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Working with international students: - group- and project-based activities on engineering degree programmes

Working with international students: - group- and project-based activities on engineering degree programmes. Richard Dales - Consultant Andrew McLaren - Centre Associate Simon Steiner - Academic Advisor. An overview of this workshop. The TIS Project

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Working with international students: - group- and project-based activities on engineering degree programmes

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  1. Working with international students: - group- and project-based activities on engineering degree programmes Richard Dales - Consultant Andrew McLaren - Centre Associate Simon Steiner - Academic Advisor TIS Project Conference, Warwick [16-06-11]

  2. An overview of this workshop • The TIS Project • The Centre’s prior work in internationalisation: • Teaching Guide: Working with International Students • Centre workshops and resources • Webpage: Teaching International Students (TIS) http://www.engsc.ac.uk/international-students • Research report funded under TIS: • group- and project-based work • Where to next….

  3. The “Teaching International Students” (TIS) Project • Run by the Higher Education Academy • Funded through the Academy, UKCISA & PMI2 • 2 year project (2009/11) • TIS Project team: • Janette Ryan, Jude Carroll, Fiona Hyland (ESCalate); • Inna Pomerina (Economics), Melodee Beals (History, Classics & Archaeology) , Simon Steiner (Engineering) , Malcolm Todd (C-SAP), Ali Dickens (LLAS), Andrea Frank (CEBE), Caprice Lantz (Psychology), Richard Atfield (BMAF); • Adam Child & Katherine Lagar (HEA)

  4. The Centre’s prior work in internationalisation • Teaching Guide: Working with International Students • Commissioned in 2007, written in 2009, published 2010 www.engsc.ac.uk/guides/working-with-international-students • Centre workshops • Nottingham (June ‘10); online (March ‘11) with resources to view/download from each • Webpage: Teaching International Students (TIS) • Brings together TIS Project, Teaching Guide, Centre events, and resources www.engsc.ac.uk/international-students

  5. Research report funded under TIS:group- and project-based work http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/TISresearchreport.pdf • The opening premise that engineering degree programmes predominantly include group- and project-based work • The complementary premise that engineering programmes are attracting higher proportions of international students • The real-life challenges for staff who facilitate group- and project-based work with students meets • The differences in cultural and ethical values of home to international students

  6. Methodology of the research - 1 • The use of HESA data (2008/9) to identify concentrations of international students in engineering • The selection of HEIs/discipline departments showing high concentrations of international students • The choice of HEIs/departments from across the “mission groups” of HEIs • The use of a pre-determined and structured questionnaire, to undertake one-to-one interviews • Interviews with academic staff in 11 departments across 8 universities

  7. Methodology of the research - 2 • Covered disciplines in Mech, Civil, Chem, Elec (using JACS codes) • Interviews transcribed and written-up in full, as case stories • Shared back with the staff for factual adjustments • Report structured under evolved headings, with conclusions and recommendations for further work • Added bibliography (text and web sources) • Appendices added, to give HESA stats and case stories

  8. Workshop session 1 [10 mins.]Working in groups of 5, discuss the following: • What do you do for your international students on their arrival?

  9. Research Project Report Findings – 1 • On arrival: • Support for staff to increase awareness • Early intervention to minimise clique formation • Special care when large cohorts from one country entering later years of course • Reciprocal appreciation of cultural differences important • Derive mutual benefit from cultural diversity/capital • Learning experience for “home” students too • Sporting clubs and societies: opportunities

  10. Workshop session 2 [10 mins.] Working in groups of 5, discuss the following: • How do you introduce your students to, and support them in, group- and project-based working?

  11. Research Project Report Findings – 2 • Group and project-based working • Group formation can be an issue • Lack of prior experience of group working • some students recognise this and have chosen the UK in order to address the deficiency • Communication within group • Reticence, marginalised, menial tasks • Dismissive of UK students’ work ethic, maths, etc. • Different ways of critical thinking • Ongoing support from staff throughout

  12. Research Project Report Recommendations • The need for enhanced support • Staff: resources, training/development • Students: clubs/societies, peer and buddy mentor groups • Institution: facilities (language, pastoral) • The recognition of cultural capital • Benefits to both home and international students • Special circumstances • Placements • Graduation  Employment Recognition and acceptance of cultural and ethical value sets

  13. Plenary discussion – Where to next? [10 mins.] • What support would you like to see? [for you, for the students…]

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