Supporting International Students: Industry Case Studies and Profiles Presented By: Emily Dickson Project Officer 08/05/09

Introduction  Developed by Heriot Watt University  In collaboration with Dundee and Aberdeen University  Funded by: Fresh Talent: supporting international students challenge fund  Specific to Scotland  Started in November 2008  Pilot completion date September 2009

Why?  Work experience is one of key ways that international students can enhance their employability and develop their commercial awareness  Major challenges face international students as many are able to secure par-time and casual work, however proportionally few are able to gain course related experience  Careers services struggle with employers to find work experience opportunites for international students

The Project  Recognising that there is an outstanding unmet demand for work related learning Heriot Watt career service developed this initiative to enable international students to gain some of the learning outcomes for work experience through a campus based and online provisions  The Project: Consists of 2 related elements: 1. Industrial case studies/ workshops 2. Website

Project Objectives  To extend and improve the students knowledge of organisations and the wider environment in which industry operates  To give students an insight into specific industry roles within specific sectors  Enhance students understanding of the nature of work and the prevailing commercial pressures  Give students the opportunity to practice relevant employability skills including: team work / problem solving / time management / presentation skills

The Case Studies:  A series of industrial case studies/ workshops are being produces for international students covering the following sectors:  FinanceNon sector specific areas:  Energy - Management  Construction- Human Resources  Life Science- Marketing  Public Sector  Manufacturing  Retail

The Case Study Structure  Similar in nature to the CRAC management courses successfully run by a number of universities.  Similar to group assessment centre activities  Industry representation  Delivery over a single lecture period or an afternoon workshop  Facilitated by careers staff, academic staff or industry representatives  Flexibility

Case Study Coverage  The pilot case study workshops are initially being trialled with international students at the partner institutions, Aberdeen, Dundee and Heriot Watt  Following any necessary revision they will then be made available to all Scottish universities and possibly beyond  The will be suitable for all international, UK and European Union Students

Skills Evaluation  Importance of skills evaluation / feedback that will allow student to assess themselves or be assessed.  A self evaluation form has been developed and is currently being trailed to allow students an understanding of their skills abilities.  Additionally a group assessment criteria is being developed that can be used by facilitators to assess the group performance and give feedback.

Types of Case Study  Insight into Energy: A industry simulation exercise – developed in collaboration with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authorities  Insight into Human Resources: developed in collaboration with Aberdeen Asset Management  Insight into Marketing: Developed in collaboration with Webershandwick

Insight into Energy  An Industry Simulation Exercise: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authorities

Insight into HR  Acorn Consulting: An insight into general Human Resources Practice

The Website  To compliment the case studies a related set of online industry sector profiles is being produced. Information includes:  Key industry facts/ figures  Trends  Career Profiles  Typical Employers  Online Case studies

Future Sustainability  The Future: September 2009 onwards  This year the case study workshops will only be available to international students within the partner institutions. After September 2009 they will then be made available to all Scottish universities and colleges and possibly beyond  The online industry profiles will be made available to all via the internet  In the future we hope that these case study not only benefit international students but UK and EU student

Sustainability  There are several options being explored to ensure that the project is sustained, these include: - Commercial partners: GTI / Hobsons & Graduate Prospects - Government bodies - Sector skills councils - Partner institutions / AGCAS