Friday 29 June, 9.45 - 10.45am
E1: Tracking perceptions of the UK as a study destination
Category: General interest
This is a joint session by Hotcourses and the University of Dundee.
Each month Hotcourses track all their websites around the world to see from (and about) which countries traffic is increasing or decreasing. This can give fascinating insights into what is influencing views and affecting vital decisions about where to study, which subject and at what level. Brexit, Trump, TEF or the UK immigration debate – not to mention the value of the pound – can have immediate and often substantial influence on decision-making.
This session will demonstrate what has recently had most impact, which factors are of most importance and where perceptions of the UK (and other major destinations) will impact amongst tomorrow’s international students.
A second presentation by the University of Dundee will introduce participants to a recent study that looks at how international students from outside the EU view Scotland as a study destination and the implications that independence might have on Scotland’s attractiveness as a study destination.
The study involved a survey of 350 students from across the various Scottish universities, probing issues around why students come to Scotland.
Presenters: Aaron Porter, Director of Insights, Hotcourse Group; Fahd Asif, Senior International Officer, University of Dundee
Aaron Porter is director of insights at the Hotcourses Group, and has extensive experience across the higher education sector in a portfolio of roles. He was previously president of the National Union of Students (NUS) during the high profile debate on tuition fees. He has served on the board of a number of sector bodies including HEFCE, UCAS, the Higher Education Academy and the Office of the Independent Adjudicator. In September 2017 he was appointed on to the audit and risk committee at Goldsmiths University of London, and will join their governing council in September 2018.
Fahd Asif is a Senior International Officer at the University of
Dundee in Scotland. His remit includes managing the university's student
recruitment and engagement activities in key markets overseas. He has
worked extensively in Africa, Middle East, South Asia and more recently
within South East Asia. As part of his role, Fahd works closely with
international students, both in-country and after they arrive in the UK
along with stakeholders such as education agents, international schools
and government bodies.
E2: Diversity awareness: drawing the line
Category: Staff support
Education institutions are rich with diverse cultures and diverse age groups between students, practitioners and faculty. An understanding of diversity helps to identify individual biases and draw a clean line to the ‘why’, leading to acceptance, enhanced relationships and healthy engagement with others.
Bias can occur across a vast range of thinking and behaviour. With regards to education and international studies, most often bias occurs related to age, cultural and sometimes gender.
Jacqueline is a specialist in helping people identify where bias might impact their own behaviour; where judging age (from both directions) and judging cultural differences can hinder our ability to form meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships.
This engaging presentation provides delegates with education and practical tools to:
- understand the concept of diversity and how it relates to age/generation and culture
- understand how cultural differences influence values, beliefs and behaviour and how this transcends to external situations
- empower people to strive for clarity and draw their own line towards their own ‘why’ and to approach situations with confidence
- promote an environment that enhances understanding, engagement and harmony
Presenter: Jacqueline Cripps, Author & Speaker, Independent Consultant
Jacqueline is an author, speaker and mentor working nationally and internationally to empower organisations to better understand diversity, in particular the Millennial generation. As a speaker, she delivers customised, captivating, authentic and direct professional insights surrounding a variety of topics around diversity and the workplace. With a motivational, honest and ‘to the point’ approach; Jacqueline speaks authentically from over a decade of professional experience in Government. She has qualifications in psychology, trauma, social sciences and art therapy.
E3: Advice and compliance working hand in hand
Category: Immigration
This is a joint session by the University of Exeter and Liverpool John Moores University.
It will highlight good practice in collaborative work between institutions’ advice and compliance teams. Jointly presented by staff based in advice and compliance roles at two universities, it will include delegate participation using case studies and group discussions.
The student experience can be enhanced by advice and compliance teams working harmoniously, giving timely comprehensive advice to students, and developing innovative ways to utilise various systems (e.g. SITS, SID) to streamline processes.
The presenters will explore the ethical dilemmas that can arise between compliance and advice and ways that both institutions have overcome them with a focus on crossover processes such as change of course, re-sits, visa applications, visa tracking, and refusals.
This session is most useful for delegates from institutions with separate advice and compliance roles who wish to explore harmonious and productive ways of working together.
