International students in the UK · 2015. 5. 28. · International students in the UK: strengths, challenges and opportunities Who attended? Over 300 delegates attended the four events

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International students in the UKStrengths, challenges and opportunities

A report on the UKCISA Regional Conferences 2014-15

The UK Council for International Student Affairs is the UK’s national advisory body serving the interests of international students and those who work with them.

UK Council for International Student Affairs9-17 St Albans PlaceLondon N1 0NXwww.ukcisa.org.uk© UKCISA 2015ISBN 1 870679 62 8

A report on four UKCISA Regional ConferencesEdinburgh, 13 November 2014

Bristol, 4 December 2014

Manchester, 6 February 2015

London, 2 March 2015

International students in the UKStrengths, challenges and opportunities

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International Students in the UK: strengths, challenges and opportunities

IntroductionIt is clear that the vast majority of delegates believe students who come to the UK have an excellent experience. While members would welcome a single, positive, clear government policy to promote and support this, the sector also has a key role to play in sending out positive messages. Student immigration and compliance continue to dominate the working lives of many members but, for many, there now appears to be a fresh appetite to focus on the whole international student experience.

This report outlines the aims of the conferences, who attended, key learning points and expands on the themes outlined above but it does not attempt to summarise and record all the ideas and detailed discussions which took place at each event (these can be found in the individual reports on the UKCISA website). It also provides an Appendix listing a wide range of reports, surveys, campaigns and other useful resources.

KEY AIMS OF THE CONFERENCES:

§ To bring colleagues together locally. UKCISA wanted to build closer networks and provide a forum for discussion in addition to the annual conference.

§ The opportunity to examine current themes or challenges and discuss and debate recent or emerging areas of policy or good practice.

§ To provide the opportunity for members to meet the UKCISA senior team.

§ To reach the wider UKCISA membership. UKCISA membership is institutional and we were keen to meet staff who work with international students but are less familiar with the work of UKCISA or the services and support we provide.

§ To gain feedback on UKCISA services. We wanted to hear directly from members about UKCISA membership. The results of the live polling carried out at the events will be collated in a separate brief report and posted on our website at www.ukcisa.org.uk/regional-conferences.

The first series of UKCISA Regional Conferences 2014-15

International students in the UK: strengths, challenges and opportunities

Who attended? Over 300 delegates attended the four events with more than 100 attending a UKCISA event for the first time. We were particularly grateful to representatives from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and The Scottish Government for supporting these events, and to all those from specialist and sector bodies.

The opening plenary talks1 were given by: § Alan MacKay of the University of Edinburgh, in

Edinburgh § Shaun Curtis of the University of Exeter, in

Bristol § Nigel Healey of Nottingham Trent University, in

Manchester § Charlene Allen of the British Universities

International Liaison Association (BUILA), in London

The panel discussions, The UK International Student Experience and International Students and the UK Immigration System were led by speakers from a range of sector organisations2: § Association of Colleges (AoC) § Association of International Student Advisers

(AISA) § British Council § British Universities International Liaison

Association (BUILA) § Colleges Scotland § Colleges Wales § The Department for Business, Innovation and

Skills (BIS) § Heads of University Counselling Services

(HUCS) § Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

(HEFCW) § Immigration Compliance Network (ICN) § National Association of Heads of Student

Services (AMOSSHE) § National Union of Students (NUS) § Scottish government § Scotland’s Advisers to International Students

(STRATOS) § Society of College, National and University

Libraries (SCONUL)

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Compliance

Recruitment

Admissions/registry

Other Senior management

Advice

11%11%

37%

16%

7%

18%

Attendees worked in a range of roles:

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International student statisticsThe UK remains a key destination for students who wish to study outside their own country. The UK is the second most popular destination in the world after the USA.

UNESCO stats – USA recruits 19%, UK recruits 11%OECD stats – USA recruits 16.4%, UK recruits 12.6% (the UK is double the OECD average)

In the UK one in eight students is international and at postgraduate level one in three is international.While the actual number of internationally mobile students has increased globally, the percentage studying abroad has remained the same at around 2%. 2012 saw a decrease in the number of international students coming to the UK. Although small (1% ) this was the first drop in 29 years.

ChinaThe number of Chinese nationals coming to study in the UK has increased significantly – by 52% between 2009 and 2014. There are reasons to be concerned about this: large numbers of Chinese nationals in education institutions mean a less diverse student population. In addition, the UK cannot continue to rely on China long term as population shifts in the country mean the number of students is decreasing. At the same time, the number of Chinese universities is increasing - with ambitious plans to attract more international students to study there.

IndiaThe number of Indian students coming to study in the UK has dropped significantly – decreasing by 47% between 2009 and 2014. This may be explained by currency fluctuations and perceptions about the difficulty of obtaining a visa to enter the UK. Actual changes to immigration rules in the UK have also had a real impact. In particular, the removal of the Post-Study Work scheme, which

allowed students to remain in the UK to work for two years, has had a negative effect.

The competition outside the UKMeanwhile, the competition to attract international students is increasing with government led campaigns in Australia, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Malaysia, Japan and other countries3. The number of programmes taught in English across Europe is increasing and countries such as the USA and Canada have much greater capacity for expansion than the UK.

The good newsThere are many reasons students continue to come to the UK. According to a British Council report in 20144, the top three reasons students come to the UK are: § good career prospects § internationally recognised qualifications § university reputation

The report also notes the increasing importance of safety to international students.

Study Portals Survey, ‘2014 Key influencers of student satisfaction in Europe’ (see under ‘Surveys in Appendix) records the top three influencers as: § quality of academics § city and culture § social life

The International Student Barometer (ISB) consistently shows 90% of international students are satisfied with their experience in the UK. The UK is ahead of global competitors in employability, careers advice, language support, the cost of living, visa advice and worship facilities5.

The Big Picture: who comes, why and what they experience

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While delegates across the UK share many interests, concerns and challenges in supporting international students, a number of geographical differences emerged.

ScotlandThe heritage of philanthropy was noted in Scotland alongside the notion of education as a public good. Scotland has a long history of welcoming students from overseas and the Scottish government provides 1,000 Saltire Scholarships to encourage inward student mobility to Scotland from the USA, China, Canada and India. The Scottish government also supports the Scottish education ‘brand’ with the Study in Scotland campaign and is also strongly in favour of a Post Study Work Scheme for Scotland. (See also under Scotland in Appendix).

WalesThere are eight universities and thirteen colleges in Wales. All higher education institutions have student charters. It was felt that the scale in Wales makes the international student experience more personal and many felt proud of the warm welcome visitors receive in Wales and the need to promote this alongside the reputation for safety. (See also under Wales in Appendix).

EnglandThe education sector in England is extremely diverse and offers international students a vast range of opportunities. It was recognised that there is a need for institutions to define their geographical space. Exeter University offered an excellent example6 of an institution which has aimed to define its location. While recognising that London is a significant pull factor for the UK, there are many other experiences on offer outside the capital.

National and regional issues

The question we are so often asked is ‘how close are you to London?’

Charlene Allen , BUILA

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Spreading the good newsThe chart below shows that the overwhelming majority of delegates (92%) agreed with the statement: Overall, international students in the UK have a positive experience.

The UK needs to clarify and improve the message overseas to counter current perceptions and misconceptions (regarding immigration). The work of BIS was recognised and valued (in particular the very positive report published in July 20137). However, the UK government requires a single, united, clear and positive policy on international students focussing less on ‘bogus’ colleges and immigration and more on the incredible opportunities available in the UK to students who come to study here.

The education sector also needs to get better at emphasising the positive aspects of the UK international student experience: the great academic experience, outstanding facilities, and the well-established and professional infrastructure of student support that does not exist elsewhere. The UK is a great destination for study and needs to present a more positive narrative – it’s crucial to spread the good news.

The importance of Further EducationThere are many benefits for international students who choose to study in Further Education (FE) colleges where there are often fewer international students. This means there is often greater opportunity for contact with UK students and support from institutions can be more personal. In addition, it is often more affordable than Higher Education (it also supports progression to HE) and there is a strong focus on skills and vocational qualifications which many international students seek to obtain. There are also opportunities for UK FE and HE institutions to collaborate more.

