The document summarizes various projects funded by the UK's Prime Minister's Initiative to enhance the employability of international students. It discusses projects conducted by organizations like AGCAS, NASES, HECSU that included developing online resources, conducting employer events, building international alumni networks, and creating databases to connect students and employers globally. It highlights lessons learned around meeting student and employer expectations as well as future challenges in sustaining projects and skills development.

1. Enhancing international student employability: an overview of PMI 2 employability projects Ellen Parkes, Careers Adviser – University of Bristol Internationalisation Task Group

2. Aims of today T o gain an overview & appreciation of the outcomes and benefits of the PMI 2 Employability projects To identify future issues in the delivery of careers education, information and guidance to international students

3. Background From 2007 to 2011, AGCAS has been working on a series of PMI 2 funded employability projects in partnership with HECSU , Graduate Prospects and NASES Providing valuable support for international students and for HE careers & employability staff across the UK. The total budget allocation for employability projects, including those run by CIHE and i-Graduate, as well as the partners named above, came to over £500,000.

4. AGCAS Virtual Learning Environment – Internationalisation module AGCAS staff and members helped develop a Virtual Learning Environment, resources and tools to help those advising international students to gain a better understanding of the issues involved and useful ways of working.

5. AGCAS Training for HE Careers & Employment Staff Events have covered: Permission to work – guiding students through the immigration maze Cultural awareness and internationalising careers practice Meeting the demands of international students Are you ready for the Global market? Virtual resources, including videos of trainers, on the AGCAS website.

6. AGCAS & NASES Visits to China & India HE careers & employability experts from AGCAS & NASES undertook these visits Meeting with employers, government organisations, alumni and university representatives Provided valuable insights into the views of different stakeholders about the perceived value and expectations of a UK higher education Two substantial reports were produced, with recommendations for UK governments, HE institutions, careers services and students and graduates themselves

7. AGCAS & NASES Visits to China & India The report on the visit to Shanghai & Beijing in China in March 2009 can be found at: http://www.agcas.org.uk/agcas_resources/133-China-Visit-A-Report-on-the-AGCAS-and-NASES-PMI2-Visit-to-China The report on the visit to Bangalore, Delhi & Mumbai in India in February 2010 can be found at: http://www.agcas.org.uk/agcas_resources/203-India-Visit-A-Report-on-the-AGCAS-and-NASES-PMI2-Visit-to-India

8. AGCAS Online Web Community AGCAS developed an internationalisation community area on its website Includes a range of resources of interest and value to those advising international students and those with an interest in international recruitment & employment. http://www.agcas.org.uk/communities/13

9. AGCAS PMI 2 Events for Employers Two high profile events for employers covering: - Are you ready for the global market? - the complex issues around UK immigration - employment legislation - the benefits of employing international graduates First event was held in March 2010 and the second in March 2011

10. AGCAS PMI 2 Pilot Projects Over 2009-10 and 2010-11 Careers Services conducted 10 pilot projects Aimed at developing international alumni networks, workplace contacts, awareness of the labor market in different PMI 2 target countries and case-studies demonstrating successful employment Reports on these can be found at http://www.agcas.org.uk/agcas_resources/227PMI2-Pilot-Projects-2009-2010

11. AGCAS PMI 2 Pilot Projects – Phase 1 2009/10 University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) - An online international fair to generate international alumni participation and engagement with international employers, including an interactive CD-ROM, The Link , with case studies and videos. University of East Anglia (UEA) - A survey of over 5,000 recent international students and a visit to China to develop closer links with international alumni and to encourage innovative ways to develop international alumni-employer contacts. East Midlands University Consortium - India-East Midlands: Business and Employment Opportunities , an event to help raise the profile of international Indian talent and to educate local employers on how to work with this student group. Liverpool Hope University - A study to help identify the opportunities available to Indian nationals (and anyone else wishing to work in India) who may be returning to India after a period of study in the UK. University of Salford - An alumni website, Alumni net , and other existing social networks, and events held overseas for international alumni.

12. AGCAS PMI 2 Pilot Projects – Phase 2 2010/11 Brunel University and Oxford Brookes University - Workglobal (International Career Connections), a detailed investigation and reporting of the employment outcomes and career development of recent Brunel and Oxford Brookes international alumni both in the UK and in their home countries. Cardiff University - Rising Stars (Cardiff International Alumni Letter Writing Competition), an initiative to gather a suite of international alumni career stories/journeys. The Careers Group, University of London - Developing resources supporting employability for international students, including producing international student-specific DLHE reports and case studies. University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol - UK/Malaysia GradLink, a comprehensive careers resource linking UK-educated Malaysian students with Malaysian graduates and employers University of York - Creating an international net community, to establish mechanisms for students at York to connect directly with York alumni and employers based in China.

13. AGCAS Virtual International Careers Fairs Three virtual fairs were held during 2010-11 a) Oct 2010, University of Glasgow - 1679 registrants from 84 institutions & 94 companies from 6 countries – China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hongkong, Taiwan & Vietnam. Jan 2011, University of Exeter - focused on the Pacific-Rim, 2000+ registrants, 36 employers from 15 countries including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, USA and Vietnam. Feb 2011, University of Staffordshire / West Midlands – focus on India - 4818 registrants from 66 institutions, 50 companies registered by organisers

14. HECSU / AGCAS / NASES Employer Database Project Developed jointly by Graduate Prospects / HECSU and the Careers Group, University of London Launched on 7 th March Creates enhanced services for international students and graduates Provides resources and contacts to help international students who hope to work in the UK or in countries other than the UK or to return to work in their country of origin. It can be found at: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/international_graduate_jobs.htm

15. NASES PMI 2 Employability Projects International Morethanwork Website = provides skills development resources for international students Induction and Orientation Package for use by student employment services with international students Mentoring Package for international students International Student Employee of the Year Award Training for FE staff working with international students International Student Language Utilisation Project for students to work in and with local communities

16. Other PMI 2 Employability Projects i-Graduate Project International Careers- Cracking the Code – Country Guides are available at: http://www.agcas.org.uk/agcas_resources/132-Starting-Your-Career-In-Country-Guides-for-International-Students CIHE project CIHE Report Global Horizons: recruiting international students & graduates from UK Universities is available at: http://www.britishcouncil.org/eumd-pmi2-employability.htm

17. Source: Global Horizons: recruiting international graduates and students from UK universities

18. Source: Global Horizons: recruiting international graduates and students from UK universities

19. Source: Global Horizons: recruiting international graduates and students from UK universities

20. PMI 2 Employability Projects - lessons International students, their parents and sponsors expectations of UK higher education is extremely high Good/Relevant work experience is seen as a vital element Overseas employers expect high level English language from returners Careers & employability services play a key role in meeting the expectations of international students Collaboration within institutions is key The International Student Barometer shows levels of satisfaction with careers & employment support have risen during the period of these projects

21. Future Challenges Universities White Paper – released on 28 th June 11 International graduate DLHE survey starting in 2012 Sustainability of the projects started under PMI2? Careers guidance or placement services? Addressing the skills needed by overseas employers

22. What do employers want? CBI Building for Growth 2011 Self-management – readiness to accept responsibility, flexibility, resilience, self-starting, appropriate assertiveness, time management, readiness to improve own performance based on feedback/reflective learning. Team working – respecting others, co-operating, negotiating/persuading, contributing to discussions, and awareness of interdependence with others. Business and customer awareness – basic understanding of the key drivers for business success – including the importance of innovation and taking calculated risks – and the need to provide customer satisfaction and build customer loyalty. Problem solving – analysing facts and situations and applying creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions. Communication and literacy – application of literacy, ability to produce clear, structured written work and oral literacy – including listening and questioning. Application of numeracy – manipulation of numbers, general mathematical awareness and its application in practical contexts Application of information technology – basic IT skills, including familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, file management and use of internet search engines.

23. Thank you! www.agcas.org.uk www.prospects.ac.uk www.nases.org.uk www.britishcouncil.org www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk