International Conference on Enhancement and Innovation in Higher Education Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow 9-11 June 2015

The enhancement of outward student mobility: Benefits of International collaboration to encourage transition ‘The enhancement of outward student mobility: Benefits of international collaboration to encourage transition’ Robert Sutter and Fiona Milne University of the West of Scotland, School of Media, Culture and Society

UWS International Strategy Learning Teaching and Assessment Research and Knowledge Transfer Internationalisation and Global Citizenship Formation of UWS International Centre, (IC) (2015) 1100 students from 70 countries.

School of Media Culture and Society Music, Art, Performance, Film-making & Scriptwriting, Journalism and Broadcast Production, Sociology; Social policy; Politics; Psychology; Criminal justice, Social work and Drugs and alcohol studies.

School of Media Culture and Society Three members of Academic staff work closely with IC to co-ordinate outward/inward staff/student mobility Staff Mobility includes: University teaching exchange, (Sweden, France, Germany…) Short course collaboration, (Summer Schools) International Research Projects, (Curriculum Development)

Student Mobility Inward: (European, N. American and Far East) Outward: (European, N American)

Quote from incoming Student ‘Alongside the cultural impressions and the improvement of a foreign language the benefits of a stay abroad at UWS are great insights in foreign working and teaching approaches. For the future this will help me to be suited and open-minded when it comes to intercultural work. Furthermore, I would say my stay abroad makes me more valuable for internationally operating companies.’ (Michael Gosling, HdM Stuttgart, 2014/15)

Quote from outgoing Student Joty Chopra..TBC.

Collaborative Project Work to Enhance Transitions Inter-Cultural Design Camp, (ICDC) Creative Industries Global Network, (CIGN) International Band Exchange SFC Raising Aspirations Fund: Columbia College, Chicago Digital Art Brandenburg exchange.

Inter-Cultural Design Camp, (ICDC) (Funded by EU, ) Camps in Germany, Scotland, Sweden, Belgium.

ICDC

Creative Industries Global Network, (CIGN) European-funded, (Erasmus + research Project) CIGN will identify sectoral skills-gaps and develop curricula to address these. Enabling opportunities for future transition/employment to evolve during and after the project. Innovation in cross–media curricular design and development sitting at its heart. Modules have been identified, and will be developed and piloted in each participating country with cohorts of students from each nation (Scotland, Sweden, Belgium, Germany and new partner Canada).

International Band Exchange Partners in Scotland, Germany, France, Canada, the Netherlands and Finland. Over 100 acts and 300 performers have played internationally, ensuring the Band Exchange is truly pan-European and a shop window for the work of the commercial music students.

UWS/ Harris Institute, Canada student exchange A partnership agreement with Harris that is still flourishing today. In exchange for providing Canadian graduates from the Institution the opportunity to study for a year to gain a UWS degree, UWS students have the chance to undertake credit bearing work for the summer in Toronto, Canada.

SFC Raising Aspirations Fund: Columbia College, Chicago Supported by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) Raising Aspirations Fund, the purpose of the trip was to allow students to take part in activities at Columbia College where the Contemporary, Urban & Popular Music programme was hosting Grammy Award winning songwriter Paula Cole for an intensive week of song writing and performance master classes.

Quotes from Students ‘Because of the trip I personally gained some confidence as a musician ….Without this experience I wouldn’t have ever even dreamt of applying to Columbia’s course, as it seemed so far away. So I’m extremely thankful for this opportunity and experience. Now the task and challenge is to work so hard that my portfolio will get me in to Columbia’s MFA Music Composition for the Screen programme.’

Quotes from Students ‘The visit has opened my eyes for opportunities that I wouldn't consider before, such as a Masters degree in America, or even just spending more time in the country. The trip has also encouraged me to try out different songwriting approaches learned from the songwriting class and from general inspiration I got from listening to all the fantastic performances I witnessed during the stay. I definitely feel that I grew from the trip, and I will forever thank UWS and the SFC Raising Aspirations for the fantastic opportunity.’

Future Initiatives Trans-National Activities Collaborations to enhance international transition not limited to Europe. Opportunities have also been identified for the delivery of UWS undergraduate, postgraduate and Masters programmes across the globe. Collaboration with a Malaysian partner institution is already underway to develop the concept of ‘virtual mobilities’ where students from two or more partner institutions will participate in shared projects in multiple locations.

In conclusion, students in the School of MCS have the opportunity to engage in a wide range of initiatives that involve working and/or studying abroad. Many of these opportunities have been brought about by increasing staff outward mobility and the development of strong inter-disciplinary links and collaborations across Europe and beyond. Engagement of students with the opportunities has been enhanced through development of a variety of systems and processes to ensure transitions are as smooth and supported as possible.

Any Questions?