UKCISA Conference
Sessions A - Wednesday 11 July, 2.30-5.30pm
A1.Immigration update
Based on our Stop Press course, this session is designed to provide participants with updated information on a range of international student issues and changes in legislation that have arisen in the last 12 months. The course is intended for experienced advisers who already have a good understanding of existing provisions affecting international students.
Participants who plan to attend one of the UKCISA Stop Press training events earlier in the year are advised not to attend this session as it will cover the same material.
Presenters: Christopher Benjamin & Victoria Everett, Advice & Training Officers, UKCISA
A2. Tier 4 dependants
In this session, we will consider which students can bring their dependants (spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same sex partner, children) to the UK and how to help those dependants make successful immigration applications. Participants should have some basic knowledge of which family members qualify as the dependants of Tier 4 (General) students and might find it helpful to read our Information Sheet Your family's immigration before attending. You are encouraged to bring anonymised examples of situations or applications you have found challenging for discussion with others in the session.
Presenter: Sarah Rimmington, Advice & Training Officer, UKCISA
A3. Tier 4 appeals
The workshop is for student advisers who are experienced in dealing with Tier 4 applications, and are able and competent to advise students whose applications for leave under the Tier 4 (General) route have been refused or whose Tier 4 leave has been curtailed. This workshop has a practical focus looking at how we can help students identify the steps to take if a refusal or curtailment has occurred. This session aims to enable advisers to feel more confident when dealing with immigration appeals. By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- have an overview of the processes involved in appealing a refusal of Tier 4 immigration permission
- advise on options available to someone who has had their Tier 4 leave curtailed
- identify which refused applications attract the right of appeal
Presenters: Deepa Chadha, Advice & Training Officer, UKCISA & Alison Stanley, Bindmans Solicitors
A4. Visa compliance across different institutions
This session is aimed at all staff involved in visa compliance within their institution. During this session we will look at the need within an institution to establish an independent visa compliance unit and the key issues that you might come across as a result. We will discuss the similarlities and/or differences relating to institutions in the public and private sectors as well as how this can be expanded to cover institutions with multiple campuses or branches.
The focus of this session will be to provide clear guidelines relating to the policies and processes that should be in place to ensure compliance and we will look at best practice examples from across the sector. Plus we will also highlight all those staff within an institution who need to be involved in compliance. This would normally include staff involved in international recruitment, international admissions, academic registry, international student advisers, academic staff and academic support staff.
Presenters: Rosalind Martin, Case Manager (Immigration), Penningtons Solicitors & Joy Grenyer, Compliance Manager, Northumbria
A5. The Tier 4 tightrope: balancing compliance with advice
How do you balance the demands of being UKBA compliant with giving immigration advice to OISC standards? Is there a perfect solution? This session will present and examine different models in place at a number of Tier 4 institutions . You will have the opportunity to discuss and compare your own institution's approach, weighing up the pros and cons of each model. This will be a participatory workshop suitable for anyone involved with Tier 4, combining presentations, discussions and case studies. Please come prepared to share your experiences with the group.
Presenters: Ros Harrison and Erika Buzink, International Student Advisers, The University of Manchester
A6. Cairo to Christchurch: supporting international students through crisis
This session will focus on the many and varied challenges which arise from external events affecting our students, from the Arab Spring and the tsunami in Japan to high-profile events in the UK, such as the August riots and the Salford shooting, which have their impact on perceptions of the attractiveness of the UK as a safe and welcoming study destination. What processes and policies can and should we put in place? Can we be prepared for every eventuality? Who is responsible and what are the limits to our responsibility for finding and implementing solutions?
These are questions to which there are no straightforward or easy answers. In our interactive session we will use case examples to share experience and good practice that participants may find useful in assessing their own institution's preparedness and response to situations over which we have no control.
Presenters: Suzanne Alexander, Director of the International Office, University of Leicester and colleagues tbc
A7. “3 years’ ordinary residence: what does that mean?”
When advising on eligibility for ‘home’ fees or Student Support, it’s easy to get anxious and agonise about whether a student has been ordinarily resident for the requisite three years. Especially if, for instance, the student or the student’s family have been outside the relevant residence area for a substantial period during and/or even before that three years. This session will give you an opportunity to discuss fair and rational processes for weighing up the students’ circumstances and residence history so that you can better advise them.
This session will be adapted from our ‘Residence requirements’ workshop, usually a whole-day event on our Training Programme. It does not deal with any issues or eligibility criteria concerning immigration status or nationality. There won’t be time to cover the ‘main purpose’ (for full-time education) rule.
Presenter: Duncan Lane, Director of Advice & Training, UKCISA
A8. Supporting mental wellbeing in UK HE: culture and access
This session aims to increase understanding of the cultural/contextual issues that may impact on access to mental health support services by students from different cultural backgrounds. By the end we will have:
- had an opportunity to discuss some of the cultural issues that may arise when we are working with students from different cultural backgrounds
- thought about the barriers for these students in accessing mental health support services at UK educational institutions.
- thought about what we can do to support the mental wellbeing of these students and decided on action points to take back to our institutions
Presenter: Jo Bloxham, Partner, thinkingpeople and Associate tbc
A9. Meet the Anti-adviser
Using the work of Professor Paul Pedersen, a leading cultural awareness theorist in the USA, the workshop will look at developing effective interviewing skills when advising international students. We will use the concept of the 'anti-adviser' to deepen understanding of factors that can facilitate or impede a successful outcome. The workshop will be interactive and practical in format, using small group role play and whole group discussion. Suitable for experienced advisers.
Presenters: Alison Barty , Head of Student Services and Senior Student Counsellor, SOAS & Jo Holliday, International Student Adviser, University of Sheffield Students' Union
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