Presenters: Stephen Fitzell, Immigration Compliance Office, University of Exeter; Amelia Mansfield, International Student Support & Immigration Officer, University of Exeter; Rebecca Higgins, International Adviser, Liverpool John Moores University; Helen Brady, Compliance Officer, Liverpool John Moores University
Stephen has worked in the HE sector since 2001 in various roles, and
moved into the area of UKVI Compliance in 2012 as the Senior Compliance
Officer at London Metropolitan University. In 2015 he moved to the
University of Exeter to take up the role of Immigration Compliance
Officer. His role at Exeter is to oversee UKVI compliance processes and
procedures, including attendance monitoring, tracking of visa and
passport data, international student document clearance and scanning,
SMS reporting, audit procedure, and withdrawal, interruption and change
of programme processes. He has also been a SITS user since 2001 and
works to develop SITS to conform to UKVI compliance-related processes
and changes to immigration rules.
As senior immigration adviser at the University of Exeter since 2008, Amelia has strategic oversight of the work of the International Student Support Office and supervises all immigration casework offered by the International Student Advisers. In conjunction with the Compliance Manager, she is responsible for analysing and implementing immigration policy that affects international students. She also has special responsibility for complex immigration casework alongside the provision of one-to-one and group advice for students and staff on a wide range of immigration issues.
Rebecca has eight years' experience in supporting international students in higher education across a number of institutions in student advice and international admissions & recruitment roles. She currently works in Student Advice and Wellbeing at Liverpool John Moores University as the International Adviser.
Helen currently works as the Compliance Officer at Liverpool John Moores University and has over 25 years’ experience in dealing with international students in Higher Education in a variety of different roles.
E4: Working and communicating effectively with Chinese students (FULL)
Category: Special interest
This practical, interactive session is designed for anyone who wants to get a better insight into Chinese culture and to have a greater understanding of Chinese students.
It will also show you how to use different Chinese social media platforms to engage with Chinese students prior to their arrival, and give a taste of Mandarin. It will cover a few basics about the Chinese education system, and highlight the differences between university life in China and in the UK.
The session will touch on the issue of culture shock and the challenges Chinese students may face during their transition to life in UK universities as well as communication issues that can arise when working with Chinese students. A short, fun Mandarin lesson will help you to greet your Chinese students and introduce yourself. You will have an opportunity to learn the pronunciation of 20 common used Chinese names.
Presenter: Victoria Li, International Student Advisor, City, University of London
Vicky has been co-designing and co-delivering cross-cultural and Chinese culture training to staff in a number of universities in the UK since 2010. She has an in-depth and current knowledge of China, Chinese cultures and Chinese students, as well as an international experience of living, studying and working in a different cultural context. She has studied and worked in China, UK and US. Vicky has completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the UK where she started her journey as an international student and as such experienced different stages of student life in a new culture and environment and its related challenges. She has been working in HE (in China and UK) for over 10 years. Her personal interest in culture and language has led her to become a qualified Chinese language teacher in the UK in 2008.
E5: Unpacking the social transition experiences of international postgraduate students and International student web video information project
Category: Student experience
This joint session by University of Dundee and the Open University will explore recent UKCISA-funded projects into transition and international student identity.
International student web video information project
Learn about this recent collaborative project funded by UKCISA which aims to give realistic expectations and cultural orientation to new international students before or on arrival to University of Dundee, Scotland and the UK.
Delegates will view the series of short web videos created with the assistance of international students from different cultural backgrounds studying at University of Dundee.
Find out what our students had to say about the challenges, differences, positives and personal experiences of living and studying in Scotland/UK.
Using our experiences from the project consider how you could create your own content, and share a discussion about this and potential topics for other similar videos.
Unpacking the social transition experiences of international postgraduate students
STRIDE (Social Transition Research into International Doctoral Experiences) was a year-long, UKCISA-funded project that unpacked the role of holistic social support networks in international postgraduate students’ educational transitions. In doing so, the research dynamically engaged with international postgraduate students' identities and how social supports within and outside their university departments impacted their transition experiences.
