Internationalisation: Sharing good practice from across the University of Aberdeen

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The third Annual Learning & Teaching Symposium took place on the 17th May 2011 with the theme Internationalisation: Sharing Good Practice from across the University of Aberdeen.  Around 60 staff members from diverse disciplines attended to hear guest keynote speakers and examples of good practice, and to discuss ideas related to the topic.

 

Professor Peter McGeorge, Vice-Principal for Learning & Teaching, opened the Symposium and introduced the first keynote speaker, Dr Janette Ryan.  Dr Ryan currently lives in the UK and works part-time for Monash University, Australia as a Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy and Curriculum, teaching online courses to postgraduate students. She is the director of the HE Academy's Teaching International Students project and author of A Guide to Teaching International Students (2000).  With Jude Carroll she also co-edited Teaching International Students: Improving Learning For All (2005). She has delivered staff development workshops in the UK, the US, Australia, China and Hong Kong and is currently engaged in a three country collaborative research project with Chinese universities and schools on teaching and learning. 

Following on from Dr Ryan's keynote were four showcases of good practice:

  • A Business School perspective on successful engagement with International Students - Professor Angela Black, Head of the Business School, and Dr Julian Randall, Senior Lecturer in Management
  • Incorporation of Erasmus supported project placements into the Undergraduate Curriculum - Professor James Anderson, Chair in Materials, Chemistry
  • Does self-assessment and tailored intervention help to improve employability skills of Postgraduate Students? - Dr Debbi Marais, MSc Coordinator, Population Health
  • Washington naval history internships: a perspective on embedded work placements - Dr Jackson Armstrong, Lecturer, History

The afternoon's keynote speaker was Terence Perrin from the Association of Graduate Recruiters.  Terence worked as HR Manager in the charity/voluntary sector, and for the National Audit Office, before moving to a specialist recruitment role, including graduate recruitment, with Watson Wyatt. Since then he has managed graduate and MBA recruitment for the investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (DrKW.), a role which had a particular focus on building relationships with universities across Europe, especially the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the Nordics.  In addition he has worked for KPMG, JPMorgan and now works for investment bank BNP Paribas focusing on recruitment across Europe. He has contributed to numerous media articles on graduate, MBA and experienced hire recruitment as well as speaking regularly at conferences on these subject areas. He became Chair of AGR in 2007.

Attendees were then given the choice of attending one of four parallel group discussion sessions:

  • Exploring the benefits and challenges of an international university experience for all students - Dr Joy Perkins, Educational & Employability Development Adviser & Dr Shona Potts, Institutional ERASMUS coordinator
  • Students Without Borders: Greater Internationalisation of the Student Experience - Megan McHaney & Jenny Batty, Students' Association
  • A cross college perspective on internationalisation and international development - Dr Hilary Homans, Director, Centre for Sustainable International Development
  • Supporting International Students in the development of successful academic writing - Dr Mary Pryor, Senior Academic Skills Adviser, Student Learning Service

The Symposium closed with a panel session, chaired by Professor Mary Cotter, Director of Teaching, College of Life Sciences & Medicine, and consisting of Dr Janette Ryan (Keynote Speaker), Dr Hilary Homans (Director, Centre for Sustainable International Development) and Dominic Milne (Acting Head, International Office).

Please see below for a selection of feedback received about the Symposium:

  • "Challenging, interesting and deeply relevant"
  • "The good practice showcase was very good and it is fantastic to see such enthusiasm from colleagues and to hear about the great work being done"
  • "It is good to have the opportunity to discuss these issues with colleagues" 
  • "I really enjoyed it, especially the panel session at the end and the opportunity to talk to so many people during the day"
  • "A very well organised and productive day"
  • "Useful and informative"
  • "A worthwhile event"

 

       Welcome & Introduction
  • Professor Peter McGeorge, Vice-Principal for Learning and Teaching

Opening Keynote: 
  Good Practice Showcase:
  • A Business School perspective on successful engagement with International Students: Professor Angela Black, Head of the Business School, and Dr Julian Randall, Senior Lecturer in Management
   
  Keynote:
  Parallel Sessions (Group Discussion Topics)
 
Panel Session: Q&A
  • Dr Janette Ryan, Monash University
  • Dr Hilary Homans, Director, Centre for Sustainable International Development
  • Dominic Milne, Acting Head, International Office

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