Alumni and International Education - Building the Connections

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1 Alumni and International Education - Building the Connections Ms Jennie Lang Executive Director UNSW International The University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia

2 Internationalisation at UNSW Introduction UNSW has emerged as Australia s leading international university and has been recognised at the State and National levels for the quality of its international programs. The University maintains an ongoing enrolment of 9,000 (23.9%) international students from 120 countries. UNSW also receives 350 exchange students and 500 study abroad students each semester. UNSW Mission Statement By providing an excellent educational experience and by achieving excellence in research, international engagement and interaction with the community UNSW will be an international university of outstanding quality

3 UNSW has proactively engaged with Asia since the early sixties. The international education program has four clear objectives: International engagement Asian and regional relations cultural diversity `multi-domestic not `multi-national approach

4 Our new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wyatt R Hume, former Executive Vice- Chancellor of UCLA, has signalled three areas of primary focus: To develop the primacy of the academic aspirations of the University, based on strong academic planning To commit to transparent and open communications in all areas of UNSW endeavour. To invest in alumni and development activities in the support of our academic excellence

5 Two recent quotes from Professor Hume The mix of disciplines at UNSW, our great achievements in research and our commitment to teaching, combined with a high level of international engagement both through our student body and the work of our academic and general staff all create a wonderful base on which we can build. I see UNSW s alumni as a great resource, both in helping us to build relationships with government, with industry and with the community and in helping us to find the extra resources that we need in order to realise our goals for the future.

6 The wonderful thing about international education is that our role is to connect people from different backgrounds and perspectives across cultures, socio economic groups, creeds and professions and build comprehensive and sustainable networks and linkages - globally.

7 UNSW is continually connected to the rest of the world through its international alumni network that spans more than 120 countries. We believe any work to develop our alumni network or to expand our international network is an investment in the human resource capital of UNSW and in our future.

8 UNSW Alumni Relations - is a core business - is developed through a biennial Alumni Forum in Asia back to UNSW weekends offshore alumni secretariats based in the UNSW offshore offices in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore networking receptions conducted around the world to coincide with visits by senior UNSW staff e.g. Faculty of Law London Reception regular newsletters established chat rooms

9 Internationalisation at UNSW has been a `living and evolving concept and one that is growing over time: A number of phases are evident Development phase - receiving students on `aid scholarships eg Colombo Plan Collaborative phase - growing the number of partner universities for academic and student exchange Commitment phase - developing adequate student support services and internationalised campus Innovative phase - pioneering new programs eg Foundation Studies and Coursework Masters offerings

10 Regionalisation phase - providing scholarships and fellowships and building strong Asian relations and offering niche offshore programs on a multi-domestic basis Outreach phase - building offshore offices, high level networks and alumni chapters and sponsorship of new universities in Southeast Asia Visionary phase - embracing international strategic alliances such as Universitas 21 and the development of possibly one offshore campus.

11 The mere presence of an international enrolment that represents nearly 24% of the total student cohort provides the impetus for sound and sustainable internationalisation strategies. The Kensington campus of UNSW is often likened to a `mini United Nations by visiting dignitaries and scholars and the campus as a whole is extremely harmonious and inclusive of all staff and students irrespective of race or creed. This experience provides the catalyst for successful alumni relations.

12 The top 20 student source countries follow: China 1714 Hong Kong 1276 Indonesia 1006 Singapore 959 Malaysia 609 Thailand 419 South Korea 317 Taiwan ROC 161 Vietnam 156 United Kingdom 137

13 India 133 USA 127 Norway 90 Japan 89 Canada 70 Bangladesh 59 Germany 56 Pakistan 55 Sri Lanka 53 Sweden 31

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15 Internationalisation at UNSW has brought enormous opportunities and contributes directly to an ongoing increase in the quality of our teaching, our research, our staff and our students. Consequently UNSW enjoys: a strong international profile a culturally diverse student body and staff population enhanced opportunities for academic collaboration and staff development active and comprehensive international networks, including alumni additional revenue to support international initiatives such as scholarships

16 University level Internationalisation programs: - Fellowships: Anthony Mason Fellowship Scheme John Yu Fellowship Scheme Special Fellowships with partner universities Universitas 21 Fellowships - Scholarships: Golden Jubilee Scholarship Scheme International Postgraduate Research Scholarships Special Scholarships Student exchange scholarships UMAP and UMIOR

17 International Institutes and Centres The Asia Australia Institute Asia Pacific Financial Research Centre Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLll) Centre for Research on Provincial China, UNSW-UTS European Law Centre Centre for European Studies Australian Centre for International Business Korea Australasian Research Centre Centre for Olympic Studies Centre for Refugee Research Centre for South Pacific Studies

18 Faculty Level Internationalisation Activities Arts and Social Sciences - Bachelor of International Studies Program - Mandatory overseas placement in Year 3. - Studies in: French, German, Indonesian, Japanese and Korean, Spanish and Latin American, Modern Greek, Modern Languages, Politics and International Relations, Portuguese, Russian

19 Built Environment - Joint seminar program on the Sydney Olympics with Tsinghua University Commerce and Economics - Intensive cultural understanding and awareness program for academic staff - Master of Commerce in International Professional Accounting in Beijing, PRC with the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

20 College of Fine Arts - Joint exhibitions and academic programs with sister universities in China and Vietnam - Master of Design by Coursework and Professional Development Courses in Design, in Singapore

21 Engineering - 2 year Masters degree for graduates of Agder University College, Norway - Student and scholarly exchange with Mahanakorn University of Technology - Virtual Learning Laboratory - with Imperial College London and Mahanakorn University of Technology, Bangkok - Scholarship Programs to attract undergraduate and postgraduate international students

22 Law - Intensive one semester abroad for LLM students e.g. Germany and possibly China. - dedicated resources are provided to ensure integration of all students through special programs with the Student Law Society - International Alumni development program

23 Medicine - UNSW/Norway Medicine Program - Outstanding linkage with the University of Oslo and Norwegian Ministry of Education, Research and Church Affairs to offer medical education for students from Norway and intensive academic collaboration between UNSW and Oslo University. - On completion of UNSW Degree in Medicine, students return to Norway to complete compulsory post medical degree training.

24 Science - Intensive research collaboration with Los Alamos Laboratories in US and the Special Centre for Quantum Computing at UNSW. - Establishment of School of Life Sciences at Nanyang Polytechnic Singapore underpinned by active academic collaboration.

25 Student and Staff Feedback Is obtained on a regular basis through opinion questionnaires focus groups university wide surveys post experience briefings/seminars is taken seriously is monitored by the UNSW: International Strategies Committee Vice Chancellor s Advisory Committee Senior Management Group University Council, where appropriate

26 Student Feedback Europe The highlights of my exchange experience include meeting wonderful exchange students from Europe, studying linguistics at a challenging level and gaining great results from an intense year of study. Asia Making great new friends despite the language barrier, and being able to really experience a whole new culture. America I will always look on my exchange experience as the highlight of my university career. It reminded me of what enjoying this time of life is meant to be about. To appreciate learning for learning s sake (instead of vocationally), and to push my own boundaries and extend my horizons.

27 Offshore Alumni we don t ask our alumni for money we ask them to help us access funds and sponsorship for specific projects and initiatives and to identify opportunities for the University we ask them for advice, for critical analysis, for input into our strategic direction they are given VIP status at University functions, receptions and reunions in turn, they become lifelong advocates for the University and Australia the Boomerang effect alumni children, grandchildren buy a brick project

28 Building Alumni Relations at UNSW Students and alumni are a primary focus of the University Core alumni groups are sporned at UNSW through 30+ International Student Associations Scholarship recipients have one condition imposed on them - to become actively engaged in UNSW Alumni Chapters Alumni are taken into the confidence of the University Offshore Alumni have responsibility for updating the alumni register in their countries Alumni are established with new graduates to either mentor them or assist in job placement UNSW Alumni connect us to over 125