ICOS Seminar – “Enhancing the student experience: what do students really need?“ The UCC Experience Suzanne Buckley - Support Officer for International Students Tel: June

UCC –Facts International Student population: 14% student body 14% student body 2000 students 2000 students 98 different countries 98 different countries Visiting students & full degree Visiting students & full degreeStructures: Vice President for the Student Experience – Champion Vice President for the Student Experience – Champion Support Officer for International Student – dedicated role Support Officer for International Student – dedicated role International Education Office = a one stop shop International Education Office = a one stop shop Peer Assisted Student Support - PASS co-ordinator Peer Assisted Student Support - PASS co-ordinator

Context - Support at UCC Pre-departureOn-ArrivalOn-going  Accommodation  Contact with peers  Visas  Work  Up to date website – facebook, blogs, SU website, youtube  Airport Pick Up  Welcome Programme  Orientation Programme  Freshers ’ Festival  Peer Support  English Language Support  Social Events  Cultural Awareness for staff  Visa workshops for staff  Work Placement Officers

Instruments of Feedback I-Graduate International Student Barometer – 2007/2008 I-Graduate International Student Barometer – 2007/2008 First Year Student Survey First Year Student Survey Focus Groups Focus Groups One to one meetings One to one meetings Peer Assisted Student Supporters Peer Assisted Student Supporters Staff - Admin, Support &Departmental staff Staff - Admin, Support &Departmental staff Supervisors Supervisors

What do students say? Positives Expert Teaching/Learning Expert Teaching/Learning International Education Office International Education Office Sports Facilities Sports Facilities Clubs/Societies Clubs/Societies Improvement Some issues common to all students, some specific Some issues common to all students, some specific Need to provide more on-going support Need to provide more on-going support Learning styles & expectations Learning styles & expectations Isolated post graduates Isolated post graduates Finance Finance Visas/Immigration Visas/Immigration

UCC’s response AcademicSocialGeneral Tutorial Exchange Tutorial Exchange Built in English language supports Built in English language supports Doctoral Showcase Doctoral Showcase More PASS involvement More PASS involvement SU events SU events “Free” access to Sports facilities “Free” access to Sports facilities Involvement of Campus of Accommodation – sense of community Involvement of Campus of Accommodation – sense of community Postgraduate newsletter Postgraduate newsletter Caffeine Connections Caffeine Connections Events website Events websitePolicies: Mental Health Policy Mental Health Policy Procedures for Organisation of Training and Coursework with PhD Programmes at UCC Procedures for Organisation of Training and Coursework with PhD Programmes at UCC

On going challenges Tend to be areas outside our control: Government frameworks and policies – eg visas for spouses and families, travel to conferences Government frameworks and policies – eg visas for spouses and families, travel to conferences Inconsistencies in interpretation Inconsistencies in interpretation Competition from countries with more favourable immigration rules and graduate right to work options. Competition from countries with more favourable immigration rules and graduate right to work options. Budgets! Budgets!