I woke up on the 15th of November with high expectations for my first UKCISA Fest experience, of which I can gladly say was worth the while. As an international student in the UK who is more than 5000km from my home country Nigeria, I always sought out the best ways to both integrate with and learn from the British society all through my study time. This of course comes with its challenges, and with the global covid-19 pandemic in the picture, the situation gets even more difficult to navigate for international students in the UK.

On this premise, I am glad to say that UKCISA is making the right attempt towards addressing the concerns of international students in the UK through programs like this. This program scheduled between the days of 15th to 17th November, with each day divided into sessions with specific topics was structured into virtual webinars and workshops, with participants being international students, UKCISA members, and sector partners across the UK, to inform policy and practice. Every bit of the experience was both informative and beneficial to every participant, and my most enjoyable sessions were those that addressed the mental health challenges of international students, and the career opportunities available to international graduates in the UK. Key details on the just started graduate route visa (Post Study Work) were emphasised with links to valuable information on this route shared, of which I have highlighted in the “Key takeaways” section.

Sarah Cooper a UKCISA representative, and Siqi Jia a Student Ambassador gave valuable info on the final session of Day 1 which focused on what employers are looking for in the UK. Emphasis was laid on the importance of developing transferable skills which can built through volunteering and basic job roles in any sector. Sarah went further to state that international students can also find ‘hidden’ jobs beyond the very competitive roles which are advertised, and network with employers through relevant platforms.

Some international students complained on the nature of wellbeing service made available to them in their respective Universities. A particular international student complained that no proper information on available university services in his university were communicated to him as he was left to first ask before he could even discover an existing service after going through multiple channels. Considering this, it was stated that it will be best for universities to promptly send out this valuable information on services offered to international students rather than being kept in a condition to figure out themselves.

On the last day (17th) which was also international students’ day, we all were reminded of the significant role international students play in the UK, and why it is important to improve this cooperation to enhance the UK’s position as a top destination for quality education globally. Quoting the words of the UKCISA’s president, Lord Karan Bilimoria, “International students enrich the experience of our domestic students here in the UK. It’s the students at universities learning from each other, from the different cultures, from the diversity around the world that is just so powerful”. In one of the sessions which addressed the integration and mental health challenges for international student, I made mention of the good work and steps taken by the Huddersfield SU in ensuring challenges faced by international students are resolved by citing examples of relevant groups and networks such as the Global Citizens network which I am a member of, the BAME Ambassadors Groups, and efforts made by the student union officers to improve international student engagement with sporting activities on campus.

Key Takeaways:

• International students who intend to work in the UK upon graduation are advised to look at the guides on the graduate route for both students and employers.
• A list of UK employers who sponsor the Skilled Worker Visa can be viewed here.

Key Areas for Possible Improvement:

• Universities should know how well international students access wellbeing and other related service and be certain they are made easily accessible.
• Career and Employability service for international students who intend to pursue a career in the UK upon graduation should be made easily accessible with essential updates on requirements to work in the UK communicated to them promptly.

I am generally grateful for the opportunity to participate at this event, and even though it wasn’t possible to have a physical meeting at the house of commons on the 17th as earlier promised, it still exposed me to a whole lot of useful information, coupled with the opportunity to network with fellow international students from different schools in the UK.

Some key advice that was given was that international students should make use of the available wellbeing, and careers platforms available in their respective universities, while the universities make continuous effort to ensure international students properly engage with these available platforms.

Lastly, the efforts being put to ensure a better experience in the UK is commendable, and I am glad that the UK is making the right effort. Although it can be said that more is needed to be done, it still doesn’t erode the existing efforts being put in place. This is a right step forward as solutions can only come from first defining existing problems through established platforms. Therefore, with continuous engagement and implementation of practical solutions, the international students who will be coming to the UK in the future will have a truck load of beautiful experience to benefit from, while also making positive contributions to the British society through cultural exchange.