UKCISA Conference
Sessions C - Thursday 30 June, 2.00-3.15pm
C1. Dipping your toes into immigration appeals (repeat of B6)
This is an updated version of our presentation at the UKCISA Conference in 2010. The session will cover the experiences of challenging UKBA decisions and supporting students with immigration appeals by UEL's International Student Advice Team including:
- expanding knowledge of the appeals system
- different approaches to challenging decisions
- advising and supporting students on appeals as an OISC level 2 Advisor
- real case studies
- to share our experiences of challenging decisions and supporting students with immigration appeals
- enable participants to develop their own confidence in appeals work and take a dip!
Please note: This session is not designed to train participants on the appeals rules or to make official representation at appeals.
Target audience: OISC level 2 and experienced International Student Advisors
Presenters: Niru Williams, Lynsey Berrecloth & John Kayan, University of East London
C2. The demarcation between PBS sponsor duties and "immigration advice" (repeated as G1)
A number of institutions have established processes for their Points Based System (PBS) compliance where responsibility for implementation, management and monitoring of PBS resides within an administrative area separate from the international advisory service. The result of this is that the UKBA (in and out of country) will contact the 'key contact' for PBS with queries which are then dealt with in this area but which should be responded to by an ISA as they constitute "immigration advice" and require compliance with OISC.
The purpose of this session is to provide guidance on how best to establish clear boundaries between PBS sponsor duties and those responsible for ensuring compliance, and those situations where immigration advice is required. The session will look at what can be answered and by whom, taking into consideration OISC requirements. Consideration will be given to how these can be translated into policy and procedure, thus establishing a framework which can be used across institutions.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:- identify the different requirements of sponsor duties and advice giving, and
- recognise good practice in identifying internal policies which comply with PBS sponsor duties and OISC requirements
Presenters: Tam Milner, University of Birmingham; Helen Eastham, University of Birmingham & Rosalind Martin, UKCISA
C3. Batch scheme surgery (repeat of A7)
An opportunity to meet staff from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) Student Batch Scheme face-to-face. The session will include a presentation from staff managing the scheme, and a question and answer session.
You are invited to raise any issues about the operation of the scheme that it would be useful and productive for advisers to discuss with the staff managing it.
Please note that this session is not appropriate for you if students at your institution post their applications to UKBA themselves, rather than through the Student Batch Scheme.
Presenters: Staff from the UKBA Student Batch Scheme
C4. Enrolment and PBS: an institutional perspective (repeated as G2)
Incorporating PBS sponsor duties into key university events such as main enrolment is a sizable and significant project. The consequences of non-compliance are serious and the stakeholders are numerous, not least UKBA. It has led to much closer collaboration between immigration advisers and a wide range of university services than ever before. This session will look at how Warwick has communicated the requirements of PBS to non-immigration colleagues and has amended existing technical and student service processes to comply with PBS. We hope that the session will be interactive so that presenters and attendees all come away with examples of best practice.
Presenters: Claire O'Leary & Natalie Snodgrass Tan, University of Warwick
C5. Dealing with conflicts of interest
With the introduction and requirements of the Points Based System, it is becoming increasingly difficult for International Student Advisers (ISAs) to advise students as they used to, with the element of pastoral care, without having a conflict of interest with the requirements of PBS. This session will allow ISAs to share best practice in how they deal with this.
Presenters: Barbara Montagna, Bournemouth University, AISA Executive members & Duncan Lane, UKCISA
C6. Rethinking online communication: keeping your message clear
Do you use your website effectively? Could you reach more people by presenting your advice in a different way?
We will consider these questions and discuss practical approaches to communicating with an online international audience. With opportunities to share good practice, we will look at how we can use Plain English, the web, social media and latest technology to keep our message clear.Presenters: Jessica Scott, Jenni Taylor & Carl Ellis, University of Bath
C7. Working more effectively with teaching staff
This short workshop will explore some of the issues that international students face in the teaching and learning domain. It will help participants to understand the challenges that both teachers and students can face in the 'classroom' and explore ways that university staff can work together in more holistic ways to better support the learning experiences of international students. It will delve into some of the more 'sticky' issues of how those working most closely with international students can engage with academics and share their knowledge about the needs of international students.
Presenter: Dr Janette Ryan, Project Director of the Higher Education Academy/UKCISA Teaching International Students project
C8. International integration : a student-led approach
Recognising universities and students' unions have struggled to address international integration and internationalisation of the UK student body, this interactive session will use three case studies to examine how universities and students' unions can best work together to embed a global perspective in their students:
- Experience the World: A campaign lead by Loughborough SU to encourage integration and to increase the uptake of international work, travel, study, project and coaching opportunities.
- Culture Challenge: a programme run by Newcastle University SU aimed at integrating students from different countries and raising awareness of diversity.
- Go Global: a joint Warwick SU/University of Warwick project to internationalise the student body initiated by Warwick's first international Students' Union President and driven by direct student involvement.
Presenters:Tasneem Siddeeque, Loughborough Students' Union; Lindsey Lockey, Newcastle University Students' Union; Daniel Stevens, Warwick SU; Stephen Williams, University of Warwick
C9. Accommodation in FE: the Loughborough College model - cancelled
This presentation has been moved to be part of B9C10. Managing stress
With change a constant and increasing pressure to do more with less, evidence shows that stress levels at work are increasing. This session aims to offer some simple and practical techniques, based on self hypnosis, which can be easily integrated into daily life. The session will include a brief input on the 'anatomy' of stress but the emphasis will be on approaches to use in and out of the work setting.
Presenter: Alison Barty, SOAS
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