PUBLISHED ONApril 26, 2024 4:42 PM
INTO University Partnerships, a global education partnering organization, has launched an innovative program - Get Ready to Study - aimed at providing comprehensive pre-arrival support to UK-bound international students.
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The ‘Get Ready to Study’ program is a pre-arrival online learning course designed to help international students access key academic and personal tools to have a smooth transition into higher education and prepare for UK life and study.
David Rafferty, Director of Technology Enhanced Learning at INTO University Partnerships. said: "Studying abroad can evoke a range of emotions for students—excitement, anticipation, and perhaps a hint of nervousness. That's why we've developed the Get Ready to Study online pre-arrival program. It's our commitment to empowering students to embark on their UK academic journey with confidence, equipped with the knowledge and resources they need to thrive."
The program is free of charge and available to all UK-bound students completing a pathway program at one of INTO’s Centres, where they develop the necessary academic and English language skills to progress on to their program of choice.
Students are automatically enrolled onto the Get Ready to Study program and sent a link to access it a month ahead of starting their course. The content is personalised so that students can learn about their Centre and includes a range of engaging activities and guidance to build academic and digital literacy skills. The program is split into three core modules:
Life in the UK
This preliminary module includes key information on what students can expect from studying abroad including adapting to UK culture, things to do locally, and how to make the most of the time at their center. There is also information about the INTO centre facilities, and what their induction timetable will look like.
Study skills
The second unit includes an introduction to the valuable study and digital literacy skills that students will use during their time with INTO, their chosen university, and in their future career. This includes setting up a study environment, strategies for handling assessments, and prioritising workloads to ensure balance and time for self-care.
Employability
The final module explains how students can access the necessary tools, resources, and support from their centre to enhance career prospects and professional development, such as work experience and placement opportunities.
Designed to be interactive, the program is embedded with video content introducing the topics of each module, with each having a short assessment at the end to solidify what students have learned, and typically takes around 90 minutes to complete.
Glen Blackadder, Learning Designer at INTO University Partnerships said: “We take a micro-learning approach where possible, to try to make sure the activities aren’t too onerous in terms of time, and that students can work through them at their own pace."
The program was first rolled out to students in August 2023, and then to a second cohort in November. Participating students in the program have so far represented 58 countries, with more than 80% of those who completed the program saying that it helped them to feel prepared for their studies.
Chinese students showed the highest level of engagement in the program, with 84% opening the email link as soon as they received it. Overall, the majority of students engaged with the program, with most using it in the fortnight before their start date.
The high satisfaction rate from the program was reflected in the feedback, with one student commenting: “It prepares international students to know what they will face at INTO University Partnerships, and to acquire new skills.” Another student shared: “I was fully ready to start my program before my start date.”
The online platform also includes a feature allowing users to gain insight into where some of their fellow international students are from by looking at an interactive map. The map automatically updates in line with students’ responses, adding a colored pin to each mentioned nation.
Based on student feedback from the first cohort, INTO University Partnerships’ Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) team is implementing a range of new features and resources to further support students in getting the most out of the online program ahead of their start date.
New additions to the Get Ready to Study program, set to be rolled out to students later this year, will include more Centre-specific content so that students can familiarise themselves with their new learning hub and home. There will also be additional information on academic mental health to provide strategies for coping with academic stress and how students can best utilise their centre’s wellbeing resources.
At INTO’s UK study centres, students have access to tailored support from academic and student support advisors, providing them with the tools and confidence to progress to their chosen program at one of INTO’s university partners – four of which are part of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group. With centres located on partner university campuses, students can benefit from the societies and activities on campus and explore nearby local amenities.
INTO University Partnerships connects ambitious international students with leading universities in the US, UK, and Australia. Since its inception in 2005, INTO has helped more than 150,000 students from over 180 countries realise their dream of achieving a degree from a world-class university.
Contact Info:
Name: Davinder Kumar
Email: Send Email
Organization: INTO University Partnerships
Website: https://www.intoglobal.com/
Release ID: 89128273
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