Suggested distribution Sabbatical Officers International Student Officers Students‟ Union Staff Members Action Take action to internationalise your union. Executive Summary Ideas and examples from the NUS Internationalising Students‟ unions project. NEC Contact Christina Yan Zhang Christina.Zhang@ nus.org.uk Staff Contact Bethan Payne Bethan.payne@nu s.org.uk
Monthly Bulletin: January 2012
GFB/10/05
Internationalising Students’ Unions Awards Welcome to this NUS Global Future Bulletin Special. These bulletins will be produced monthly as a resource for those campaigning on international students’ issues and the global experience for UK students. We will aim to give you the latest facts and information on key areas of the international student experience and the global experience for UK students. This bulletin focuses on internationalising students’ union – looking at the action which students’ unions can take to involve international students, and foster the development of a global community. If you have any suggestions for future topics for bulletins please get in touch. I look forward to working with you to create a global future for all students. Christina Yan Zhang - NUS International Students’ Officer
These awards mark the end of the Internationalising Students‟ Unions project. They celebrate and recognise the fantastic work being done in students‟ unions across the UK in order to improve the lives of international students, but also to create an international experience for all. The NUS Internationalisation Awards are kindly supported by UKCISA the UK‟s national advisory body serving the interests of international students and those who work with them. We received more than 80 nominations from 34 different unions for these awards, which is a truly fantastic achievement. It is good to see that students‟ unions across the UK are keen to work hard on and were keen to use this opportunity to showcase their work. Massive thanks to all of the unions who submitted nominations including:
BCoT SU, Birmingham Guild of Students, Coventry University Student Union, De Montfort University Students' Union, Durham University Union, Edinburgh University Students' Association, Edinburgh's Telford College, Glasgow Caledonian University Students' Association, Heriot Watt University Student Union, Hull University Union, Jewel & Esk College Students‟ Association, Lancaster University Students' Union, Leeds University Union, Liverpool Hope SU, Loughborough Student Union, 1
LSE Students' Union, Middlesex University Students‟ Union, Queen's University Belfast Students' Union, Reading University Students' Union, Sheffield Hallam Union, Solent Union, Swansea Metropolitan University Union, Swansea University Students Union, University College London Union, University of Bath, University of Essex Students Union, University of Gloucestershire, University of Leicester Students' Union, University of Manchester Students' Union, University of Portsmouth Students' Union, University of Sheffield Students' Union, University of Surrey Students' Union, University of Wolverhampton, University of York Students' Union, Warwick Students‟ Union
We want to say a massive thanks to every student union who have been doing fantastic work for international students and global experience for all students he winners of the awards are:
Award International Democracy and Representation Award International Campaigns Award International Activities and Participation Award International Services Award International Communications Award International Participation and Collaboration Award International Experience Most Improved Students' Union Internationalisation International Officer of the Year International Officer of the Year FE Internationalised Union of the Year HE Internationalised Union of the Year
Winner University of Essex Students' Union London School of Economics Students' Union Queens‟ University Students‟ Union
Runner Up Bath Students' Union
Sheffield Students' Union York University Students' Union University of Essex Sheffield Students' Union Students' Union Liverpool Hope University of Students‟ Union – Gloucestershire Union HopeLGBT Coventry University Edinburgh University Students‟ Union Students' Association Loughborough Students' Warwick Students' Union Union University of Jewel & Esk Students' Portsmouth Students' Association Union Daniel Stevens – NUS National Executive Council /Warwick Students' Union Pamela Gomes Leite, Basingstoke College of Technology Union Basingstoke College of Jewel & Esk College Technology Union Students' Assocaition Edinburgh University Warwick Students' Students' Association Union
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NUS International Democracy and Representation Award
The winner of this award showed that they were engaging students in democratic processes and representative structures and encouraging international students to get their voices heard at all levels. The judges thought the runner up, Bath Students‟ Union, had seen a significant improvement in voting by international students and had seen international students taking up full time sabbatical positions. They were also impressed by the commitment the union had made to internationalisation by employing a dedicated staff member to work in this area. The winner of this award, Essex University Students‟ Union, demonstrated that, in a union with a high proportion of international students, engagement in democratic processes was impressively high. Specific provision has been made for international representation in the form of a full time sabbatical international officer which will promote an international outlook and the union. The judges were particularly impressed with the way that this union was actively getting feedback from their international students through a number of different methods. Figure 1: NUS International Democracy & Representation Award Winner team Essex University Students Union, from top to bottom, Daniel Smy (VP Loughton and Southend), Kunal Patel (VP Services and Communication), Ashley Rudge (VP Welfare and Community), Hentley Ignatius (President), James Thornton (VP Student Activities), Leonidas Basatis (VP International), Camilla Thoresen (VP Education). Christina Yan Zhang, NUS International Students’ Officer, said “I want to say a massive thanks to every single students' union who have worked so hard to support international and EU students at their institution, while creating the most exciting Global Future for all students! For each of the 36 students' unions who submit an entry to this, the first NUS Internationalisation Awards, you should be incredibly proud as what you have accomplished is already a massive achievement! All of you are our winners. All of you are our heroes! All of you are our pioneers! All international, EU and UK students will be eternally grateful for your fantastic contribution!”
