2010 Seminar “Enhancing the student experience – what do students really need?"

Background

In 2009, ICOS’ annual seminar was entitled “A call for Action on Quality in International Education” and was a response to the lack of progress on the implementation of any of the measures proposed in the Government’s internationalisation strategy. We are pleased to report that the Government has recently been much more pro active. In December, a High Level Group representing all the main interests was appointed by the Minister of Education and Skills to support his Department the development of Action Plan which will drive Ireland’s ambition to become a leading provider of high quality international education. Earlier, in September 2009, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform released a set of proposals for reform of the non-EEA student immigration regime and received over 100 submissions in response. The Government’s policy decisions on foot of this consultation are now eagerly awaited.

ICOS which is represented on the High Level Group is particularly keen that the quality of the student experience will remain a central plank of policy and that the quality agenda will be supported by relevant action in the new plan. ICOS has therefore focused its input on Stand 2 of the national discussion – “Student Centred Policies and Practices” and explored this theme further at its annual seminar in Dublin on 10th June .

What do international students REALLY need?

With such pressure on resources both at national and institutional level, some important questions were addressed by the seminar, such as what type of student supports are necessary, as benchmarked against competitors, and what could be termed good practice in student support?

Key findings of a soon-to-be-published Academic Co-operation Association study were presented, researching the impact of student services on international full degree students from outside of the European Union based on interviews across six countries and more than 30 universities.

Speakers drew out some of the conclusions universities and colleges should consider in the services and support they offer their students.

Break-out workshops then explored the specific themes of integration, communication and use of social media in relation to international student support.

ICOS' seminars are held annually and are of interest to anyone working in or associated with international education whether in Government Departments, state agencies, Higher Education Institutions or student organisations.

PROGRAMME

2.00

Registration and Welcome

2.15

Report on International Students in Higher Education in Ireland 2009/ 2010 - Gill Roe, International Education Services, Enterprise Ireland (Download: Powerpoint / PDF)

2.30

“What do students really need?" - insights from the ACA research, presented by Louise Staunton, ICOS (Slides by Tim Rogers - Download: Powerpoint / PDF)

Institutional Response: Suzanne Buckley, Support Officer for International Students, UCC (Download: Powerpoint / PDF)
Student response : Linda Kelly, Equality Officer, Union of Students in Ireland (USI)

3.15

Workshops - Sharing good practice
(a) Communication: How best to talk to and listen to students – Suzanne Buckley and Louise Staunton
(b) Integration: (on campus and in the community) Initiatives that work – Ciarán Dunne
(c) Social media: How the web and mobile technology can be used to improve the international student experience - Lucia Reynolds (Download: Powerpoint / PDF) and Wendy Tapia (Download: Powerpoint / PDF)

4.00

Panel Discussion

4.30

Close

PRESENTERS AND FACILTATORS

Dr Ciarán Dunne

Dr. Ciarán Dunne works in the School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies in Dublin City University, where he lectures in Intercultural Communication and Spanish Language. His primary research interest relates to intercultural relations among students in higher education in the context of the internationalisation of higher education.

Ms Suzanne Buckley

Suzanne Buckley is the Support Officer for International Students at University College Cork, a position which she has held since October 2002. She has specific responsibility for the welfare and wellbeing of international students. She acts as an identifiable point of contact with the various services on campus as well as external organisations. She is an international student advocate furthering their interests at local and national level. She is the current Chair of the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS).

Ms Lucia Reynolds

Lucia Reynolds has been working as a Development Advisor for Enterprise Ireland since December 2009. Lucia is responsible for the development of promotional materials, coordinating Irish colleges' participation at international marketing events and for the development and management of the Education Ireland website and for initiating a range of e-marketing activities such as a social media strategy for the Education Ireland brand.

Ms Wendy Tapia

Wendy Tapia who works in the Marketing Department in Griffith College, Dublin has seven years experience in the education industry. Her qualifications include a BA in Organizational Communication and Media with Journalism as major and an MBA in International Business. She specialises in marketing, advertising and social media resources; fields in which she has researched measurability methods since 2008.