Pilot Projects Scheme

The aim of this scheme is to encourage innovation and develop and publicise examples of best practice in international student support. It provides an opportunity for universities, colleges and students’ unions to expand or adapt services which support international students and, at the same time, contribute to national and sector policy and good practice.

Pilot Project Scheme 2010/11

The following pilot projects have been awarded funding in 2010-11:

• Colleges working in partnership to utilise technology to enhance the international student experience (Ayr College and Cardonald College Glasgow)
• Development of a sustainable student trainer course and resources to support the participation and learning of international students (University of Bath Students’ Union)
• An investigation into international students’ expectations, the reality of their programme and how these predict academic performance and satisfaction (Glasgow Caledonian University)
• International student house-hunting (Leeds University Union)
• UK culture through international students’ eyes: a web-based video resource (Loughborough University Students’ Union and Southampton University Students’ Union)
• Preparing international students for the British higher education experience: the role of Regional Alumni Hubs (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)
• The international student Christmas vacation project (University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University)
• Improving induction for postgraduate students (University of Stirling Students’ Union)
• Pre-departure support from students’ union societies (University College London Union)
• Art for integration (University of Central Lancashire)
• Cross-cultural training with online visa compliance module (University of East London)

Pilot Projects in 2009-10

The following pilot projects were awarded funding in 2009-10. Reports of these projects will shortly be available in the case studies section.

• Making connections: enhancing international students’ integration with their UK peers (University of East Anglia)
• An interactive approach to developing employability and social networking skills: forum theatre and international students (Glasgow Caledonian University)
• Online employability enhancement tool (Heriot-Watt University)
• International students mental health promotion materials (Lancaster University)
• The international student experience – more than just academic learning (University of Leicester)
• Developing an ‘international employability zone’ for international students (University of Manchester)
• Newcastle Careers International – a series of international student videocasts and case studies for career development (Newcastle University)
• Home student CV proof-reading service for international students (Oxford Brookes University)
• ‘Home away from home’ – a student-centred support group model and project for isolated newly arrived international students (School of Oriental & African Studies)
• A research project to investigate how to engage international alumni to support current international students in their career development (University of Warwick)
• International student experience in social networking (Castle College Nottingham)

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