International Office perspectives of cultural exchange programmes Eve Leung International students advisor University of Greenwich

What is international office? Recruitment (SOAS) Recruitment (SOAS) International students welfare (Oxford Brookes) International students welfare (Oxford Brookes) Combined functions (UCL) Combined functions (UCL)

Types of overseas exchange Short Term, Long Term Fieldwork Fieldwork Exchange programmes (Euramus/JYA) Exchange programmes (Euramus/JYA) Language exchange (voluntary, compulsory) Language exchange (voluntary, compulsory)

Recruitment Well advertise, in prospectus and other publications as part of selling points Well advertise, in prospectus and other publications as part of selling points By doing this, you are establishing an agreement with students on what they can expect By doing this, you are establishing an agreement with students on what they can expect Co-ordinate between universities Co-ordinate between universities Organise orientation programme as part of the welcome package Organise orientation programme as part of the welcome package

Welfare office/student services Provide information for students before they leave i.e. immigration, health check etc Provide information for students before they leave i.e. immigration, health check etc Provide pastoral care if necessary for student abroad (point of contact for emergency) Provide pastoral care if necessary for student abroad (point of contact for emergency) Provide advice for department if the country chosen is suitable for the exchange (too dangerous?) Provide advice for department if the country chosen is suitable for the exchange (too dangerous?) Degree of care varies Degree of care varies

Department To Establish inter-institutional agreement Establish inter-institutional agreement Access if the programme/project is suitable as part of the course Access if the programme/project is suitable as part of the course Ensure the experience can be collaborate into the course Ensure the experience can be collaborate into the course Provide academic information to students Provide academic information to students

Department Retain prime responsibility Retain prime responsibility Normal operation Normal operation Procedure in the event of any accident or dispute Procedure in the event of any accident or dispute Procedure of evacuation Procedure of evacuation What kind of support should be provided by home institution and visiting institution What kind of support should be provided by home institution and visiting institution

Before Brief students before departure Brief students before departure FCO advice FCO advice QAA Code of practice on placement learning QAA Code of practice on placement learning Host country laws, depends on what kind of activities they are doing abroad, includes rights of academic appeal, health and safety, data protection, criminal law, drink. Drugs, driving, breach of peace, consumer laws etc Host country laws, depends on what kind of activities they are doing abroad, includes rights of academic appeal, health and safety, data protection, criminal law, drink. Drugs, driving, breach of peace, consumer laws etc Written information (for everyone) Written information (for everyone) Make sure everyone is briefed before leaving Make sure everyone is briefed before leaving Advice within competent training e.g. department to collaborate with welfare office for information Advice within competent training e.g. department to collaborate with welfare office for information

Before Academic assessment Academic assessment to allow only 2 nd or 3 rd year student to allow only 2 nd or 3 rd year student Studying relevant subject (with permission from the department) Studying relevant subject (with permission from the department) Test on language abilities Test on language abilities Mentoring Mentoring Either by academic or students who participate in the same fieldwork/program (assign program leader) Either by academic or students who participate in the same fieldwork/program (assign program leader) Give informal advice Give informal advice

After Collaborate experience into the course Collaborate experience into the course PROJECTS PROJECTS Career developments Career developments

Legal issues Home institution is responsible!!! Home institution is responsible!!! Accuracy of all information provided (facilities) Accuracy of all information provided (facilities) Data protection act, both host and home institutions to comply with the normal way of EEA data protection act, can include health record if student are registered with it, assessment scores Data protection act, both host and home institutions to comply with the normal way of EEA data protection act, can include health record if student are registered with it, assessment scores Human rights act 1998 Human rights act 1998 Sex discrimination act 1975 Sex discrimination act 1975 Disability discrimination Act 1995 (plus amendment in 2001) Disability discrimination Act 1995 (plus amendment in 2001) Law in the host country Law in the host country

Websites (disability rights commission draft code for practice) (disability rights commission draft code for practice)

Examples Disabilities As part of an art history course at an university in UK, students spend a month in Italy on a programme run by an Italian university. A student, need to have wheelchair access, whos responsibility it is to ensure the host university to provide the provision for the students?

Examples Disabilities UK

Students on a language course spend 2 months in a partner institution in Europe. Despite the work that the British institution has done with the European institution to explain the needs of disabled students on the programme, disabled continue to complain that they have been discriminated against during their stay. Whose responsibility to resolved the situation

Examples Disabilities UK Department Department Welfare office Welfare office

Examples Emergency situation In April 2003, WHO announced Beijing had reported cases of SARS. A group of language exchange students were studying there for a year. A student representative ed home institution asking what they should do? What will you advise?

Examples Emergency situation Check FCO advice if they is any warning against visiting the city To ask if students feel unsafe staying the country, if so, home institution may choose to call back all students

Examples Emergency Situation Call back/evacuation procedure

Examples Withdraw programme procedure A student called the department requesting to withdraw from the exchange programme. He expressed that the course is not what he expected, and was suffering from homesick. He also had problems in accommodation and banking that prevent him to enjoy his stay within the first 3 weeks. What should you do?

Examples Withdraw programme procedure Check if students just suffering from short term or long term problem by referring him to talk to a counsellor Student mentoring programme before and during is helpful to prevent homesick Check if it is the only case, if not, home institution should start an investigation If student insist in withdrawing the programme -

Examples Withdraw programme procedure Withdraw programme procedure

Any questions? Thank you Eve Leung