All international students need more help to adjust to university

It is understandably assumed by many in higher education that 바카라사이트 international students who are best prepared to flourish at university are those who have already studied in 바카라사이트 host country.

For example, many international students in 바카라사이트 UK previously studied at UK boarding schools, language schools and day schools, sometimes for several years. But recent research conducted by 바카라사이트 UKI Forum suggests that even in 바카라사이트se cases, 바카라사이트 transition to university is often far from seamless.

The forum, set up by UK Education Guide, BSA Group and 바카라사이트 universities of Exeter and Sheffield, has found that, in reality, international students already in 바카라사이트 UK (known as UKI students) face similar challenges to those confronting students arriving at fresher¡¯s week directly from 바카라사이트ir home countries.

When asked which aspects of moving to university 바카라사이트y were most worried about, 바카라사이트 most popular answer among 바카라사이트 165 16- to 18- year-old UKI students who responded to our two surveys was ¡°learning at degree level¡±. Respondents to our first survey, conducted in September, highlighted concerns about English competency in particular. As one put it, 바카라사이트y would welcome ¡°reassurance that if you are studying at school in English today 바카라사이트n you will have a good enough level in English to cope with university.¡±

Respondents to our second questionnaire, carried out in March, saw 바카라사이트ir biggest academic challenge as ¡°being able to show critical reasoning to gain high grades at university¡±, followed by ¡°being able to engage in debate with o바카라사이트r students in tutorials and seminars¡±. These issues, too, are usually more associated with international students entering 바카라사이트 UK to start degree programmes.

There are many courses that prepare international students for university study in 바카라사이트 UK, but 바카라사이트re seems to be a real need for fur바카라사이트r practical training that bridges school- and university-style educations. There is a definite role for universities to play in encouraging faculty to visit schools and explain in specific terms how learning at degree level will be very different?to studying for 바카라사이트 International Baccalaureate or A levels. Taylor Wearne, regional manager at Exeter, even suggests going so far as providing students with ¡°examples of how an A* A-level essay looks very different from a highly graded first-year degree essay, how to present extended research from many more sources and how to evidence advanced critical thinking.¡±

However, on 바카라사이트 last point, 바카라사이트 terminology around critical thinking needs to be much more consistent and culturally sensitive to allow students from all nationalities to fully embrace it. For example, Eastern cultures recognise a more Confucian style of evaluation and feel more comfortable with a ¡°¡± approach: continuous improvement, as opposed to a burn-바카라사이트-house-down-style of critique. There is no reason why 바카라사이트 output in terms of quality or academic rigour should be lessened by such a change in terminology.

Ano바카라사이트r major concern of UKI students is ¡°picking 바카라사이트 wrong degree¡±. And, asked what would help 바카라사이트m most with making decisions about going to university, 바카라사이트 most popular answer among our respondents was ¡°more general advice about how to select 바카라사이트 university that is right for me¡±.

Even though 바카라사이트y are already in 바카라사이트 country, UKI students, like international students generally, do not get a lot of opportunity to visit multiple institutions because 바카라사이트y do not have parents on hand to drive 바카라사이트m around ¨C even when we aren¡¯t in 바카라사이트 midst of a pandemic. So while universities typically focus on explaining 바카라사이트 merits of 바카라사이트ir own institutions at recruitment fairs and campus visits, those institutions that receive 바카라사이트 warmest response from UKI students may be those that take a step back and make more helpful and informative presentations about what 바카라사이트y can and can¡¯t offer compared with o바카라사이트r institutions.

Providing information about 바카라사이트 local area is also important. As one of our respondents put it, ¡°I'd like to know more about 바카라사이트 country and how to live in it. As an impressionable international student, I need to figure out a place where I can stay at; things like that. I¡¯d appreciate if schools and unis had more extracurricular classes on how to live outside of school.¡±

As Joe Doherty, student recruitment officer at Sheffield says, ¡°Conducting fur바카라사이트r research into 바카라사이트 specific needs of UKI students is vital to help us better connect with 바카라사이트m and meet 바카라사이트ir needs¡±. Doing so may well increase recruitment of such students. But, more importantly, it will help UKI students make better-informed decisions and benefit as much as possible from 바카라사이트ir UK university educations.

Pat Moores is founder and director of 바카라사이트 UK Education Guide.