W604: Learning from a US/UK international staff exchange Lucy Hawkins, Careers Adviser University of Oxford

Learning objectives Increased knowledge of how US services support their student employability Ability to assess the potential for an international exchange Knowledge of how to plan and carry out an international exchange

Oxford -> Berkeley

We’d done this before Montreal -> Oxford

What meets your needs? Sketch out your version...

SMART targets? Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-sensitive Goal setting Professional US student expectations LMI for US Guidance skills Delivery model Personal Confidence Independent living Learn new hobbies Make new friends Realistic goals?

Plans of action

Planning Sign and countersign secondment contracts Write handover notes Discuss and arrange portfolio of work duties with line managers Informally discuss and agree exchange with counterpart Arrange insurance for medical, travel, car Introduce counterpart to line manager and team via Skype Present ‘business case’ to senior management Decide on dates for exchange Discuss and refine secondment contract with other service Draft secondment contract for home employee Arrange Certificate of Sponsorship for visa Book visa appt at Embassy in home country Book flight Write informal ‘house/car swap’ agreement

Planning Sign and countersign secondment contracts Write informal ‘house/car swap’ agreement Write handover notes Discuss and arrange portfolio of work duties with line managers Informally discuss and agree exchange with counterpart Arrange insurance for medical, travel, car Introduce counterpart to line manager and team via Skype Present ‘business case’ to senior management Decide on dates for exchange Discuss and refine secondment contract with other service Draft secondment contract for home employee Arrange Certificate of Sponsorship for visa Book visa appt at Embassy in home country Book flight

Visa issues: into UK UKBA Tier 5 (temporary worker) visa Government approved exchange schemes offer Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) We used GTI’s Tier 5 Intern scheme Project Director: Alison Light Counterpart then uses CoS to apply in their home country to the UKBA

Visa issues: into US US Department of State J1 (exchange visitor) visa Most universities are a sponsor already My Certificate of Sponsorship came from UC Berkeley directly I used this to book a visa appointment at the US Embassy in London

Costs Costs for Oxford £ DS-2019 (CoS) £ SEVIS (Embassy fee) £ J1 visa (Embassy visa fee) £ Flights £ TOTAL for Oxford to budget £ 1, Costs for UC Berkeley £ GTI Sponsor £ UKBA Visa application £ Flights £ TOTAL for Berkeley to budget £ 1, Personal costs c.£400 medical insurance No car insurance costs Need to switch home insurance provider

Issues to manage IssueManagement Employee/er risksSecondment contract, insurance House/car-swap issuesWritten agreements, in-country contact, flexibility Integration into serviceOnboarding plan, lots of observation, 1:1 weekly, proactivity 2 employer tensionsPre-agreed few days out of normal secondment work Impact on other staffClear handovers, thanks, other opportunities created Reintegration back home Debriefing, updating, feedback, presenting, presents!

Learning

Shared challenges

New ideas ‘Career Lounge’ Letter Service Career Mail On Campus Recruiting Mock Interview Consultants Peer Advisers Externship Program Resume Books Diversity programs 1 st class customer care Increasingly paperless resources ‘Recruiter in Residence’ Video CV feedback ‘Career Briefings’ Online discussion platforms, e.g. LinkedIn Interview feedback database ‘The Student Consultancy’ Springboard women’s leadership development Internship Programme and Skype guidance

A (virtual) visit to the USA Jim Sullivan, Assistant Director (Counseling and Programmes) Nancy McFarland, Assistant Director (Employer Relations and Recruiting) Sarah Bang, International Career Counselor Maria Dawson, Career Counselor

Feel free to get in touch Lucy Hawkins Careers Adviser, University of