International students’ concernsAlthough UK institutions are concerned with the immigration rules, the graph below shows that delegates agreed international students have a range of concerns, all of which are important:

Numbers correspond to the total number of votes allocated to this topic by all delegates at four conferences.0

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50%36%

Key conclusions on the international student experience

The range of responses from delegates on what concerns international students

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What does the UK do well?

Academic excellenceStudents come to the UK because of the UK’s continued reputation for the high quality of education.

SupportThere is a range of specialised professional support. The sector should not forget how well it provides advice on student immigration – and that it is provided free of charge. Many international student advisers have great integrity and professionalism and may know the student rules better than Premium Account Managers or many external solicitors. Institutions also provide student counselling, study skills and language support, accommodation services, professional careers advice, and excellent library facilities. The UK is also good at supporting students in crisis. This level of support has become the norm in the UK as institutional support systems have developed over many years but this is not on offer in all countries which host international students.

Multicultural institutionsWhile there is a need to continue to facilitate good communication among diverse student populations, the UK offers a fantastic multicultural learning environment.

We aim to create a reservoir of goodwill to the UK.

Brian Johnson, BIS

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Inward and outward mobilityThere is general agreement that there are still too few UK students leaving the UK for a study abroad experience. An increase in the number of UK students studying abroad would have a very positive impact on UK institutions and help to facilitate greater integration between students from different backgrounds. Ideally, strategies to promote UK student mobility should be linked to international student recruitment.

ExpectationsIt is important that student expectations of life and study in the UK are managed. In particular, non-UK students need support to adapt to UK education systems and the notion of self study. Improved pre-arrival support can help students to prepare.8 In addition, students need guidance on accommodation, safety, health, and finding accommodation.

The welcomeThe UK needs to provide a better welcome. Two key barriers to this have been problematic for many years: police registration and bank accounts. Police registration is universally regarded by staff and students as unnecessary and discriminatory. Continued effort is required with banks to enable international students to open accounts more easily. Institutions also need to continue to develop and improve their orientation and welcome events.

What could the UK do better for international students?

Students can feel destabilised when they first arrive in the UK. Anything you can do to help students feel secure can make a difference. If practical information is up to date and clear, that can really help.

Geraldine Dufour, HUCS

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The Points Based System for immigrationInstitutions allocate significant funding and resources to meet and keep up to date with the requirements of the Points Based System for immigration. Now that this has been in place for several years, improved and more efficient systems have been established. However, dealing with the constant change in immigration legislation is a major challenge for all institutions hosting international students and there is concern that decisions are based on the avoidance of risk rather than the law. There is also concern that the restrictions of the rules are hampering the development of certain academic programmes and pathways which are unable to fit into immigration frameworks, ie that the rules influence what should be academic decisions. Frustration remains with rules which appear illogical, contradictory or impractical – for example, the restrictions on students applying to extend their stay in the UK at the same institution. There was also a strong feeling that advisers working to support international students are keen to return to, and develop, related support for international students over and above immigration advice.

A problem for studentsApplying for student visas can have a negative impact on students and one of the roles of advisers and staff in institutions is to support students through the system and to make it as simple as possible for them to navigate. The consensus was that credibility interviews were particularly damaging. Not only have they added subjectivity and complexity to a system which had originally been introduced with the aim of creating a more objective and streamlined system, advisers have been told by students that they find the whole concept confusing and insulting, and some students even say they are made to feel like criminals.

Students must be held in mindIt is easy for staff to forget how stressful the visa application process can be for individual students. While applying in the UK, for example, students can feel very isolated and unsettled while not in possession of their passport and while their application and academic future is being decided.

Immigration complianceCompliance is now an important part of the administrative structure within institutions but the responsibility for maintaining institutional compliance lies with all members of staff – not solely with compliance officers. (Advising individual students on immigration rules, however, can only be carried out by trained staff.) Staff working in this area can feel pressurized and isolated and support for staff is important. The Immigration Compliance Network (ICN) was established, in part, to meet this need. Compliance has to work but it must be done in an appropriate and balanced way together with other systems of student support. Attendance registers, for example, can be used to monitor student wellbeing – rather than simply as instruments of compliance. The lack of parity between HE and FE is problematicFE institutions do not have discretion to assess English language and must assess it using the Home Office Secure English Language Tests (SELTs). FE students are permitted to work just ten hours a week while students in HE are permitted to work up to twenty. Different rules on pre-sessional programmes apply and the maximum period that a student can study at FE level is capped at three years while study at HE is capped at five. In addition, the cost (£8,000) of a Premium Account Manager (regardless of institution size or student numbers) is prohibitively expensive for many smaller institutions. Colleges with small numbers of international students are also disproportionately affected by the 10% refusal rate where just a few

Key conclusions on the visa and immigration system

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students being refused a Tier 4 visa could lead to the loss of the institutional Tier 4 licence.

