Opportunity: Student and faculty mission to UK HEIs

British Council Pakistan’s study familiarisation programme will bring a group of approximately twenty undergraduate students from a recognized university from Pakistan to the UK in April 2018 for five days. The objective of this programme is to introduce Pakistani students to international education at UK, explore different courses, UK application procedures and become acquainted with international culture and community through study experiences, discussions and workshops held in UK higher education institutions.
As part of this programme, the institution hosting the students’ delegation will deliver a five days study-programme focusing on leadership skills, social entrepreneurship, management skills and communication skills.

Mission objectives and ROIs:
Trip objectives:
1. Facilitating Pakistani students to experience life as international students in UK
2. Introducing the students to international education and related challenges and opportunities
3. Facilitate learning experiences in UK through interactive sessions / workshops, discussions or classroom sessions on leadership skills, social entrepreneurship, management skills or communication skills
4. Help students in developing abilities and skills to analyse, articulate, present and debate their own views and understanding
5. University tour: introducing students with selected departments and facilities at the university
6. Meeting with the international student counsellors to develop an understanding of different courses, application criteria / procedures and scholarship opportunities
7. Meeting with key student representatives from the international/Pakistani student societies

Benefits for participating UK institution:
1. An opportunity for the host institution to showcase the best of their facilities and student culture to a visiting group of prospective international students directly through face-to-face engagement
2. Participating institution can use this opportunity to advise students on applications and international qualifications being offered by them, share presentations, talks, hand-outs and other promotional engaging activities with the visiting students
3. An opportunity for the host institution to directly engage with its target audience in Pakistan
4. As the visiting students will be accompanied with the administrative staff members, parallel meetings with the representatives from External/International Relations Department of host institution could be arranged for possible collaborations and partnerships (no partnership fee involved)

About the visiting students and the university:
GIFT University was established in 2002 in Gujranwala Division. It is the only chartered private university in this region, with the highest category ranking (W4) awarded by the HEC (Higher Education Commission, Pakistan). It offers the latest educational facilities, internationally experienced faculty, and state-of-the-art infrastructure to ensure highest standards of education.
GIFT University has established an International Office to start international linkages all around the world as internationalization is the key strategy. GIFT University is very much interested in Faculty Exchange, Student Exchange, Student Recruitment and Joint R&D.
International Linkages:

GIFT University has signed MOUs and has already started Student Exchange program with the following universities:
1. Liaoning Communication University, China
2. University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
3. University of Kuala Lampur, Malaysia
4. Infrastructure University, Malaysia
5. International Islamic University, Malaysia
6. St. Petersburg State Transport University, Russia
7. President University, Indonesia
8. Borobudur University, Indonesia
9. Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Politik, Sang Bumi Ruwa Jurai of University, Indonesia
10. STIE Pelita Bangsa University, Indonesia
11. Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” (UPNV), Indonesia
12. Skyline University, Sharjah, UAE

Event details and format:
Dates for the tour: A week in the month of April, 2018 (five working days)
Delegation of 20 - 25: 20 students, three faculty/staff members from administration and two staff members from British Council

PROPOSED PROGRAMME FROM BRITISH COUNCIL*
A sample day at the host institution

09:30 am Arrive at the host institution
09:30 am – 10:00 am Welcome reception / meet and greet session
10:00 am – 11:00 am Presentation / lesson / class
11.00 am – 11.30 am Tea break
11:30 am – 01:00 pm Lesson / class / group activity (leadership skills/social entrepreneurship/management skills or communication skills)
01:00 pm – 02:00 pm Lunch/networking lunch
02.00 pm – 04:00 pm Meeting / briefing / presentation by international students’ counsellor or students’ societies / tour of facilities at the host institution
04:00 pm Departure from host institution

*For the programme, recommendations from participating institution can be accommodated.

Students’ profile:
• Undergraduate and postgraduate students: keen on exploring postgraduate/Ms/MPhill studies from higher education institution in UK
• Students with a sound academic record, good communication and presentation skills in English language
• Age group: 19 – 24 years

In your expression of interest please indicate the following:
• Possible meetings between the faculty/administrative staff from visiting university and representatives from External/International Relations Department of host institution to explore future collaboration or partnership
• Confirmation of provision of lunch/networking lunch (Halal/vegetarian dietary requirement) with possible invitation to colleagues to join from External/International Relations department of host institution
• Budget
The study programme should accommodate not less than 20 students and be delivered within a budget under 5000 GBP, which should cover tea and lunch for 5 days. British Council will be responsible for accommodation of the visiting students and transportation to/from the host institution.
• Feedback
UK institution hosting the students will be requested to share feedback on each student’s performance over the 5 days study familiarisation programme
• Programme proposed by the host institution
British Council will select the host institution based on the strength of the proposed programme

Important:
• Host institution will be selected on the basis of strength of the study-programme they propose
• Please submit your interest to host the delegation along with a framework of study-programme by 09 February 2018
• Finalised host institution will be required to send their willingness to host the delegation of students visiting UK under the British Council Pakistan study familiarisation programme on the official letterhead