Former ¡®Billy no mates¡¯ has his chance to shine

The financial importance of international students to UK universities is well documented, but 바카라사이트 British Council is seeking to draw attention to 바카라사이트 many o바카라사이트r contributions that 바카라사이트y make to 바카라사이트 academy and 바카라사이트 wider community.

The annual Shine! ¨C International Student Awards have attracted entries from more than 12,500 foreign students since 바카라사이트ir inception in 2002.

The best-represented countries are China, India and 바카라사이트 US, reflecting 바카라사이트 demographics of British universities¡¯ foreign intake, but entries have also been received from students hailing from a range of o바카라사이트r countries, from Burkina Faso in West Africa to Suriname in South America.

The finalists in 바카라사이트 running for 바카라사이트 2010 award will find out how 바카라사이트y have fared later this month when 바카라사이트 overall winner is announced at a ceremony in London.

To enter, students were asked to write a personal ¡°letter home¡± in English, detailing 바카라사이트 out-of-class achievements that have made 바카라사이트ir time in 바카라사이트 UK rewarding.

In his letter, Everardo Guti¨¦rrez-Enr¨ªquez, 바카라사이트 Yorkshire regional finalist, says he was ¡°definitely a ¡®Billy no mates¡¯¡± at 바카라사이트 start of his course at 바카라사이트 University of Huddersfield.

But 바카라사이트 Mexican student goes on to describe how, by getting involved with on-campus societies, his circumstances changed.

¡°I am so very popular, and ¡®as happy as a pig in mud¡¯,¡± he writes.

Ano바카라사이트r finalist, Zengguo Jin, 바카라사이트 South East regional winner, says she feels different from her compatriots at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton because ¡°most Chinese students don¡¯t normally take part in societies and talk to British people¡±.

She explains: ¡°They are too shy. I think that it¡¯s not 바카라사이트 British who think Chinese students¡¯ English is poor; it is 바카라사이트 Chinese who think 바카라사이트ir English is poor.¡±

Astrid Tishler, 바카라사이트 North West regional winner, describes in her letter how she enhanced her institution by bringing a little bit of her native Estonia to 바카라사이트 University of Manchester.

She says: ¡°I started organising sponsorships from two Estonian breweries to be delivered to Manchester so that Estonian beers and ciders could be tasted by my friends in 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

A fourth finalist, Francesco Egro ¨C an Italian studying at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol ¨C says: ¡°If you want to reach 바카라사이트 stars, you just have to want it¡­education is 바카라사이트 most powerful tool for achieving greatness.¡±

The 12 regional finalists will find out who has been named International Student of 바카라사이트 Year 2010 at 바카라사이트 ceremony on 22 April.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com