The Counselors' Perspective
The Counselors’ Perspective Gemma Parish, Head of Careers, Shrewsbury High School David Hawkins, Director, Hawkins Global Education
Biography: Gemma
Joined Shrewsbury High School (an independent girls day school and member of the Girls Day School Trust) in January 2017 as Head of Careers and UCAS.
Sixth Form has 120 students (including a small number of international students)
Growing interest in alternatives to UK Higher Education options
Previously, Head of Sixth Form at a rural comprehensive school in Cheshire with 1300 students (250+ in Sixth Form)
A small number of students chosing to study abroad – Ireland and America (mainly Sports Scholarships)
Biography: David
Until Summer 2014, Head of Careers at Taunton School, Somerset, UK 2014-16, Head of College & Careers at the International School of Brussels Member of Government Relations Committee of the International Association for College Admissions Committee (and chair of the UCAS subcommittee)
Guidance Representative for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the Council of International Schools, 2014-5 Now: an independent adviser working with schools and students across the world and consultant for universities recruiting in Western Europe
Gemma’s perspective A school new to international applications
Main concerns UK students have regarding overseas study:
Access to quality healthcare
Difficult to leave family and friends
Tuition fees are high?
Confidence about language skills
Will I need a visa?
Degree not recognised in UK?
Don’t want to leave home country?
Broadening Horizons 2015; The value of the overseas experience , British Council, https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/6.3_broadeninghorizons-2015.pdf, 2015)
What do we need to know?
What courses are offered? (taught in English?)
Where are they offered?
What are the entry requirements?
How and when students apply?
What are the costs – tuition fees and living costs
Any financial assistance available to students?
What is the structure of the course? Assessment and grading?
Reference content
Testing?
Transcript?
English Language requirements?
What can you do as Universities?
Promote yourselves more to more schools – mailing lists
Get on sites like Unifrog, Morrisby, etc
Promote using organisations like The Student World, A Star Future, Inspiring Futures, etc.
Promote using Fulbright, Study Abroad, etc
Offer Summer Schools for UK students in Y12 to encourage them to ‘try before they buy’
Help with Admin – accommodation, registration, visas, etc. – make it easier!
Promote any scholarships and bursaries which are available
Barriers??
Parents – fear of the unknown
Language skills
Reputation of university – UK: Russell Group, Ranking Tables
Employers recognising University when it comes to employment
Brexit??
David’s perspective What works and what doesn’t
The takeaway message… •
British students like the idea of studying abroad… their parents are more nervous
•
They are looking for reasons to convince their children to stay in the UK
The reasons: •
It’s too expensive
•
It’s too far away
•
You won’t get a job because no-one has heard of these universities
•
They don’t understand the UK
Plus, the ‘best kept secret’
•
British schools educate a lot of non-British students!
•
The largest country sending international students to study at UK universities is the UK!
What works…
Understand what you are competing with:
Student Finance: ‘Debt’… or a graduate tax?
Application systems
A curriculum and a process which tracks towards UK universities
THE ENGLISH EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
What works…
Understand ‘counselling’ in the UK:
No profession of college counselling
Heads of Sixth Form in charge:
Manage a process, not advising;
A stepping-stone position to senior management
Time allocation to advise students
Going against the norm
What works…
Targeted recruitment:
Schools
Events
Organisations
Independent Advisors
Contacts [email protected] [email protected]
Biography: Gemma
Joined Shrewsbury High School (an independent girls day school and member of the Girls Day School Trust) in January 2017 as Head of Careers and UCAS.
Sixth Form has 120 students (including a small number of international students)
Growing interest in alternatives to UK Higher Education options
Previously, Head of Sixth Form at a rural comprehensive school in Cheshire with 1300 students (250+ in Sixth Form)
A small number of students chosing to study abroad – Ireland and America (mainly Sports Scholarships)
Biography: David
Until Summer 2014, Head of Careers at Taunton School, Somerset, UK 2014-16, Head of College & Careers at the International School of Brussels Member of Government Relations Committee of the International Association for College Admissions Committee (and chair of the UCAS subcommittee)
Guidance Representative for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the Council of International Schools, 2014-5 Now: an independent adviser working with schools and students across the world and consultant for universities recruiting in Western Europe
Gemma’s perspective A school new to international applications
Main concerns UK students have regarding overseas study:
Access to quality healthcare
Difficult to leave family and friends
Tuition fees are high?
Confidence about language skills
Will I need a visa?
Degree not recognised in UK?
Don’t want to leave home country?
Broadening Horizons 2015; The value of the overseas experience , British Council, https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/6.3_broadeninghorizons-2015.pdf, 2015)
What do we need to know?
What courses are offered? (taught in English?)
Where are they offered?
What are the entry requirements?
How and when students apply?
What are the costs – tuition fees and living costs
Any financial assistance available to students?
What is the structure of the course? Assessment and grading?
Reference content
Testing?
Transcript?
English Language requirements?
What can you do as Universities?
Promote yourselves more to more schools – mailing lists
Get on sites like Unifrog, Morrisby, etc
Promote using organisations like The Student World, A Star Future, Inspiring Futures, etc.
Promote using Fulbright, Study Abroad, etc
Offer Summer Schools for UK students in Y12 to encourage them to ‘try before they buy’
Help with Admin – accommodation, registration, visas, etc. – make it easier!
Promote any scholarships and bursaries which are available
Barriers??
Parents – fear of the unknown
Language skills
Reputation of university – UK: Russell Group, Ranking Tables
Employers recognising University when it comes to employment
Brexit??
David’s perspective What works and what doesn’t
The takeaway message… •
British students like the idea of studying abroad… their parents are more nervous
•
They are looking for reasons to convince their children to stay in the UK
The reasons: •
It’s too expensive
•
It’s too far away
•
You won’t get a job because no-one has heard of these universities
•
They don’t understand the UK
Plus, the ‘best kept secret’
•
British schools educate a lot of non-British students!
•
The largest country sending international students to study at UK universities is the UK!
What works…
Understand what you are competing with:
Student Finance: ‘Debt’… or a graduate tax?
Application systems
A curriculum and a process which tracks towards UK universities
THE ENGLISH EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
What works…
Understand ‘counselling’ in the UK:
No profession of college counselling
Heads of Sixth Form in charge:
Manage a process, not advising;
A stepping-stone position to senior management
Time allocation to advise students
Going against the norm
What works…
Targeted recruitment:
Schools
Events
Organisations
Independent Advisors
Contacts [email protected] [email protected]
