UKCISA Fest 2020

Yinbo Yu, UKCISA’s Strategic Partnerships Lead and Julie Allen, UKCISA’s Director of Policy and Services will open the week’s events and give you an overview of what to expect and how to make the most of the sessions over the week. We will also offer tips and advice on how to prepare for your time ahead in the UK and how to look after yourself. You will then have a chance to join our online Global Café where you can meet other students and chat informally. Bring your own favourite drink!

Presenters:

Adetoun Adebayo, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 
Yinbo Yu, Strategic Partnerships Lead, UKCISA
Julie Allen, Director of Policy and Services, UKCISA

The OIA is an independent organisation which support students who have experienced a problem at their institution that has not been resolved. You can find out about the process of submitting a complaint and hear case studies of international students who have been through the process. You may never need to use their services, but it’s important for as all students to know that this service is available for you if you need it.

Presenters:
Barry McHale, Student Liaison Officer, OIA
Gemma Slade, Provider Liaison Officer, OIA
Julie Allen, Director of Policy and Services, UKCISA

MEMBERS ONLY: View the recorded presentation and conversation. Sign in with your UKCISA membership.

Hear from Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity who will tell you about the free support available to help you look after your mental health while studying in the UK. Find out about Student Space the new online platform set up to help you cope with the challenges of studying during Covid-19. You will also find out about the International Student Mental Health Project led by Nottingham University.

Presenters:

Parvathy Ramesh, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 
Dominic Smithies, Student Voice and Equality Lead, Student Minds

This is a fantastic opportunity to hear from Sir Steve Smith, recently appointed to the post of UK International Education Champion. Sir Steve who was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Exeter before starting this role has always been greatly interested in the international student experience. Hear about Sir Steve’s personal journey from school to national leader and hear about his ideas and plans to champion international students in the UK. 

Presenters:

Sir Steve Smith, UK Government International Education Champion
Anne Marie Graham, Chief Executive, UKCISA
Nebu George, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 

View the recorded presentation and conversation

We are excited to invite you to our joint celebration with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on international students! Bring your own cup of tea for the virtual ‘afternoon tea’ session and join the conversations with the parliamentarians and other international students.

The APPG is a group of MPs and interested parties who formed several years ago to discuss and highlight international student issues in parliament. As we are unable to invite you into the Houses of Parliament this year, why not join the celebration online? You will hear UKCISA’s President and co-chair of the APPG Lord Bilimoria and MP for Sheffield Central, Paul Blomfield and other parliamentarians, to have interesting policy discussions about international student experience in the UK, alongside #WeAreInternational Student Ambassadors.

Speakers:

Lord Karan Bilimoria, President of UKCISA and CBI, and co-chair for the APPG 
Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield Central, and co-chair for the APPG
Ben Lake, MP for Ceredigion
Adetoun Adebayo, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 
Nebu George, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 
Daniel Haid, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 
Anant Ragan, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 

An international student charter is central to UKCISA’s aim of bringing the student voice into the heart of policymaking. But what exactly is a charter? What is it for? What will it do? #WeAreInternational student ambassador, Katie Crabtree will explain our vision for what we want to achieve and answer your questions. And importantly, you can find out what you can to do contribute.

Presenters:

Katie Crabtree, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 
Parvathy Ramesh, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador
Yunyan Li, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador

The role of the Office for Students (OfS) is to ensure that ‘students have a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers’. So how do they do that? This is an exciting opportunity to hear directly from our colleagues at OfS who will explain in practical terms, what they do. Students will also have the chance to put their questions to the team.

Presenters:

Khoa Nguyen, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 
Josh Callander, Senior Officer (Equality and Diversity), Office for Students
Catherine Read, Officer (Equality and Diversity), Office for Students

MEMBERS ONLY: View the recorded presentation and conversation. Sign in with your UKCISA membership.

The session will be introduced by UKCISA President, Lord Karan Bilimoria, Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, Founder and Chairman of Cobra Beer and Chairman of the Confederation of British Industry. Hear Lord Bilimoria’s inspiring personal story of coming to the UK as an international student, setting up his own company and then entering the House of Lords.

Following the introduction, hear from our panel of experts who will share their insights into this key topic for international students and offer practical tips and advice on what you need to do to prepare for your future career.  This interactive session is a chance for you to tell us about your experience and also put questions to the panel.

Panel speakers
Chair by Anant Rangan, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador
Gabi Binnie, Association of Graduate Careers Advisers
Sarah Cooper, Careers Adviser, University of Bristol
Stephanie Harris, Universities UK International

Next summer the UK government plans to launch the new Graduate immigration route, a new visa designed to allow many 2021 graduates to stay and work in the UK, initially for 2 years (3 years for PhD students). This session breaks down what the government has announced so far about the Graduate route, what is still unknown, and what new work opportunities the Graduate route would open for you. We will also summarise the separate options for 2021 graduates who want to switch straight to a visa for sponsored skilled work or endorsed entrepreneurial activities.

Presenter: Andrew Humphrey, UKCISA adviser

Global café is an online space where you can meet and chat with other students. Continuing the theme of Wednesday, join a breakout group to discuss working during your study or work after study.

Speakers:

Adetoun Adebayo, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 
Yinbo Yu, Strategic Partnerships Lead, UKCISA
Julie Allen, Director of Policy and Services, UKCISA

Students’ unions are run by student officers and representatives elected by students, and they are responsible for representing you – so you can go to them for all kinds of support. In this session, your National President will outline opportunities for you to participate in all aspects of Students’ unions activities.

We will look at how international students can be empowered to take ownership of their education and campaign for an education system that is designed around their needs and wants. We will also focus on the role that students’ unions can play in supporting this campaigning activity and providing spaces for students to organise.

Presenters:

Larissa Kennedy, President, National Union of Students UK

This session will be delivered by our specialist Advice and Training Officers who will guide you through the UK student immigration system. This will be particularly useful for any students from the European Economic Area who are new to the student visa rules and need to understand what they will need to do after the UK leaves the EU. (This will not cover the EU Settlement Scheme for EU students who are already resident in the UK – this is explained in detail on our website

After the session there will be a short break. Attendees will then have the chance to have a one-to-one advice consultation, via Zoom, with one of our team. You will be able to ask about anything that’s been covered in the session and/or seek further advice on the immigration requirements of the Student Route as they relate to your own circumstances. It may be necessary to ask you to seek further advice from your prospective institution or on the UKCISA telephone advice line. These limited slots will be for 10 minutes per person, and will be available between 2pm and 4pm.

Presenters:

Daniel Haid, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 
Tema Nwulu, Advice and Training Officer, UKCISA
Christopher Benjamin, Advice and Training Officer, UKCISA

Drawing upon their own personal experiences and areas of academic expertise, the student ambassadors will discuss their experiences during the global pandemic and how they cope with student life. From ideas for looking after your mental health to top tips for supporting your physical wellbeing.

Presenters:

Parvathy Ramesh, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 
Yunyan Li, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador 
Anant Rangan, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador