The best ways of us improving our courses and student experience is when we ask you for feedback and to tell us what is and what isn’t working! Right now is your chance to make a difference and improve how things work for students in the years to come.
You should have received an email with a link to the student experience survey, which will ask you about various aspects of your study, including course material, learning environment and the staff that help to guide you through your studies. There is also the opportunity to nominate inspirational staff that you feel have made a real impact on you and your learning.
The deadline for filling this in is Thursday 4 May so you don’t have long – make sure you fill yours out now and have your day!
We recently welcomed Vanessa Chung, a student from City University Hong Kong who is studying a post-graduate semester in Sheffield.
“The reason I applied for this course at City University was twofold, first I wanted to progress in my academic studies more quickly and start my working career quicker than my peers and secondly, this course was available so I was able to work in the sector alongside studying. For my top-up course, I chose my specialism in Human Service.
I was pleasantly surprised that I got the scholarship to study a semester at Sheffield Hallam, I enjoy travelling and this was the perfect opportunity for me! Also, it was my first visit to the UK.
My impression of Sheffield Hallam is that the teaching style here is very different to what I have experienced before. It’s much more flexible and I was able to choose from a range of elective modules and the lessons are much more interactive. Plus the class sizes are much smaller than in Hong Kong, which provides a much more supportive learning environment. My favourite module has been the Public Health Module, focused on the elderly, their physical activity and awareness of public services.. It has given me ideas on how I would like to progress in my career after my semester here.
Having the opportunity to study a semester in Sheffield has given me valuable experiences and unforgettable memories. It has helped me broaden my personal development, especially my academic skills such as critical thinking. Also, Sheffield is so green and pleasant you will have a memorable experience here.”
Do you know an international student who has made a significant contribution to the University both in academic achievement and in the life of the University Community? If so, then nominate them for the Sheffield Hallam University International Prize!
Sheffield Hallam University awards two annual prizes of £200 to the full-time or part-time students of non-UK origin have inspired and supported their peers. They may have gone above and beyond, helped you while on your course or had a positive impact on your time studying at Sheffield Hallam.
You can nominate students here, giving a reason why you think that they should be presented with the award. We’ll pick the winners, who will be given their certificate on the 26 April at our special Celebration Event – the prize fund will be allocated by bank transfer.
Nominations are open from Monday 27 March and close on Thursday 6 April.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg visited Sheffield Hallam University on 2 February to take part in a question and answer style event as part of a student project.
Design student Jasmine Welsh set up the event, held at Sheffield Institute of Arts, to support her project aimed at encouraging young people and students to show an interest in politics. Jasmine organised and hosted the ‘Question Time’ event featuring Nick Clegg (MP for the Sheffield Hallam constituency), alongside former Green Party leader Natalie Bennett, Labour MP Paul Blomfield, UKIP’s David Kurten and Spencer Pitfield, Conservative spokesperson for South Yorkshire.
Nick Clegg said: “Getting young people interested and engaged in politics is vitally important and Jasmine’s unique approach to the problem is refreshing. The event itself was a great idea and a way of seeing how we, as politicians, are perceived.”
The British Council and the GREAT campaign are researching to explore the student journey and decision making process of international students coming to study in the UK.
They have created a short, simple survey which asks about your own thoughts and experiences. Only newly arrived students who started a course from September 2016 onward are eligible to complete the survey. By completing this survey you have an opportunity to win a brand new iPad Pro worth £750.
Your answers will help your university to improve the communication of its offer to students like you from around the world.
The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete and the deadline is the end of January 2017. Everybody who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw. Two winners drawn at random will each receive a brand new iPad Pro worth £750.
“I first did an Associate Degree in Applied Social Studies with Urban Studies in Community College at City University Hong Kong. This led me to do the top up course, Applied Social Science at SCOPE, which is in partnership with Sheffield Hallam. Due to my outstanding academic performance I was able to obtain a scholarship to study a semester doing postgraduate credits at Sheffield Hallam.
My first impressions of Sheffield Hallam were that it is modern, especially the library, very much like SCOPE. I particularly like the classes in terms of the mix of international students and small class sizes which encourage communication and group discussions, and lecturers get to know you more which is very different to SCOPE.
The modules that I studied had field trips which encouraged me to explore British culture, and faculty support has been great too.
I have found the support that the International Experience Team provide has been great and the programme of SHU GoGlobal activities has given me experiences of British culture, especially in the events, activities and particularly trips they have provided. I have enjoyed being a Culture Connect mentee during my time here and being matched to a local student as a mentor has helped me a lot in adjusting to local culture. At SCOPE, I mentored incoming US students in a group mentoring scheme where two local (Hong Kong) students would mentor three US students. I would show them around key landmarks around Hong Kong and talk about the local culture.
I have been fortunate to attend my graduation at Sheffield Hallam, it will be an experience that I will never forget. I was shocked to hear a live violin orchestra performing at the ceremony! I felt that the event was steeped in tradition which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thanks to my academic achievements at SCOPE and SHU, I have been able to pursue a Master of Urban Planning at the University of Sydney in early 2017.
I would say that my semester at Sheffield has given me unforgettable life experiences for my future studies.”
We asked Amy Ng, a student from Hong Kong studying Molecular and Cell Biology, to tell us a bit about her time at Sheffield Hallam, and how she adapted to living in England as a Chinese student.
“As a new student, I felt very welcomed by the friendly staff and my coursemates at Sheffield Hallam and have quickly made many friends from all over the world through the social activities organised by the International Experience Team. I have also joined the International Career Enhancement (ICE) Club as a crew member.
The International Experience Team is very supportive to all crew members and offer us briefings, training sessions and ICE Club Xtra events which ranges from seminars by business leaders to business simulation activities. As a result, I have brushed up on my customer service skills and multicultural awareness, and have enjoyed the time working with and learning from local and International students.
Joining recreational clubs such as SHU Canoe Club and working as a student crew member for ICE Club have helped me gain confidence in interacting with friends from all over the world and working in a diverse environment. In Sheffield Hallam, you will receive a lot of support for your aspirations. This is the place for you to transform yourself!”
Many thanks to Amy for telling us how she’s enjoyed her Sheffield Hallam experience; if you’d like to be featured here to tell your story from any of our partner institutions, then please email us: goglobal@shu.ac.uk
Find out from our students why we all love Sheffield! Find out how green, big and happy it is, and just why it has so many students who stay here after they study.
Check out this fantastic video in which Sheffield Hallam puts questions to students about the city that they live in and see how they do:
The Hallam Award is the Students’ Union skills award that recognises and rewards students who have developed their skills through extra-curricular activities within the Students’ Union, university and in the community.
The Hallam Award is designed to help you reflect on the transferable skills you have developed that will help you in your future career aspirations and beyond.
If you’ve been a part of SHU Fest, Culture Connect, ICE Club, Global Friends or any other SHU GoGlobal scheme, then you can apply! Even if you’re studying abroad at one of our partner institutions, you can also apply!
Climate change, as ever, is a hot topic, bringing with it a host of fiercely-contested debates, scientific research and differing political opinion.
Below is a great event which is coming up aimed at inspiring debate, with speakers from a range of background and organisations there to spark lively discussions around climate change.
It’s hosted by Hope for the Future, a group formed to encourage and equip individuals and organisations to lobby their MP on climate change. Details are below:
