News
Tracking the international student experience at over 100 institutions across continental Europe
November 2010
The 2010 Entry Wave of the International Student Barometer is currently live across Europe, capturing the perceptions and experiences of international and domestic students as they commence the academic year.
i-graduate is delighted to be supporting new and existing partners across continental Europe for this Wave.
Across Germany, 50 institutions are participating in the International Student Barometer feedback process to measure the perceptions, motivations, expectations and experiences of their international students.
Meanwhile in Sweden, 16 higher education institutions are participating, as are 23 institutions across Finland. Together with the 14 other European institutions, a total of 103 institutions across continental Europe are currently using the International Student Barometer benchmarking tool to inform departmental and institutional decision-making.
We would once again like to thank all our global partners for continuing to track and benchmark the international student experience.
For more information about how your institution can join those already participating in the International Student Barometer, please contact
info@i-graduate.org.
i-graduate launches the Distance Education Barometer 2011
October 2010
The Distance Education Barometer is a joint sector initiative between i-graduate and The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education. The partnership draws together the expertise and experience of i-graduate and The OBHE in relation to the student experience and strategies in distance education.
The Distance Education Barometer is a confidential and comparative feedback process for education providers. It has been designed to provide your institution with comprehensive insights into the expectations and perceptions of your distance learners. The study will encompass all modes of distance education including, traditional, online only and supported distance education.
We are now inviting education providers worldwide to join the 2011 Distance Education Barometer partnership. Institutions can register to take part in the Distance Barometer partnership individually or as part of a group of teaching/partner institutions.
For more information about the Distance Education Barometer, please click here.
Careers Guides for international students now available
October 2010
In autumn 2009, i-graduate announced the launch of a new series of guides for international graduates, offering practical advice about looking for work upon returning home after study.
The 'Starting Your Career In....' country guides are aimed at students who have graduated following international study and are now planning to enter the job market in their home country.
The fifteen guide series has been updated to include information about current trends in the labour market and opportunities by sector, as well the latest information sources such as links to online job-seeking resources.
New for 2010 are sample CVs included within each guide to illustrate what ought to be included on a strong graduate rsum. Greater information on social networking as an alternative method of finding employment is also included in the updated guides. The newest data from international students gathered through the International Student Barometer examining career drivers and future plans is also included in the revised series.
Advice is given about seeking employment in each country, as well as hints and tips for making a successful application, for example which personal information to include on a CV and how to approach an interview. The guides also list helpful in-country information sources such as job fairs, vacancy websites, and other recruitment media, in a digestible and approachable style.
As well as providing information for international students and graduates, the guides are a helpful source for careers practitioners and other professionals dealing with international students and graduates.
The 'Starting Your Career In...' guides are the result of a joint initiative between i-graduate, AGCAS and NASES, and utilise information gathered through the International Student Barometer, with expert insight from Expertise in Labour Mobility (ELM), and were made possible through funding from the former Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the devolved administrations under the Prime Minister's Initiative for International Education (PMI2).
The guides are now available for the following fifteen countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and the USA. and can be downloaded from the AGCAS website here and the NASES 'morethanwork' website here.
i-graduate launches the Transnational Education Barometer
September 2010
The Transnational Education Barometer establishes a benchmark for offshore provision; specifically, a comparative measure of the decision-making, expectations and perceptions of students studying outside the country of the awarding institution. For the first time, the Transnational Education Barometer allows institutions to benchmark their transnational delivery against their peers, providing an in-depth insight into this rapidly-growing education market.
The TNE Barometer was developed in partnership with 12 awarding institutions in the UK and Australia across 2008 and 2009. The results from the pilot study provide a new insight into the methods of transnational delivery and the type of students that take up these opportunities, their motivations, expectations and satisfaction with their course of study.
For more information about the Transnational Education Barometer, please click here.
A warm welcome to our new global ISB partners
August 2010
As the 2010 Exit Wave of the International Student Barometer closes across the Northern Hemisphere, wed like to thank all our global partners for continuing to track and benchmark the international student experience. We are also pleased to welcome higher education institutions in Sweden and Canada to the International Student Barometer partnership.
With these new partnerships i-graduate has provided valuable insights into the international student experience and comparisons against national and global benchmarking for over 600 institutions in 22 countries across the world.
Sweden
The ISB tracking and benchmarking process has been adopted by 10 Swedish higher education institutions, with more to follow, in collaboration with Study Destination Sweden.
Study Destination Sweden is a comprehensive resource for information about higher education in Sweden, geared towards prospective students from a broad international base. Study Destination Sweden is a program administered and managed by the Swedish Institute, a public agency entrusted with disseminating knowledge globally about Sweden and organising exchanges with other countries in the spheres of culture, education, research and public life in general.
The group of Swedish universities will gather feedback on the experience of international students, as well as receiving benchmarked responses compared to a European index.
Canada
The University of Waterloo, Ontario is our first partner university in Canada to adopt the International Student Barometer feedback process to measure the perceptions, motivations, expectations and experiences of their international students. The University of Waterloo is known for being Canadas most innovative university and every year, more than 2,000 international students from over 123 countries study at UW.
When asked how the International Student Barometer will impact on their international strategy Julie Hummel, Associate Director, International Marketing & Recruitment said, "The University of Waterloo has ambitious goals to internationalize our campus. These goals reach beyond a student recruitment focus and are as broad in scope as research agreements, exchange and study abroad opportunities, and providing international faculty, staff and students with an excellent experience on our campus. We are committed to making sure they can feel supported and will become an active and contributing members of our campus. We are committed to a solid research foundation to guide our strategic and financial investments and see International Student Barometer as a key tool for providing information."
To find out more about the University of Waterloo click here.
As a final note, the Australian ISB wave is now ready for reporting and we are happy to announce that a record number of 58 Australian institutions took part this year, with feedback coming from over 60,000 students.
For further information about the International Student Barometer click here.
The Observatory joins the i-graduate family
August 2010
As of August 2nd 2010, the world renowned research unit The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education will transfer to the International Graduate Insight Group. This strategic shift will empower the Observatory with more resources to pursue its important work in the ever more rapidly evolving world of higher education, and i-graduate are delighted to welcome the OBHE to the i-graduate family.
i-graduate Director, William Archer said of this important new partnership, With our shared goals of enhancing international education through the provision of robust research and comparative insights, there is a compelling logic to joining forces. We welcome the Observatory to the i-graduate group, and look forward to further strengthening our combined ability to enable positive change across the sector.
The Observatorys original parent organisations Universities UK and the Association of Commonwealth Universities are pleased to see the highly respected research unit become part of the i-graduate organisation, which has a strong global reputation for independent insight and international benchmarking.
The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education has now reached a level of maturity with a considerable international reputation such that it needs to be fostered and grown within a wider environment, said Professor John Wood, Secretary General, Association of Commonwealth Universities. I am pleased that i-graduate will provide that fertile ground where the Observatory will be able to flourish and develop new services in the future. The founding partners are proud to have seeded the Observatory at the start and wish it all the best in its new home.
There will be no change in the interface between the Observatory and its existing subscribers, and the Observatory will be free to continue its primary purpose of providing strategic information to enable institutional leaders and policy makers to make informed decisions relevant to their existing and/or future transnational higher education initiatives. This mission is accomplished by a continuum of programmes, services and activities that provide access to state-of-the-art research, resources, best practices, emerging trends, policy frameworks, and assessment and quality assurance documents for the effective delivery of transnational higher education academic programmes and services.
We look forward to being able share with all of our subscribers all the exciting projects that both i-graduate and the OBHE are working on together, now and in the future.
To learn more about the Observatory or to subscribe to their services please visit http://www.obhe.ac.uk/home.
Follow i-graduate on Twitter
August 2010
At i-graduate we believe in the power of communication and the sharing of knowledge. To aid in the process of dissemination of useful and pertinent information we have actively engaged in the social media phenomenon that is Twitter.
Click here to follow all of our latest news and sector-specific links.
i-graduate proud sponsor of the THE Leadership & Management Awards 2010
June 2010
The second annual Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards were announced on the 17th of June 2010 at a sparkling event held at the prestigious Grosvenor House on Park Lane in the heart of our nation's capital. The awards celebrated leadership, business and management skills in the UK higher education sector.
i-graduate were proud to sponsor the award for Outstanding International Strategy, for which 6 UK institutions were shortlisted, Aston University, University of Greenwich, Heriot-Watt University, Northumbria University, University of Nottingham and University of Wales Institute, Cardiff. The award was won by the international team from the University of Greenwich, whose engagement with India stretches back more than a century.
As sponsors of the Outstanding International Strategy Award 2010 we would like to acknowledge the innovation and dedication shown by all the shortlisted UK institutions in this highly competitive category, commented William Archer, Director of i-graduate. The kaleidoscope of global competition makes innovation more important than ever before. A line-up of distinguished judges made the choice today. But the opinions that really matter are those of the students who buy the strategy and invest in a British degree. Now more than ever, their views count.
The awards are designed to celebrate the sector's leadership, management, financial and business skills. They showcase the extraordinary innovation, teamwork and commercial acumen of our higher education institutions and this year saw 264 entries across the 18 categories. The resulting choices demonstrated the professionalism and dedication that underpin the UK's world-class research and teaching enterprise.
Maureen Skinner, registrar of the Faculty of Arts at Thames Valley University and chair of the Association of University Administrators and a key member of the THELMA judging panel, said: "Greenwich fulfilled all the judging criteria in what was a strong field, what distinguished Greenwich was the integrated nature of its internationisation strategy, involving all aspects of the university's work."
For more information and to see a gallery of winners in all 18 categories including Outstanding University Fundraising Team, Outstanding Leadership and Management Team, Outstanding ICT Team, Outstanding Human Resources Team and Outstanding Finance Team click here to visit the official THE Leadership & Management Awards website.
i-graduate company director William Archer and THELMA 2010 host Alexander Armstrong present the
Outstanding International Strategy award to the team from the University of Greenwich
Dunn & Bradstreet award i-graduate with a 'D&B Rating 1' for creditworthiness
July 2010
Dunn & Bradstreet, the world's leading source of business information and insight since 1841 have awarded i-graduate with an official 'D&B Rating 1' status.
D&B provides a rating for all companies in the UK and Ireland, and these ratings are internationally recognised as an objective indicator of the risk of failure and the creditworthiness of companies. The 'D&B Rating 1' is the highest possible rating and clearly signifies that i-graduate has a high level of creditworthiness and an extremely low probability of failure.
"For i-graduate to have achieved this during one of the worst economic times in recent years is a fantastic accomplishment, with only 15% of all UK companies being in this category." said Gareth Jones, Managing Director of D&B UK and Ireland.
With global data coverage on business records in over 190 countries, D&B use sophisticated data collection tools and update their international database over 1.5 million times a day. This ensures the D&B rating is a dynamic score that is continuously updated and reflects the most current situation at a company.
"To be presented with the "D&B Rating 1" status during such a critical period for the UK higher education system is a direct reflection of the strength and continued commitment shown to us by our partner institutions." said William Archer, Director of i-graduate, "We are proud to work with some of the most progressive institutions globally and with their support we can continue to deliver the high profile insights we have become known for worldwide."
To learn more about Dunn & Bradstreet's selection of business services and the D&B Rating system click here.
Benchmarking the student experience across Australia's private college sector
John Ross | May 17, 2009
Article from: Campus Review
Around 86 per cent of international students at private colleges are satisfied or very satisfied with all aspects of their college experience, according to a survey commissioned by the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET). The survey of almost 10,000 students at 39 colleges also found that almost as many - 85 per cent - were satisfied with their agents, while just 9 per cent said they'd enrolled with permanent residency in mind.
The survey was conducted by i-graduate, using a questionnaire which allows institutions' results to be benchmarked against findings from other institutions.
i-graduate uncovered a similar satisfaction rate when it surveyed about 10,700 English-language students in Australia last year (CR, 21.09.09). i-graduate also conducted a similar sector-wide study with TAFE institutes across Australia in 2009.
The ACPET survey found that 77 per cent of respondents said they would encourage other students to enrol in Australia.
International engagement manager Steve Quirk said ACPET was encouraged by the findings, which he said would be the envy of most restaurants, manufacturers or public transport providers.
"But it's no cause for complacency," he added. "We are interested in the 15 per cent - the two to three people in the average class - who are less happy with their experience. This pilot study gives us a good evidence base to investigate that group and its experience. It also gives us an opportunity to talk to the one in four students who are not yet advocates for the private college or Australian experience, and investigate why."
ACPET CEO Andrew Smith said the survey was the first of its scale in Australia. "Until now Australia has had no widely acknowledged national benchmark of the private sector student experience," he said.
"This report affirms the commitment to quality education demonstrated by the vast majority of ACPET members. That commitment deserves greater respect from federal and state governments than it currently enjoys," Smith said. "Uncertainty and poorly conceived policy are resulting in a sharp contraction of our sector, with consequences for our international reputation, cultural and professional exchange, trading relationships and the stability of a major export industry. I urge state and federal governments to review this research. Now is not the time for policy based on assumptions or anecdotal evidence.
Only 9 per cent of respondents said they'd had plans to apply for permanent residency at the time they enrolled, Quirk said - contradicting previous research suggestions that large proportions of students plan to immigrate when they enrol, but many change their minds over the course of their studies.
Quirk said ACPET's findings suggested the reverse was the case, with few students initially planning to immigrate. "Rather than being a pull factor, the desire for permanent residency seems to be something that emerges over time," he said. "There may be something of an urban myth around permanent residency and international students."
Quirk said the survey suggested subject area was more important to students than the country where they'd be studying. And he said more students were interested in the experience of living in Australia temporarily than becoming permanent residents.
Almost two thirds of the respondents had applied to study at just one educational institution, with just 12 per cent of students applying to more than two. More than 90 per cent had sat English language tests before commencing their studies. And almost two thirds said they'd applied for their courses via education agents, with 22 per cent saying agents were the most important source of information.
The survey also found that over 80 per cent of respondents had thought about studying in other countries, with 44 per cent considering the US, 28 per cent Canada and 17 per cent the UK. But only 16 per cent had actually applied to study in other countries.
Quirk said the respondents had been overwhelmingly young - 86 per cent of them aged between 18 and 27 - and 90 per cent had been VET students. He said they had come from many countries, although roughly half were from the top markets of India, China and South Korea. Slightly over half were male and around a third were in the last year of their studies.
Quirk said ACPET planned to repeat the survey, probably on an annual basis.
To view the full article in Campus Review, click here.
For more information about ACPET, click here.
If you would like further information about the work i-graduate has carried out with schools, colleges and institutes across Australia please contact Amy Russell (amy.russell@i-graduate.org).
A UK Guide to Enhancing the International Student Experience
March 2010
The UK Higher Education International Unit has commissioned i-graduate to produce a guide for those on campus responsible for enhancing the university experience for international students.
Through interpretation of data collected through the International Student Barometer, the Guide to Enhancing the International Student Experience will inform and advise UK universities of best practice when working with international students. The data will be used to identify trends over time so university colleagues can ascertain if certain issues are becoming more or less important to international students. What are the key areas of importance and, perhaps more importantly, can we identify areas of dissatisfaction?
The data is supplemented with case studies to illustrate how the experience can be enhanced. The Guide includes recommendations for international offices, student support services, senior management and the UK sector as a whole and is intended to be accessed by all levels within universities.
We are delighted to announce that the Guide will be made available to UK university staff from March 2010. The Guide is now available to download from the secure area of the UK HE International Unit website at www.international.ac.uk.
About the UK Higher Education International Unit
The UK Higher Education International Unit coordinates, promotes and undertakes activities designed to support UK universities in a globally competitive world.
The UK HE International Unit is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Scottish Funding Council, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, the Department for Employment and Learning (Northern Ireland), Guild HE and Universities UK.
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Tracking the International Student Experience at Further Education (FE) colleges in the UK
January 2010
i-graduate has been commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to examine the expectations and experiences of international non-EU students who undertake an FE course in the UK. The study will highlight areas of good practice and to inform areas for development, with the overall aim of improving the experience for this group of learners. i-graduate have teamed up with the Association of Colleges (AoC), Scotland's Colleges and UKCISA to undertake the study.
What is the study about?
The Prime Minister launched PMI2 in April 2006. It is a five year programme supported by some 33 million, jointly funded by government, the British Council and the education sector. The overall aim of PMI2 is to secure the UK's position as a leader in international Higher and Further education and sustain the managed growth of UK international education delivered both in the UK and overseas. PMI2 already has Higher Education and English Language Teaching student satisfaction indices to measure changes in international student satisfaction levels in those two sectors. To ensure that all sectors are being addressed by the Programme, international student satisfaction levels in the Further Education sector also need to be measured.
How can my college take part?
i-graduate are inviting all FE colleges in the UK to participate in the study, including private and public colleges. The study is fully funded by BIS and you will receive confidential feedback from your students, benchmarked against the sector average.
The study will comprise of a short, easy to complete online questionnaire to be completed by students currently undertaking an FE course in the UK. The questionnaire will ask students about their expectations and experiences of study, including value for money, course quality, accommodation, support and advisory services.
Please note, the deadline for registering your participation is Friday 5th February 2010.
For information on how to participate or further details please contact:
Naomi Kenny
International Graduate Insight Group (i-graduate)
E-mail: Naomi.kenny@i-graduate.org
Tel: +44 (0)207 222 7890 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +44 (0)207 222 7890 end_of_the_skype_highlighting