I can’t go abroad

Because.................

Elissa WilliamsGlobal Education ManagerKeele University

Melissa SchuesslerU of Leeds

Everybody wants students to study abroad

But.....• Currently just one UK student studies abroad

for every 15 international students in the UK – and the UK lags behind Spain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland in accessing the European Commission’s Erasmus funding for study or work placements

Who is Everybody?

• British Council Broadening Horizons 2014 -Embedding a culture of overseas study

• Hefce• UK Outward Student Mobility Strategy• The UK Higher Education International Unit (IU)

Global Opportunities for UK Higher Education• Erasmus+• You and Me!

Graduates in the 21st Century

“Against a background of continuing globalization and technological change, employers need graduates who can compete in global marketplaces and meet global challenges” Global Graduates

Do today’s students need international experience to be successful after graduation?

Yes! They do…

• Graduates require skills in team working, communication, presentation and self-management gained through work experience, professionalism and industry knowledge no matter whether they are working locally, regionally or globally.

• However, there are global dimensions that need to be added to this list of attributes. These include: – an ability to work collaboratively– communication skills which include speaking and listening– drive and resilience, and – embracing multiple perspectives

Note that multi-lingualism is not on this list

Global Mindset

• Graduates need to have an outlook that considers wider global influences, and can reflect on both themselves and others in the world around them

• They need to demonstrate openness, curiosity, & innovation, as well as beliefs and values towards colleagues, clients and the wider community

• It can be as simple as an understanding & respect for other cultures

In addition…

• The ability to communicate & manage people

of different cultures & backgrounds

• An openness to learning new languages

• Adaptability & flexibility

• A knowledge of global affairs

Studying Abroad is the route …

• “it’s the quality of the experience that is important.”Global Graduates

• Studying abroad provides:– Immersion in a multi-cultural environment– Interaction with a diverse range of people

It can help in the development of a global mindset

Studying abroad or doing a European placement can provide the well structured environment that employers can appreciate and include tangible outputs that the student can include on a CV or in an interview

So, why do so few UK students go on exchange?

• Do students have a clear view of the core value of studying abroad?

• Whose responsibility is it to ensure that students have this clear view?

• Would linking students to the 21st century reasons for study abroad encourage more student to take up the opportunity?

• Let us start with reviewing the data that students at Keele have given….

Methodology

• A survey of three parts to include:– Student information– Motivations to study abroad– Barriers to studying abroad

• Surveys were given to:– Keele students in year 1 and Year 2 who have

expressed an interest in studying abroad or who are preparing to study abroad in January 2015

– A focus group session with Year 2 students at Keele

Where do the Year 1 students want to go to?

4%

4%

What does this tell about how and why a destination is chosen?

Some thoughts:• Other students’ opinions and experiences both incoming

and returnees?• The cost won’t be as high in North America?– Then Europe with the Erasmus grant should have higher

numbers• It doesn’t seem so far away?– Geography wise – Most of Europe is closer

• North America has a more familiar language and culture?– If so, why isn’t Australia more popular?

Why do students want to go on exchange?

Motivations

What about the future?

• 88% of UK survey participants showed that they connected this experience (exchange) with attaining the edge they need to stand out when applying for jobs…However, this response directly contrasts with the response both groups gave when asked to select main non-academic drivers that would interest them in study abroad- better employment prospects were ranked only third by UK respondents (11%)… much lower than the priority they put on travelling and experiencing other cultures.

Broadening Horizons 2014

Results of the Focus Group Session

• Why are they going abroad in January?– New experience– Independence and confidence– Adventure– Travel– Different culture– New people– Weather– Different Environment

No mention of career or future prospects!

• Why?– We are still students– It is ‘our time’ to do something we want to do– Going on exchange should be about the

experience and not about the future– Thinking about a career isn’t important at this

point in my studies– I want to do something different

What are the barriers to studying abroad?

Key Barriers – Focus Group

• Finance

• Missing Family and Friends

• The process is too complicated

• Academic Departments aren’t very helpful

• Confidence and Independence

Global Education Challenges• This current generation of students are part

of:– A more complex educational environment

– A challenging job market

– Higher tuition fees

– A more globalized worldDoes this mean we need to think differently about

what the exchange should be and what it should mean?

Is this why so few UK students go on exchange?

• Students have little vision for the future and live in the here and now. Going on exchange should be fun and offer added opportunity for travel and adventure within a degree, nothing more.