Working with the Home OfficeOn a positive note, the introduction of online application forms was seen as a significant improvement for students applying to extend their stay in the UK. In addition, support from the Home Office can occasionally be very good and, when it is, it is greatly appreciated. There is concern, however, over the implementation of the Immigration Act – in particular the introduction of landlords’ checks and the health levy charge to access the NHS. There was also considerable concern over the introduction of Biometric Immigration Documents (BIDs) for students applying for entry clearance outside the UK. Many institutions are worried about the practicalities for students who will have to collect a BID from a post office in the UK within a very short timeframe. Together with police registration, this does not constitute a warm welcome to the UK. Continued dialogue is required between sector bodies, including UKCISA, education institutions and the Home Office to ensure changes to policies and procedures are introduced without further damage to the reputation of the UK as a study destination and without further inconvenience to students and institutional staff.

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UKCISA member institutions spend considerable resources and effort in the support of international students. The level of engagement at the regional conferences demonstrates the continued commitment of staff working in this area who strive to ensure students have the best experience possible when they come to the UK. There are many frustrations, not least when dealing with frequently changing government policies and conflicting government messages, yet members agree that the majority of students who come to the UK have a very positive experience.

The UK is a fantastic study destination and, if some of the immigration rhetoric and rules could become less intrusive, it would allow all those who work with international students to put even more effort into supporting them and promoting all that the UK has to offer. It may now be time for a new form of Prime Minister’s Initiative9.

With special thanks to all our panel members and all members who attended and contributed to the success of the regional conferences.

Notes1. All reports and photos from the events are on the UKCISA website – see under Regional conferences in the Appendix

for details

2. Links to all organisations in Appendix

3. See presentations by Alan MacKay (Edinburgh) and Nigel Healy (Manchester)

4. See British Council Report Integration of International Students: a UK perspective (link in Appendix)

5. See presentations by Alan MacKay (Edinburgh) and Charlene Allen (London). ISB link: see Appendix

6. Exeter University Internationalisation Strategy and see Shaun Curtis’ presentation (Bristol)

7. BIS report International Education Growth Strategy (link in Appendix)

8. See Prepare for Success under UKCISA resources in Appendix

9. PMI 1 and PMI 2 ran for five years to increase the number of international students coming to the UK and to improve

their experience. UKCISA administered a number of PMI projects, many of which are still relevant and are available in

the members’ area of the website. See Appendix for link.

Overall conclusions

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Careers § Gradlink – advice for students to find work

overseas www.gradlinkuk.com

Further Education § The Association of Colleges (AoC) work

together to support Further Education (FE) member colleges www.aoc.co.uk

§ New initiative AoC India (http://aoc-india.net) helping to develop community colleges

§ AoC report Skills Sector International Activity (2012) www.aoc.co.uk/sites/default/files/Skills_Sector_International_Activity_A_study_of_current_UK_engagement_Research_Report_June_2012.pdf

Media § Guardian series on global students - www.

theguardian.com/education/2014/oct/13/-sp-international-students-in-the-uk-who-are-they

Non-UK campaigns § Sweden – https://studyinsweden.se/news/7-

steps-to-studying-in-sweden/ § Australia - Future Unlimited www.

studyinaustralia.gov.au/ § Germany - Make it in Germany www.make-it-

in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/make-it-in-germany

§ Canada- http://international.gc.ca/global-markets-marches-mondiaux/education/index.aspx?lang=eng

§ Education in China website www.csc.edu.cn/studyinchina/

Reports § British Council Report Integration of

International Students – a UK perspective http://www.britishcouncil.org/education/ihe/knowledge-centre/student-mobility/report-integration-international-students

