Careers Services and International Students: Developing a Strategic Approach Laura Trotter – Careers Adviser (International) Su Maynard – Internships Co-ordinator (International) Stephen Boyd – Head of Careers and Employability

Overview Setting the scene – organisational context Developing our strategy – what we’ve learnt so far Operational themes Group Activity Questions

Wider University Context

Wider Service Context

Developing an International Careers Strategy . . . what we’ve learnt so far . . .

Measuring Impact Project model University KPIs and Internationalisation Strategy International Student Barometer – overall scores and school specific results Targets and timelines Evaluation

Networking and Collaboration

Research Met with all relevant staff to gain insight as to their work international students – any issues they currently face around employability etc this included Int Office staff, marketing, international directors of each school, agents, overseas office staff & placement teams. Wider context – UKCISA, Internationalisation Task Group, Home Office, British Council, Other University Services etc Analysed all current data around international student experience – ISB, UNIAC review of International Student Experience, any feedback from previous initiatives run. Carried out small survey in International Week – not too successful, too long, participants didn’t have incentive/time to carry out and not sure why they were doing it. Focus Groups Emailed interested parties we had picked up via inductions/internship sign up sheet/international week etc. Created EventBrite with date/time – provided incentive of tea and cake and a chance to make a difference. Did lots of research around focus group delivery and kept things very structured – ensured had moderator/note taker so I was free to facilitate discussion. Clear introduction as to why there/ice breaker activity/clear themes & questions which we put on large bits of paper in the middle of the table as well as just saying them. Transcribed and then coding method via Excel to theme feedback – led to 7 key themes of our operational work going forward.

Managing Expectations

Operational Activity – 7 Key Themes

Student Lifecycle “I just have one year to do my degree and in the mean time I was wanting to get a job but I don’t know what time is appropriate like when the deadline for the company, when is the deadline for the internship and when you have to apply for the degree”

Marketing “I did my undergraduate degree at Huddersfield and until I finished my final year I never went to Careers . . . I didn’t really see the benefit . . . So that’s just it, most people they don’t know what all this is about, so you just need to give them that knowledge”

Application Support “My concern related to how to write a good CV and a Cover letter. I think the style writing a CV and letter from my home country and the British culture is very different so I confused how to create effective CV and another concern related to requirement because if I want to apply to job in UK” Students are aware that the UK recruitment process differs from that in their home country and would value additional support with the application process. This will be addressed for the Huddersfield Internship Scheme by the additional workshops provided to support international students with the application process. There may also be additional need to the central CES application workshop programme already in place on areas which are unique to the UK graduate market e.g. how to approach careers fairs and support with assessment centres.

Work Based Learning “. . we should have opportunities for internship for masters graduate but I am restricted because of the visa, but that would have been a good one because it wouldn’t look like we just finish school and we have no experience going into the work world, it’s going to be difficult for us, but if we have the internship we’ll be able to blend well.”

Employers/Alumni "I saw the Careers Service have a (employer) booth by Student Central? But I’m scared to talk to people in front of the booth, but if they are in a classroom I would have the confidence to raise the question instead of in front of the booth." "By calling industry specific people for seminars that would be more relevant, getting insight from the mind of the employer would be really useful"

Immigration “What we need to do for the visa stuff, cos we only have a Tier 4 visa for study so, if we apply for the jobs we need to be taken on by a company to pay us and provide us with visa so this is a big concern”

Global Careers “I also have the same alternative, going back to my country or working anywhere in the world, so I’m open to everything, I’ll just pick the best opportunity.”

Group Activity Working in your groups consider both the potential allies (opportunities) and the potential opponents (barriers) you may face when developing or building on an internationalisation careers strategy in your institution. You may find it useful to consider the 4 key areas we looked at earlier: Measuring Impact Networking and Collaboration Research Managing Expectations Use the paper and post it notes provided to ‘map’ your thoughts. We will collate responses and provide a resource for those who would like it.

Questions?