1. Natalie Drake and Mark Peace
International Study and Language Institute
Integration through a significant shared experience at the beginning of a course
Natalie Drake and Mark Peace
International Foundation Programme, University of Reading

2. OUTLINE Introduction to the IFP Theory of the Away Day
Value of the Away Day
Away Day Activities
Student feedback
Tips and suggestions

3. What role does the ‘Away Day’ play in the IFP?
INTERNATIONAL
FOUNDATION PROGRAMME
What is the IFP?
Who are the IFP students?
What challenges can IFP students face?
adjustment & integration
What is the main aim of the IFP?
What role does the ‘Away Day’ play in the IFP?

4. IFP – Away Day Compulsory day off campus for the whole programme
Replaces a day of lessons
1st week of the Autumn term
Students placed in groups

5. What is the theoretical basis? What is the value of the Away Day?
WHAT is the purpose of the ‘AWAY DAY’?
Encourage student integration
Complete activities within multicultural groups
Promote intercultural understanding
Experiences outside of campus
Positive informal experience (fun!)
What is the theoretical basis?
What is the value of the Away Day?

6. What is the theoretical basis?
The Contact Hypothesis
(first proposed in 1954 by Gordon Allport)
“Contact between members of different groups (under certain conditions) can work to reduce prejudice and intergroup conflict.”1
(1) Everett, J. (2013). Intergroup contact theory: past, present and future. The Inquisitive Mind. Issue 17 available here:

7. The Contact Hypothesis
(first proposed in 1954 by Gordon Allport)
“Positive effects of intergroup contact occur in contact situations characterized by four key conditions:
Equal status
Intergroup cooperation
Common goals
Support by social and institutional authorities”1
(1) Everett, J. (2013). Intergroup contact theory: past, present and future. The Inquisitive Mind. Issue 17 available here:

8. KEY CONDITIONS AT THE AWAY DAY
Equal status
New activities, experiences and people
Intergroup cooperation
2. Activities require team work and support
Common goals
3. Inter-group competition is employed
Support by social and institutional authorities”1
4. Centre staff and University staff

9. Concept of integration
What does integration mean?
Why is integration important?
Improves student well-being, satisfaction, retention, achievement
Develops global attributes
Fosters global citizenship perspectives

10. BERRY’S (1997) ACCULTURATION MODEL Integration
Community – level Perspective
Integration
Assimilation
Separation
Marginalisation
Integration in this model means individuals are interested in maintaining their heritage culture AND having contact with people from other groups.
“Generally, those pursuing the integration strategy experience less stress, and achieve better adaptations than those pursuing marginalisation.” (Berry, 2005)

11. What is the value of our Away Day?
Bennett’s (1986)
developmentAL model of intercultural sensitivity (DMIS)
Individual – level Perspective
Integration is the culmination of intercultural sensitivity. People’s level of intercultural sensitivity is influenced by their attitude towards differences.
What is the value of our Away Day?

12. Integration and the Value of the away day
Meeting new students from different cultures
Meeting instructors from the host culture
Working in multicultural groups
Development of communication skills to enable intercultural communication
Development of team work skills
Development of self confidence ND
Community level (Berry) – meeting new students / meeting new instructors / seeing staff in different settings
Individual level (Bennett) – getting away from the university / trying new activities in a safe environment
Some differences only require superficial adjustments, while others challenge us more deeply.

13. IFP Away Day activities
Team challenges & problem solving
Personal accomplishment
Learning new skills
Experience
Visit

14. IFP Away Day activities
Team challenges & problem solving
Personal accomplishment
Learning new skills
Experience
Visit

15. IFP Away Day activities
Team challenges & problem solving
Personal accomplishment
Learning new skills
Experience
Visit

16. IFP Away Day activities
Team challenges & problem solving
Personal accomplishment
Learning new skills
Experience
Visit

17. IFP Away Day activities
Team challenges & problem solving
Personal accomplishment
Learning new skills
Experience
Visit

18. IFP Away Day activities
Team challenges & problem solving
Personal accomplishment
Learning new skills
Experience
Visit

19. IFP Away Day activities
Team challenges & problem solving
Personal accomplishment
Learning new skills
Experience
Visit

20. IFP Away Day – STUDENT FEEDBACK

21. What did you most enjoy about the Away Day?
IFP Away Day – STUDENT FEEDBACK
What did you most enjoy about the Away Day?

22. IFP Away Day – STUDENT FEEDBACK

23. STUDENT FEEDBACK – 2017/18
Personally, I made good friends and got to learn about different cultures, which always fascinates me!
I appreciated the togetherness of the activities as it broke a lot of the ice between the IFP students.
“Getting together with fellow students. Making new friends. Doing challenging stuff. Working as a team.”
“being able to interact with foundation programme students especially those that do not take the same modules as me.”

24. “Social activities help build the community”
Focus group feedback – March 2019
“For me, the Away Day was really good as it helped me make friends on the IFP.”
“Social activities help build the community”
The lasting impact….
students are still talking about the positive experiences of the ‘Away Day’ six months later.
“I think people are more willing to engage when things are more casual”

25. ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE IFP AWAY DAY
Evidence for:
Providing a positive experience & positive arrival experience
Facilitating making friends and integration
Fostering a ‘sense of belonging’ from the start of the programme
Observations:
Development of team work skills
Development of self confidence
“Engagement in extra-curricular activities has a strong positive effect on sense of belonging and through this indirectly affects academic success”. (Glass & Westmont, 2014)

26. University of reading: Teaching and learning strategy 2018 - 2021
Education for 21st century lives
Delivering academic excellence through our new Curriculum Framework
Offering an outstanding student learning experience

27. IFP Away Day – TIPS Structure Assign groups
Select a range of activities
Provide a clear schedule
Catering
Provide drinks & snacks
Takeaway pizza lunch
Other
Allow time for mingling

28. Suggestions summary Integration through contact and participation
Include personal development and integration opportunities
Social cohesiveness between cultures can be challenging
Ensure the conditions are right for integration

29. REFERENCES
Bennett, M. J. (1986) A developmental approach to training for intercultural sensitivity. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 10, 179 –186.
Berry , J.W. & Sam, D. (1997) Acculturation and Adaptation.In J.W Berry (et al) (Eds), Handbook of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Vol. 3, (pp ). Boston: Allyn & Bacon, p.296.
Berry, J.W. (2005) Acculturation. Living successfully in two cultures. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29,
Everett, J. (2013). Intergroup contact theory: past, present and future. The Inquisitive Mind. Issue 17 available here: theory-past-present-and-future
Glass, C.R. & Westmont, C. M. (2014) Comparative effects of belongingness on the academic success and cross-cultural interactions of domestic and international students. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 38,