1. Supporting your Chinese Students Practitioner Day, 5 th July Sue Bennett, Esther de Perlaky & Siobhan Qadir Student Careers & Skills, University of Warwick

2. Welcome Sue Bennett, Director Esther de Perlaky, International Employer Liaison Manager Siobhan Qadir, Senior Careers Consultant

3. Aim of today Key findings from the research into UK- educated Chinese student employability. Interactive, educational and a platform for discussions, knowledge sharing and networking. In the context of your department, your institution, your region and as the UK.

4. Programme 10amWorkshop 1 – Know your Students 11am Break 11.15am Workshop 2 – Making the Most of Your Time in the UK 12.15pmNetworking Lunch 1pmWorkshop 3 – Working with Employers 2pmBreak 2.15pmWorkshop summary, action planning and next steps 3.30pmClose

5. Enhancing the Employability of UK-Educated Chinese Students Project Overview

6. Why Research? Chinese student numbers steadily growing 90,000 Chinese students currently studying in the UK 14% growth in overseas study; UK seeing 4% growth

7. Project Aims To provide evidence-based employability and entrepreneurship support for UK-educated Chinese students before, during and after their UK studies. To effect a change in student employability in the Chinese labour market. To enable UK HE to be better informed and resourced to support the needs of all UK-educated Chinese students.

8. Project Partners Project funded by British Council China and Department of Business, Innovation & Skills Led by University of Warwick In partnership with –Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) –Institute for Employment Research –UK HEIs and Peking University –Chinese students, alumni and employers

9. For the first time in the UK, this project enabled UK HEIs to share Chinese graduate Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) data Providing an evidenced-based picture of UK-educated Chinese graduate destinations Phase I – Destination Sharing

10. Phase II – Research To gather detailed qualitative and quantitative feedback from Chinese employers, students and alumni on graduate success for returning UK- educated Chinese students Insights into the Chinese labour market and how UK-educated Chinese students can enhance their employment prospects

11. Phase III – Education and Resources Development of new workshops, events & online materials for careers professionals Online information delivered via new AGCAS web interface UK HEIs free to choose how to use and disseminate the materials

12. Workshop 1 Know Your Students

13. Research Methodology Quantitative surveys with: –2174 Chinese students from 54 different HEIs –335 alumni from 44 different HEIs –Broad range of Chinese employers Plus qualitative interviews with employers and students

14. Student Sample Over-represents higher tariff universities and also females Majority studying Business & Administration and Engineering courses (very similar to HESA data) Majority studying Postgraduate Taught degrees 20% are the first in their family to attend university Majority come from higher social classes

15. Why Chinese Students Study in the UK Excellent academic reputation of UK HEIs To acquire the skills I need To speak English fluently Academic reputation of the specific HEI is also extremely important Alumni responses echo these reasons for studying in the UK

16. Why Did You Choose Your UK HEI? My university has excellent academic reputation My degree course has excellent reputation Personal interest in my degree course = 3 rd Compared with UK students where the specific degree course is the most important factor Again highlighting the importance of UK HEI academic reputation

17. Student Career Planning 25% have a clear future career aim 60% have some basic careers ideas Advice sourced from parents; online and thirdly, careers services 53% had used their university careers service –Most used services were CV checks and events Opportunity to offer deeper employability support, particularly around pre-entry and career planning

18. Desired Country to Live & Work 60% would like to return to China 27% would like to live in the UK Students studying Science less likely to intend to return to China Compared with DLHE data 2013/14 –70% return to China –11% stay in the UK

19. Student Career Aspirations Doing what I enjoy and am qualified/skilled to do Importance of work-life balance Having a high salary and job security are in ranked 5 th and 6 th place Result of Western experience and influence?

20. Skills Students Believe are Important to Recruiters Problem solving Team working Networking + English language skills (for UK employers)

21. Discussion Question Thinking about what you’ve heard in this workshop: 1.What surprises you? 2.What does it confirm? 3.In what way(s) will this alter your work and your department’s work with Chinese students?

