Top in international survey
ACCORDING to a worldwide survey, the international students who are the most satisfied with their learning experience in the UK are from Sheffield Hallam University.
The International Student Barometer (ISB) survey is run by the International Graduate Insight Group, and tracks the opinions of international students at higher education institutions worldwide.
In the survey, Sheffield Hallam had the highest satisfaction levels for learning experience compared 44 of the UK’S other universities which took part in the survey, 13 of which were Russell Group institutions.
International students also placed Sheffield Hallam first in the UK for the standard of its learning technology, IT support, laboratories, learning spaces and virtual learning environment.
Sheffield Hallam International Development director, James Richardson said, “We’re delighted with the results of this ISB survey and that our students rate us so highly.
“We will continue to work hard to ensure our international students receive high quality support throughout their studies.”
The recruitment of international students is crucial for Sheffield Hallam, and the university has a dedicated team in place that tries to attract students from across the world, looking to study in UK. The university responds to changing demands by offering a choice of programmes that gives students the opportunity to further develop their skills and benefit from the quality of a Sheffield Hallam degree.
This is certainly true in Malaysiaaccording to the latest statistics from the UK’S Higher Education Standards Authority (HESA), Sheffield Hallam is the most popular UK university for Malaysian students, recruiting more students from Malaysia than any other in the UK.
James Richardson said: “The university has had a significant partnership with Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) in Malaysia since 1999.
“Holders of a relevant Advanced Diploma can come to Sheffield Hallam to study a top-up programme to turn their qualification into an honours degree. Over 7,000 students have enrolled in this programme since it began, and many progressed onto postgraduate studies at the University.
“Our partnerships with TARC and with KBU International College are largely responsible for the University’s high recruitment of Malaysian students.”
Stephen Kang Song Tan is one such example. He studied an Advanced Diploma in Technology at TARC before coming to Sheffield Hallam for the top-up programme. He graduated with an honours degree in Electronic System Engineering and began a PHD research programme in 3D imaging equipment design.
He now teaches the summer topup programme to TARC students - the very same programme he studied when he came to Sheffield.
“I have learned a great deal in the last five years and the opportunity I had opened up new areas of work that I never would have considered before, such as being able to teach the programme. It’s been a fascinating few years for me,” Song says.
Overall numbers of Malaysian students in UK higher education continue to rise, with almost 7,500 students starting degree programmes in 2009/10. Degrees in Business related subjects continue to be the most popular among Malaysian students at undergraduate level and Law is the most popular subject at postgraduate level.
With Sheffield Hallam topping the ISB survey, it’s a great time for students from Malaysia to consider studying at the university.