7473 Worldwidetees_dr4_Layout 1 - University of Teesside

Inspiring success 

Worldwide 

Teesside

Worldwide Teesside 3 

Introduction 

I am very proud of the internationalisation work that is going on across the University. 

Everyone working in higher education increasingly recognises the need to set students’ 

learning in a global context and to embrace the fact that, whatever sector or industry they 

work in, their future lives and careers will be characterised by living and working in a multicultural 

and global setting. 

Our challenge is therefore to enable all of our students to not only understand the context and 

environment of the communities and industries of Teesside and the North East, but also to 

relate to the requirements of succeeding in the international context of the 21st century. Our 

aim is to produce graduates with the knowledge and confidence 

to make the best contribution possible as thoughtful, globally aware citizens. 

Professor Graham Henderson CBE, 

Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive 

We have been advancing our internationalisation work rapidly in the past year, and it is very encouraging 

to see how much is going on across the University. 

Internationalisation itself is not a new agenda. At Teesside, we have well established international connections, 

and expertise in working with diverse communities, building knowledge and encouraging broader perspectives. 

The recent acceleration in our work is driven by the impact of globalisation on academic disciplines, on the 

higher education sector, and on employers; but it is absolutely focused on knowledge and skills amongst our 

own staff and students. As the work showcased in this booklet demonstrates, internationalisation is really about 

continuing to enhance capability, interest, connections and perspectives within the entire University community. 

Professor Caroline MacDonald, 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Partnerships and Standards)

4 Worldwide Teesside 

Internationalisation at 

TEESSIDE 

We interpret internationalisation as the 

process of integrating international 

dimensions into teaching, research and 

enterprise, to enhance the experience of all 

staff and students. 

Internationalisation involves everyone at the 

University. It’s about knowledge and skills for all staff 

and students. 

It’s about the impact of global communications on 

learning and knowledge, and on our University 

community. 

It’s also about employers preferring to employ 

people with international awareness, confident 

communication skills, and experience of working or 

studying internationally or in multicultural settings. 

Worldwide Teesside 

We have developed an approach to 

internationalisation that is: 

• aware of current policy and activities within the 

higher education sector 

• based on our existing strengths in working with a 

diverse community of staff and students 

• original and sustainable. 

Today’s graduates are more likely 

than any previous generation to: 

• work for a multinational company 

• share professional experience with colleagues 

overseas 

• live in a multi-ethnic community 

• work in more than one country 

• take part in international cultural events.

Wordwide Teesside 5 

Student and staff 

exchanges: 

BRING 

PERSPECTIVES 

HOME 

Students and staff have fascinating 

stories to tell about their time spent 

studying, working or teaching 

abroad. These include teaching in 

China, working with children and 

mothers in Cambodian 

communities, undertaking 

placements in countries across 

Africa, and mentoring exchange 

students in the UK. 

Showcasing stories 

Worldwide Teesside, the University’s 

internationalisation web portal 

(www.tees.ac.uk/worldwide) links to 

stories and to video diaries. 

Japanese visit 

A delegation from the Japanese 

Embassy visited the University in 2011, 

to open an exhibition of work by 

Japanese-born photographer and 

lecturer Ikuko Tsuchiya, and to help us 

promote the Japan Exchange and 

Teaching Programme (JET). This 

scheme, run by the Japanese 

government, offers opportunities for UK 

graduates to teach English in Japan. 

Visiting academics 

A number of Teesside academics hold 

visiting positions at institutions around 

the world. We also host visiting fellows 

and researchers from leading 

universities. 

Making it easy 

The exchanges web page acts as a 

one-stop shop for all the information, 

forms and step by step guide to 

arranging exchanges and accessing 

funding. 

‘We live in an increasingly 

inter-connected world and we 

must make effective use of our 

knowledge and understanding 

of other cultures in order to be 

able to function in the global 

marketplace.’ 

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, 

Paralympic Athlete, Honorary Doctor of 

Laws, Teesside University 2011


Internationalisation of the 

CURRICULUM 

Vibrant discussion is a feature of the Internationalisation of the 

Curriculum Working Group. Colleagues from Schools and Departments 

circulate ideas for innovative curricula and learning and teaching 

strategies. Resources and ideas are discussed and shared. 