• The international office needs to look at a new direction, a new sales pitch for studying abroad

• International experience is not embedded in the university culture and without this ethos studying abroad remains an added element

What about other factors that provide barriers?

• Sexuality - LGBTI

• Gender

• Physically Disabled

• Cultural restrictions

• Religious Issues

• Learning difficulties

Barriers in comparison?Barriers to Studying Abroad – Number 1 Year 1 Year 2 BUTEX

A Financial Concerns 1 1 & 2 1 & 2

B Missing Family & Friends 2 & 3 3 & 5 3

C Languages and Culture 6 5 3 & 7

D Too Complicated to apply 4 & 7 7

E Exchange is a waste of time 8 9 & 10 9 & 10

F Confidence and Independence 5 4 4

G Little encouragement from Lecturers 6 4 & 5

H Academic Concerns 7 6

I Part-time Job 10 8 9

J Doing something international is not important in my life

9 8 & 9

Solutions• Each table will be given a barrier that students

have identified as a reason for not going on exchange.

• Please discuss for 20 minutes and make notes• At the end of that time we will ask one

member from the table to present their ideas or solutions to work with this challenge

Focus Group Solutions

• The application process is too complicated!– Involve Subject Tutors more in the process– A checklist and a time line could be useful to

understand what the process is all about– Find a way to make selecting modules easier

Focus Group Solutions

• No help from my academic department– Develop exchange ‘stars’ within departments to

help with academic specific exchange tasks– Subject tutors should know what they are doing

and be interested in helping students – their term as Subject Tutor should be longer

– Keep in touch with your department while you are away – tell them what you are doing – send a postcard

Focus Group Solutions

• Missing Family and Friends– Take photos– Use Skype, Viber, Whatsapp and blog– Keep your family and friends informed– Remember that you don’t need to be alone– Keele wouldn’t send you somewhere that wasn’t

safe– Depending on where you are – invite your friends

and family for a visit during holidays– Overall – Do this for yourself!

Focus Group Solutions

• Confidence and Independence– Go home less and less in your 1st year at Keele– Say yes to everything while on exchange (within

reason)– Join societies and clubs in your first year and look

for corresponding clubs at your host university– Meet with the Peer Advisers– Workshops through student support– Keep busy!

Focus Group Solutions

• Finance– Organize funds before and during exchange– Develop budgeting skills– Do fundraising– Think about working while on exchange– Do research into the country or destination that you

are going to – cost of living, taxes, benefits for students

– Research the ‘extra’ trips & activities and be selective

ConclusionAfter reviewing the surveys and speaking tostudents, the research findings have let me toreconsider how we will market our internationalopportunities to students

• Involve Careers as part of the Information process

• Study Abroad Fair• Information Session• Orientation• Re-entry Workshop

• Work more closely with students to review financial planning for studying abroad during the information gathering stage and once the student has been nominated for their placement

• Ensure that students understand where financial assistance can be come from and help them learn to fundraise and budget

• Develop case study material from graduates who have gone on study abroad and how that impacted their career

• Develop ‘Champions’ for studying abroad from

academic staff and senior management

• Encourage academic departments to look at studying

abroad from both an academic and a career point-of-

view

• Ensure that peer advisers are informative about the

costs, the academic value and the future that

studying abroad can offer

• Overall – help students to connect the dots and follow the links. Studying abroad is not a one-off, an adventure during degree study, but an integral part of the degree process

References• Diamond A., Walkley L., Forbes P.,Hugher T., Sheen J. (June 2011) Global Graduates into

Global Leaders, Accessed at:

http://www.ncub.co.uk/reports/global-graduates-into-global-leaders.html

• British Council (April 2014) Broadening Horizons, Embedding a culture of overseas study, Accessed at: www.ei.britishcouncil.org

• Centre for International Mobility (CIMO), Swedish Council for Higher Education & Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education, (2013) Living and Learning – Exchange Studies Abroad, Accessed at http://www.uhr.se/Global/Publikationer/2013/LivingAndLearning_ExchangeStudiesAbroad_2013.pdf

• Carbonell, Joan-Anton (November 2014) Further up the road. Six years of growth for outward student mobility in the UK (from 2007-08 to 2012-13), Accessed at http://cunningham.acer.edu.au/dbtw-wpd/textbase/ndrie/5953n.pdf

Website: www.thirdyearabroad.com

Thank-you very much!

Any questions or comments?