % of all students (21 million)

Economic & Social ImpactsCanada

$10 billion annually 86,000 new jobs

GDP Contribution Tax revenue Recruiting skilled labour Building relationships with

other countries for potential trade opportunities

U.S.

$24 billion annually 313,000 new jobs

Why Students Choose North America for Higher Education?

Highly competitive to get into prestigious universities in home country.

Marketability. Better Education System.

Critical & creative thinking skills Teamwork skills Communication skills Language skills

Opportunities to work/to immigrate/overall quality of life.

Findings at the U of M

Assessing International Student PerformanceHigh School grades above 80%

62-65% (Manitobans) vs 82-83% (International Students)

Academic performance: less than 2.0 GPA at the end of the first year of study.

2005-2006 : 31.38% (All University 1) vs 42.30% (International)

Why Do International Students Struggle?

Language Different education system Culture Isolation Climate Other

Areas of Support

“Cultural identity”“Psychological and emotional

support”“Professional and academic support”“Multicultural network”

Student Services: Best Practices – Canada and U.S.

“Psychological and emotional support”

“Professional and academic support”

“Multicultural network”

Orientation Pre-arrival package/Handbook Mentorship Program/Pioneer or

Pioneer Student Advising/Academic

Advising Workshops U of A+ (boot camp) Global Friendship Language Bank Global Learning Centre

Student Services: Best Practices – Canada and U.S.

Global community Community connections Global café/Weekly coffee hour English conversation program Cultural events throughout the year including field trips Cultural centres Newsletter Social media Homestay Program

“Psychological and emotional support”

“Professional and academic support”

“Multicultural network”

Student Services: Best Practices U of A+ (University of Alberta, Canada) Mentorship Program (U.S. and Canada) Global Café/Weekly Coffee Hour (U.S. and Canada) Global Community (University of Victoria, Canada) International Friends Inc. (The University of

Arizona) Language Bank (U of Calgary, U of Manitoba,

others)

International Student Mentorship Program (ISMP)Designed to help new international

students during their transition and induction into life at the University of Manitoba.

Runs from September to the end of April.

Institutional: Best Practices

“Internationalizing the Curriculum” – University of Victoria, Canada Guest lectureship Tour Academic links

Study visits of teaching staff Intellectual Exchange Conference Workshops

Confucius Institute

Discussion In groups (5 minutes)

What kind of programs does your institution offer for international students?

How do the program(s) operate? Do you measure outcomes of the program(s)?

Did you find any program(s) that you (or your institution) might be interested in developing further?

Share best practices within your group.

How International Students Impact on Various Levels?

Domestic StudentsAcademic StaffFacultiesInstitutionCommunities

Impact on domestic students

BenefitsDiversity in classroomsMake connections with international studentsLearn about different culturesBroaden their minds and knowledgeBecome global citizens

Consideration:Mutual stereotype

Impact on academic staff

Benefits: Opportunities to incorporate global materials and perspectives

within curricula. Opportunities to bring up global issues to share with domestic

students. International perspective. Attitudes toward cultural diversity may change.

Consideration: Understand, acknowledge and accommodate (as needed) that

some international students may have difficulties in classes.

Impact on faculties Benefits:

Bring international perspective for students and staff.Diversity in classrooms.New opportunities for research.Opportunities to form partnerships with international

institutions.Contribute to the institution and society in general.

Considerations:Ratios between domestic and international students – should

there be a quota?Require more resources.

Impact on institution Benefits

Internationalization Partnerships Diversity on campus Diversity in staff Potential employment Revenue Funding opportunity Economic contribution

Considerations Less spots for

domestic students? Require more staff Academic discipline

cases Require more support

resources Budget constraints

Impact in the community

Benefits:Contribute to local economy.Strengthen international awareness

Considerations:Discrimination.Very little is known – research opportunity.

Discussion Within groups

How do international students impact on the behaviours of academic staff and institutions (if at all)?

Is it necessary to change some of the curricula to incorporate international context?

More within global context than a North American context?

If curricula should not change, then would there be any accommodation in diverse classrooms?

Attitude towards international students Academic staff Domestic students

Are we doing enough?

Always room to improve!!!

Essential Resources

Budget Research Staff Support services: programs/projects

Time Expertise Diversity Language Barriers Cultural Barriers Attitudes

ReferenceBlais, C. (2010). University 1 International Student Profile 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. University of Manitoba

CBCNEWS: British Columbia (January 15, 2014). Canada wants to double its international student body. Retrieved May 25, 2014 from

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/canada-wants-to-double-its-international-student-body-1.2497819 CBIE(Canadian Bureau for International Education) (2014). Canada’s performance in international education, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2014 from

http://www.cbie.ca/about-ie/facts-and-figures/ICEF Monitor (2014). Canada’s international student enrolment up 94% over past decade. Retrieved June 22, 2014 from

http://monitor.icef.com/2013/11/canadas-international-student-enrolment-up-94-over-past-decade/Education Counts (2014). The impact of international students on domestic students and host institutions. Retrieved June

22, 2014 from : http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/international/14684

Hefling, K. (November 11, 2013). Study: Record number of foreign students hit US. Retrieved June 22, 2014 from http://news.yahoo.com/study-record-number-foreign-students-hit-us-050217743.html

Institute of International Education (2014). Open doors 2013: International Students in the United States and Study Abroad by American Students are at All-Time High. Retrieved June 22, 2014 fromhttp://www.iie.org/Who-We-Are/News-and-Events/Press-Center/Press-releases/2013/2013-11-11-Open-Doors-Data

NAFSA (2014). Internationalizing higher education. Retrieved June 29, 2014 from http://www.nafsa.org/Find_Resources/Internationalizing_Higher_Education/

Thank you very much for your participation!!!

Soon KongEmail: soon.kong@umanitoba.ca

Phone: 204-474-8699

Questions?

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