News
How do international students rate UK HE institutions?
19th June 2008
Prospective international students rate the UK as the most attractive study destination, according to i-graduate’s latest StudentPulse survey. Will Archer, i-graduate's director, says UK institutions are using confidential feedback to tune in to students' expectations and respond to their needs.
Another key finding from i-graduate’s International Student Barometer (ISB) conducted last year, is that two thirds of international students choose a university rather than a country first. The desirability of UK HE institutions may therefore be partly attributed to the huge variety of universities the UK has to offer.
For the full story, please click here.
Tony Tysome
What global students really, really want
29th April 2008
A new research report has highlighted some good news – and bad news – for universities in the UK who want to attract the best and brightest international students.
First the good news. The UK has over-taken the US as the most popular study destination for international students, despite their belief that it is also the most expensive. Yet although recent legislation allows international students the right to work for up to two years after graduation, they still perceive it as being the hardest country to get employment in once they finish their studies.
Why is this important? The global student market is worth billions of pounds, and is rapidly changing as more options are available to students. They can choose to study for an international qualification in their own country, or get a high-tech education at a new university in China, Singapore or Malaysia.
Students can now also easily compare universities online, with university website and independent research sites such as www.studylink.com being the most important source of information for them.
So understanding how prospective students make their decisions on where to go and what to study is more important than ever.
Market research firm i-graduate surveyed nearly 12,000 students from 143 countries for its 2007 StudentPulse survey. One of the most surprising results was that two-thirds of students select the university first before thinking about which country they will study in. The quality and reputation of the course and lecturers was of more importance than lifestyle, climate and culture.
“International students see their education as an investment, and they want the best quality they can get for their money”, says Jason Howard, CEO of StudyLink.
“So rather than deciding which travel destination appeals most, they are really comparing the reputation of one university or course against another”.
Even though the cost of tuition and cost of living was the number one worry for prospective students, the UK has maintained its appeal by scoring highly on teaching and research quality reputation of qualifications and security.
Safety was the most important factor determining choice of country and 96 per cent of prospective students rated the UK as good or very good in this area.
The research study is backed up by a UCAS report showing that the UK experienced an eight per cent increase in international student enrolments in January this year – against expectations that numbers would be levelling off. And London now has the largest number of international students of any city in the world – contributing more than £1.5 billion to the capital’s economy.
Mark Bickerton, London Metropolitan University’s international office director; believes that “London, as an all-round experience, is unbeatable. By studying in London, students don’t just receive a world-class education, they also become immersed in the cultural, commercial and political vibrancy that is London.”
But while the excitement of life in the capital is often seen as the drawcord of study here, the reality is that students could be more interested in the fact that they can choose to work in London for two years after they graduate. And, combined with the globally recognised qualifications on offer; that’s an opportunity that’s too good to refuse.
Sara Howard
CUBO National Student Living Experience Report
23rd April 2008
The first CUBO ‘Student Living Report’ produced in partnership with i-graduate was launched on the 22 April at the offices of UUK in London. Over 70 delegates from 50 institutions attended.
This is the first, comprehensive, national report commissioned from within the Higher Education sector to look at a range of lifestyle factors affecting student satisfaction.
The student living experience spans a complex range of areas and support services from security and welfare to accommodation, catering, non-academic student services and social activities.
The report acknowledges the importance of living elements in relation to the overall student experience and also highlights differences between responses from undergraduate and postgraduate students and between students of different nationalities. Understanding these differences is a key factor for universities looking to differentiate their products and services for different groups of students and in particular understanding what factors most affect students from different countries.
For example, whilst many universities have ambitious targets for recruiting international students, how many have developed processes and services aimed at facilitating recruitment from their target markets? Conversely, how many continue to adopt a ‘one size fits all’ approach and as a result lose out to competitors – either at home or abroad.
In terms of the living experience and the learning experience there are still debates to be heard arguing about ‘core’ and ‘non-core’ activities and how important these may or may not be in relation to the overall student experience. The truth is that these debates are missing the point which is that the student experience is about living and learning.
If you take a closer look at universities who are at the top or near the top of world league tables you notice that they continually talk about extending learning beyond the classroom and about designing courses or programs (including everything from classroom design to social activities) to promote dynamic interchange and shared learning.
The report recognises this and reinforces the need for universities to take a more integrated and holistic view of the student experience.
I-graduate’s research methodology is already proven across 9 countries and 150 universities and colleges throughout the world and the report is based on over 66,000 responses to the Student Barometer in 2006/7, ensuring that the report’s findings are statistically robust.
In initiating this report, CUBO has set out its commitment to taking the lead on understanding the student living experience and, through its members, delivering solutions and actions to ensure that all students at UK universities have the best possible experience. The next steps will include further qualitative study and the development of best practice guidelines and training for those involved in improving the student experience.
Dennis Hopper is Director of Residential & Commercial Services at the University of Leeds and is a member of the CUBO Executive Committee with responsibility for research into the student experience.
For further details about CUBO’s work in this area contact admin@cubo.org.
Here are a few photos taken on the day.
Growing skills gap among graduates
11th April 2008
There is a mismatch between what employers seek and what graduates offer, our recent report suggests. Commissioned by the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE), ‘Graduate Employability: What do employers think and want?’ unveils the findings of a pilot study of nearly 250 employers. Covering large, medium and small employers, the study assesses the skills and experiences employers look for when recruiting graduates. It indicates that although today’s graduates possess strong IT skills, they lack the communication skills and work experience many employers want.
For the full story, click here.
If you would like to receive a copy of the graduate employability report, please fill out the “Need our advice?” box at the top of this page. Please state clearly the name of the report you are interested in and we will email you a copy. Alternatively, you can email your request to info@i-graduate.org.
Will Archer reveals findings from Graduate Employability report
10th April 2008
Will Archer argues that in most professional organisations, it is the vocational skills that mark out a graduate. For the full story please click here.
“Graduate Employability: What do employers think and want?” is the conclusion of a pilot study of nearly 250 employers for the CIHE by i-graduate. Covering large, medium and small employers, the study highlights the skills and experiences employers look for when recruiting graduates.
If you would like to receive a copy of the report, please fill out the “Need our advice?” box at the top of this page. Please state clearly the name of the report you are interested in and we will email you a copy. Alternatively, you can email your request to info@i-graduate.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.
We will shortly be circulating a copy of the Best Practice Exchange 2008 Report to everyone who attended.
The release of International Student Barometer data at the conference was reported by the Edinburgh Evening News .
Here are some snapshots of the day! If you would like copies of any photographs, please contact Felice Nightingale felice.nightingale@i-graduate.org.
StudentPulse attracts worldwide attention
February 2008
StudentPulse continued to make headlines in the UK, Australia, the United States and Thailand this month.
The Times reported that "the UK is giving the US a run for its money as international students' favourite place to study"; the Collegiate Times in the US said the StudentPulse study showed how the UK and smaller players in the global HE market were challenging the US; The Australian reported that international students had ranked Australia as the third best country in the world for university education; a similar story appeared on the Thaindian website; meanwhile, Australia's Campus Review ran a feature exploring issues raised by the study, including the finding that the institution rather than the country drives most international student choice.
International Student Barometer delivers fresh insights into views of international students
February 2008
i-graduate has published the findings of the largest-ever study of the motivations and perceptions of international students in the UK. A total of 54,836 students from 221 countries took part in the Autumn 2007 International Student Barometer, responding to questions ranging from which country was their first choice study destination to what features of the student experience were most important to them.
The study's conclusions were reported in The Guardian , the Times Higher Education magazine, and International Focus .
Wales Student Barometer findings released
February 2008
i-graduate released the initial findings of the Wales Student Barometer at a conference in Cardiff opened by Welsh Assembly Government education minister Jane Hutt.
The Western Mail reported that the study had shown that students in Wales were happier than their peers in the rest of the UK. A similar story appeared in the South Wales Echo .
StudentPulse new world findings
31st January 2008
i-graduate's latest StudentPulse research (based on responses from over 11,000 prospective students from 143 countries) indicates that the UK may be beginning to challenge the US as the most popular study destination, despite being seen as the most expensive in the world to study.
The StudentPulse study provides the most up-to-date picture of how prospective international students perceive their growing range of options, and shows which considerations currently have the biggest influence on their decisions. The article features in today's THE, The Chronicle, The Independent and University World News (please note subscription is required for access to the THE and The Chronicle articles).
Click here to view the press release