UWIC ranked among the best in the UK
A survey of students at more than 80 universities has ranked the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) top in Wales and fourth in the UK for the quality of its international student experience.
The International Student Barometer (ISB) survey canvassed international students for their views on living and studying at UWIC and was conducted at universities across the UK including high ranking traditional universities such as the University of Manchester and Bristol University and six fellow universities in Wales.
Almost 200 students, from all five of UWIC’s academic schools, completed the satisfaction survey with representatives from India, Oman, China, and Brunei making up the largest national groups.
In summary, UWIC achieved the following rankings out of 81 UK universities:
• 1st UK (1st Wales) – university accommodation
• 1st UK – International clubs and societies offered at the institution
• 1st UK – worship or prayer facilities
• 2nd UK (1st Wales) – immigration and visa advice offered by UWIC
• 2nd UK– general services provided by UWIC’s International Office
• 2nd UK(1st Wales) – transport provision and UWIC’s Rider bus pass scheme
• 2nd UK(1st Wales)– cost of living in Cardiff
• 3rd UK (1st Wales)– support services offered to students
• 3rd UK (1st Wales) – enrolment and application process
• 3rd UK(1st Wales) – living arrangements (which includes private accommodation arrangements etc)
• 3rd UK(1st Wales) – careers service
• 4th UK (1st Wales) – overall average student satisfaction ratings
• 5th UK (1st Wales) - overall learning experience, which includes learning support technology, IT facilities and access to the internet.
• 5th UK(1st Wales) – induction offered by the International Office and by the student’s course
Among those who took part in the survey was Anita Setarhnejad, a PhD Food Science and Technology student from Iran, when asked about her experience at UWIC she said:”UWIC is a very friendly place, you can study with a free mind and there are always plenty of people to help you. You never feel alone at UWIC and supervisors and staff are always quick to get back to you when you send them an email or if you have a problem. I’d really like to thank the International Office for their support and my family for sending me here.”
The survey also reported that UWIC’s international students would be more likely than students at any other university in Wales to recommend their university to friends and family back home.
“To achieve such high satisfaction ratings, and amongst strong competition from universities across the UK, really does highlight our commitment to providing a first-class experience for our international students and is a true testament to the hard work of all our staff,” said John Phillips, Dean of International Students, UWIC.
“With students from more than 125 countries currently studying at UWIC the findings of the ISB survey will help us to build on our success and ensure we remain at the fore-front of international student recruitment,” he added.
Conducted by I-Graduate, which is an independent research service specialising in the international education market, the survey is now the largest study of international students in the world and has been adopted by universities in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Europe and the USA and attracts feedback from over 400,000 students.
07/07/2009
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