Glasgow Caledonian University Hitting the Ground Running 4 June 2010

1. Glasgow Caledonian University Hitting the Ground Running 4 June 2010 Frances McNally, International Student Support Officer From the beginning: support from pre-arrival to post-graduation. An Orientation Programme for International Students in practice.

2. Induction: A definition • Inductionnoun (INTRODUCTION)  • when someone is formally introduced into a new job or organization, especially through a special ceremony • Cambridge Dictionary (Cambridge University Press 2010)

3. Induction: A Definition • Inductionnoun (INTRODUCTION)  • when someone is formally introduced into a new job or organization, especially through a special ceremony • Cambridge Dictionary (Cambridge University Press 2010)

4. Welcome • Overview • Discuss the practical elements involved in the programme • Share the successes of previous programmes • Raise the issues and areas of development • Consider future plans and • Realise an action plan for all staff involved in induction.

5. Award-Winning Support • International Student Support Service • Meet the Team • Margaret Ward, Student Advice and Wellbeing Services Manager • Frances McNally, International Student Support Officer Specialism: Orientation and Student Engagement • Lynsey Bradley, International Student Support Officer Specialism: Employability and Volunteering • Gary Brown, Assistant International Student Advisor Specialism: Social Activities and Integration • Availability • Workshops, Drop-In Sessions, Appointments, Email, Phone, Website and Online Social Networking Groups

6. Value of International Students Universities value international students not only for their economic contribution, but also for the cultural diversity they bring and the support for the internationalisation of the curriculum (i-graduate’s A UK Guide to Enhancing International Student Experience, Archer, Jones, Davison March 2010)

7. What Drives Student Satisfaction? • Professor Steve Smith, President Universities UK (March 2010) • Orientation process • Getting a bank account • Quality of seminar rooms • Accommodation • Sports facilities • Student societies

8. ISSS Orientation Programme

9. Orientation Programme: The Elements • Pre-Arrival: In Practice • Mass email communication and Email enquiries with dedicated inbox • Telephone enquiries • Website including podcasts • Facebook dedicated group for new students • All ISSS social networking groups • Online 3D Orientation Programme Guide • Registration • Glasgow International Student Welcome Programme

10. Orientation Programme: The Elements • Pre-Arrival: The Essentials • Clear electronic and written communication • High expectation of online services • Identifiable support • Make friends • Use of existing students – their experience

11. Orientation Programme: The Elements • On-Arrival: In Practice • Meet and greet service • Welcome desk • Welcome packs • Social events • Ceilidh, Welcome lunch, Day trips, City events • Orientation sessions • Services fair • City rally challenge • Peer support

12. Orientation Programme: The Elements • On-Arrival: The Essentials • Clear electronic and written communication • High expectation of online services • Identifiable support • Make friends • Use of existing students – their experience • Orientation to the city • Integration with home students

13. Orientation Programme: The Elements • Post-Induction: In Practice • International Student Support Service • Social programme • Volunteering projects • Employability events • Visa workshops • Family activities • Faith-orientated events • Re:Orientation Programme

14. Orientation Programme: The Elements • Post-Induction: The Essentials • Clear electronic and written communication • High expectation of online services • Identifiable support • Make friends • Use of existing students – their experience • Orientation to the city • Integration with home students • Employability

15. Aim of Orientation Programme • ISSS Perspective: Our Role in Induction • Provide key information and offer guidance • Raise awareness of support services • Create a foundation for social experience and integration • Establish good communication between staff and students • Address issues before they become a problem • Empower students to be independent and confident • Create sense of belonging - welcome into GCU community • Encourage self-discovery of new cultures and new home • KEY: Support students and enhance their experience

16. Student Life • A balancing act Academic Social Residential Wellbeing Cultural

17. Success Stories: Arrival Process • International Student Barometer • 2009 Autumn Wave • “A great arrival experience” (Nigerian) • “i m happy, cheers” (Indian) • “International student office was of tremenduous help to settle down” (Nigerian) • “it really a nice and very comfortable experience i would like to be repeated over and over again and again. thumbs up to the arrival team. i really satisfied because it was stress free” (Not specified) • “The help of french students was very important to understand how it worked about: registration, modules, etc.” (French)

18. Success Stories: Living Experience • International Student Barometer • 2009 Autumn Wave • “i found everyone in the university very helpful and friendly. having all the facilities at my side ,life is cheerful and happy. ” (Indian) • “Its like home away from home". ” (Nigerian) • “I know that my assessment looks boring but I really can not find any big problems and I am satisfied with my living experience. Whats more, I think that Gary Brown and other people from ISSS doing good job and I am grateful for all social events, trips and oportunities to meet new friends. ” (Not specified) • “I have noticed that different races tend to keep to themselves. The International team have however done a good job in trying to blend everybody.” (Not specified)

19. Success Stories: Support Experience • International Student Barometer • 2009 Autumn Wave • "I'm very satisfied with the support services offered so far".(Not specified) • “I would like to commend the ISSS, they have made my stay here completely stress-free as I have been able to get every issue sorted out with them with speed and efficiency. ” (Nigerian) • “Thank you International Student Support Service, for all the great activities and your help! ” (German) • “The International office have been donig a wonderful, all other support services are also doing well I encourage to keep doing their best .” (Not specified)

20. Success Story: Recommendation • International Student Barometer • 2009 Autumn Wave • “well i would like to encourage people to join caledonian uni because being an international students, i recieved a lot of support from this uni and their support offices and lecturers. I have come across various people and made friends of various races, ages, cultures and nationality and feel really proud to be able to get along with them and have fun at the end of the day. big thanks to international department for comming up with different social and sports activities for us international students.” (Indian)

21. Challenges: ISSS Level • Late arrivals causing students to miss orientation programme • Administrative labour • Integration with home students • Attendance • Conflict with other activities • Student expectations • Voluntary aspect of peer-support • Support service cover

22. The Solution: ISSS Level • Late arrivals causing students to miss orientation programme • Repeat activities • Administrative labour • Central IT system • Integration with home students • Student association developing social programme for all • Clever marketing – international association • Attendance and Conflict with other activities • Central source of activities • Joint projects

23. The Solution: ISSS Level • Student expectations • Clear communication • Technology • Effective use of existing students • Voluntary aspect of peer-support • Develop voluntary role with variety and more responsibility • Support service cover • Staff wellbeing • Advance scheduling

24. Challenges: University Level • Central social hub – Student Association does not include a bar • Accountability • Academic calendar change • Integration across disciplines • Communication with key stakeholders • Conflict with other activities • Awareness of other activities

25. The Solution: University Level • Central social hub – Student Association does not include a bar • SA developing social programme • Partnership with Walkabout • Accountability • Awareness of other sources • Working in partnership • Academic calendar change • Effective planning and communication • Integration across disciplines • Use of support services to deliver with schools

26. Challenges: University Level • Communication with key stakeholders • Internal session • Conflict with other activities • Awareness of other activities

27. Future Plans • ISSS Orientation Programme Development • Welcome Lounge creates a central point of information at arrival • E-buddy pre-arrival to support at peer level • Creative multimedia to deliver key messages and engage • Effective use of Facebook group for new students • Early communication with schools • Pre-arrival workshops for students in-country • Develop volunteer role to be more responsible • Evaluation Strategy

28. What next? It is up to you…

29. Glasgow Caledonian University Hitting the Ground Running 4 June 2010 Thank you Contact Details Email: Frances.McNally@gcu.ac.uk Telephone: 0141 273 1216 Office: M136, George Moore Building