NUS International Campaigns Award The winner of the campaigns award demonstrated a creative and innovative approach to creating change and a campaign which resulted in a significant impact. We had a number of campaigns relating to last year‟s UKBA consultation submitted for this award and the judges felt that the runner up Sheffield University Student‟ Union‟s campaign was particularly strong. The union were trailblazers by adopting the campaign early and shared best practice with other unions, and no doubt had an impact outside their own union. (Figure 2: NUS International Campaigns Award Winning Team LSESU, from left to right: Amena Amer, Alex Peters-Day, Lukas Slothuus, Stanley Ellerby-English) 3
The judges were impressed at the size and impact of the winning campaign, LSE Students‟ Union, which lead to the union achieving major wins and sparking debate in local and national media coverage. This campaign illustrated the power of thinking more widely than the union and showed an internationalised approach to campaigning.
NUS International Activities and Participation Award This category received the highest number of nominations so there was very stiff competition. It‟s really good to see that unions are keen to provide opportunities for integration through the activities they provide and the winners will have shown a commitment to creating communities where students come together. The judges would like to give a special mention to one students‟ union who, although not quite meeting the criteria for this award, are doing particularly innovative work. Lancaster Students‟ Union submitted details of an innovative exchange programme between Lancaster UK and Lancaster campuses overseas.
Figure 3: Winner of NUS International Activities and Participation Award: Queen's University Students' Union, from left to right: Gordon Douglas (Acting Director) , Christina Yan Zhang(NUS), Treasa Harkin (VP Equality & Diversity), Jason O'Neill (President)
The runner up for this award, York University Students‟ Union, demonstrated that they had a thriving International Students‟ Association which ran a wide range of events and were working to engage as many home students as possible.
The judges were especially pleased to see that the winning union, Queen‟s University Belfast Students‟ Union, had made international students and internationalisation a priority, despite having only a small proportion of international student members. The nomination demonstrated the commitment of the Vice President Welfare and Equality and the judges felt that a real sense of community had been created which would lead to greater integration in a challenging local context.
NUS International Services Award The International Services award was awarded to a union which has demonstrated a range of services which support internationalisation. The runner up is Essex University Students‟ Union. The runner up for this award showed how they had considered the international perspective in both their membership and commercial services and how they support international students to find employment. The judges were very impressed by the nomination from the winning union, Sheffield University Students‟ Union. This union has shown a clear commitment to supporting international students, largely through the advice centre. This union has actively sought feedback on their services, and achieved a 98% satisfaction rating in the recent International Students‟ Barometer, the highest figure globally. Figure 4: Winner rep of NUS International Service Awards: Jo Holliday (Sheffield University Students Union), with Christina Yan Zhang (NUS), Dominic Scott (UKCISA) 4
NUS International Communications Award The winner of this award demonstrated how they communicated effectively with their international student population and put an international perspective into all communications. Although at the beginning of their journey, the runner up of this award Liverpool Hope LBGT Society demonstrated that they were considering a wide range of audiences from pre-arrival through to current students by making their LGBT work was open to all. The judges were please to see that the runner up union had focused on including liberation in their international student work. The winner of this award, Gloucestershire Students‟ Union, showed an innovative approach in communicating to their students about a specific topic. Don‟t Hate is this union‟s response to the Prevent agenda, focusing on positive interactions between different groups of students and promoting international exchanges. Figure 5: Winning Team from Gloucestershire Students Union, from left to right: Chris Rogers (President), Ally Campbell (Education and Welfare Officer), Andy Lewis (Sports Officer).
