International students: a mindful approach

Abstract

In the Academic year 2010-2011 the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (SCCE) at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) saw the first large scale inclusion of students from East China University of Science and Technology, (ECUST), seconded into the Level 3 of our chemistry programme. The students had a specific interest in developing their laboratory and research skills. This paper discusses challenges as outlined in the HEA literature and includes a case study of the experiences of our international students. Reference is made throughout to the HEA International lifecycle as a framework to discuss the experience. Strategies and support put in place for our international students are discussed and an account of the mutual learning experience that this inaugural year offered is shared and supported by information obtained from a student survey, the Staff Student Consultative Committee (SSCC), focus groups and informally. These consultations took place both throughout and at the end of the year. This feedback provides an insight into the student experience, which can be used to inform a future approach and facilitate the continued provision of the necessary student support. The paper also includes some practical material prepared especially for the laboratory teaching environment, and a bilingual list of common laboratory equipment and materials which is included in the supplementary data.