1. International Placements at Aston University: Sourcing international opportunities Carolina Salinas – International Placement Manager

2. Today Internationalisation at Aston Facts and figures
Sourcing channels: external, internal and 3rd parties

3. Aston University: Employable Graduates, Exploitable Research
Founded in 1895, Aston is a long-established
research-led University known for its
strong links to industry, government and commerce
“Aston turns out some of the most sought-after graduates in Britain, with 89% landing graduate-level jobs.” Sunday Times University Guide 2013
30% of outgoing placement students in 2013/14
are spending the third year working or
studying overseas, across the 4 Schools:
Engineering, Business, Health Sciences and
Languages & Social Sciences

4. Students Placed Overseas
30% of all placed students are on placement overseas
65% English speaking
Top locations:
China
USA
Korea
Australia
Chile
Spain
France
Germany
Netherlands

5. International Placements
Student’s Choice!
Study Placement
Combination
Work Placement
Volunteering
Teaching Degree Subjects & English Abroad
The Year Abroad is YOUR placement so we want to make it flexible to suit your needs.
Students have 3 different choices: study, work or volunteering.
Depending on your degree you may be bale to do a combination of the 3.
Students who decide to do a placement overseas will receive the support from the specialist International Placement Team who are solely dedicated to support international placements. Members from this team have done a Year Abroad themselves and speak fluently various languages.

6. Locations & Placement Types
BRAZIL
Biomedical Assistant
GERMANY
Human Resources Intern
Translation Management Intern
HR Professional Education Intern
SAUDI ARABIA
IT Project Assistant
Electrical Engineer
CANADA
IT Project Assistant
NETHERLANDS
I.T. Intern
HR Intern
Finance Intern
USA
Marketing Assistant
Business Analyst Intern
Chemical Engineer Intern
SWITZERLAND
Audit Intern
Marketing and Communication Intern
JAPAN
English Teaching Assistant
Belgium
Project Assistant
Resource Analyst Placement
AUSTRALIA
Psychology Research Assistant
HUNGARY
Legal Recruitment Assistant
CYPRUS
Accountancy Intern
CHILE
Event and Communication
Tax and Assurance
SPAIN
Chemical Engineer
Business Development Trainee
Purchasing & Stock Control Agent
Conversation Assistant
FRANCE
Language Assistant
Communication Assistant
Finance Assistant
Marketing Assistant
CHINA
Education Advisor
KENYA
Biology Teaching Assistant
SINGAPORE
Financial Service Intern

7. Meet the International Placements Team
This is the Placements Team..
We are a team of professionals dedicated to support students before and during the placement
Employer Team: business development and employer liaison
International Placements Team: student support for students looking for and out on placement overseas
Student Support Team: for all students searching for a placement and on placement in the UK.
A dedicated International Placements Team offering support and guidance throughout the placement search and whilst on placement. Includes a dedicated Business Development Manager to source international opportunities to advertise to students.

8. Sourcing International Placements - Channels
External Channels:
Repeat business
UK Business contacts – branches abroad
Online Job Boards
ERASMUS network
Internal Channels:
Alumni contacts
Academic contacts
Opportunities found by students on previous years
Agents or 3rd parties – occasionally:
USA (VISAS)
China - Placement Agencies
Chamber Commerce offices
Internal

9. Channels: Repeat Business
60% of employers they advertise in Aston
Mature relationships
Doing international placements for 30 years
Keep working on those relationships
Account management approach
Phone contact and visits when possible

10. Channels: UK Business Contacts
Branches and contacts abroad
Meet employers on campus
Meet key Account Managers around University i.e.
joined international research projects
Particularly relevant when travelling abroad i.e. to
conferences, students visits, etc

11. Channels: Online Job Boards
Search them regularly
Register to receive alerts
Recommend them to students
It helps to speak languages for some of them

12. Channels: ERASMUS Network
Follow up alerts
Exchange University Partners

13. Internal Channels: Alumni & Academic contacts, placements found by students
Alumni contacts
Very important
Have access to country lists
Make the Alumni Office your best friends!
Try to visit some contacts when you travel abroad
Academic contacts
Network internally
Ask at meetings
International research initiatives
Placements found by students
Contact employer directly
Contact employer by student

14. 3rd Party Channels Agents or 3rd parties – occasionally USA (J1 VISAS)
China Placement agencies
Chamber Commerce offices
Alert – reputation, fees charged to students! Small print and disclaimers

15. Final thoughts Team structure and dedicated resource – languages
Don’t be afraid to share employer contacts if you are not centralised placements team!
Network with academics and other colleagues, always ask the question
One World Week & World Awareness Week
Student Societies
Language Departments
International Office
Persevere, Business Development is a long-term game
Social and professional media is powerful
SME’s are equally good placement providers

16. Merci Obrigado Grazie Domo arigato Dziękuję
Questions
GRACIAS THANK YOU
Danke Tack
Merci Obrigado Grazie Domo arigato Dziękuję