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Heather Timm, Project Officer Staff and Departmental Development Unit, University of Leeds

Supporting International Staff in UK Higher Education. Heather Timm, Project Officer Staff and Departmental Development Unit, University of Leeds. The next 30 minutes…. What’s the issue (how and why the project started)?

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Heather Timm, Project Officer Staff and Departmental Development Unit, University of Leeds

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  1. Supporting International Staff in UK Higher Education Heather Timm, Project Officer Staff and Departmental Development Unit, University of Leeds

  2. The next 30 minutes….. • What’s the issue (how and why the project started)? • Discovering what support many international staff at Leeds actually • needed! • How Leeds reacted to that need • The international staff website

  3. What’s the issue ? When was the last time you moved house? Started a new job? ….in another country?

  4. Questions asked… What’s an A level? What is a National Insurance Number? • How do I get a bank account? I need the account to rent the house and need an address to get a bank account. Where’s the nearest dentist? I arrived on Sunday and the university was closed – where was everyone?

  5. International Academic Staff in the UK Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

  6. The International Staff Support project (2007) • What support is needed? • What support does Leeds already provide? • What do other institutions provide? • How do we fill any gaps in support?

  7. International Recommendations Interviews Survey External Contacts Research International Staff one-to-one I/Vs International staff PhD students who teach Other unis other Online websites unis Other research Key contacts UoL FCO BC UKCISA

  8. The International Staff Support survey (2007) • Pre-arrival • Arrival • Accommodation • Finance, tax & visas • Teaching students in the UK • General information • What support would you like to see?

  9. ‘Accommodation was useless because they couldn’t offer me family accommodation and provided no help in obtaining private accommodation.’ ‘IT should be available from the first day at the university. I didn’t have.’ ‘If the university would have helped me with my visa application I would not have had to go to another city and queue for 5 hours.’ ‘Why is the food so bad?’ ‘Opening a bank account was a nightmare. There was no support at all with regards to this.’ ‘I don’t think I have actually ever been contacted to have induction.’ ‘I arrived at the university on a Sunday and it was closed. I did not know what to do.’ ‘I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had friends here. I had no idea where to live in Leeds.’ ‘My wife needs English classes. She has no job and feels isolated in our community.’

  10. Before arriving in the UK… • Offer improved advance support to provide basic living needs (visas, accommodation ) • Provide current and relevant local and national information about life and living in the UK • Ensure a quick response contact who is able to resolve issues / offer advice • Advice on schooling issues was widely requested • A staff buddy system where staff at Leeds contact new, international staff not yet at Leeds • Supply information about the UK education system and Learning & Teaching information • Link to accommodation office and facilitate process of finding housing • General welcome email to member of staff personally

  11. On arrival… • Make available a meet and greet service • Orientation workshops • Provide and coordinate effective induction at institutional, faculty and school levels • Set and maintain standards for basic work needs (IT support / access etc.) • Provide processes and support to resolve basic home needs (banking, schools, family • needs) • Factsheets to take away • Cultural awareness workshops

  12. Ongoing support… • Establish and facilitate social and work-related networks • Provide access to appropriate language support – both advanced and basic levels • Facilitate knowledge of and access to other support structures (e.g. counselling, staff • development) • Supply information about ongoing teaching, learning and assessment in UK universities • Monthly social events including the international staff coffee club every 2 months

  13. Scope of support needed Consistent and structured recruitment and retention process for international staff across campus Create and maintain a ‘one-stop’ online resource accessible to all offering baseline/ general support for international staff - 3 months + 0 1 month +

  14. What might this cost…? Annual cost of an International Staff Coordinator (mid-grade 7) = £37K at current salaries Recruiting one professor from overseas (ignoring salary premiums and international allowance) = over £35K in relocation and advertising Cost of producing website = £22.5k (MINIMUM conservativeone-off fee)

  15. Is there a… Quicker Valuable Far reaching More cost effective …solution? www.internationalstaff.ac.uk

  16. Subscriber-only resources Wide stock of Learning and Teaching resources Information for new Researchers Academic writing video case studies/ applying for grants Subject-specific links Ability to upload institution-specific resources and store on the site

  17. Why subscribe? 1. Cost • Replicating the site would cost from £23k not including ongoing • maintenance • Full access to a popular and content-rich website (including • protected resources) • Users can view specific information about your institution by • selecting from the drop-down menu …….What else?

  18. Visitors [Google Analytics]

  19. Updates The International Staff bi-monthly newsletter

  20. Why subscribe? 2. Add value to the HE community Your institution is recognising the importance of supporting their international staff We aim to form a community of ‘best practice’ subscribers We encourage feedback on the site and welcome suggestions to improve overall support

  21. Why subscribe? 3. Add value to the institution Better informed, quality applicants applying for the right jobs May reduce the overhead costs of appointments at your institution (can be as much as £50k to re-appoint at professorial level) Ability to supply tailored information very quickly and improve support with little manpower

  22. Subscription process £1000 + VAT per year (£1500 + VAT minus HEFCE discount) Sign SLA Assign rep at your institution Agree timeframe Content uploaded Proof reading Ongoing support and regular updates

  23. What others have said about the site “Approximately one-third of new academic staff at Durham are now coming from overseas .... there is a particular need to offer guidance about UK higher education .... I think that this site is a very important initiative.” - Dr Stan Taylor, Durham University “The induction of international staff into the UK HE sector is an important issue for many of us…staff and their partners need fast track entry to a whole range of resources to ensure that they can settle in and be effective and happy in their new roles. The site developed at the University of Leeds is a wonderful resource” - Dr Steve Ketteridge, Queen Mary, University of London "....both prospective and current international staff, and indeed those seeking to support international staff, will have access to an extremely valuable resource." Karen Bush, Policy and Projects Officer, Equality and Diversity Unit, Human Resources, University of Essex “I have found this site as a huge source of very useful information.” - Krzysztof Kubiak (Poland) “My family and I wish to thank you for helping us. The site is very useful.” - Morteza Moniri (Iran)

  24. Conclusion • There should be some level of support for all staff • Different people have different requirements (with some more • confident than others) but we should not assume that help is not • needed • A baseline of support can be offered to new, international staff • very cheaply and may provide the help needed to ensure • relocation is smooth • www.internationalstaff.ac.uk is a cost effective solution and is • available NOW

  25. Contact Details Christopher Butcher Principal Academic Staff Development Officer G11a Baines Wing University of Leeds Leeds LS2 9JT Tel: 0113 343 4047 E-mail: c.w.butcher@adm.leeds.ac.uk Heather Timm Project Officer X.09 International Centre 18 Blenheim Terrace University of Leeds Leeds LS2 9JT Tel: 0113 343 8843 E-mail: h.timm@adm.leeds.ac.uk a global community providing local support

  26. Scenario You’ve just been appointed to a post at University of Singapore on a 3-year contract. You know something about the country, something about the university and a lot about the school / dept. Now planning (+ family) to move - arrival mid-July & start-date August 1st. Thinking of both work & home aspects – what would you need to know a) before you go b) for arrival & first few days c) first few months

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