Aston University Placements Strategy 2020 Carolina Salinas Deputy Head of Placements

Facts and figures Employability – the team Internationalisation: a strategic approach Levers and challenges Today

Aston % placements by % of those Abroad Student experience Student achievement

Facts & figures 25% of UG placed students are on placement overseas 65% English speaking Top locations: China/HK USA Australia Korea Spain France Germany Netherlands Chile

Employability - The Team Dedicated International Placements Team within the Employability Dept

Embedded in Internationalisation Strategy Aston’s approach: Research informed agenda Not just placements: developing cultural capital But placements at the centre Top down strategy helps with wider buy-in Underpins volume activities which gives placements regular visibility and platforms to promote the international placements message Examples of presence: International Committees and Networks Academic fora Events ie One World Week, Freshers’ Week Open Days On campus Conferences Cross–team collaborations ie International Office, Alumni

Strategic Levers Top down commitment to placements and outward mobility Academic, wider University’s buy-in Lower placement fee (most cases exempted) Campus placements culture Compulsory placements in some areas Central Team Aston’s tradition and DNA Doing international placements for over 30 years Internationalisation initiatives University Wide Language Programme Intercultural Awareness Sessions for students and staff

Student engagement Deliver the same message in multiple ways, via multiple channels, multiple times Be creative, try again… and again Student misperceptions of Placements Abroad - Myths Scary Expensive Only for language students Academic collaboration - ongoing work Pockets of resistance, lack of engagement Pockets of scepticism (particularly with Study Abroad) Challenges

GRACIAS THANK YOU Danke Tack Merci Obrigado Grazie Domo arigato Dziękuję