1. Engaging Foundation Learners with a Student-led Magazine
Jane Sjoberg

2. Overview The BIA context An understanding of ‘enhanced engagement’
Challenges with international foundation students
The Magazine Project – key features
What do students say? (video)
The finished product
Practicalities
Summary of enhanced benefits
Future directions

3. The BIA Foundation Context
c200 international students – China, Middle East, Nigeria etc
Language levels from 5.5 to 9+
Growing numbers of U18s (16+)
EAP modules (40 credits)

4. What is ‘enhanced’ engagement?
Engaging SS in their learning is fundamental
Enhanced engagement implies engaging SS more holistically
outside a specific learning environment (e.g. class/lab/lecture/seminar)
promoting SS interaction with the university context and the wider community

5. Challenges
Encouraging international foundation students to ‘get involved’ in the broader university experience can be challenging due to:
lower language levels
age restrictions on social clubs/events
lack of practice managing unstructured time
confidence/shyness
difficulties ‘making friends’ outside immediate circle
multiple transitions – from home to UK and from school to university – from sun to …. from delicious food to….()

6. Meeting the Challenge: The Magazine Project

7. Key Features of the Project
Started in 2012 with the main aim to get SS involved in ‘outside class’ experiences
Aim to produce 1 issue for end of each academic year
Scaffolded environment (facilitated by 1-2 teachers in a familiar place) with regular meetings
Opportunities for international students across pathways to meet and mix
Student-led – fosters learner autonomy
Editing team, writing, planning, designing, promoting

8. Meet The Students

9. What do you think their answers were?
The Questions
What do you think their answers were?
1) What did you hope to get out of the magazine project experience?
2) What did you learn?
3) What was your most memorable experience?
4) What advice would you give to the next magazine team?

10. Watch and Compare
Video (c.6’30)

11. Meet ‘The Key ’
What the students we interviewed all mentioned was the thrill of seeing the end product…

12. Practicalities
Print copies – one per editing member of the Project Team/contributor
100 copies c£350
Used in international marketing events/given out on open days etc

13. Digital Versions (Easy & Free)
We use:
-BFA-Student-Magazine/
Digital version goes on university intranet

14. Enhanced Benefits – a Summary
COGNITIVE
Transferable skills – CV
Time management –setting & meeting deadlines
Group-work and group dynamics
Communication skills
Dealing with setbacks
Getting motivated and maintaining momentum
Writing in different genres (strange ‘reverse’ effect of improving academic style)
Proofreading/polishing/presentation
Digital skills (images, copyright, layout)
BEHAVIOURAL
EMOTIONAL

15. What Next? Possible avenues to explore…
Working across international programmes (e.g. getting UG presessional students involved)
Involving Home Foundation students (EPS – 60 SS this year) – SS already do most modules together
Maybe working across institutions on parallel projects (teaming up SS remotely)

16. Want to know more?