Events
Members of the i-graduate team regularly speak at conferences and events. We also host conferences, including the annual Best Practice Exchange™. Details of past and future events will always feature here. For more information about any of the events listed, or to arrange a meeting with a member of the team, please contact info@i-graduate.org.
Upcoming events
CHE Marketing Conference
18th June 2009
DAAD, Bonn, Germany
Nannette Ripmeester, i-graduate’s Director of Operations EMEA, is due to speak at the CHE Marketing Conference in Bonn on 18th June, about the use of marketing data and how to make the next step in international student recruitment. The key focus of Nannette's talk is implementation of marketing knowledge into the HE institutions structure, supported by European examples from i-graduate’s international practice.
For more information about the event, please contact info@i-graduate.org.
UKCISA Annual Conference
1st - 3rd July 2009
University of Warwick
i-graduate Director William Archer is to give the opening plenary at the UKCISA Annual Conference on the 1st July. The presentation, entitled 'Understanding and supporting international students through the experience: best practice insights' will set the context for the conference with a broad overview of the current recruitment market - including perceptions of the UK in the main source countries.
Using data from the world’s largest study of international students – i-graduate's International Student Barometer (ISB), satisfaction levels with various elements of the UK international student experience will be discussed. The session will provide institution-specific examples of how universities can and have used results from the ISB to improve the student experience and in particular aspects of support and target their resources more effectively.
The session will allow audience members to engage in the debate.
For more information about the UKCISA Conference, please click here.
i-graduate and The Leadership Foundation for Higher Education together have conducted ground-breaking research to examine career motivation and progression in higher education. The Higher Education Careers Barometer is designed to investigate and analyse career motivation, attraction and retention of staff and changing perceptions about careers in higher education. The initial phase of the research ran in winter 2008, involving a group of 26 higher education institutions from the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Almost 12,000 individuals from across the 26 institutions completed the survey.
If you are interested in your institution participating in the Higher Education Careers Barometer study in 2009, please contact Neeta Barot (neeta.barot@i-graduate.org).
The presentation of findings to participating institutions in the 2008 study took place on Friday 8th May 2009. i-graduate and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education were pleased to welcome over 35 staff members from the 26 participating institutions to the event, hosted by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This was a free closed group event, presenting the study findings for the first time and facilitating debate amongst participants.
Higher Education Careers Barometer: Understanding Career Motivation in Higher Education
Public Report launch
Wednesday 8th July 2009
Hallam Conference Centre, 44 Hallam Street, London W1W 6JJ
Aggregated and anonymised results of the Understanding Career Motivation in Higher Education study will be shared with the sector through a written report, published by the Leadership Foundation. We hope the report, and the broader study will facilitate and encourage good practice among higher education institutions, including the enhancement of institutional staff development and recruitment policies.
The report will be launched by The Leadership Foundation at a national conference taking place on Wednesday 8th July. The day is a chance to receive first hand the outcome of this innovative research and to reflect on its application in your own institution. The event will be of interest to anyone concerned with developing people and their careers in higher education including Pro Vice-Chancellors, Heads of Department, HR Directors, Heads of Staff Development, other Directors of Services and those with an academic interest in the issues.
The morning programme offers a presentation of the research findings by William Archer, Director of i-graduate, who undertook this joint project in conjunction with the Leadership Foundation. There will be opportunity for breakout workshop discussions about various aspects of the research findings such as recruitment and retention of staff to higher education, turnover and the impact of the recession on staff. A panel discussion about the implications for individuals, institutions and the sector will then take place with opportunity for further debate.
The afternoon sessions willl look at the findings from a broader perspective, including a presentation by Dr Wendy Hirsh, of the Institute of Employment Studies whose research has covered many aspects of career perceptions and the employment relationship. There will be further opportunity for discussion in workgroups about how to take the project findings forward and final reflections from the afternoon Panel with experts on hand to discuss the ‘Psychological Contract’, career perceptions and cross sector perspectives.
Key speakers include:
William Archer, Director and Neeta Barot, Project Leader, i-graduate
Professor Graham Henderson, Vice-Chancellor, University of Teesside
Dr Wendy Hirsh, Independent Employment Researcher and Principal Associate, Institute of Employment Studies
Ewart Wooldridge, Chief Executive, Leadership Foundation
Please click here for more information and to book your place. We look forward to seeing you on the 8th July.
Past events
NAFSA 2009 Conference and Expo
24th - 29th May 2009
Los Angeles Convention Center
One of the key events on the calendar of many international educators, the NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo, took place in Los Angeles from May 24th-29th. If you requested any information from us, this will be with you soon.
The i-graduate team were represented at NAFSA by:
- Will Archer (Director)
- Jenni Parsons (Head of Client Services, UK)
- Nannette Ripmeester (Head of Client Services, Europe)
Will Archer facilitated an interactive seminar session entitled ‘Enhancing the International Student Experience: Case Studies in Excellence’. The session featured as part of the International Student and Scholar Services Knowledge Community on Friday 29th May at 11am.
Featuring representatives from some of the world’s top institutions, the session used feedback from the International Student Barometer process to reveal how the international student experience compares globally. The session examined how individual universities are using feedback from international students and comparative benchmarking to improve service provision for international students within their institution. Session attendees were invited to participate in an interactive discussion to exchange best practice in service provision for international students, and how to effectively use research outcomes as a tool to identify priority areas for investment and support.
The objectives of the session:
- Share the latest data from the largest annual study of international students, the International Student Barometer
- Present examples of excellence in international student service provision through case studies from leading institutions
- Discuss how benchmarking data can be used to facilitate improvement
- Exchange best practice for improving the international student experience
Chair: William Archer, Director, i-graduate
Speakers:
Chris Madden, Pro-Vice Chancellor (International), Griffith University, Australia
Ronald Cushing, Director of UC International Services, University of Cincinnati, USA
Gill Nicholls, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), University of Salford, UK
For more information click here
AHUA Annual Conference 2009
27th April 2009, Leeds Metropolitan University
Will Archer, i-graduate Director, addressed Heads of University Administration at the AHUA Annual Conference 2009 on Monday 27th April.
The two-day event, which took place at Leeds Metropolitan University, gave individuals involved in university administration and HE management the opportunity to network and gain an insight into emerging policy topics. The conference combined plenary sessions with workshop and panel sessions reflecting AHUA’s key themes of staff development and effective HE governance.
Will Archer participated in a panel session entitled ‘The Student Experience’ alongside Wes Streeting, (President, NUS), Professor Morag Bell (Pro Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching and chair Student Experience Committee, Loughborough University) and Tobin Webb (President, Bristol SU).
For more information about the event, click here
Best Practice Exchange 2009, Rotterdam - 'Raising the Bar' for the international student experience
20th March 2009 in Rotterdam
The Best Practice Exchange 2009, Rotterdam was specifically designed to facilitate discussions on issues that are impacting on the international student experience in the Netherlands and other European study destinations. The day comprised presentations and round-table workshops for practitioners and decision-makers, spanning the international student experience.
In November/December 2008, i-graduate's International Student Barometer (ISB) obtained feedback from over 105,000 students. Insights from this ground-breaking study was presented at the event. Representatives from the highest-performing institutions shared some of the secrets of their success.
For more information, please click here
Attracting International Research Students: Strategy and Practice
4 March 2009
1 Victoria Street Conference Centre, London SW1
Attracting International Research Students: Strategy and Practice attracted over 120 senior officers from HE sectors in 11 countries, who gathered to consider how nations and institutions can maintain their competitive edge in attracting international research students. The themes addressed are of key strategic importance to both UK and international universities given the economic benefit and research outputs PhD students bring, which in turn boosts departmental, institutional and national reputations.
For more information about this event or if you were unable to attend, please contact Jess Davison (jess.davison@i-graduate.org)
Globalisation of Universities conference
23 October 2008
The Commonwealth Club, London
i-graduate was proud to partner with the THE for the Globalisation of Universities conference on the 23rd October 2008.
Delegates to this unique conference were able to hear from experts about how universities can get involved in globalisation, and what happens when they do. What does it mean for strategy? How can teaching and research become fully international? And what are the financial and academic risks? At a time when economies across the world are slowing down, will globalisation cease to be a priority for universities? Or is the need to tap international revenue greater than ever?
For more information, please click here
20th Annual EAIE Conference: Re-designing the Map of European Higher Education
10–13th September 2008
EAIE Exhibition, Antwerp, Belgium
Six members of the i-graduate team attended the 2008 EAIE conference in Antwerp. i-graduate presented two sessions at the event - Europe's Learning Tribes and The International Educators' Report. We enjoyed meeting all of you and are already looking forward to Madrid 2009!
Education UK Scotland Biannual Conference
June 2008
One of the key challenges addressed at this event was how Scottish Higher Education Institutions are planning to respond to increasing global competition.
Will Archer (i-graduate’s director) sought to answer this question by discussing how international students view Scotland in light of new Scotland specific research from i-graduate’s trademark ‘International Student Barometer’ (ISB); a web-based survey designed to track the opinions and experiences of international students.
The concept of transnational education – the rise of institutions working alongside institutions and organisations abroad - was also examined.
NAFSA 2008 Annual Conference & Expo
May 2008
Thank you to all those who visited our booth at this year’s NAFSA Conference & Expo, held in Washington D.C. between 26th and 30th May.
NAFSA 2008 was the largest yet, attracting over 9,000 delegates from over 100 countries.
We’d like to say a big thank you to our partners for their ongoing support and, for those who joined us, we hope you enjoyed our ‘Top Secret’ Champagne Reception (in association with The International Spy Museum).
If you made an enquiry, one of the team will be in touch soon with more information. Meanwhile, if you have an enquiry about any of the services we provide please email info@i-graduate.org.
CUBO National Student Living Experience Report Launch
April 2008
Thank you to everyone who attended the CUBO National Student Living Experience Report launch, held at the offices of UUK in Central London on 22nd April.
The event was a great success, attracting over 70 delegates from 50 institutions and other organisations.
For the full story, please click here.
To receive a copy of the report, please contact admin@cubo.org.
Rethinking Higher Education conference
March 2008
Thank you to everyone who attended the Rethinking Higher Education conference held in Central London on 13th March.
The conference, organised by i-graduate and the UK Higher Education International Unit with support from Universities UK and UK Trade and Investment, was opened by University of Wolverhampton Vice-Chancellor Caroline Gipps and Lord Digby Jones, Minister of State for Trade and Investment.
Also addressing the conference were John Fielden, Director of CHEMA consulting and author of a new report on the management of internationalisation in UK universities published at the conference by the UK Higher Education International Unit; Colin Gilligan, Visiting Professor of Marketing at Northumbria University and Emeritus Professor at Sheffield Hallam University; Will Archer, Director of i-graduate; Neil Kemp, Professional Adviser to the UK-India Education and Research Initiative; Kelvin Everest, Special Adviser on China to the Vice-Chancellor at the University of Liverpool; John Hedges, Coordination Director for Santander Universities; Bernd Wachter, Director of the Academic Cooperation Association; and Shaun Curtis, Head of the UK Higher Education International Unit.
Themes explored included growth of the private sector as an HE provider internationally; understanding today's more demanding and discriminating students; and different approaches to managing internationalisation in HE institutions.
Will Archer, i-graduate's Director, unveiled the initial findings of a study into what motivated and influenced the study choices of more than 25,000 students from around the world. The study identified five new student groups, called Learning Tribes, whose members shared similar priorities and motivations. The study's conclusions were reported in The Guardian and University World News. The Times Higher Education magazine also featured Learning Tribes in a report on the conference, while The Independent explored growth of the private sector, quoting several of the conference speakers.
To download a copy of the conference report, click here.
Articles relating to the event can be found here: UK: Knowledge the only currency; UK: Booming private sector.
Best Practice Exchange 2008
March 2008
Thank you to everyone who attended our Best Practice Exchange 2008 on 7th March at the University of Edinburgh - you all helped to make the day a huge success! The event was attended by over 105 delegates from 65 institutions and other organisations.
Professor Simon Van Heyningen, Vice-Principal (Learning and Teaching) at the University of Edinburgh opened the conference. Speakers also included Ron Cushing (International Student Services Director, University of Cincinnati) and Wes Streeting (Vice-President Education, National Union of Students).
During the day, participants split into self-selected workshops which covered five broad themes - including cultural and social integration and careers, work experience and employability. Lots of you committed to take away practical actions to put into place at your institutions, helping us in 'raising the bar' for the international student experience.
The Best Practice Exchange was developed by i-graduate in order to assist the UK higher education industry implement actions as a result of the International Student Barometer findings.
The release of International Student Barometer data at the conference was reported by the Edinburgh Evening News .
Everyone who attended this event should have now received a copy of the Best Practice Exchange 2008 Report. If not, please contact felice.nightingale@i-graduate.org