UKCISA and the PMI Celia Partridge, PMI Projects Development Manager AGCAS PMI2 event, 8 April, 2009

What we do A national charity founded in 1968 The national advisory body serving the interests of international students and those who work with them Supported by the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills (plus a bit from the Scottish Government) All UK universities, most internationally active FE and HE colleges and many SUs are members Provide training, information & advice Lobbying on behalf of international students

UKCISA resources If your institution is a member of UKCISA, you have access to: The UKCISA Manual & regular updates 6 Briefings per year + World Views Our members’ advice line Training (inc. UKCISA certificate) & annual conference A network of colleagues at other institutions If not a member, just access to: the UKCISA website including 20 Guidance Notes and FAQs advice line for students (but direct queries first to advisers in your union/institution or our website)

Aims of PMI2 attract an additional 70,000 international students to UK HE and an additional 30,000 international students to UK FE double the number of countries sending more than 10,000 students per annum to the UK improve international student satisfaction in the UK achieve significant growth in the number of partnerships between the UK and other countries

The international student experience What priorities did we identify? What are we doing about it?

Services to students Prepare for Success A website originally launched in July 2008 which focuses on improving the study skills of international students before they arrive in the UK Phase 2 in development - design overhaul and new content to be launched this July

Services to students International Student Calculator A website aimed at preparing students for the costs of living in the UK Phase 2 launched March 2009 – adapted for FE colleges; a new advisers’ resources section l

Institutional innovation Pilot Projects Scheme 16 new projects funded in 2008/09, totalling over £80,000 (37 funded over last 3 years) to encourage innovation and develop and publicise examples of best practice in international student support A fourth year of the scheme to be launched this spring

Institutional innovation Examples of pilot projects Projects on employer engagement, employability and job hunting The disabled international student experience International student volunteering Delivering international student support via mobile technologies C-shock: a virtual environment containing games & quizzes aimed at combating culture shock

Institutional innovation Showcasing and events UKCISA/NUS workshop – October 2008 AISA conference – March 2009 Student experience summits (Edinburgh, November 2008; Windsor, February 2009) UKCISA conference (Warwick, July 2009) to showcase many of our PMI projects

Institutional innovation Developments in: Teaching and learning for international students (TALIS) – a major new centre planned, with staff to be recruited this summer Linking inward and outward mobility: how raising the international horizons of UK student enhances the international student experience on the UK campus Transnational education (TNE) – case studies

Good practice and professional development Overseas Study Visits aims to identify relevant aspects of policy and best practice in institutions in key competitor countries overseas 5 visits funded in 2007/08, 6 funded in 2008/09 A third year of the scheme to be launched this spring

Good practice and professional development NUS International Students Strategy NUS have worked with 4 students’ unions (Bath, Birmingham, Hull and Warwick) to develop a pilot framework for unions to internationalise their activities and structures. Phase 2 in 2009/10 will aim to recruit a further 40 students’ unions to take part in the project.

Good practice and professional development Review of CPD needs Report commissioned to look into needs of staff working with international students Setting up working group to look into the issues raised

Good practice and professional development Practical guides on setting up mentoring, volunteering and orientation schemes for staff working with international students published last summer. New toolkit with activities aimed at improving cross- cultural exchange between students of different backgrounds to be published this spring One free copy sent to each member, further copies can be ordered from

More information UKCISA website: