Students’ Preparation prior to International

Co-op placement,UL early guidance

approach

Carla Naltchayan, International Cooperative Education Manager,

Cooperative Education & Careers Division (CECD)

May 2014

Overview

I. CECD Mission and top factsII. From 1st year on, awareness and skills

developmentIII. International placements intensive

preparationIV. Cultural adjustments and country

specific pre-departure brief.V. Shaping the future of tomorrow's

graduates

CECD Mission and top facts

• Focus on student employability and career development.

• Largest undergraduate placement programme in Ireland and Europe with 1,600 students to place every year.

• 20 % are international (approx. 350 students)

• As a result: highest level of Graduate employment in Ireland.

From 1st year on, awareness and skills

development• Information sessions starts in 1st

year, second semester.

• For Business students: awareness of international opportunities. Broad spectrum of opportunities. Develop a second language.

• CSIS courses: early skills development, technical skills, portfolio, coding skills.

International placements intensive preparation

• Sessions are tailored to each Faculty. Languages and Humanities are broken down by countries.

• The earliest students access to information, the better equipped they are to chose between Ireland vs. International. 12-months in advance.

• Returning students invited to give their feedback.

• Some placement opportunities are presented separately: Teaching in Spain, Rise China, Colonias Argentina, Japan, Volunteering in Romania, etc.

Communication

Languages

Adaptable

International placements intensive preparation

(2)• Every year, we host Engineering Careers in the Gulf countries

(strong Irish expat community)• Business students: learn about evolving marketing techniques,

digital marketing, online advertising. • CV Clinics and mock-interviews• Registration for international placement takes place 7 months

prior to start date.• Screening interviews for international placements.• Compulsory TEFL course for students going on teaching

placements.

Careers Fair, an excellent preparation

exercise• Largest on-campus Careers Fair in Ireland.

• 1st and 2nd year students are encouraged to attend.• 120 companies attended last year from Irl & UK

Cultural adjustments preparation

• Pre-departure Brief: we cover students’ expectations vs. reality, cultural adjustment, homesickness and strategies to deal with any personal and professional issues.

Country-specific pre-departure brief

• Students engineers sent to Qatar; some initial apprehension from students and parents.

• After the Seminar each year, and strong preparation on a specific country, students build confidence and excitement.

• Specific country brief for Qatar: doing business in the Gulf, respect of local customs, drinking culture, judiciary system.

• One to one support: Visas, accommodation.• Close contacts with counselling prior departure and during

Placements.

Shaping the future of tomorrow's graduates

1. The learning outcomes – pre and post Placement.

e.g. one Applied Language student, for the Cultural and international awareness question – prior to departure to Japan she says:

“I want to learn how to be aware of cultural aspects and how to treat them, how to adjust to a different culture and learn how to deal with difficulties due to differences of culture”

Post Placement: “I think that I gained a valuable insight into certain aspects of Japanese business. I have never worked in a situation like this even in Ireland, but I found that there were very specific ways to carry out simple tasks that are not done in Ireland. When a client enters the office the staff say 'irashaimasei' accompanied with a bow”

Shaping the future of tomorrow's graduates

2. The graduate attributes – recent article Times Magazine on Global Internships: The New Key to Getting a Job– “The data show that international internships are highly regarded

by employers,” says David Lloyd, founder of the Intern Group.

– “Employers worldwide prize graduates with global experience and international cultural awareness.” The right internship gives graduates a decided edge.

• Erasmus + new tag line “Changing lives. Opening minds” UL is the largest participating HEI in the Erasmus + work placement Programme.

3. The careers opportunities – success story.

Q & A?

Carla NaltchayanUniversity of LimerickInternational Cooperative Education Managercarla.naltchayan@ul.ie