What is internationalisation of the curriculum 

Internationalisation can be part of the overall educational philosophy running 

right through a programme or module, or it can drive learning and teaching 

activities. It can also be included in the programme content, through use of 

international comparisons; or there could be a focus on intercultural skills for 

students. 

•The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is being 

used to teach ethics for work with young people. It has proved more 

focused, detailed and inclusive than the UK ethical code for youth work, and 

makes use of global examples. 

•International perspectives are used in learning and teaching strategies to 

develop cross-cultural competencies and critical thinking. On programmes 

with many international students, some discussions focus on approaches 

adopted in their home countries, compared with the UK. 

•Students in Product Design are working on virtual design collaborations with 

the famous Bauhaus Universität in Germany.


Student 

PERSPECTIVES 

Students are being encouraged 

to speak about their views on 

globalisation, through focus 

groups and activities run by the 

Schools. There are conversations 

and projects about the 

challenges and opportunities 

presented by globalisation, and 

about the experience of home 

and international students 

working alongside each other. 

The discussions are informing 

practice across the University. 

Students’ Union 

The Students’ Union is very 

engaged with internationalisation, 

and representatives have been 

working closely with staff at the 

University over the past year. 

The Badminton Club 

This is one of the University’s leading 

clubs for home and international 

students, with its own international 

welfare officer, and events and socials 

catering for all students involved. 

The Drama Society 

This society is busy, active and 

diverse in its membership, putting on 

three shows per year, and welcoming 

all students with any interest in drama. 

The Interlink Society 

This society welcomes many 

international students throughout the 

year. 

2011-12 will see the University 

celebrating festivals including Eid, 

Diwali and Chinese New Year, as well 

as our usual Christmas celebrations. 

Contact: 

worldwide@tees.ac.uk

8 Worldwide Teesside


How does the 

University support 

you 

Staff from the Department for 

Learning Development are making 

their way around Schools and 

Departments to discuss your 

development needs and to design 

bespoke programmes of support. 

This will include a training programme 

for support staff. 

Resources 

The Department for Learning 

Development’s Unity site is linked to the 

Worldwide Teesside portal. It also 

signposts to a range of resources to 

support internationalisation of the 

curriculum within the Learning & Teaching 

Forum pages in Blackboard, which will be 

launched in autumn 2011. There is a Quick 

Guide to help lecturers get started and a 

more detailed Rough Guide is under 

development. 

Coming soon.... 

The movers and shakers who have led the 

way in innovative internationalised curricula 

will facilitate Learning and Teaching 

Exchange sessions to inspire and support 

their colleagues. 

The PGCE for Learning and Teaching in 

Higher Education now includes an elective 

module in internationalisation, which will 

run for the second time in March 2012. 

International dimensions in 

RESEARCH 

Our researchers collaborate with 

leading universities across the 

world, as well as industrial and 

commercial partners, and policy 

makers and practitioners from the 

public and community sectors. 

We also support short visits by internationally renowned 

scholars as part of our international visiting academics 

scheme. 

Our Research Institutes have recently hosted visitors from 

leading European universities and institutions in India, 

Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, Japan, 

Canada and the USA. 

Collaborations 

Teesside has a number of major research projects funded 

by the European Commission’s Sixth and Seventh 

Framework programmes, building joint research 

collaborations with leading universities and industry 

partners across Europe. 

We also work on British Council funded projects, 

establishing research links between universities and 

organisations in commerce and industry. Collaborations 

have involved leading universities in Portugal, Thailand, 

Russia, China, Malaysia, Qatar, Japan, Korea and the USA.


ENTERPRISE 

Teesside’s approach to supporting business and enterprise recognises 

the need to exploit international markets, and to support the 

commercialisation of research on a global basis. We work with 

business partners overseas, including in China and Australia. 

North East Region’s 

Enterprise Europe Network 

We are the lead partner for the North 

East Region’s Enterprise Europe 

Network, providing expert advice to 

regional companies. The network 

promotes European opportunities for 

trade, funding and R&D collaboration, 

and helps companies to establish links 

and projects across Europe. We also 

work with UK Trade and Industry (UKTI) 

to maximise export opportunities. 