§ British Council GREAT campaign www.britishcouncil.org/organisation/facts/programmes-and-initiatives/great-campaign

§ Exeter University Internationalisation Strategy Annual Report www.exeter.ac.uk/media/universityofexeter/

internationalexeter/pdfs/Int_Report_and_Accounts_2014_spreads_AW.pdf

§ SCONUL Report: Employability Literature Review www.sconul.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Employability%20Literature%20Review%20June%202014_0.pdf

§ Transnational Education report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transnational-education-value-to-the-uk

§ BIS report International Education Growth Strategy https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/340600/bis-13-1081-international-education-global-growth-and-prosperity-revised.pdf

§ UUK Report: International Students in UK Higher Education www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/highereducation/Pages/InternationalStudentsInUKHE.aspx#.VIXD3_62_AU

Scotland § Connected Scotland – British Council and

Universities Scotland initiative http://connectedscotland.org

§ Colleges Scotland www.collegesscotland.ac.uk

§ Saltire Scholarships (inward mobility to Scotland from USA, Canada, China, India) www.scotland.org/study-in-scotland/scholarships/saltire-scholarships/

§ Study in Scotland – Scottish government website www.studyinscotland.org

Scholarships § IAESTE (The International Association for the

Exchange of Students for Technical Experience, inward and outward work experience, managed by British Council) – closes 27 November for student applications www.britishcouncil.org/iaeste/students/outgoing-uk-trainees/apply

Appendix: an A-Z of professional references and resources

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Wales § Colleges Wales

www.collegeswales.ac.uk/ § Future Directions Programme for Higher

Education in Wales www.heacademy.ac.uk/sites/default/files/resources/FD_impact_assessment_report_0.pdf

§ Higher Education Funding Council for Wales https://www.hefcw.ac.uk/

§ Wise Wales Partnership to increase student engagement in Higher Education in Wales www.wisewales.org.uk/

Regional Conferences § Reports and slides from four plenary sessions

www.ukcisa.org.uk/Info-for-universities-colleges--schools/Training--conference/Training-courses/Regional-conferences/Reports-and-presentations/

Surveys § International Student Barometer – research

and reports http://www.i-graduate.org/

§ Study Portals Research on International Student Satisfaction in Europe http://media.prtl.eu/report/Student_Satisfaction_report_2014.pdf

UK organisations § Association of International Student Advisers

– set up in 1991 as a peer support group for international student advisers - www.aisa.org.uk/

§ The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-skills

§ British Universities International Liaison Association http://www.buila.ac.uk/

§ Equality Challenge Unit resources and training on unconscious bias www.ecu.ac.uk/guidance-resources/employment-and-careers/staff-recruitment/unconscious-bias/

§ Higher Education Academy is the national body for enhancing learning and teaching in HE https://www.heacademy.ac.uk

§ Heads of University Counselling Services (part of BACP) www.bacpuc.org.uk/committee_hucs_t.php

§ Immigration Compliance Network – established 2014 as a peer support group for compliance staff www.ukcisa.org.uk/icn

§ The National Association of Heads of Student Services (AMOSSHE) www.amosshe.org.uk/

§ National Union of Students www.nus.org.uk

§ The Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) promotes awareness of the role of academic libraries in supporting research excellence and student achievement and employability, and represents their views and interests to government, regulators and other stakeholders www.sconul.ac.uk

§ STRATOS - Scotland’s Advisers to International Students

UKCISA resources and references § Understanding International: online training

toolkit www.ukcisa.org.uk/ui

§ Bridging Our Worlds UKCISA DVD and resource booklet www.ukcisa.org.uk/bridging-our-worlds

§ Prime Minister’s Initiative projects www.ukcisa.org.uk/pmi-projects

§ UKCISA Manifesto for International Students www.ukcisa.org.uk/manifesto

§ Postgraduate Certificate in International Student Advice and Support – University of Nottingham and UKCISA www.ukcisa.org.uk/pgcert

§ Prepare for Success – interactive online learning tool for international students preparing to come to the UK www.prepareforsuccess.org.uk/

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UKCISA gratefully acknowledges the financial support it receives from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and from the Scottish Government.

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