NUS International Participation and Collaboration Award The winner of this award will showed how they worked with others to support their internationalisation aims. The runner up for this award is Edinburgh University Students‟ Association. The judges were impressed by the runner up‟s links with a wide range of organisations, as well as the impact they were having on the local community. The winner of this award Coventry University Students‟ Union has a strong partnership with their institution and were recently awarded with a significant sum of money £140,000 for internationalisation projects. The judges felt that a successful bid of this nature needed to be recognised and that the funding will present this union the with the opportunity to continue to innovate in this area. Figure 6: Winning Team Rep from Coventry University Students Union, from left to right: Olalekan Oshunkoya, VP Communications and Engagement, Emmanuel Lekunze, VP Representation with Christina Yan Zhang (NUS), Dominic Scott (UKCISA).
NUS International Experience Award This award went to a union in which all students can have an international experience, innovating to encourage all students to have a global perspective. Both the winner and runner up in this category are leading in this area of work within the student movement. 5
The runner up of this award Warwick Student‟s Union had demonstrated a commitment to internationalisation for a number of years and continues to employ an innovative approach. The recent work to create a student-led society for international opportunities has been very successful and this union is increasingly focusing on strengthening international connections. The judges were particularly impressed by the way that this Loughborough Students‟ Union had brought a wide range of activities under one brand. „Experience the world‟ is this union‟s initiative to widen the focus from a short period of international events to a continual and varied programme which brings an international perspective to all students. Figure 7: Winning Team Representatives from Loughborough Students‟ Union, from left to right: Lucy Padolsey (VP: Finance & Commercial), Rebecca Bridger (President), Pete Childs (VP: Democracy & Communications) with Christina Yan Zhang (NUS), Dominic Scott (UKCISA).
NUS Most Improved Students' Union – Internationalisation Award
This award was given to a union which has demonstrated a commitment to improvement at all levels through strategic vision and demonstrable results. The judges decided to give the runner up award to Portsmouth an institution which has implemented improvements across the board and has seen a notably improvements in international students voting in elections. Jewel & Esk College Students‟ Association, the winner of this award showed how they had introduced international representation and how the holder of this post was encouraging integration within the college. The judges were particularly impressed with the amount of improvement in recent years with very limited resources. Figure 8: Winner Rep from Jewel & Esk College Students‟ Association: Lupe Gonzalez (President)
NUS International Officer of the Year Awards This was the hardest category to judge as we received nominations highlighting the work of several dedicated individuals, many of whom were working as part time officers alongside their courses and other commitments. The winner of this award will have demonstrated how they are going above and beyond expectations in promoting internationalisation and inspiring others. The judges decided to award this category jointly to two winners working in different contexts. The joint winners of International Officer of the Year are Pamela Gomes Leite (Basingstoke College of Technology) and Daniel Stevens (Warwick). Pamela Gomes Leite is an officer whose impact on her own union was clearly demonstrated by the nomination which outlined how this person had worked to engage staff and students across the college. This judges felt that the officer is clearly an inspiration to others, giving them the confidence to follow her lead and give international students a voice in the students‟ union. 6
Daniel Stevens has made significant advances in internationalising the student experience in University of Warwick Students' Union. This union was shortlisted in a number of categories this year and this officer‟s commitment has made a significant contribution to that. He has gone on to make a major impact nationally on immigration campaign. He has been actively lobbying against visa changes since 2010, writing consultation documents on behalf of the Russell Group university students union, contributing to NUS Immigration Campaign Toolkit, and meeting with MPs, Lords, the CBI, solicitors and other leading UK sector experts. His achievements for internationalisation and immigration have been widely reconigsed by the UK Education Sector. He was invited to speak on internationalisation at many events of NUS and Aldwych Group, as well as Annual Conference of UKCISA, HEA. He was the only student leader in the UK invited by British Council „Going Global‟ Conference 2011 in Hong Kong to chair 2 panel debates to an audience of education leaders from around the world. He was also invited to the Wall street Journal Future Leadership Institute in Belgium, the Humanitarian Affairs University Scholars Leadership Symposium in Thailand. Figure 9: NUS International Students Officer of the Year winner Daniel Stevens (Warwick) and Pamela Gomes Leite (Basingstoke College of Technology) with Christina Yan Zhang (NUS), Dominic Scott (UKCISA).