Kauffman Fellowships 

Two of our young entrepreneurs have 

been awarded places on an 

international two-year programme, 

designed to cultivate high growth 

leading-edge technology businesses. 

A recent enterprise project 

Virtual Radiography is a family of 

computer-based simulators used for 

teaching, developed by a spin-out 

company run jointly by an academic 

from the School of Health and Social 

Care and a graduate of the School of 

Computing. 

The main simulator, Projection VR is 

in its fourth version and is used by 

over 60 institutions worldwide. This 

innovative system of teaching 

radiographic knowledge and skills 

began in Teesside and now helps 

students in the USA, Canada, 

Australia, New Zealand, Poland, 

Portugal, Sweden and South Africa. 

International students 

AT TEESSIDE 

During the academic year, our 

University campus is home to up 

to 2000 international students, 

who come to us from more than 

80 countries. 

Our international community is 

enriched by the numbers of 

students coming from China, India, 

Malaysia and North Africa, and we 

have smaller numbers from 

countries in Central and East Asia, 

North America and Europe, as well 

as from the Gulf states. 

Schools are organising their own 

activities for home and international 

students, including mentoring 

schemes, day trips to visit the local 

area, talks and cultural 

programmes. 

‘I think studying abroad is 

extremely important and 

helps you develop, both 

academically and as a 

person. It provides 

opportunities, and gives you 

a different perspective on 

things.’ 

Aenne Hussmann (MSc Marketing 

Management, 2010)


Information for prospective international students can be found at: www.tees.ac.uk/sections/international


More details via www.tees.ac.uk/worldwide or by email from worldwide@tees.ac.uk


What else is 

GOING ON 

The International Culture Club 

The International Culture Club, run by Student Services, 

facilitates links between international students at Teesside 

and British mentors from local communities. The idea is 

that there will always be someone available to help 

students to settle and adapt. 

I-CH@T 

I-CH@T (International Conversation Hubs @Tees) 

facilitates informal conversations between home and 

international students. 

Participants develop their language skills, and share world 

and cultural knowledge. 

I-CH@T has three components: 

• the Language Café 

• a mentoring scheme linked to credit-bearing 

mentoring/communication skills modules 

• an online repository of multi-media contributions from 

international students. 

The Language Café (Part of I-CH@T) 

The Teesside Language Café offers a relaxed and friendly 

setting for anyone seeking an informal way to practise 

speaking French, German, Spanish or English. The 

French, Spanish and German Café is on Tuesday 

evenings, once a month. The English Café takes place 

three times a week. 

Internationalisation and 

EMPLOYABILITY 

Teesside University graduates will need to be 

curious, intrigued by complexity and skilled at 

solving difficult problems. They will also need to 

understand how to work within a multi-cultural 

global environment. The teaching and study 

of international perspectives within learning is 

essential in developing all of these qualities, and 

will not only give our graduates a head start in their 

careers, but, more importantly, will equip them with 

skills for life. 

Paul Booth, 

President of SABIC-UK Petrochemicals, Governor of Teesside 

University and Chair of the University Student Experience 

Committee 

Our work 

Our promotion of exchange schemes encourages 

independence, confidence and willingness to adapt to other 

cultures – attractive qualities for any employer. 

We run a knowledge exchange and internship programme for 

students and recent graduates. It involves 135 companies 

per year, including many with international interests. 

The DigitalCity Initiative at Teesside collaborates with 

universities in Sweden and the USA to provide advice to 

national policy makers. Specifically, they advise on 

employability in the creative industries. 

‘For today’s students 

international awareness is not 

an option. It is essential. The 

more people have the skills and 

the inclination to tap into this 

field of opportunity the more our 

country will prosper. It is also 

fun; wider horizons make life 

more interesting – and the wider 

the better.’ 

John Sergeant, 

Journalist and Broadcaster, Honorary 

Doctor of Letters, Teesside University 

2010


International 

PARTNERSHIPS 

Teesside University has three 

international offices – in China, 

India and Malaysia. We run 

transnational education (TNE) 

provision in ten countries, in areas 

of study ranging from healthcare to 

engineering, and from business 

studies to art and design. 