The project employed a variety of research methods, including longitudinal reflective diaries, social network analysis, focus groups and interviews. Students also wrote reflective essays on a public-facing project blog (https://strideresearch.wordpress.com/).
The results were compared cross-institutionally and internationally between two universities in the UK and one university in China.
Within this session we will outline the project's final findings, along with tips for supporting postgraduate students as they form social support networks. Altogether, this research contributes to the sector resources that are needed to promote positive social transitions for diverse groups of postgraduate students.
This session will be of interest to anyone supporting international students with the transition/cultural adjustment to living and studying in the UK.
Presenters: Joan Muszynski, Student Support Adviser, University of Dundee; Susan Scott, International Support Adviser, University of Dundee; Dr Jenna Mittelmeier, Research Associate, Open University
Joan works as Student Support Adviser at University of Dundee. As well as generic student support, she manages the university's peer mentoring and buddying scheme, assists with student retention, organises, plans and manages the university's welcome/induction programme for all new students and has an overall interest in student transition and wellbeing.
Susan works as International Support Adviser and manages the university's International Advice Service. She also arranges social and cultural events for international students. Susan is also involved in the university's Internationalisation Working Group.
Jenna Mittelmeier is a Research Associate at the Institute of Educational Technology at the Open University. Her research interests are centred around international student adjustment experiences, intercultural communication in higher education and curriculum internationalisation.
E6: Design thinking across the globe
Category: Student experience
This session will provide delegates with the opportunity to interact with and experience an innovative problem-solving framework known as 'Life Design' that was founded at the renowned d.school, Stanford University.
Delegates will gain insight into how steps in design thinking for product creation (empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping and feedback) can be applied to designing their own life and helping others with theirs.
The focus will be on professional development, but delegates will come to see that the Life Design methodology can be applied to a wide range of questions/problems (e.g., undertaking a degree in a new country) and can flex with the needs and priorities of individuals irrespective of background or situation.
This workshop is for those who want an introduction in the use of a powerful and flexible problem-solving tool that can be applied to issues surrounding the international student experience and/or their own lives!
This session is based on the 2016-17 UKCISA-Funded project 'Using design thinking to enhance the international student experience and their understanding of employability'
Presenters: Dr Helen Standage, Senior Employability Education, University Of Essex; Dave Stanbury, Director of Employability, University of Essex
Dave has worked as the Director of Employability at the University of Essex since 2011. Helen has worked at Essex as a Careers Education Manager since 2014. Essex has 44.3% of students coming from outside the UK. The challenge for both Dave and Helen has been to provide a careers development programme that is relevant to all students irrespective of background. They have recently found a pioneering technique known as 'Design Thinking for Life' that successfully engages students, from all different origins, to collaborate and address their own and each other’s futures, both professional and personal.
E7: HEI immigration compliance reviews. The top 10 compliance breaches we see and how to avoid them
Category: Immigration compliance
Getting it wrong when it comes to Tier 4 sponsorship can have severe consequences. Management, academics, compliance teams, international student advisers and international students all have a key role to play.
In this session, Nichola will outline the main compliance breaches her team comes across when performing immigration compliance reviews on UK universities and provide tips on how your institution can strengthen compliance.
Presenter: Nichola Carter, Principal Solicitor, Carter Thomas Solicitors
Nichola is the founder of Carter Thomas Solicitors and is often called upon to provide legal advice to universities and other education providers regarding their compliance with UKVI’s rules for sponsors. The firm provides an in-depth compliance review service and has assisted numerous organisations in strengthening their approach to this complex area of law. The Legal 500 describes Nichola and her team as providing ‘that extra bit of listening, care and explanation that engenders the client’s trust and makes them feel comfortable’ so do feel free to approach Nichola for a chat during the conference.
E8: How to help students lose their BRP! A journey through ‘reverse assumption’ and creative thinking (repeat of D1)
Category: Staff support
"I've lost my BRP!"
"Can I work full-time?"
"Where's my visa?"
"How long will it take?"
Are these familiar phrases? Do you hear yourself responding in the same way? What if you had a different way to reply? What if you tried thinking differently? What if you considered how to make problems worse, or information less clear?!
Intrigued?
This session will be based around the idea of “reverse assumption” and how thinking in new and somewhat strange ways may encourage new and exciting ideas. Often by thinking about how we could make a problem worse (“how can we make sure students lose their BRP more frequently?”), we are forced to consider the issue from a new and unexplored angle.
In a profession where so much of our world is black and white, this session will encourage attendees to explore things differently, and to help develop new and unconventional thinking in order to apply new and fresh solutions to familiar challenges.
Presenter: Robert Young, International Student Adviser, Royal Holloway, University of London
Robert works as an International Student Adviser at Royal Holloway, University of London. He has worked in education since graduating from the University of Hertfordshire and has experience in FE, HE, and students’ unions.
Although still relatively new to the front-line world of immigration advice, Robert is impassioned by international students, and inspired by his colleagues across the UK and their dedication to being there for people that need them when it really counts.
E9: Mental health and wellbeing of global access students
Category: Student experience
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh provides full scholarships and leadership training to educate and support bright African students who come from backgrounds with few educational opportunities.
The dual aim of this UKCISA-funded research project is to explore the psychological and emotional needs of this group of international students and consult them to develop culture-appropriate mental health support provisions for them – as well as the wider population of international students who come from diverse backgrounds.
This session will provide an overview of the research, together with the key findings and insights gained through this project. It will consider how these findings can be implemented to influence the university’s wider global access strategy to recruit and support students from diverse backgrounds, as well as informing other universities’ work in this area across the UK and through the Mastercard Foundation network.
Presenter: Christina Sachpasidi, Student Development Coordinator, University of Edinburgh
Christina is a PhD candidate in Counselling Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Her research examines experience and the therapeutic encounter from a standpoint of embeddedness in the sociopolitical world and it explores how practitioners experience their work in the Social Clinics of Athens, in order to better understand how the dialogue between the political and therapeutic is articulated and understood during practice. Before moving to Scotland, she worked in counselling organisations for people with mental health issues and refugees. She is currently working as a teaching assistant at the University of Edinburgh and a research assistant with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
E10: The PG Cert changed my life!
Category: Staff support
Join Lizzie Huckle from Imperial College London who completed the PG Certificate in 2015 and now teaches on the course to find out more about the programme:
- How is it organised?
- What topics are covered?
- What will you gain from the qualification? (Many past students have gained promotions)
This is an opportunity to ask questions and find out how studying with the University of Nottingham and UKCISA could impact on your professional career and on your life. Deepa Chada, Advice and Training Officer at UKCISA who teaches on the course will also be on hand to answer your questions.
Presenter: Lizzie Huckle, Head of International Student Support, Imperial College London
Lizzie Huckle has worked with international students in higher education since 1999, with a particular focus on the provision of immigration advice. Since 2006 Lizzie managed the International Advice Service at City University London, and in March 2016 moved to Imperial as Head of the International Student Support Service. She currently serves on the UKCISA Board of Trustees and works closely with UKCISA and the University of Nottingham in contributing to teaching on the Legal Frameworks module of the Post Graduate Certificate in International Student Advice and Support.
E11: Strength to care, an introduction to compassion fatigue
Category: Staff support
This session will help delegates reflect on the personal impact their work can have, share tips on how to manage this and have the theoretical context to share with colleagues.
Presenter: Nicola Ross, Immigration & Welfare Manager
Counsellor, Manchester Metropolitan University
Nicola has been an Immigration and Welfare Manager at Manchester Metropolitan University for seven years and previously worked for 10 years in FE with a range of students.
E12: Academic Technology Approval Scheme (repeat of D4)
Category: Immigration
ATAS is designed to ensure that those applying for postgraduate study in certain sensitive subjects do not acquire knowledge that could potentially be used in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
Students applying for certain postgraduate courses need to obtain an ATAS certificate before applying for a visa.
This session will provide an opportunity to hear about the scheme from staff who administer the ATAS scheme. Delegates can bring queries they have based on their own students' experiences. It will be suitable for both new and experienced staff.
Presenter: James Stopford, Desk Officer, MTCR and ATAS Policy, Conventional Arms Policy Team, CPACC, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
James is the (new) lead for ATAS policy at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.