NICEC Seminar: Aligning Careers Provision for International Cohorts

The recent growth in International students attending UK Higher Education Institutions has resulted in a wave of change and adaptation across the sector as teaching and support services responded to the needs of these distinct cohorts. Career Services have been at the forefront of these adaptions as many International students look for help while making their way into new careers in new labour markets. But what have those adaptions been to the core Service offers in HE and what have been the challenges to meeting these needs?

In this NICEC Seminar, Fellow Russell George was joined by Anne Marie Graham Chief Executive UK Council for International Student Affairs, Noeleen Hammond Jones, AGCAS International Task Group Co-Chair and Yash Sardal, a current International student studying at the University of Hertfordshire to discuss what International students are expecting from Career support in the UK and how Career Services have adapted to this demand.

Our guest speakers shared examples of how HEI Career services across the UK have modified their processes and practices to support International students and both a current student and key representative of student concerns highlighted the ongoing and changing needs and requirements of International students.

The session concluded with attending colleagues sharing examples of practice and a discussion on the future of International student career support. 

This session acknowledged both the successes HEI Career Services have achieved in supporting International Students but also the challenges as a raft of external pressures continue to buffet the sector.