Best Practice International Student Engagement Consultation Workshops

Workshop 1
ThemeAIEC – Best practice international student engagement
Key points to be discussed Engaging with local students and community is important and desirable yet challenging for international students. There are a range of barriers to international student connections with Australian students and community but we have also seen a growing number of targeted engagement initiatives, programs and activities. It is important that education providers, the government and stakeholders work together on initiatives and campaigns to enhance local community’s understandings about international students and create opportunities for international students to participate in community activities. What are the key approaches and good practice examples in strengthening international students’ engagement with Australian students and community?
DateWednesday 19 th October, 4:30pm - 5.30pm
VenueAustralian International Education Conference (AIEC), Gold Coast

Workshop 2
ThemeEngagement with domestic students and communities
Key points to be discussed
  • Engaging with local students and community is important and desirable yet challenging for international students.
  • There are a range of barriers to international student connections with Australian students and community but we have also seen a growing number of targeted engagement initiatives, programs and activities.
  • It is important that education providers, the government and stakeholders work together on initiatives and campaigns to enhance local community’s understandings about international students and create opportunities for international students to participate in community activities.
  • What are the key approaches and good practice examples in strengthening international students’ engagement with Australian students and community?
DateTuesday 25th October, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
ModeOnline

Workshop 3
ThemeIntercultural communication and language and learning skills
Key points to be discussed
  • Learning in a new education system and communicating with people from a different cultural background in a foreign language are major challenges for international students.
  • Cultural and language barriers lead to numerous obstacles in relation to learning, living and socialising in the host country
  • What are the enabling and inhibiting factors to providing support regarding intercultural communication and language and learning skills for international students?
  • What are the key approaches and examples of good practice in supporting international students in intercultural and language and learning skills?
DateThursday 27th October, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
ModeOnline

Workshop 4
Theme Engagement with blended and online learning
Key points to be discussed
  • Online and blended learning can offer a range of advantages for international education such as flexibility and convenience, unimpeded experiences and interactive real-life experience for international students.
  • Yet, there are numerous barriers to international students’ engagement with blended and online learning.
  • What are the enabling and inhibiting factors to supporting international students’ engagement in blended and online learning?
  • What are the key approaches and examples of good practice in supporting international students in online and blended learning?
Date Thursday 3rd November, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Mode Online

Workshop 5
Theme Mental health and wellbeing
Key points to be discussed
  • Mental health is one of the leading contemporary concerns about international students.
  • Mental health support service staff need to be culturally aware of students’ diverse backgrounds, needs and characteristics, including support-seeking behaviours.
  • What are the enabling and inhibiting factors to supporting international students’ mental health and wellbeing?
  • What are the key approaches and examples of good practice in supporting international students’ mental health and wellbeing?
Date Tuesday 8th November, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Mode Online

Workshop 6
Theme Engagement with learning and teaching
Key points to be discussed
  • Quality of education is one of the three top factors that international students consider when choosing their study destination.
  • Engagement with teaching and learning impacts on their entire international education experience.
  • International students face a range of challenges in adapting to different approaches to teaching, learning and constructing knowledge and in navigating a Western-centric curriculum.
  • What are the enabling and inhibiting factors to supporting international students’ engagement in learning and teaching?
  • What are key strategies and good practice examples in enhancing international students’ engagement in teaching and learning?
Date Thursday 10th November, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Mode Online

Workshop 7
Theme Accommodation, finance and protecting international students’ rights
Key points to be discussed
  • Accommodation and finance are closely interrelated, with financial constraints leading to international students’ inability to afford rent and negative housing experiences.
  • International students are entitled to the rights as consumers, tenants, workers and human beings that should be protected by Australian education providers, the government and other stakeholders.
  • What are the enabling and inhibiting factors to support provision in accommodation, finance and rights protection for international students?
  • What are the key approaches and examples of good practices in empowering international students and fostering partnerships across stakeholders to support them are key to protect their rights while studying in Australia.
Date Tuesday 15th November, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Mode Online

Workshop 8
Theme Work integrated learning and employability
Key points to be discussed
  • Graduate employment has been ranked fourth, after institutional ranking and reputation, affordability, quality of education, and safety in international students’ decision about their study destination.
  • Employability is a major concern for international students and education providers; yet there are a range of barriers and systemic issues facing international students in participating in both host and home labour markets.
  • What are the enabling and inhibiting factors to supporting international students’ work-integrated learning and employability?
  • What are the key approaches and examples of good practice in supporting international students in WIL and employability development?
Date Thursday 17th November, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Mode Online

Workshop 9
Theme Crisis navigation
Key points to be discussed
  • International students are vulnerable to health, financial, geopolitical, accommodation crises and natural disasters happening in host country, home country or worldwide.
  • During crises, international students experience financial stress, mental health issues, discrimination, and disconnection that have adverse impacts on their study.
  • Both caring for international students and enhancing their readiness for crises are crucial to minimise disruptive experiences.
  • What are the enabling and inhibiting factors to developing crisis support programs and initiatives for international students?
  • What are the key approaches and examples of good practice in supporting international students during crises?
Date Tuesday 22nd November, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Mode Online

Workshop 10
Theme Increase recognition of the contributions of international students in the local community
Key points to be discussed
  • Despite the significant educational, social, cultural and economic contributions of international students to Australia, their values are not fully recognised and acknowledged by the local community.
  • Inadequate understanding about international students’ values and contributions leads to lack of care and incidents of poor treatment toward international students.
  • Shared efforts and collaboration are needed to promote Australian community’s awareness of the significant role and contribution of international students.
  • What are the enabling and inhibiting factors to raising the awareness of the local community about international students and enhancing their connection?
  • What are the key approaches and examples of good practice in enriching the understandings of local community about international students and their contributions?
Date Thursday 24th November, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Mode Online