International Office perspectives of cultural exchange programmes

1. International Office perspectives of cultural exchange programmes Eve Leung International students advisor University of Greenwich

2. What is international office? • Recruitment (SOAS) • International students welfare (Oxford Brookes) • Combined functions (UCL)

3. Types of overseas exchange Short Term, Long Term • Fieldwork • Exchange programmes (Euramus/JYA) • Language exchange (voluntary, compulsory)

4. Recruitment • Well advertise, in prospectus and other publications as part of selling points • By doing this, you are establishing an agreement with students on what they can expect • Co-ordinate between universities • Organise orientation programme as part of the welcome package

5. Welfare office/student services • Provide information for students before they leave i.e. immigration, health check etc • Provide pastoral care if necessary for student abroad (point of contact for emergency) • Provide advice for department if the country chosen is suitable for the exchange (too dangerous?) • Degree of care varies

6. Department To • Establish inter-institutional agreement • Access if the programme/project is suitable as part of the course • Ensure the experience can be collaborate into the course • Provide academic information to students

7. Department • Retain prime responsibility • Normal operation • Procedure in the event of any accident or dispute • Procedure of evacuation • What kind of support should be provided by home institution and visiting institution

8. Before • Brief students before departure • FCO advice • QAA Code of practice on placement learning • Host country laws, depends on what kind of activities they are doing abroad, includes rights of academic appeal, health and safety, data protection, criminal law, drink. Drugs, driving, breach of peace, consumer laws etc • Written information (for everyone) • Make sure everyone is briefed before leaving • Advice within competent training e.g. department to collaborate with welfare office for information

9. Before • Academic assessment • to allow only 2nd or 3rd year student • Studying relevant subject (with permission from the department) • Test on language abilities • Mentoring • Either by academic or students who participate in the same fieldwork/program (assign program leader) • Give informal advice

10. After • Collaborate experience into the course • PROJECTS • Career developments

11. Legal issues • Home institution is responsible!!! • Accuracy of all information provided (facilities) • Data protection act, both host and home institutions to comply with the normal way of EEA data protection act, can include health record if student are registered with it, assessment scores • Human rights act 1998 • Sex discrimination act 1975 • Disability discrimination Act 1995 (plus amendment in 2001) • Law in the host country

12. Websites • www.ukcosa.org • www.fco.org.uk • www.drb-gb.org/drc/informationandlegislation/page34a.asp(disability rights commission draft code for practice)

13. ExamplesDisabilities As part of an art history course at an university in UK, students spend a month in Italy on a programme run by an Italian university. A student, need to have wheelchair access, who’s responsibility it is to ensure the host university to provide the provision for the students?

14. ExamplesDisabilities UK

15. ExamplesDisabilities Students on a language course spend 2 months in a partner institution in Europe. Despite the work that the British institution has done with the European institution to explain the needs of disabled students on the programme, disabled continue to complain that they have been discriminated against during their stay. Whose responsibility to resolved the situation

16. ExamplesDisabilities UK • Department • Welfare office

17. ExamplesEmergency situation In April 2003, WHO announced Beijing had reported cases of SARS. A group of language exchange students were studying there for a year. A student representative e-mailed home institution asking what they should do? What will you advise?

18. ExamplesEmergency situation Check FCO advice if they is any warning against visiting the city To ask if students feel unsafe staying the country, if so, home institution may choose to call back all students

19. ExamplesEmergency Situation Call back/evacuation procedure

20. ExamplesWithdraw programme procedure A student called the department requesting to withdraw from the exchange programme. He expressed that the course is not what he expected, and was suffering from homesick. He also had problems in accommodation and banking that prevent him to enjoy his stay within the first 3 weeks. What should you do?

21. ExamplesWithdraw programme procedure Check if students just suffering from short term or long term problem by referring him to talk to a counsellor Student mentoring programme before and during is helpful to prevent homesick Check if it is the only case, if not, home institution should start an investigation If student insist in withdrawing the programme -

22. ExamplesWithdraw programme procedure Withdraw programme procedure

23. Any questions? E-mail: e.h.leung@gre.ac.uk Thank you Eve Leung