Transcript Life and Work at LSHTM - London School of Hygiene & Tropical

Life and Work at LSHTM
Professor Sharon Huttly
Dean of Studies
Improving health worldwide
www.lshtm.ac.uk
This session will include
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LSHTM as a study environment
Returning to study
Maths introduction
Student support
Safety and security matters
Careers service
Library
IT services
Student Representatives Council
LSHTM as a study environment
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical
Medicine is an ___________ institution
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical
Medicine is an international institution
The next 20 minutes
• Provide you with an opportunity to
consider:
– That the LSHTM is an international
institution
– The potential benefits and pitfalls of
studying in such an environment
– Strategies to maximise the benefits, to
prevent pitfalls and to deal with
problems
MSc Students by Country
Australia
Austria
Barbados
Belgium
Brazil
Cameroon Republic
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Denmark
Eire (Ireland)
Egypt
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
India
6
7
1
2
3
1
25
2
2
2
1
1
9
1
1
1
12
1
22
8
7
9
Italy
Japan
Kenya
Korea, South
Laos
Lesotho
Lithuania
Malawi
Mali
Malaysia
Malta
Mexico
Myanmar
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Pakistan
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
18
10
10
1
1
1
1
2
1
6
3
1
3
2
5
2
25
3
3
3
1
7
Romania
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Turkey
U.S.A.
Uganda
United Kingdom
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
3
5
1
5
5
1
1
4
2
63
5
269
1
2
2
LSHTM as a
multicultural institution
Opportunities for learning
about:
• British culture
• Many many other
cultures
Studying in a multicultural
institution
Buzz exercise 1:
What are the potential pitfalls of studying in
such an international environment?
Potential pitfalls
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Misunderstanding
Giving offence
Loss of social identity
Language, communication
difficulties
• Different approaches to
shared tasks
• Different lifestyles
• Don’t know what is
acceptable/not acceptable
– jokes, personal space
• Interpreting non-verbal
language
• Assumptions and
stereotypes
• Retreat into “polite
behaviour”
Potential pitfalls
Buzz exercise 2:
How can we prevent the pitfalls?
How can we deal with problems which
arise?
Preventing pitfalls/
dealing with problems
• Do not assume shared
cultural norms
• Remember your culture
is one of many cultures
• Approach people with
an open mind – see the
individual not “the
typical…”
• Be prepared to give
feedback
• Be prepared to receive
feedback
• Ask for help: fellow
students, course reps,
tutors, course directors,
Student Adviser etc.
Studying in a multicultural
institution
Buzz exercise 3:
What are the potential advantages?
How can we maximise these advantages?
Advantages
• Learning about other
countries
• Learning about other
cultures
• Becoming more flexible
and understanding
• Making friends in many
countries
• Developing a network
of contacts for future
work
Maximising the advantages
• Make the most of social occasions
• Create opportunities for interaction
• Be aware of what restricts people socially
(expense; time and distance; perception of
danger)
• Home visits
• Keeping in touch when your studies finish
Final thoughts
• Make the best of this challenging and exciting
new environment
• We cannot assume shared cultural norms
• Be prepared to give and receive feedback
Returning to Study
Buzz exercise 4:
What excites you about returning to study?
What makes you worried about returning to
study?
Exciting things
• The challenge ahead
• Learn new skills for
professional
development
• Get away from routine
work
• Be my own boss!
• Rich academic and
cultural environment
• Time to think and
discuss
• New things, ideas,
people
• Opportunity for fun!
Worrying things
• Financial matters
• How to organise and
prioritise study
• Balancing work and
study (part-timers)
• Missing family and
friends
• Homesickness
• Assessment, exams
Help and support
• People – staff, fellow students, family and
friends
• Key skills sessions, for example English classes,
maths refresher classes – look out for other
sessions later this term and beyond
• Written sources – handbooks; study skills
guides
And finally….
• This is likely to be one of the busiest periods of
your life
• Your studies at LSHTM will be finished much
sooner than you think
• You will hopefully experience a lot of happy
times here but maybe some difficult ones too
• But we hope this will be one of the best
periods of your life!