Transcript Students’ Preparation prior to International Co-op placement, UL early guidance approach Carla Naltchayan, International Cooperative Education Manager, Cooperative Education & Careers Division (CECD) May 2014 Overview I. CECD.

Students’ Preparation prior to
International Co-op placement,
UL early guidance approach
Carla Naltchayan, International Cooperative Education Manager,
Cooperative Education & Careers Division (CECD)
May 2014
Overview
I.
CECD Mission and top facts
II. From 1st year on, awareness and skills
development
III. International
preparation
placements
IV. Cultural adjustments and
specific pre-departure brief.
intensive
country
V. Shaping the future of tomorrow's
graduates
CECD Mission and top facts
• Focus on student employability
and career development.
• Largest undergraduate placement
programme in Ireland and Europe
with 1,600 students to place
every year.
• 20 % are international (approx.
350 students)
• As a result: highest level of
Graduate employment in Ireland.
From 1st year on, awareness and
skills development
• Information sessions starts in 1st
year, second semester.
• For Business students: awareness
of international opportunities.
Broad spectrum of opportunities.
Develop a second language.
• CSIS
courses:
early
development,
technical
portfolio, coding skills.
skills
skills,
International placements intensive preparation
• Sessions are tailored to each Faculty.
Languages and Humanities are broken down
by countries.
• The earliest students access to information,
the better equipped they are to chose
between Ireland vs. International. 12-months
in advance.
• Returning students invited to give their
feedback.
• Some placement opportunities are presented
separately: Teaching in Spain, Rise China,
Colonias Argentina, Japan, Volunteering in
Romania, etc.
Languages
Adaptable
International placements intensive preparation
(2)
•
Every year, we host Engineering Careers in the Gulf countries
(strong Irish expat community)
•
Business students: learn about evolving marketing techniques,
digital marketing, online advertising.
•
CV Clinics and mock-interviews
•
Registration for international placement takes place 7 months
prior to start date.
•
Screening interviews for international placements.
•
Compulsory TEFL course for students going on teaching
placements.
Careers Fair,
an excellent preparation exercise
• Largest on-campus Careers Fair in Ireland.
• 1st and 2nd year students are encouraged to attend.
• 120 companies attended last year from Irl & UK
Cultural adjustments preparation
• Pre-departure Brief: we cover students’ expectations
vs. reality, cultural adjustment, homesickness and
strategies to deal with any personal and professional
issues.
Country-specific pre-departure brief
• Students engineers sent to Qatar;
apprehension from students and parents.
some
initial
• After the Seminar each year, and strong preparation on a
specific country, students build confidence and
excitement.
• Specific country brief for Qatar: doing business in the Gulf,
respect of local customs, drinking culture, judiciary
system.
• One to one support: Visas, accommodation.
• Close contacts with counselling prior departure and during
Placements.
Shaping the future
of tomorrow's graduates
1. The learning outcomes – pre and post Placement.
e.g. one Applied Language student, for the Cultural and international
awareness question – prior to departure to Japan she says:
“I want to learn how to be aware of cultural aspects and how to treat
them, how to adjust to a different culture and learn how to deal with
difficulties due to differences of culture”
Post Placement: “I think that I gained a valuable insight into certain
aspects of Japanese business. I have never worked in a situation like
this even in Ireland, but I found that there were very specific ways to
carry out simple tasks that are not done in Ireland. When a client
enters the office the staff say 'irashaimasei' accompanied with a
bow”
Shaping the future
of tomorrow's graduates
2. The graduate attributes – recent article Times Magazine on
Global Internships: The New Key to Getting a Job
– “The data show that international internships are highly regarded
by employers,” says David Lloyd, founder of the Intern Group.
– “Employers worldwide prize graduates with global experience and
international cultural awareness.” The right internship gives
graduates a decided edge.
•
Erasmus + new tag line “Changing lives. Opening minds”
UL is the largest participating HEI in the Erasmus + work
placement Programme.
3. The careers opportunities – success story.
Q & A?
Carla Naltchayan
University of Limerick
International Cooperative Education Manager
[email protected]