Janice Lozano
International students can often feel isolated and depressed due to the challenges of adjusting to a new country and its culture. Universities play a crucial role in helping international students settle in and feel welcomed. With increasing competition from other countries, universities need to ensure a positive student experience for recruitment and retention. This can be achieved through various support services, including visa advice, academic counselling, and social events. Additionally, universities can offer English language courses, and promote cultural exchange and diversity to create an inclusive environment. Furthermore, career preparation and financial aid are essential factors for international students' success and retention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Help international students feel at home | Buddy schemes, mixed accommodation, events, trips, and workshops |
| Provide visa advice | Webinars, advice sessions, and training |
| Offer academic counselling | Orientation events, academic advising, and short courses |
| Promote social integration | Student unions, clubs, societies, restaurants, and game rooms |
| Support career preparation | Job fairs, alumni networks, and work visas |
| Provide financial aid | Scholarships, cheaper tuition fees, and blended affordability models |
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What You'll Learn
Orientation and induction programmes
Pre-Arrival Support:
Even before international students set foot on campus, universities can provide valuable assistance to ease their transition. This can include a "pre-arrival course" that offers practical information such as what documents to bring, finding accommodation, and preparing finances. Bournemouth University, for instance, runs webinars on topics like visas and UK culture, helping international students gain a better understanding of what to expect.
Buddy Systems:
Universities can facilitate peer support by implementing buddy systems or mentorship programmes. These programmes pair current students, preferably from a similar country or cultural background, with incoming international students. This allows new students to seek guidance and advice from a fellow student's perspective, making the transition smoother and less isolating. Kingston University's PAL scheme, open to both domestic and international students, fosters social and educational benefits, enhancing confidence and preparation for lectures.
Cultural Sensitivity Training:
Staff and faculty members who interact with international students regularly should undergo cultural sensitivity training. This training equips them with awareness of diverse cultural norms, enabling them to provide better support and create a comfortable environment for international students. Bournemouth University, for instance, trains its staff to be aware of the different cultural needs of international students.
Social Events and Activities:
Organising social events and activities is essential for helping international students form friendships and connections. Universities can host events like coffee chats, field trips, cultural workshops, and social dinners. These events provide informal settings for students to interact and foster a sense of community. Leeds University's Ellerslie Global Residence hall, for instance, offers a mixed living space for domestic and international students, with communal dinners and cultural events to encourage integration.
Academic Advising and Support:
International students often face unique academic challenges, and universities can assist by providing dedicated academic advising. Advisors can help with course selection, registration, and understanding degree requirements. Additionally, offering English language courses or proficiency classes can aid international students in improving their language skills and better engaging with their studies.
Compliance and Practical Support:
International students often need guidance on legal and practical matters, such as visa requirements, opening bank accounts, and understanding scam safety. Universities can provide information sessions or workshops on these topics, ensuring that students are compliant with legal requirements and are equipped with essential knowledge for living in a new country.
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Social events and clubs
Universities can organise social events and clubs that celebrate the cultural diversity of their student body. For example, the Office of International Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver hosts events like Lunar New Year celebrations and International Student Graduation Parties. These events include socialising with other students, faculty, and staff, creating a welcoming atmosphere for international students.
Cultural centres and clubs can provide a dedicated space for international students to connect with others from similar backgrounds and learn about their host culture. For instance, the Intercultural Club Beijing at the University of Colorado Denver acts as a consultant for American students studying abroad in Beijing and Chinese students coming to Denver. Language clubs are another option, which can be held online to include a broader range of participants and cater to less commonly spoken languages.
Universities can also facilitate social connections through mentorship programs, matching current international students with incoming students from the same country. This can help incoming students navigate a new environment and culture. Additionally, coffee chats or online platforms like Unibuddy can provide a safe space for international students to connect and share their experiences and support each other.
Social events that are not specifically targeted at international students can also help foster a sense of community. For example, hosting a campus farmer's market or a fun run can encourage students to engage with each other and the local community. These events can be held outdoors, taking advantage of the expansive university campuses. Other ideas include a poetry slam, a gallery crawl, or a book debate with a spin on the traditional book club format.
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Buddy schemes
International students often experience anxiety and uncertainty before joining a university in a foreign country. They have to adjust to an entirely new environment, culture, and educational system. A buddy system can help international students navigate these challenges and adapt to their new surroundings.
A buddy scheme, or an International Buddy Program (IBP), is a mentorship program that pairs new international students ("international buddies") with existing local students ("local buddies" or mentors) based on similar interests. The main objective of an IBP is to encourage peer support and help international students transition into a new culture, especially during the first few weeks of their semester.
Universities can create a mentorship program by matching current international students with incoming international students from the same country if possible. This way, the incoming student can ask questions and learn about lifestyle, accommodation, academic counselling, local culture, and other administrative and cultural aspects from a student perspective before arrival. For example, the University of Nottingham has its international students lecture other students on their home cultures.
Universities can also pair international students with local students or mentors from the local community. These local buddies can help international students navigate the campus and the local area, as well as introduce them to social activities and community events. For instance, Bournemouth University emphasizes the importance of integrating international students with local students from the beginning.
Benefits of a buddy scheme
A buddy scheme can help international students feel welcomed and included in the university community. It can assist them in navigating linguistic and cultural challenges, finding social activities they enjoy, and mitigating feelings of loneliness and culture shock. Additionally, buddies can provide practical advice and support on administrative tasks, such as visa applications and airport procedures.
Being a buddy is also beneficial for local students, as it provides them with international experience, improves their language skills, and enhances their CVs.
Overall, a buddy scheme is a mutually rewarding experience that fosters cultural exchange, friendship, and a sense of belonging for both international and local students.
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Academic counselling
Confidentiality is also of utmost importance. Counselling services should adhere to strict confidentiality practices to ensure that students feel safe and secure when sharing their concerns. Students should be informed of these practices and understand that their personal information will not be shared without their explicit consent, except in cases where they or others are at risk of harm. This is particularly relevant for international students who may come from cultures where seeking mental health support carries a stigma.
Additionally, universities should strive for culturally sensitive and inclusive counselling services. This includes having a diverse staff composition, with mental health professionals who possess multicultural self-awareness and understanding of the unique challenges faced by international students. These challenges may include language barriers, cultural differences in education systems and admission requirements, and the absence of family support due to geographical distance. Counsellors should be trained to navigate these factors effectively and provide tailored guidance to international students.
Furthermore, universities can enhance their academic counselling services by fostering an environment that encourages help-seeking behaviour. Some students may worry that seeking counselling will negatively impact their academic standing or how they are perceived by university staff. Universities should actively address these concerns, emphasising that seeking support is a positive step towards maintaining their well-being and academic success. Regular workshops or awareness campaigns can be organised to normalise the act of seeking help and educate students about the benefits of counselling.
Lastly, universities can provide academic counselling that extends beyond mental health support. International students often require guidance in navigating the complexities of the admission process, transferring academic credits, and understanding unique admission requirements. Universities can offer counselling services that assist students in making informed decisions about their academic paths, including course selection, exam preparation, and scholarship applications. This holistic approach ensures that international students receive the necessary tools and resources to succeed academically and personally.
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Visa and immigration advice
Visa and immigration issues can be a significant source of stress and anxiety for international students. Universities can play a crucial role in helping international students navigate the complex world of visas and immigration, ensuring that students feel supported and able to focus on their studies.
One way universities can help is by offering visa and immigration advice services. This could involve providing clear and up-to-date information on visa requirements and procedures, as well as offering guidance on how to maintain legal status while studying in the country. For example, universities can advise students on the rules and restrictions of their visas, such as work limitations or the need to maintain a certain grade point average.
Additionally, universities can assist international students by advocating for their needs and protecting them from unfair visa or immigration practices. This may include staying up to date on any changes to immigration policies and communicating these changes to students. For instance, if there are reports of wide-scale visa revocations, universities can provide affected students with support and guidance on how to navigate the situation. Universities can also work with government agencies to ensure that visa and immigration processes are fair and transparent, and push back against policies that may negatively impact their international students.
Universities can also support international students by offering practical help and resources. This could include providing letter templates to support visa applications, helping students gather the required documentation, or even offering financial assistance with visa fees. Additionally, universities can provide a safe space for students to discuss their concerns and seek advice, offering counselling services to help students manage the stress and anxiety that may arise from visa and immigration issues.
By offering comprehensive visa and immigration advice, universities can help international students feel welcomed and supported throughout their studies. This not only benefits the students but also contributes to a more diverse and inclusive campus community.
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Frequently asked questions
International students often feel anxious and uncertain about adjusting to a new country and a new university. Universities can help students settle in by providing a buddy system, whereby a current international student can be matched with a new student, preferably from the same country. This allows the new student to ask questions and gain a student perspective on lifestyle, accommodation and other issues. Universities can also provide pre-arrival courses with information on what documents to bring, finding accommodation, and preparing finances.
International students can often feel isolated and depressed due to their inability to form close connections with their peers. Universities can help by creating more opportunities for students to meet, such as coffee chats, field trips, and cultural events. They can also provide English language courses to help students overcome language barriers and better adjust to college life.
Universities can offer a range of practical support services, including visa advice, academic counselling, and orientation events. They can also provide career preparation support, such as career fairs with international-friendly employers and alumni networks for global student career connections. Additionally, universities can offer financial aid advice, as international students may have different needs and expenses compared to domestic students.