22. Tea/Coffee Break

23. Workshop 2 Making the Most of Your Time in the UK

24. Key Findings - Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Data

25. Thank you to: Aston University Bath Spa University Durham University Kings College London London School of Economics Robert Gordon University Sheffield Hallam University University of Bradford University of Brighton University of Cambridge University of Central Lancashire University of Edinburgh University of Essex University of Kent University of Leeds University of Liverpool University of Manchester University of Northumbria University of Oxford University of Reading University of Strathclyde University of Sussex University of Warwick University of Worcester

26. Graduate Destination Research 2013/14 graduate destination data shared by 22 UK HEIs Sample of 3,289 students Contrasted with total of 88,000 Chinese students in the UK in 2013/14

27. DLHE Student Sample – 3,289 Female: 57% Male: 43%

28. Destination of Chinese Graduates 2013/14 Base: 3,289 Chinese graduates

29. Destinations of Chinese UG/PGT/PGR Graduates Base: 1220 UG; 1717 PGT and 219 PGR Chinese graduates

30. Where Chinese graduates work 71% work in China 11% work in the UK 8% in Hong Kong, Taiwan, SE Asia Those most likely to stay in UK are male, PGR graduates from STEM or Social study disciplines Base: 1568 Chinese graduates

31. Most popular subjects studied in the UK

32. Industry Sectors Where Chinese Graduates Work

33. Employability & Chinese Economy Since 2008, Chinese Government has invested 4 trillion Yuan into the economy Key investment into infrastructure, towns and cities creating demand for graduates from Architecture, building and planning

34. Growth Industries Continuous expansion of education generating many job opportunities Fast development of wireless internet - creating technical roles and also need for Arts and Design graduates to develop appealing Apps and online content

35. Alumni Feedback “Gain English language skills Have a career plan Understand UK learning is different to Chinese way Engage with non-Chinese friends and societies Network more, contacts are important here too. Do not only hang out with the Chinese.”

36. Discussion Question Thinking about what you’ve heard in this workshop: 1.What surprises you? 2.What does it confirm? 3.In what way(s) will this alter your work and your department’s work with Chinese students?

37. Networking Lunch

38. Workshop 3 Working with Employers

39. Methodology Quantitative and qualitative interviews with a broad range of Chinese employers. From start ups to multinationals, to government organisations and state-owned enterprises.

40. Overseas education seen as a ‘normal’ part of a Chinese student’s education. Students need to differentiate themselves and ‘sell their experience’. “Studying abroad, without demonstrating extra-curricular activities and experiences, is not a USP.” Studying Abroad

41. Chinese HEIs Chinese HEI education is developing rapidly, in line with needs of Chinese economy. Offers high quality education, including multiple internship opportunities.

42. Employer Feedback Academic reputation of the UK is important; less important is a specific UK HEI’s reputation. Many employers are not aware of the names or rankings of UK universities. No preference to recruit from specific UK HEIs (except Oxbridge).

43. Beyond the UK… Australia, Canada & US offer an increasingly attractive proposition –2 year post-study work visa opportunities –Internships are often a core part of UG and PG courses –Two year PG courses & time to ‘culturally adapt’

44. A Planned Choice Employers want graduates to show motivation to work in their organisation. Evidence of research into the role. Knowledge/desire for their sector.

45. Career Planning Employers want graduates to show reflection. Be able to curate and narrate their UK experience. Plus show evidence of career planning.

46. Returning Chinese graduates Students and graduates need to be aware of some Chinese employers’ perceptions of UK- educated Chinese graduates, particularly in terms of over-inflated expected starting salaries. Plus employer attitudes towards recruiting UK- educated graduates and ensuring cultural fit in their organisation.

47. Opportunities UK HE provides graduates with unique mobility capital: –Global mind-set –Team working skills –Problem solving skills –English language skills –Different way of learning help meets the needs of Chinese economy

48. Discussion Question Thinking about what you’ve heard in this workshop: 1.What surprises you? 2.What does it confirm? 3.In what way(s) will this alter your work and your department’s work with Chinese students?

49. Tea/Coffee Break

50. Workshop Summaries and Next Steps Working Groups

51. Four Working Groups: Group 1 - Know your Students (Claire Leslie) Group 2 - Making the Most of Your Time in the UK (Siobhan Qadir) Group 3 - Working with Employers (Esther de Perlaky)

52. Next Steps What are the key materials and resources you would like to be made available? Please contact us if you’re interested in being part of a working group.

53. Thank you! sue.bennett@warwick.ac.uk esther.de-perlaky@warwick.ac.uk s.Qadir@warwick.ac.uk