All posts by Samantha Jane Logan

Editor of the International Students' Bulletin.

GoGlobal Conversation Club

  • Thursday 29 January
  • 5pm-7pm
  • Room 0.32, Heart of the Campus, Collegiate Campus

Conversation ClubJoin us for our popular Conversation Club where the focus
is on having fun, meeting people from around the world
and making new friends. Everybody is welcome – old
and new members. We look forward to seeing you.

Meet at 4.30pm outside the main entrance to Owen
Building and we will walk together to Heart of the
Campus, Collegiate. Or meet us there at 5pm.

Book your place

Got a hidden talent?

2–8 March

A massive week-long festival packed with fun and exciting events showcasing the talent and diversity of our students and staff.

3907 24 YourGuideSem2 AD AWJoin us for live performances, interactive workshops and social events across the University including film screenings, music, dancing, craft, cookery and more.

Last year’s line-up included classical Indian dancing, a Brazilian carnival and a live acoustic guitar performance. Watch videos from last year’s event.

Get involved in SHU Fest 2015
We’re now calling for participants. Contact us if you
• can sing, dance, play an instrument or have any other talents
• want to organise an event and boost your CV

Find out more
To get involved or to find out more visit the SHU Fest Facebook page.

Thailand English Teaching programme

Are you an undergraduate, or recent graduate student interested in assisting with English teaching in Thailand?

40165webThis project offers students and recent graduates from participating Universities in the UK the chance to work as a language assistant with a Thai teacher in their classrooms and support extra activities outside classroom hours. After an orientation programme in Bangkok, you will travel to your assignment, which could be in any province of Thailand.  You could be working in a school, vocational college or adult education colleges.

You will not only be able to gain first-hand knowledge and experience of Thailand’s culture, but you will also be able to improve your English teaching skills and enhance your employability for future employers.

Applications are currently open and the deadline is January 18th 2015.

For more information, visit the British Council website: http://www.tetprogramme.org/tet-2015-2016/

Or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tetprogramme

Culture Connect – Learning through sharing

This cross-cultural peer mentoring scheme helps new students settle into university life and meet friends from around the world.

 Why you should become a mentee or mentor10624034_621729487949167_3968149411432827670_o
This is a great opportunity to

  • get to know someone through a one-to-one supportive mentoring relationship10696446_879239468827488_1952846535411266251_n
  • develop your cultural awareness and learn about different traditions
  • attend social activities 10869791_1497190377235594_3073432112637297150_o(organised by Global Community, a Students’ Union Society) and regular soft skills training with other members
  • prepare for work in diverse organisations and add to your CV
  • gain eligibility for the H  allam Award which is recognised by employers

Additional support
You will also be allocated to a learning set – a small, intimate group of mentees or mentors of different nationalities which enables you to gain a wide range of perspectives. You can discuss challenges and share helpful advice during your time on the scheme.

Join today – visit the Culture Connect Facebook page.

What our members say
Mentees
‘You get a friend who walks along with you as you get to know about life at university. I now have many friends and I feel fully integrated in the university.’
Judith Khamoni from Kenya

‘It breaks down all the fears that many people feel today due to lack of understanding of cultural differences and language barriers. It embraces these differences and you have the chance to make friends, try new things and experience a new point of view. You are always learning something.’
Katrina Love from Britain

Mentors
‘Culture Connect helps me to get friends from over the world, have fun, learn experience and improve my skills such as time management and communication skills. It makes my university journey more meaningful.’
Bui Huynh Thi Nhat Thanh from Vietnam

‘It brings together the university community because it gives British students first-hand experience of engaging with international students. The media constantly portrays international students in a negative light and Culture Connect dispels media falsehoods.’
Sami Riaz from Britain

International Volunteering Day!

International Volunteer Day (IVD) on 5 December was designated by the United Nations in 1985 as an international observance day to celebrate the power and potential of volunteerism. It is an opportunity for volunteers, and volunteer organisations, to raise awareness of, and gain understanding for, the contribution they make to their communities. But what benefits can you get from volunteering? How can it help you after you graduate?

1. Volunteering helps you to connect with othersbigstock_volunteer_group_hands_together_15610862

In an increasingly global marketplace, communication and being able to relate to people from all walks of life is an essential skill, and one that employers value greatly. Volunteering not only helps you to improve communication, but also increases your social and relationship skills.

2. Volunteering is good for your mind and body

It can help to build self-confidence through experiencing new things and communicating with new people, as well as combating depression and signs of anxiety. Self-confidence in challenging situations is another transferable job skill that employers hold in high regard.

3. Volunteering can advance your career

It can provide you with career experience for job sectors that are notoriously hard to get into, as well as skills which you may not have been able to hone in a purely academic environment. This kind of experience is a fantastic advantage over other graduate candidates when applying for jobs after study, and can help to round you out as a person.


You’re not limited to volunteering just in the UK, there are opportunities all over the world to experience something new and to make a difference to a community. For more information, check out the European Youth Portal in the link below:

http://europa.eu/youth/EU/voluntary-activities/european-voluntary-service_en

 

SHU Fest 2015

2–8 March

A massive week-long festival packed with fun and exciting events showcasing the talent and diversity of our students and staff.

Join us for live performances, interactive workshops and social events across the University including film screenings, music, dancing, craft, cookery and more.

SHU Fest
SHU Fest
SHU Fest

Last year’s line-up included classical Indian dancing, a Brazilian carnival and a live acoustic guitar performance. Watch videos from last year’s event.

Get involved in SHU Fest 2015
We’re now calling for participants. Contact us if you
• can sing, dance, play an instrument or have any other talents
• want to organise an event and boost your CV

Find out more
To get involved or to find out more visit the SHU Fest Facebook page.

Culture Connect Christmas Event

  • Friday 12 December
  • 6.15pm-7.45pm
  • Heartspace

This event is organised by the Global Community (a Students’ Union society) and is open to all students. It is a great way to meet people from around the world!

Join Culture Connect for a magical celebratory evening w10553822_606293582826091_375007798975434178_oith interactive festive games, wonderful prizes, a live band, student performances, traditional Christmas holiday food and loads of surprises!

Are you ready to dress up? We even have a photo corner with exciting accessories. You can ask our professional photographer to capture those memorable moments with your friends!P1000782

The celebration doesn’t end there. We also have an after party! Ask  our committee members at the end of the evening. Plus find out how you can join the society.

More information coming soon!

Book your place.

Generation UK – India

Greg Clark, Minister for Universities, Science and Cities has launched a new UK-wide campaign to support 25,000 UK students to go to India over the next five years, similar to the Generation UK – China initiative.

The campaign, ‘Generation UK-India’, aims to create a new generation of more globally, culturally and business aware young people, and will be managed by the British Council.

Underlining the UK Government and universities’ ongoing commitment to promoting international opportunities to students across the UK, Generation UK-India will provide opportunities for UK students to either work as teaching assistants in Indian schools, gain work experience at top Indian companies, or go on specially organised cultural immersion courses.

Applications for UK students will open in January 2015 for placements starting from July 2015.


Students can register their interest and get more information by clicking here.

Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships

If you’re unsure about what country to consider studying in for placement, then check out the three below; you can apply for funding as a UK citizen to help finance your studies, which can make a big difference to your wallet.

Under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP), scholarships and fellowships are offered to citizens of the United Kingdom to study in other Commonwealth countries.commonwealth-flags

If you are a UK citizen and are interested in any of these opportunities, please email csfpout@acu.ac.uk to register your interest and be sent information as soon as it is available.

The CSC is promoting these scholarships for UK citizens only. Citizens of other Commonwealth countries should contact their national nominating agencies – more information is available on the CSFP website.

Financial help – home student travel grants

If you’re a home student thinking about studying abroad, then finances and how you’ll pay for living expenses is probably fairly high on your list of things to worry about when considering moving to another country to continue your studies. However, there are resources and help available to make the jump to international placements and exchanges that little bit easier. If you’re a home student studying abroad, then you can apply for travel grants, which can cover:

  • up to 3 return journeys between your home and the overseas institution during a full academic year abroad
  • help with essential expenses, medical insurance and travel visas
  • travel costs if you’re part of a single parent family

This grant can therefore not only help to provide money for your general living costs, but also for travel to visit friends and family back home; this makes being away much more manageable, and helps the transition to international study to be a lot less stressful.

Eligibilitypaying-for-college

You must attend an overseas institution for at least half of each academic term. This period of study can be compulsory or optional.

You can also get a travel grant if you’re on an ERASMUS study or work placement. Other work placements don’t count.

For more information on how to apply, visit the gov.uk website here:

https://www.gov.uk/travel-grants-students-england/eligibility