CEAC Spotlight Series Two: Alumni & Student Engagement-The Role Of University As Home To International Students

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Video Summary

The session focused on enhancing international student employability through alumni engagement, led by Selina and colleagues from UCL. Key issues addressed included the rising tuition and living costs for international students, leading to greater expectations and anxiety about career outcomes after graduation. Understanding the UK visa regulations, especially the post-study work visa and skilled worker salary threshold, is crucial in supporting students’ career planning.<br /><br />UCL's multifaceted approach includes popular alumni-led events explaining visa and job market realities, online alumni-student chat programs, mentoring schemes, and lifelong learning webinars featuring alumni speakers. Darcy introduced the Student Union’s "Career Supercharger," a student-led initiative connecting students with alumni and industry professionals for career exploration and guidance, focusing on cross-border career paths.<br /><br />The discussion emphasized culturally responsive employability support, acknowledging the diverse recruitment systems in students’ home countries, and highlighted the importance of Q&A to address students' specific concerns. Other institutions shared best practices, such as Cardiff University’s employer briefings and international internship partnerships that enhance global employability opportunities. Safeguards for mentoring programs to manage liability and maintain professional boundaries were also discussed. Overall, the session showcased innovative, collaborative, and scalable models to support international students’ transition from education to employment, leveraging alumni networks and student-led initiatives.

Keywords

international student employability

alumni engagement

UCL

UK visa regulations

post-study work visa

mentoring schemes

Career Supercharger

culturally responsive support

international internships