Our approach 

‘We strongly emphasise respect for 

the political, economic and 

cultural contexts of our partners. 

This includes understanding 

differing situations in terms of 

privilege and resources. 

Where appropriate, staff who work 

with our international partners are 

able to travel abroad. For everyone 

involved, we encourage an 

approach based on listening, 

being open-minded, and engaging 

actively with staff and students.’ 

Perspective from Sharen Cleary, 

Administrator in the School of Health & 

Social Care 

Sharen Cleary recently accompanied 

teaching staff to Universiti Teknologi 

Mara (UiTM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Her remit was to ensure that students taking the BSc (Hons) 

Applied Rehabilitation, Medical Imaging and Nursing Studies 

were fully enrolled and introduced to the University’s online 

services. This support has proved immensely successful in 

enhancing the experience of students and teaching staff. 

Sharen said, 

‘This has been a fantastic learning opportunity and 

has allowed me to understand the perceptions of 

international students, as well as drawing to their 

attention the enormous support services available to 

them. 

It was great to meet such dedicated students, and to 

have seen and experienced the place for myself. I 

was overwhelmed by their friendliness and kindness, 

and by their enthusiasm for the course.’ 

She added that seeing the University’s work in Malaysia at 

first hand had given her a different perspective on her work at 

Teesside. 

University Learning and 

Teaching Conference and 

INTERNATIONALISATION 

AWARDS 

More than 150 colleagues attended our 11th 

annual Learning and Teaching Conference, on 

Internationalisation and Employability. 

One of the keynote presentations considered 

internationalised student voices in a rapidly changing 

world, suggesting that the internationalisation of higher 

education should enrich the curriculum and global 

knowing, and should promote ‘a transformation of 

mind’. 

Internationalisation Awards 

The University’s first Internationalisation Awards were 

presented at the Conference. Two winners, chosen 

from many entries, were: 

The International Culture Club which arranges links 

between international students at Teesside and British 

mentors from local communities, who help the 

students to adapt and adjust to living and studying in 

the area. 

Buzz@Teesside is a proposal for an internet forum for 

international applicants to Teesside, with contributions 

and advice to come from current students and from 

staff. 

For more information contact worldwide@tees.ac.uk

For more information about any content 

here, please contact: 

worldwide@tees.ac.uk 

You can also email: 

liz.holey@tees.ac.uk or a.reid@tees.ac.uk 

We are planning an exhibition event in 

2011-12, to showcase and celebrate the 

achievements of our university 

community in preparing our graduates 

to participate fully in the globalised 

world. See you there! 

A key part of internationalisation, 

though, is that it involves everyone at the 

University, in all areas of our operations. 

Internationalisation is a work in 

progress, and 2011-12 will involve 

building on our established work, 

and promoting it across the whole 

University. Thoughtful and thorough 

support for international students 

studying at Teesside will remain at 

the heart of our work. 

WHAT’S NEXT 


‘I have always felt at home as 

Chancellor of Teesside 

University, partly because of 

Teesside’s place at the meeting 

point of so much international 

activity in industry and trade – 

which brings us vibrant, diverse 

communities and builds 

Teesside’s own particular 

warmth and character. It is 

always great to see the 

University working so 

responsibly with partners 

overseas; and more inspiring 

still to experience the growing 

sense of welcome, openness and 

confidence amongst students 

and graduates at Teesside.’ 

Lord Sawyer of Darlington, 

Chancellor of Teesside University 

Thank you to the staff and 

students who contributed 

to this publication.

CAG7473/SR 

‘International awareness is more than just a business for 

me - it’s a way of life. I interact with a wide range of 

cultures, from the UK to the USA, Canada, Japan, Europe, 

Russia, South America, Africa and Saudi Arabia....in fact, 

anywhere that people want to hear my music. A spirit of 

cooperation and a little understanding of the customs of 

various countries have served me well. I find that a position 

of mutual respect is the way to go, which to me means 

being fair-minded and flexible, but knowing when to stand 

your ground – and that is not always easy, not for anyone.’ 

Paul Rodgers 

Musician, Songwriter and Recipient of a US 

Congress Proclamation for Humanitarianism, 

Honorary Doctor of Letters, 

Teesside University 2009 

Photo: Brad Gregory

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