Studentorganisasjonen StOr Strategy for International Affairs 2011-2013 Studentparlamentet ved UiS 02.03.2011
1. Introduction This plan draws up the Student Parliaments (SP) vision on how to create an international profile for the University of Stavanger (UiS) by (1) strengthening the international students' position at the university and (2) improve exchange possibilities for UiS students. All students, both Norwegian and international, deserve and should expect a satisfactory student situation. The International Officer has a special responsibility to see to the implementation of the points of this plan. 1.1 Visions and goals Vision: The University of Stavanger is to be a leading university in internationalisation, for international students coming in as well as for UiS students who wish travel abroad. Goals: The Strategy for International Affairs has two main goals. 1. To create a university where the international students feel welcome. Academic and social challenges international students might have need to be addressed and solved. 2. To work towards good and academically relevant exchange opportunities for all students who wish to travel abroad. 1.2 Internationalisation at UiS The exact number of international students studying at UiS is not clear, as a considerable number have started Norwegian programmes and are no longer registered as international student. The total number of students with a foreign citizenship that came to UiS to study in 2010 was 238. The total number of UiS students travelling abroad for 2010 was 212. Exchange students, both those coming here and those travelling abroad usually are on exchange for one semester, some stay one year. UiS has individual subject taught in English within the following areas: Business, Hotel and Tourism, Nursing, Teacher Education and English. All Degree Programmes taught in English are Master Degrees. Most of these are at the Faculty for Science and Technology. UiS offers one European Joint Master, Master in Migration and International Relations. This master programme is part of the European-African cooperation project Erasmus Mundus. UiS offers an academical Norwegian course for students who do not speak Norwegian but wish to enrol in a Norwegian taught programme. This is a one year course. 2. International Students at UiS In deciding the number of international students to be accepted to UiS, the number UiS has the capacity to accommodate should be the most important factor. The SP thinks it is irresponsible to accept students if UiS cannot guarantee them an socially and academical satisfactory stay in Stavanger. At present Norway is one of the few countries in Europe that does not charge international students a tuition fee. UiS has already experienced a large increase of applications from students who have a foreign citizenship. The discussion about whether or not Norway should implement tuition fees for international students has already been taken up. The SP is strongly against such a fee and believes it is the students' academical and not their economical background that should decide whether they are accepted at UiS. UiS should look at the possibility of an application fee for international students to
discourage less serious applicants and thus making it easier to selects competent students. The SP sees the benefits of international admission organised nationally, through 'samordna opptak' (Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Services (NUCAS). This way applications can be assessed better and less serious candidates can be ruled out. 2.1 Welfare A questionnaire held among the international students at UiS in 2009 showed that international students are satisfied about most aspects of their studies at the university. What a lot of students missed however was a good integration with Norwegian students. The SP feels that this is something StOr, in cooperation with UiS, should work to improve. Integration goes both ways and in an increasingly international orientated society it is just as important for Norwegian students as it is for international students. The SP wishes all students to be included in everything that happens at UiS and in Stavanger as a whole. 2.1.1 Information Information is central here. All information from UiS, SiS and StOr should be both in Norwegian and English. Having information in English about events for all students makes sure that international students feel included. Also crucial is the non-academic Norwegian courses where students learn practical every day Norwegian. The university needs to improve these courses. The SP feels SmiS has an important role in increasing the number of publications in English, both in the news paper and on the radio. SmiS should encouraging more students to write in English. 2.1.2 Fadder week It is important for international student to receive the practical information specific for them when they arrive, in a orientation programme at the beginning of the semester. However, for social integration the SP feels it is much more important that the students are included into the 'regular' Fadder week. A close cooperation between the International Officer and Fadder is important to ensure that international students know about Fadder week and get the information they need in English. International students should be more actively included both as 'fadderbarn' and as 'fadder'. Special notice should be taken to students who have just finished the NOMSA course and start a Norwegian study programme. For these students it is important to have the opportunity to get to know their new class, by participating in Fadder week as fadderbarn. Both during the orientation programme and Fadder week StOr should be highly visible to international students to ensure that they know what StOr can do for them. 2.1.3 Housing Currently the university does not have a housing guarantee for international students like they have had before. The SP thinks this is a development that weakens the position of the international students considerably. Both practically and financially it is difficult for students from other countries to find housing on the private marked, even more so than it is for Norwegian students. The university in cooperation with the Student Welfare Organisation (SiS) has the responsibility to solve this problem. 2.2 Academical Academically the international students at UiS can roughly be divided into two groups, those who are required to show knowledge of Norwegian to be accepted into their study programme and those who do not because their study programme is taught in English.
2.2.1 Students in Norwegian taught programmes The most difficult challenge for these students usually is the language. When a class contains one or more students whose mother tongue is not Norwegian professors should be aware and considerate of this and willing to support them when necessary. The SP feels it is necessary that all students who encounter difficulties with Norwegian during their study programme should be offered extra academic Norwegian courses and/or a student assistant to help them with the academic work. It should be the norm that students whose mother tongue is not Norwegian, are offered alternatives in Norwegian or English in the case of Swedish or Danish literature on the mandatory reading list. 2.2.2 Students in English taught programmes It is the SP's opinion that it is highly important that the number and variety of study programmes, or parts of study programmes, taught in English, is expanded considerably. For these students it is important that they get all information they need in English. In allowing students to study at UiS without them having to show knowledge of Norwegian, the university commits themselves to make sure these student can cope without it. Professors who teach subjects open for students who do not speak Norwegian should speak English at all time and have all their information available in English. These professors have to show a satisfactory level of English and UiS should offer English courses for those professors who do not. The university should not allow any form of English test other than the TOEFL or IELTS test from applicants. The SP also thinks it is important that UiS checks that diploma's or other documentation are government approved. International Students at UiS - summary The number of students accepted to UiS should be based of how many UiS can accommodate The SP is against tuition fees for international students Integration between Norwegian and international students has to be put high on the agenda, information is a key point here Housing should be guaranteed for international students International students in Norwegian taught programmes should be offered help in the form of extra academical Norwegian courses and student assistants. UiS has to ensure that professors teaching in English show a satisfactory level of English and be offered English courses if not. 3. Exchange opportunities for students at UiS It is of great importance for the students, and for UIS as a whole, that the university puts more effort into expanding, and taking care of their exchange programs, and also following up on their exchange students. In a country as internationally orientated as Norway it is vital that students get the opportunity to do part of their studies abroad. It is the SP s strongest recommendation that the university keeps its promise to arrange for at least one semester of the bachelor degree in another country. Master students should also have to opportunity to exchange for at least on semester. All students should be informed about their possibility for travelling abroad, and also who to contact for more information. Students generally receive little or no information about their exchange opportunities, and also information given on websites and pamphlets are outdated and scarce. A better communication between International Relations, the faulty, professors and students is of vital importance.
Students applying for, commencing or has finished an exchange program should be followed up better. Communication between international coordinator and faculty has room for improvement, and the process of pre approving courses needs better compliance with the universities promise of guaranteed exchange opportunities. This makes it easier for the student when applying for an exchange program and easier for the university when crediting courses taken by the student abroad. Joint efforts by StOr, UIS and other parties should ensure higher awareness and larger interest among students for traveling abroad. Students returned for an exchange program should have to opportunity to tell their stories, for example on International Day or in SmiS avis. Exchange opportunities for students at UiS - summary UIS should do more towards getting more and better exchange agreements. The university should keep their promise of the opportunity for at least one semester of any bachelor degree in another country. Master students should have the opportunity to take at least one semester of their degree abroad. Students applying for, commencing and returning from an exchange program should be better followed up on. Communication between international coordinators and faculty should improve, to make it easier for both students and themselves. Students should receive adequate information about their opportunity to travel abroad.