UFV Interna+onal ReporttoBoardof Governors May2014 DavidMcGuire Execu&ve(Director,(UFV(Interna&onal David.McGuire@ufv.ca,(ext.(4663 ufv.ca/interna+onal
Overview: UFV International Over the past number of years, international students have increasingly made up a signficant portion of UFV's student population. As cited in the strategic directions of the university, we strive to offer programs that provide the knowledge and foster the development of the criticalthinking, leadership, and practical skills that students require for employment, entrepreneurship, further education, and responsible citizenship locally and globally. UFV International contributes to this goal by recruiting, assisting with admission, and providing services for the international student community. It is a full-service operation that strives to enhance the international profile of the university. Our staff deal with international students at every stage of the student life cycle. This service also extends to domestic students who wish to study abroad. Similarly, faculty wishing to organize study tours can utilize UFV International s resources, including those available for pre-departure orientation. In addition, UFV International works with faculty members on internationalization projects, assists with visiting scholars, advises on market viability for new programs, and manages articulation agreements with other postsecondary institutions, among other things. International Enrolment International Enrolment Trends: For the past four years, international enrolment at UFV has followed a relatively stable pattern. With the largest intake of students occurring in the fall, that semester marks the peak of international enrolment. The numbers dip slightly during the winter semester and trail off again in the summer. The chart below shows the enrolment patterns for the three annual semesters dating back to 2009. 800 600 New Returning International Enrolment By Semester 400 200 0 2009 Winter 2009 Summer 2009 Fall 2010 Winter 2010 Summer 2010 Fall 2011 Winter 2011 Summer 2011 Fall 2012 Winter 2012 Summer 2012 Fall 2013 Winter 2013 Summer 2013 Fall 2014 Winter 2014 Summer* 1
Country of Origin: UFV s top five international recruitment markets (China, India, Saudi Arabia, Korea, and Japan) are strong and are consistent with top markets in PSE institutions both at the provincial and national level. Currently, 87% of our students come from those five countries. Even still, there is significant growth potential in those markets. Students from a number of other regions are also coming to UFV. For a comparative look at the top recruitment markets, see below. Country of Origin China India Saudi Arabia Korea Japan Nigeria Mexico Pakistan Brazil Ghana Other Program Choice: International students select courses in all Faculties of the university. In terms of program choice, the Bachelor of Business Administration (the choice of 22% of our international students) and the Bachelor of Computer Information Systems (at 10%) are the two most popular areas that attract new international students. Graduation Data: The upcoming convocation ceremonies will see a total of 226 international graduates (compared to 151 in 2013) receiving a total of 245 credentials (compared to 197 in 2013). Update and Projections for Fall 2014: Prior to each intake, UFV International uses three metrics to predict upcoming student enrolment numbers applications (incomplete), applications (complete), and tuition deposits. (The incomplete applications are a form of enquiry and are not officially assessed to determine a student s admissibility.) For fall 2014, UFV International data suggests that it will be a record intake with the number of tuition deposits as of May 22 nearly matching totals for the previous two years at that time. The chart below gives a comparative look at fall enrolment data (as of May 22) from 2011 to 2014. 2
Applications Complete Applications Tuition Deposits 800 600 400 200 0 Fall 2011 Fall 2012 Fall 2013 Fall 2014 Student Exchange Programs & Partnerships UFV is fortunate to have partnerships with quality post-secondary institutions the world over. These partnerships serve a number of purposes. In many cases, they allow UFV International's marketing team to promote UFV programs to students who wish to transfer or come to UFV as a visiting student. These arrangements are common in India, China, Japan, and Korea. In other cases, the partnerships lay the groundwork for exchange agreements. Outgoing (usually domestic) students wishing to take part in an exchange are attracted to the UK, Ireland, and Australia as study destinations. In nearly every case, the possibility of faculty collaboration is an important part of the agreement. International Mobility Funding: In an effort to increase participation in study abroad programming, UFV International is allocating funding to allow for grants of 500 to be distributed to qualifying students wishing to take part in UFV s study abroad program. Academic Year Incoming Students Outgoing Students 2011-2012 45 36 2012-2013 32 47 2013-2014 36 41 3
Global Engagement Certainly, study abroad is one means of equipping students with some of the skills and perspectives to succeed in a world that is increasingly becoming more inter-connected. Because of personal or financial circumstances, however, it is not an option for every UFV student. In an effort to produce graduates who are truly citizens of the world and can contribute locally and globally, UFV International has undertaken a number of global engagement initiatives that aim to address this. The first step in this process was the creation of a new Global Engagement Coordinator position. Internationalization Fund: The UFV Internationalization Fund supports the development of activities that will further the internationalization of the university. Proposals are reviewed and funds allocated based on the ability to meet internationalization objectives. A total of 25,000 is available on an annual basis in the form of assistance grants to undertake a range of activities to infuse an international dimension into the teaching, research and community service functions of the university. Visiting Scholar Grant: UFV International also provides funding to support faculty members who wish to invite visiting international scholars to UFV for joint projects or as guest speakers. Global Citizenship Grant: Global Citizenship Grants (GCG) are designed to support UFV student-led events, activities, projects, training sessions or other appropriate ventures that encourage the UFV student body to be Global Citizens and, in turn, contribute to the internationalization of UFV campuses. International Student Ambassador Program: International Student Ambassadors interact with prospective international students. This includes online communication, as well as assisting visitors to campus. The International Student Ambassadors will also assist in the promotion and coordination of various internationalization efforts of UFV International. Internationalization on Campus: UFV International aided the Faculty of Professional Studies in their Celebrating Internationalization day and brought in an external facilitator to work with faculty ( Culture in the Classroom ). This workshop provided participants with a better understanding of internationalization trends in higher education and how intercultural frameworks and tools can help us become more effective educators in this 21st Century environment. Global Lounge: In the coming weeks, work will begin on a UFV International renovation. The goal here is to replace UFV International s reception area and adjoining meeting room with a UFV Global Lounge. 2014 and Beyond A focus on international student enrolment is one of the enrolment goals of the university's Strategic Enrolment Management Plan. This plan will lay the groundwork for the development of an overarching international strategy a plan that will allow resources to be allocated toward increases in student recruitment and retention; improved delivery of international student services; the promotion of outbound student mobility through international student exchange agreements; and global engagement both inside and outside the classroom. UFV already has many of the building blocks to position itself as a local university for the world. 4