1. Internationalisation success in Law: getting Sheffield students studying abroad.
Dr Paul James Cardwell, School of Law
Faculty of Social Sciences ‘Brown Bag’ lunch
6 November 2013.

2. The problem.
Involved in sending students to study abroad since the 1990s, but declining numbers of students able to speak foreign languages.
High drop-out rate (to ‘ordinary’ law) from degree including a semester abroad in English.
Increasingly competitive UG Law market.
18/10/2019
© The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

3. What we did.
Reform degree programmes to offer an additional year abroad to all UG Law students.
Emphasis Law (with French/German/Spanish Law) degrees to A level students.
Increase number of overseas links from 25 to 52 including many ‘unique’ destinations.
18/10/2019
© The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

4. What we did.
Embed the year abroad experience in our marketing material, web presence and at open days.
Create a ‘buzz’ by involving year 4 students as much as possible.
Ensure that personal tutors consistently reinforce messages about benefits.
18/10/2019
© The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

5. The costs.
Resource implications: full-time professional services staff member.
Academic staff time for creation of links, visits and pastoral care.
Teaching and support for incoming visiting students.
18/10/2019
© The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

6. The results.
35% of Law students studying abroad as part of their degree: a national leader.
Year Abroad programme a School USP.
Far higher proportion of first and 2:1 degrees from students studying abroad and (anecdotally) better job prospects.
Sheffield ‘on the map’ here and abroad.
18/10/2019
© The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

7. 802 731 820 744 869 Source: British Council 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
Total number of UK Law students outgoing
802
731
820
744
869
Total number of Sheffield Law students outgoing 55 77 71 59 81
%age of Sheffield Law students
6.57%
10.53%
8.65%
8.47%
9.78%
Source: British Council

8. The future.
School Internationalisation Strategy : 50% of home UG students studying abroad.
Increased staff involvement in Erasmus teaching and administrative links.
Examine ways to capitalise on links for research and PG recruitment.
18/10/2019
© The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications