Case Study: Supporting International Staff at the University of Nottingham

1. Case Study: Supporting International Staff at the University of Nottingham Peter McCracken – Deputy Director of Human Resources

2. Contents • Drivers for Change • What we’ve done to support international staff • Feedback

3. "A truly global university" • With more than 35,000 students from around 150 countries studying across campuses in China, Malaysia and the UK, Nottingham truly is an international institution.

4. Malaysia • The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus opened in September 2000 to become the first campus of a British University in Malaysia and one of the first anywhere in the world • New Campus outside KL in September 2005 • Now 3,500 students

5. China • The University's strong links with China resulted in an invitation to become the first foreign university to establish an independent campus, under new legislation passed in China in 2003. • Ningbo (near Shanghai) opened to students in 2005 • Now 4,000 students

6. The international quarter • Talent Wars: The international market for academic staff (UUK policy briefing, July 2007) • 27 per cent of all academic staff appointed are non-UK nationals (% increasing) • The major countries of origin of non-UK academic staff working in UK universities are Germany, China, the United States, the Republic of Ireland, Italy and France • Many countries are engaged in higher education reforms that should result in more effective and efficient systems. It will also mean increased international competition for highly qualified academic staff as countries try to retain them in their own systems or at least to encourage them to return after a period overseas

7. Inpatriation versus Expatriation • Sending staff to China and Malaysia • Relocation package • Accommodation support • Private medical insurance • Home leave flights • International schooling • etc

8. Approach: Trial (& Error)

9. International Staff Forum • Feedback: How do I open a bank account (when I don’t have a UK address)? How can I get suitable accommodation? ? ? Help me understand the Points Based Immigration System!

11. Immigration

12. Finance

13. Accommodation

14. Culture Quiz • Queen Elisabeth II is our current monarch. Who is next in line to the throne? • Which UK football club did David Beckham play for? • Which river runs through Nottingham? • How far is it from London to Nottingham(250km, 180km or 100km) • The capital city of Scotland is: • The patron saint of England is: • Which vegetable is the emblem for Wales? • Guy Fawkes Night/Bonfire Night is in which month?

15. Website stats (March 2010)

16. Visitors to website Approx 1,500 visitors per month March 2010

17. Induction • International Staff Induction Event • Approx 20 attendees • Useful feedback

18. Other initiatives • Welcome e-mail • Linking to website and outlining services available • Airport Collection • Assistance with Accommodation • Mentoring scheme • Language classes for the partners of international staff

19. Survey: newly arrived international staff • Seeking feedback on specific services offered • How well they felt supported by the University • Results • Mixed response • Driven by experience of accommodation? • Driven by country of origin? (Different levels of expectation)

20. English Language ?? • “Eh up me duck!” • Survey of international staff • Of respondents who were not native English speakers, approx 20% professed to having problems working with English esp. listening and speaking • Struggling to understand the pronunciation/accent of colleagues • Making themselves understood by students • Also - emails – trying to get the tone right • Native speakers not making allowances for non native speakers

21. Summary