News 2011
Eye-opening results for the University of Cincinatti
September 2011
In this month’s issue of the International Educator, Ron Cushing, Director of International Services at the University of Cincinnati, talks about the importance of ISB data: ‘Cushing finds the ISB to be such a useful tool. Any data that is not only collected for his department, but then analysed and handed back to him in an easy-to-interpret form, is huge’.
Cincinatti use this data to gain an understanding of the student experience and stay ahead of their competitors. To read more about how Cincinatti and other institutions use data and research, please click here to read the article.
International students do not use Facebook to choose their university
September 2011
i-graduate director Will Archer recently gave an insight into the key influencers in the international student’s decision-making process when choosing a university, using recent results from the International Student Barometer™.
45% of students said recommendations by friends were the most important factor when choosing, followed by the institution’s website (41 per cent).
Read more on the Times Higher Education website here.
Key Appointment for i-graduate in Asia
August 2011
Guy Perring, the British Council's Regional Manager, Transnational Education in Asia is moving to i-graduate as Regional Director. Based in Malaysia, Guy will spearhead i-graduate's development across ASEAN and the wider Asia region, supporting the roll-out of their world-leading International Student Barometer (ISB) to colleges, universities and branch campuses. We are delighted to have Guy Perring on board.
International Student Barometer delivers fresh insight into student opinion
July 2011
i-graduate are nearing the close of the largest ever study of decision-making, expectations and perceptions of international students. 188 institutions took part in the autumn wave of the International Student Barometer, across 11 countries: the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden, Germany and Finland.
In this wave alone, feedback was gained from over 120,000 international students (a 32% response rate) and another 31,000 domestic students (a 27% response rate). 164 presentations were delivered to institutions across the globe, providing insight and enabling institutions to make informed decisions to improve the whole student experience.
The summer wave of the ISB has now also drawn to a close, and we are looking forward to presenting the results to our partner institutions between September and November.
Irish Universities Association appoint ISB
June 2011
i-graduate are delighted to have been appointed by the Irish Universities Association to run the International Student Barometer. The new universities are University College Cork, NUI Maynooth, NUI Galway, University of Limerick, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University. i-graduate already conduct the ISB for University College Dublin, meaning that all seven universities in Ireland have now signed up. We look forward to presenting the findings of the ISB to these universities later this year, and providing them with the data they need to make important strategic decisions to drive the institution forward.
i-graduate to research motivations of education agents for Cambridge ESOL
June 2011
i-graduate have launched a new research initiative for Cambridge ESOL. As part of one of the oldest and most respected universities in the world, the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) develops and produces a leading range of qualifications for learners and teachers of English.
As part of this research, i-graduate will contact education agents to gain a better understanding of their decision-making process when choosing which English language examination to recommend to students from key markets wishing to study in an English-speaking country. In addition, the initiative aims to identify education agents’ awareness and perceptions of Cambridge English Advanced in comparison to other high-stakes examinations used for academic purposes that are available in the market (such as TOEFL, IELTS and PTE Academic).
Education agents play an important role in students’ decisions about which English language examination they should take to enable them to study in an English-speaking country.
We are very much looking forward to working with Cambridge ESOL. The results of this project will be delivered in July.
i-graduate proud sponsors of the THE Leadership and Management Awards 2011
June 2011
The annual Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards were announced on 16th June at a sparkling event held at the prestigious Grosvenor House on Park Lane in the heart of London. The awards celebrated leadership, business and management skills in the UK higher education sector.
i-graduate were proud to sponsor the award for Outstanding International Strategy, for which six UK institutions were shortlisted: University of Bedfordshire, Birmingham City University, City University London, University of Exeter, London School of Commerce and University of Northampton. The award was won by Birmingham City University. Their strategy sought to achieve a significant culture shift to persuade the whole institution to embrace internationalisation.
The awards are designed to celebrate the sector's leadership, management, financial and business skills. They showcase the extraordinary innovation, teamwork and commercial acumen of our higher education institutions, at a time of uncertainty and huge challenges for the sector.
i-graduate in North America
June 2011
It was a pleasure to meet so many clients, as well as new faces, at NAFSA’s 63rd Annual Conference in Vancouver last month. We hope you enjoyed i-graduate’s sessions, ‘Tracking and Comparing the Transnational Experience Across Different Delivery Formats’ presented by William Archer and Bill Lawton and ‘Global Perspectives of the International Student Recruitment and Enrolment Experience’ presented by Pamela Barrett, Jacqueline Cheng and Rachael Merola. It was also a real pleasure to have the opportunity to discuss the future of the ISB with you at our interactive breakfast session. If you didn’t make any of these presentations and would like a copy of the slides, please contact Pamela Barrett, Senior Consultant in North America: pamela.barrett@i-graduate.org.
i-graduate were also proud sponsors of the Eduventures Annual Member Meeting in Boston, 9th-10th June. We hope those who attended enjoyed this opportunity to discuss key market trends and their impact on your institution, and learn about the latest research in higher education.
We were delighted to connect with so many of our clients at these events and to see such a huge interest in our surveys from other institutions. North American universities are just starting to jump aboard the train, and are realising the importance of using data to make crucial strategic decisions. I-graduate’s research in North America is expanding rapidly and to add to our network of 25 clients in the United States and Canada (and a total of 700 worldwide), we have recently welcomed on board the University of Pittsburgh, University of Colorado Denver and the University of British Columbia, who will be taking part in the next wave of the International Student Barometer (ISB). We’d also like to thank our existing North American partners for continuing to track and benchmark the international student experience.
Look out for i-graduate in the September/October issue of the International Educator, in which Pamela Barrett gives an insight into recent research trends in North America.
Tracking international alumni from Dutch HE institutions
June 2011
i-graduate have developed a unique survey to track the geographic and occupational destinations of international alumni from Dutch higher education institutions. In addition the research offers the opportunity to benchmark alumni perceptions on a national and global level.
The research initiative was requested by Nuffic, the Netherlands organisation for international cooperation in higher education.
All Dutch higher education institutions are invited to participate in an online survey among international alumni.
The main aim of this research is to improve the Higher Education sector’s knowledge of what international students do after they complete their study programmes in Holland and will help Nuffic to understand the progression, needs and reflections of their international alumni.
Institutions joining this research initiative will:
· Benefit from updated contact details
· Understand the motivations of alumni
· Gain insights in student experiences, which allows you to single out the elements that make your institution unique
· Benchmark your alumni perceptions and responsiveness to other institutions
· Gain insights into career progression, providing invaluable information for student recruitment
New Zealand International Student Experience 2011
May 2011
22 February was a dark day for New Zealand, as the 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch. The city has since been hit by further tremors on the 13th June, resulting in further fatalities and damage to the city’s infrastructure.
The quakes have had a significant impact on a number of schools and tertiary institutions in the city. And with many students relocating to other institutions, it is not just Christchurch that has felt the impact.
Following a consultation process with a wide variety of stakeholders in New Zealand, it was decided that the 2011 International Student Experience Project should continue as scheduled for the University and ITP sectors. Using the International Student Barometer (ISB) as the main survey instrument, six universities and eight ITPs completed the ISB on the 20th May 2011.
The response from students across both sectors has been exceptional with some institutions receiving a 50% response rate. Given the challenges that New Zealand has faced over the last few months, this is an incredible achievement across the two sectors.
As part of the project all participating institutions will receive individual results as well as sector-wide reports delivered at the Education New Zealand Conference in August 2011. Our CEO Will Archer will be available to meet at the Conference. He will also be presenting to those institutions that have opted for additional reporting, to discuss results and provide recommendations on how to use your results effectively. If you will like to make an appointment, please contact rachel.worley@i-graduate.org.
Unfortunately our Senior Consultant in New Zealand, Sharon Calvert, will be unable to attend the conference, as she will be on maternity leave. However, we’re delighted to say she will be returning to i-graduate in November.
i-graduate would like to thank all institutions who participated and contributed to making the International Student Experience 2011 project a success. It is down to the hard work of each institution that New Zealand has managed to receive such a good response rate in the recent difficult and challenging circumstances.
A similar study will take place in 2012 for the PTEs, ELT and school sectors.
Enhancing the International Student Experience in Germany
April 2011
i-graduate have recently co-published the ‘guide to enhancing the international student experience in Germany’. The guide draws upon data from the International Student Barometer (ISB), the world’s largest survey of student satisfaction. The aim of the guide is to demonstrate key trends in the international student experience, share examples of best practice and provide practical recommendations to improve the student experience to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Germany.
‘Germany as a study destination is well-perceived for two key reasons. The German HE qualification is highly regarded over the world and the level of personal safety is reckoned to be high’ says Nannette Ripmeester, co-author of the report. However, this comes at a price. “Tuition fees are increasing globally, not just in the UK, and international students have expressed that their main concern is the lack of clarity in the German fees system, with significant variations between regions”.
When drilling down into the ISB data, international students are particularly satisfied with living standards. “Feeling safe may seem of little importance when you are born and raised in Germany, but safety is a major issue for foreign students and their parents,” explains Nannette Ripmeester. “However, to take Germany to the next level as a higher education provider, HEI’s must focus on providing international students with the support they need in reaching their full academic potential. International students need help and support in understanding how they can be successful in their learning environment, as it may differ from their home country.”
Results from the Autumn ISB 2009-2010 entry show that satisfaction among international students in Germany is 87%. Twelve German HEIs achieved an overall satisfaction percentage above the ISB national average and six HEIs were in first position in the international ISB benchmark, derived from HEIs in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, USA, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
Oxford University leads the sector in student feedback
April 2011
The University of Oxford has partnered with i-graduate in a long term agreement to integrate all internal surveys of students and graduates of the university.
The Oxford Barometer, a single survey instrument to replace current internal surveys, is the outcome of a four-year partnership with i-graduate alongside twelve months of consultation and analysis of survey activity within the University.
Explaining the rationale for an integrated survey strategy, Keith Zimmerman, Oxford’s Director of Student Administration and Services says: “The objective is to minimise the time students spend on surveys, to optimise feedback to all areas of the university and to maximise the speed and effectiveness of response to student feedback. We have been searching for a way to ensure an effective dialogue and to reduce survey fatigue and i-graduate was the obvious choice. The integrated approach we have developed together with i-graduate means we will be able to create an even better student experience for all of our students”.
The integrated survey strategy (ISS) was developed after Oxford was an early adopter of i-graduate’s Student Barometer; the world’s largest benchmarking study of the student experience.
As part of the consistent platform of survey provision Oxford has also appointed i-graduate to administer the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (DLHE) – required by the Higher Education Statistics Agency to examine what graduates from UK institutions are doing six months after completion of their degree. These results are used to improve career services to current students and alumni as well as providing useful information to prospective students.
The long-term commitment made by Oxford indicates the importance of regular, reliable student insight. As Will Archer, Director of i-graduate, says: “Consistent, comparative, student-derived insight is a vital indicator for any institution. Ironically, enthusiasm for student feedback has become a source of frustration for many students, increasingly irritated by uncoordinated student surveys asking them how they feel.”
“It is great to see Oxford leading the way. We believe an integrated approach to stakeholder feedback is a way forward for all institutions as they come to grips with the challenges that lie ahead.”
For further information on the Integrated Survey Strategy, please contact francesca.sanders@i-graduate.org
i-graduate partner with Boston Based Eduventures
March 2011
We are delighted to announce our recent partnership with Eduventures, a research and consulting firm with deep expertise in higher education, based in Boston, US.
The strengths of Eduventures in North America will give i-graduate the perfect platform for delivering insight and strategic guidance to the HE industry in the US and Canada.
Members of the Massachusetts Innovation Economy Partnership Mission 2011 joined Eduventures and i-graduate to announce a new partnership on the 16th March. Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki joined Eduventures' President and CEO Tom Dretler, and leaders from public and private higher education institutions for the signing ceremony in London.
"Massachusetts has one of the most highly skilled, innovative and entrepreneurial workforces anywhere, thanks to our world-class institutions of higher learning and Governor Patrick's investment in public education," said Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. "Today's announcement will help increase Massachusetts' knowledge-base and ensure we maintain our leadership position in the growing innovation economy."
Through the partnership, Eduventures will provide its large base of college and university clients in North America with access to i-graduate's unique suite of student journey insight instruments. At the same time, i-graduate's client network in the UK, Europe and Asia will benefit from Eduventures' expertise in online learning and adult education.
"Higher Education is going through a period of tremendous change," said Eduventures' President and CEO Tom Dretler. "The most successful institutions are expanding globally in innovative ways that leverage the latest technology. Together, Eduventures and i-graduate can help colleges and universities increase their reach, achieve their academic missions, and launch new academic programs that meet the educational needs of students around the globe."
"The alliance between i-graduate and Eduventures immediately creates a global network of higher education institutions that can be served by two research companies with complimentary services and shared values," said Will Archer, i-graduate's CEO, "It's a win for the higher education sector and our respective firms."
International Student Barometer™ launches in Canada
January 2011
In an innovative three-year pilot, twelve institutions in Ontario, Canada, have adopted the International Student Barometer™ to measure the perceptions, motivations, expectations and experiences of their international students. This is the first time i-graduate will work with institutions in Canada on the ISB, which is to report back from the first wave in March 2011.
The group of Canadian institutions consists of six universities and six colleges. To date feedback has been gathered from more than 6,400 international students studying in Ontario.
The results of the ISB will help participating institutions better understand the decision-making process and how the student experience in Canada compares to regional and international benchmarks.
Participants have indicated that they look forward to integrating the insight into international student recruitment and enrolment management as well as the international student support programs.
Tracking the international student experience in the USA
January 2011
i-graduate are continuing to make strides in growing the United States International Student Barometer. The Fall Wave 2010 is continuing to increase, capturing the perceptions and experiences of international students as they commence the academic year. i-graduate is delighted to be supporting new and existing partners across the United States and look forward to providing insight and global benchmarking for our partners here.
Our existing ISB partners in the United States include Indiana University and the University of Cincinnati. New partners joining this wave include the State University of New York, Michigan State University, Drexel University, Arizona State University and Northeastern University.
Over 17,000 international students in North America at 25 institutions have been recently surveyed in the Fall Wave International Student Barometer 2010, and the feedback and reporting will commence in March.
If you would like to join the International Student Barometer 2011 in the United States, please contact pamela.barrett@i-graduate.org
Congratulations!
January 2011
Congratulations to Nicholas Addrison, our latest student to win £1000. Nicholas studied at Oxford Brookes university and completed the International Student Barometer last Autumn.
All students who complete the International Student Barometer or Student Barometer are entered into a prize draw. The next ISB wave will be this spring and the winner will be selected at random in August.