NUS FE Internationalised Students Union of the Year Award This award went to an FE union which has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing the student experience through internationalisation at strategic and operational levels. The runner up, Jewel & Esk, has shown a steady improvement over recent years and has seen particular success in increasing representation. This college will be going through a merger in the near future and hopefully this will lead to a more internationalised experience for even more students in the area. The judges were impressed by the Basingstoke College of Technology Students‟ Union, the winner‟s breadth of activity which included ensuring international student representation, running a range of activities and promoting exchanges. Staff and officers work together effectively to internationalise the student experience in this college. Figure 10: Winning rep from Basingstoke College of Technology: Pamela Gomes Leite with Christina Yan Zhang (NUS), Dominic Scott (UKCISA).
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NUS HE Internationalised Students Union of the Year Award This award went to a HE union which has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing the student experience through internationalisation at strategic and operational levels. The runner up of this award Warwick University Studentsâ€&#x; Union has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to internationalisation and were one of the first unions to examine the potential for internationalisation and build it into strategic planning. Not content with running an incredibly successful and ever-growing One World Week, this union has continued to prioritise this area of work and has seen improvements in a number of areas. The winner of the HE Internationalised Union of the year is: Edinburgh University Studentsâ€&#x; Association (EUSA). The winner of this award is showing a real commitment to this area of work, with specialised staff support. The judges were particularly impressed with how much this union has improved in recent years and the student-led nature of many of the projects there. This union has now started to look beyond its own activities and form partnerships at a local and national level to support their internationalisation work. Figure 11: A snapshot of the website of the students-led EUSA Global Campaign, more information about their initiatives can be found at http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/global/
Dominic Scott, Chief Executive of UKCISA, said "It is wonderful to see that so much hard work is being done to improve the lives of international students and create an internationalised student experience for all. We are delighted to be supporting this event and recognising the innovative work and dedication of staff and officers in students' unions." We would like to thank everyone that took part in sending nominations, promoting the awards and that attended on the day. This was a fantastic showcase of the amazing work that studentsâ€&#x; unions have been doing over the past couple of years both supporting international students and developing all students as global citizens. Further photos from the awards event are available online here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/demo_2010
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Action points 1. Supporting International Students Training Materials Now Online! NUS has developed a package of three training modules in partnership with the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) which can be tailored and delivered to staff, officers or students. Modules one and two provide an introduction to the international student population, barriers to engagement and an overview of the international student lifecycle, and module three looks at cultural awareness and communications within studentsâ€&#x; unions. http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/news/article/33768/3226/ 2. Internationalisation Toolkits Your union should now have received your Internationalisation Toolkits through the post. The full website will be launched later this month giving you the chance to log your audit results online and to share examples of best practice.
3. Further Information For latest campaign and information on NUS International Students campaign see http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/campaigns/international/
For resources on working with international students see the UKCISA website http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/about/publications.php Explore ways to engage international postgraduates in the studentsâ€&#x; union http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/resources/postgraduate/Engaging-postgrads-in-the-studentsunion/
The Beyond Borders report from NUS Scotland looks at engaging international students in representative structures http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/resources/international/Beyond-Borders-international-studentmapping-project/ QAA guidance document: International students studying in the UK - Guidance for UK higher education providers. http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/International-studentsstudying-in-the-UK.aspx
NUS Global Future Bulletin is designed to keep officers up to date on national developments. Information is correct at time of writing and offered in good faith.
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