Directorate of Corporate Affairs International Student Barometer - international student feedback Dr Sue Piggott International Director

Directorate of Corporate Affairs International Student Barometer National student survey - Autumn, Spring and Summer Wave Brookes took part in Autumn Wave – Post- arrival and orientation Focus – decision making, expectations, initial perceptions Standard questionnaire sent to 43 national and international institutions Results benchmarked against other institutions

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Student Response Total UG42311,948 Total PGT35911,431 Total PGR524,803 Total94431,440

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Nationalities

Directorate of Corporate Affairs School and level of study UGPGTPGROther Oxford Brookes ISB

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Major findings – choosing the University Students also considered the US (61%) and Australia (30%) Course title was the most important consideration for international study and teaching quality and reputation the most important factor in choosing the university University website and friends were the most used sources of information League tables were a consideration for university choice but other factors more important for Brookes

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Arrival and Orientation Satisfaction better than ISB registration internet use formal welcome meeting staff meet and greet accommodation office finance office Satisfaction less than ISB university orientation making friends local orientation social activities Bank account - both Brookes and ISB!

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Implications for Brookes University and local orientation Have more maps/bus routes/information on website and in induction pack ? What else? Making friends Can we make wider use of buddy scheme both at University level and School level? What are Schools doing ? Social activities Should more social activities be School based? Do Schools do this? Opening a bank account How can we improve this?

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Living Experience Satisfaction better than ISB internet access safety accommodation quality good place to be other friends earning money visa advice Satisfaction less than ISB accommodation value living cost good contacts transport links host friends financial support similar friends

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Living Experience - importance

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Implications for Brookes ? Value for money – accommodation, living cost, financial support Manage expectations. Literature needs to be transparent Transport links Survey done during road works. Conduct focus groups ? Similar friends Same as in orientation section. How can this be improved?

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Support Services – importance

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Student support Satisfaction better than ISB ISAS IT support Faith provision Health Centre Accommodation Office Satisfaction less than ISB Students Union Career Service Finance Office Halls Welfare Catering

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Careers Students are most dissatisfied with careers provision Significant mismatch between expectation and experience Over 90% of students expect careers support Most expect traditional advice and guidance… but…

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Expectation of Careers Provision Placement (finding relevant work experience/work placement opportunities for me) (all ISB)

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Expectation of Careers Provision Representation (contacting employers on my behalf)

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Expectation of Careers Provision Employment (securing a job for me)

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Implications for Brookes Employability is key to Brookes success in recruiting international students With IGS can increase students employability and create links at home Why is employability key? Middle ranking university Few distinguishing features Entry levels equate with better universities Tuition fees in upper quartile Living Costs high Few scholarships

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Careers – what do students want ?

Directorate of Corporate Affairs What can we do? Use Careers Office website to provide advice and guidance Build career skills into curriculum Links with multinational employers in UK Use alumni to forge networks in home country (Contact with alumni – through personal and Brookes-for-life ) Links with Chamber of Commerce in home country Work placement officer in School

Directorate of Corporate Affairs Finally most satisfied and dissatisfied…. DISSATISFIED Autumn 2006 Living cost59% Accommodation cost57% Financial support51% Making friends from my home country 50% Bank account48% SATISFIED Autumn 2006 Expert lecturers91% Safety91% Academics English88% International Student Advisory Service 87% Multicultural learning environment 87%

Directorate of Corporate Affairs For the full I-Barometer results please consult the International Office webpage ml The username and password are both intoffice