Internationalisation success in Law: getting Sheffield students studying abroad. Dr Paul James Cardwell, School of Law Faculty of Social Sciences ‘Brown Bag’ lunch 6 November 2013.

The problem. Involved in sending students to study abroad since the 1990s, but declining numbers of students able to speak foreign languages. High drop-out rate (to ‘ordinary’ law) from degree including a semester abroad in English. Increasingly competitive UG Law market. 18/10/2019 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

What we did. Reform degree programmes to offer an additional year abroad to all UG Law students. Emphasis Law (with French/German/Spanish Law) degrees to A level students. Increase number of overseas links from 25 to 52 including many ‘unique’ destinations. 18/10/2019 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

What we did. Embed the year abroad experience in our marketing material, web presence and at open days. Create a ‘buzz’ by involving year 4 students as much as possible. Ensure that personal tutors consistently reinforce messages about benefits. 18/10/2019 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

The costs. Resource implications: full-time professional services staff member. Academic staff time for creation of links, visits and pastoral care. Teaching and support for incoming visiting students. 18/10/2019 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

The results. 35% of Law students studying abroad as part of their degree: a national leader. Year Abroad programme a School USP. Far higher proportion of first and 2:1 degrees from students studying abroad and (anecdotally) better job prospects. Sheffield ‘on the map’ here and abroad. 18/10/2019 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

802 731 820 744 869 Source: British Council 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Total number of UK Law students outgoing 802 731 820 744 869 Total number of Sheffield Law students outgoing 55 77 71 59 81 %age of Sheffield Law students 6.57% 10.53% 8.65% 8.47% 9.78% 802 731 820 744 869 Source: British Council

The future. School Internationalisation Strategy 2012-2017: 50% of home UG students studying abroad. Increased staff involvement in Erasmus teaching and administrative links. Examine ways to capitalise on links for research and PG recruitment. 18/10/2019 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications