In early June we look forward to welcoming over 100 students from Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TARUC) based in Malaysia. They are studying a Dual degree on a range of courses including Marketing, Building Construction and Public Relations, and will be in Sheffield for one semester.

Over the summer the students will have many opportunities to take part in sport and social activities, such as a hike in the Peak District, ice skating and film screenings.  Day trips to various cities are planned to give a taste of Britain, including Cambridge, Manchester and the Manchester United football ground and Whitby.  Whitby is a particularly popular destination as students explore the beautiful seaside village and sample the best fish and chips in England.

We hope the TARUC students enjoy studying at Sheffield Hallam this summer.

Public Relations students from Sheffield Hallam will be travelling to TARUC, Malaysia to celebrate our institutions’ partnership for two weeks this June. They will take classes with TARUC students on campus in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and visit various industrial sites to observe PR and communications in the construction industry. They will also be bringing a slice of British culture with them to promote opportunities to visit both Sheffield Hallam University and the United Kingdom.

“This project presents an excellent opportunity not only to be

involved with our partner institution TARUC in Malaysia, but to also

celebrate and witness the religious and cultural celebration of Eid.”

– Joel Gray, Senior Lecturer, Public Relations

We hope they have an amazing and productive trip, and return with broadened horizons.

Following a nomination and selection process which has taken place over the past few months, this year’s winners of the Inspirational Teaching Awards have been announced by the Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, Professor Chris Husbands.

Congratulations to all the winners from our overseas partners!!

Here they are in full:

Wilbert MUTOKO – Botswana Accountancy College, SBS

Munyaradzi NYANDORO – Botswana Accountancy College, SBS

Ryan CHEAH – INTI – Petaling Jaya College of Art & Design, Malaysia, ACES

Ho KEUNG SING – SCOPE, City University of Hong Kong, D&S

Lin WU – Sino-British College, China, SBS

Nadiah ABDUL AZIZ – Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC), Malaysia, ACES

Jeff DURBER – SHAPE, Vocational Training Council, Hong Kong, ACES (Sheffield Hallam University staff teaching on an overseas partner course)

Two Sheffield Hallam students studying Architecture are going to take part in a Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) mentoring opportunity in Hunan University of Science and Technology in China next week, from 4 – 15 June.

Both Jess and Katie are supported by the GoGlobal team at Sheffield Hallam, and they are very much looking forward to their trip.

“I have been given an exciting opportunity to act as a peer-assisted learning mentor for Sheffield Hallam University in order to develop relations with Hunan University of Science & Technology (HNUST), China. This program will enable me to further my knowledge within the field of Architecture as it will allow me to experience a completely different culture in terms of design, and involve myself with the thought process of which Architecture is taught in China. I will also learn more about the history of China’s Architecture through discussions with students of HNUST and broaden my knowledge within the field.”

– Jess Arnold,  BSC (HON) Architecture

“The experience will develop my leadership skills through aiding tutors to run workshops. It will be interesting to see where similarities and differences lie between peer learning and group work, and how this could be adapted between the two universities, as well as learning various methods and techniques of how architecture can be taught and approached. Over the last three years studying at SHU, my ability to listen and observe has helped to shape me into a confident individual. Through critical reviews, I have had the opportunity to provide peers with feedback and also respond to challenging feedback, which has improved my ability to communicate ideas clearly and succinctly.”

– Katie Williams,  BSC (HON) Architecture

Tshephang Modise – Course Community Development Award Winner

BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance, Botswana Accountancy College, 2018

How do you feel about being nominated for an Inspirational Student Award?

Coming from a developing country like Botswana, I feel it is more of a privilege to even be considered for such an award. I am honored and very happy to be nominated. Receiving such a nomination when life throws you with challenges unexpectedly gives me hope that I too can make a difference in the world.

What is the main thing you have learned so far while studying your degree?

Being in a class with people who have different backgrounds, cultures and life styles has taught me to be open minded, see things from different perspective and develop my critical analysis skills. It is from that, that I now live by a value that says ‘I am, because we are’.

What difference do you think graduating with a degree from Sheffield Hallam University will make to your career?

With high unemployment rate in Botswana, graduating with a degree from Sheffield Hallam University puts me at an added advantage as this degree is internationally recognized. Moreover, the education derived from obtaining this degree is of high quality and thus presented with the opportunity to work in any organization. In summary, it will allow me to explore any avenue because my qualification will set me apart from others as it has a lot of value attached to it.

What is the best thing you have experienced about studying a Sheffield Hallam degree?

It is interacting with my fellow class mates and tutors during lectures and tutorials. There has been a lot of late nights, confusion, group discussion, laughter, tears, team work but best of all it has been learning from my experience as a student while in the process of graduating as a Sheffield Hallam University student.

Sahan Perera – Student Voice Award Winner

BEng Hons Software Engineering, SLIIT, Sri Lanka, 2018

How do you feel about being nominated for an Inspirational Student Award?

Being nominated for an inspirational student award is a great pleasure. I am thankful to all my fellow batch mates and lecturers, who have seen something extra in myself to nominate me for a category like the Student Voice. I feel so grateful to be part of the Sheffield Hallam University.

What is the main thing you have learned so far while studying your degree?

Teamwork and collaboration while helping each other is something that really stood out during each and every module that we learnt. Graduating as a team facing all the hard times together is something that will be memorable throughout the whole university life.

What difference do you think graduating with a degree from Sheffield Hallam University will make to your career?

As a worldwide recognized university offering highly standard degree programs, graduating as a student from Sheffield Hallam University would help us to stand out as a graduate with the knowledge that has been acquired during the degree program

What advice would you give to someone choosing this course about your experience so far to help them decide?

With the experience I have obtained during the degree program, I would never hesitate in recommending the degree programs offered by the Sheffield Hallam University. I would always advice it as the best investment someone could make with time for some great career opportunities in the future

What is the best thing you have experienced about studying a Sheffield Hallam degree?

Working in a multicultural environment while making new friends helping each other to overcome various experiences.

We are starting an exciting project to introduce the role of the peer-assisted learning mentor to students on Sheffield Hallam courses in Sino-British College, Botswana Accountancy College, the School for Higher and Professional Education, Hong Kong, the School for Continuing and Professional Education, Hong Kong, Suzhou Health College and Hunan  University of Science and Technology, China.

Current Sheffield-based student volunteers will be trained to deliver one-to-one guidance and group sessions to Sheffield Hallam students in our partner institutions. The PAL mentors will cover topics related to:

• accessing Hallam learning resources and online databases
• using Blackboad
• study skills
• peer mentoring

The PAL mentors will spend 1-2 weeks in each instutution and will engage with study and social activities with students and staff.

The second transnational student experience survey, which measures the satisfaction of students on SHU courses delivered in partner institutions in Botswana, China, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, closed on 9 April.

Over 560 of you shared your experience of studying with us remotely and gave us feedback which will be compared to the experience of students studying on our Sheffield campus.

And 413 of you nominated your teachers for the Sheffield Hallam Inspirational Teaching Awards, and the winners will be announce by prof. Chris Husbands, Vice Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, in May.