UoN Case Study: Working with other Staff Groups

The Student Service “You’re Welcome” work encouraged other staff teams to ask for an update on their learning from the Project and the International Student Experience.

So, a talk on the “International Student Mental Project Learnings and Considerations re International Students” was developed and delivered to key staff and volunteer student teams at the University of Nottingham.

Residential Experience (Res) Team

The Residential Experience Team (ResX Team) support students in their halls of residence. Each Hall has a dedicated team available providing help and advice around the variety of challenges that students may be facing.  

Our ResX Team aims to get students involved in a wide range of opportunities and activities to help students make the most of their time in halls including taking part in different sports, lifestyle workshops, events, and socials. These various initiatives and activities focus on improving wellbeing and building a happy and friendly community.  

A team of Residential Assistants, who are student volunteers, are on hand to support students between 6pm and 10pm in Halls through a drop-in facility and activities. Residential Experience Coordinators, employed by the university manage the Residential Assistants and intervene to offer pastoral support to students as necessary.

The ResX Team was launched at the start of term in September 2021. The coordinators put an induction programme together and the International Student Health Improvement Officer was invited to speak to the new teams about the International Student Mental Project Learning and Considerations. The aim of the talk was to:

• Explain the Project rationale
• Discuss learning on the international student experience
• To encourage the ResX Teams to consider how this learning will impact their role when working with international students.

Libraries and Academic Skills Staff

Similarly, a talk with identical aims was delivered to the library and academic skills staff. These teams were also prepared to consider how they could improve their practice to meet the needs of international students.

Outcomes

The managers and coordinators of the staff groups were going to consider with their staff whether learning from the International Student Mental Health project meant that they needed to amend their service delivery to international students.

 It is recommended that this work be evaluated by the University in the next 6-12 months.