www.le.ac.uk

The International Student Experience – more than just

academic learning

University of Leicester PMI 2 Project

Matt MobbsMartin Pennington

Workshop plan

1. Rationale and benefits

2. Production process

3. Resource viewing

4. Feedback and evaluation

5. Challenges and learning points

6. Finish

Rationale behind the project

• International students face real challenges such as acculturation, legislation, accommodation, study and employment

• Many of these are addressed through curricular interventions and student support

• We wanted to encourage international students to look beyond the academic and to understand the benefits of involvement in extra-curricular activities

Benefits to international students• Richer and fuller experience at a UK university• Broader cultural awareness beyond the

campus• More opportunities to meet home students• More sophisticated language skills from non-

academic contexts• Opportunities for personal and social

development• Enhanced employability skills

Initial decisions

• To produce a web-based multi-media resource easily accessible to both prospective and current students

• To use international students’ voices to inform and encourage others

• To use a Leicester context to provide an adaptable resource for others to use

• To involve others in advising on the resource and in identifying students

Project team

• Project manager• SSDS Learning Technologist• Head, Student Welfare Service• International Welfare Officers (2)• International Careers Adviser• Students’ Union Welfare and International

Officer• Manager, Multi-media Services

Areas of activity

Important to illustrate a range of different activities:•Volunteering•Sport•Work experience•Students’ Union activities•HOST visits

Interviews

• 17 students and three members of staff were interviewed

• Interviews took about 10 minutes each and were kept informal

• Interviewees were asked five questions:– Why did you get involved in …….?– How did you hear about …….?– What did you do?– What did you get out of …….?– What tips do you have for others?

Editing and production

• Each interview edited down to about 1½ minutes

• Subjects provided photos or these were sought from other sources (photo competition)

• Advice sought from project team and Multi-media services

Editing and production

Video

Photographs

Final Cut

Editing and production

• Photos matched to content of voiceovers

Editing and production

• Techniques applied to render photos more dynamic and interesting

Website and Videos

• Video hosted on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/uolssds

• Structured around themes: Campus Life, Culture and Community, and Employability

• Searchable by keyword: e.g. Volunteering, Students’ Union

• Videos are displayed alongside advice and guidance

• http://go.le.ac.uk/international-voices

Evaluation and feedback

• Project team provided feedback throughout project

• Marketing and International Office gave feedback in later stages

• More quantitative and qualitative evaluation will take place when resource is fully launched

Challenges

• Identifying appropriate students prepared to take part

• Locating still photos to complement oral testimony

• Technical filming and presentation challenges

• Agreeing a presentational structure and format

• Personal experiences need to be carefully considered

Learning points

• These things always take longer than expected• More volunteers are needed than will eventually

be used• Be prepared to make hard editorial decisions• Be prepared to learn as you go along, especially

on technical issues• Seek and take advice from experts• Have a small team actually producing content• Produce flexible content that can be used for

other purposes

More information about the project• Project website:

http://go.le.ac.uk/international-voices

Thank you