1. Induction Pilot Project and Progress, March 2015
Quickly run through why we started ...
Helen McAllister & Layla Murga, Language Centre

2. Data Driven?
Low attainment by international students seems to be particularly in relation to Mainland Chinese students (not unusual in the sector – in fact our results are comparatively better)
Welfare issues too (including students taking their own lives)
Multiple routes into the Uni mean that students have a variety of induction experiences, some less complete/evolved than others (eg presessional/orientation, UAL Accommodation, progression from FE Vs direct entrants in private housing, etc)
What we felt was possible at the point in June 2014 when the pilot work was approved by EB:
Nb 2 main messages re networking and AS
Pre-arrival materials for Overseas Reps to use – show pdf example (can be found here:R:\LanguageCentre\INS Induction\Induction Project\ISECoP)
UAL wide welcome for late arrivals nb Less than 40% of overseas FE and UG students enrolled on time in 13/14; 3% of UG and 14% of FE overseas students enrolled ‘after late enrolment’. The figures were better in 14/15 but we don’t have the data from UCPU yet

3. UAL Wide Welcome 1
First UAL-wide Welcome Event at CSM November 2014

4. UAL Wide Welcome 1 Attendance 240 bookings - total attendance 32.5%
(Booked attendance 23% non-booked attendance 9.5%)
Colleges
LCF 34% CCW 27% CSM 24% LCC 13%
Nationalities
East Asia (China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan) 26%
Other International 20% EU 14%
South Asia (India, Pakistan) 12%
Home 9%
‘Other International’ includes Russia, US, Brazil, South Africa, Lebanon and the Caribbean

5. UAL Wide Welcome1
Feedback ‘To date I must say we have never felt more engaged with our institution than we did that evening.’ How would you rate this event? (1 to 5, where 1=disappointing and 5=great) 3/5 11.5% 4/5 19.2% 5/5 61.5% Did you make any new contacts or friends at the event? Yes 81%

6. UAL Welcome Event 2 nb run in conjunction with Postgraduate Community
Discussion with Director of Comms on ‘international’ or ‘overseas’ – ‘international’ is viewed as most appropriate (nb need to add this to the focus group questions - check students agree that they see themselves as ‘international’ rather than using some other term)

7. UAL Welcome Event 3? School Pop-up - damp squib Culture Share?
UAL Events for students overload?
What event to run in term 3 remains undecided

8. UAL event attendance
Vicky Fabbri of SEE provided data for Enterprise Week 2014 attendance:
Enterprise Week 2014 statistics, and comparison year data
Bookings in advance:  4322  (in 2013: 2913,  in 2012: 2898, in 2011: 2600)
Places attended, including Awards: 1220 (in 2013: 1318, in 2012: 1177, in 2011: 1377)
Average dropout rate: 71% (55% in 2013, 59.4% in 2012, 47% in 2011)
Unique bookings: 1217 (962 in 2013)

9. UAL event attendance

10. EB Endorsed Activity
January 2015 Paper to EB – agreed the activity should be on-going; noted that it’s important that all that we do links with college activities
Even senior staff still focusing on students rather than support for staff however.
Aims of the pilot were to:
To aid the cultural and academic transition of overseas students into UAL so that they can play a full part in their programme of study and the wider life of the University;
To enhance the induction offer for students joining UAL from outside the UK from Autumn 2014, ensuring a comprehensive and more interactive introduction and a warm welcome, regardless of level of study or point of arrival;
To support the achievement of consistency in induction experiences across the institution, whilst also recognizing the need for variation to address course specific requirements;
To establish a cross institutional network of key contacts on induction, which can support and disseminate best practice for future induction rounds at UAL.
What are our core activities to achieve these things?

11. Core Activities
Pre-arrival – Pre-departure briefings materials; self access materials, eg Epigeum and ASO, Runway
Promotion of best practice in induction across the Colleges
UAL Wide Events for students – networking and support
Staff Development:
i. Programme Director International Support Pack
ii. Clear and Accessible English and Intercultural Awareness sessions (and beyond) for staff
iii. Consultancy session with Rachel Scudamore re building a culture where approaches to teaching and learning better support our particular cohorts of students
Bullet 1:
Wendy Anderson (and Amanda Johnstone) to discuss producing materials aimed at preparing students for study at UAL – videos, tailored per market? With support of Student Marketing and Recruitment Team. This connects to the ISHE Review currently in train – what do international students need to know in order to succeed at UAL?
Bullet 2:
Mark Crawley to lead project on induction
We need to identify what the Colleges are doing and what’s missing – nb UAL website, International pages rather bare bones compared with other institutions.
Bullet 3:
Already discussed... But query re the data on late arrivals – timing of events? Layla to run focus groups with Siobhan (Commonplace link)
Bullet 4:
Nb Deans Forum feedback from the SU for term 1 14/15 – international students want more support and students generally want more internationalised curricula; they were reassured that staff are offered intercultural training opportunities; nb also the link with Tili Andoh’s work on ID-ography which ultimately will include a module on inclusivity in the academic context
= multi-pronged approach to supporting international students better; any other ideas? WHAT ABOUT EVALUATION? Report back to EB Spring 16

12. Sector Guidance
QAA (2012) International Students Studying in the UK – guidance for UK higher education providers. Online: onal-students-studying-in-the-UK.pdf
HEA (2014) Internationalising higher education framework. Online: InternationalisingHEframeworkFinal.pdf
HEA ( ) What Works? Student Retention and Success Change Programme and Resources. Online: research/themes/retention-and-success/what-works- student-retention-and-success-change
+ Scudamore:
+ UKCISA manifesto :

13. Benchmarking
Kings’ College has a Youtube channel with Induction, pre-Arrival and intros to Student life and areas surrounding campuses
UCL offers a voice and pronunciation workshop as part of their orientation programme. They also have a Welfare Week that addresses student’s potential concerns
LSE Orientation Guide gives an intro to Orientation Week, ‘How To’ guides and an events calendar for pre and post-Orientation
Birmingham City University’s website has a ‘Prepare to Study in the UK’ section that features Prepare for Success is an interactive web learning tool for international students who are getting ready to come to the UK for study in further or higher education. This site is provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs. 
KCL: one or 3 day options:
UCL: January and September:
LSE: Generic induction week:
Birmingham City:
Sheffield:

14. Other Thoughts: The London Project`
The London Project is used on Presessional:
Visual response to London on arrival – offers insight to staff and the opportunity for students to explore and communicate about how they feel about their new environment (feel less isolated with these feelings if they are not all positive)
Could we re-run the project or extend it so that students create something that represents their first year experience or a major aspect of it? Would this give insight into what students are experiencing???

15. Other Thoughts: The London Project
Thought about having an ID or brand, perhaps introducing something like the SEE Passport, but have concluded that we are currently best trying to build on what there is, supporting improvements to existing provision or filling in gaps rather than trying to create another ‘thing’ for students to try to understand. Views on that?
‘Harrods’ by Hyejung Seo

16. Thanks!
Helen and Layla

17. UAL Inclusion