INTO This Week 50

The Postgraduate Certificate in Pre-Doctoral Studies is a 6-month qualification with the first students arriving in July 2011. It is designed for postgraduates who have a conditional offer of a place on a doctorate course at Exeter, but need to improve their English language and research skills. It will also be suitable for those who need to firm up their research ideas before undertaking a PhD.

The programme is particularly expected to attract students looking to progress to degrees in Engineering, Mathematics or Physical Sciences at the University. During the course, students develop their skills in scientific report writing, presentation and language; improve their subject knowledge; and refine their PhD research proposals - all in the context and culture of a UK university.

Satisfactory completion of the course allows students to progress to the PHD of their choice at the University of Exeter, without needing to sit further English language tests.

INTO Exeter Centre Director, Penny Foster, said: "This is an innovative programme for post-graduate research students, delivered jointly with the University. Our contacts in the College of Engineering were particularly keen that the students were registered with INTO during this initial preparation period because of the high level of support we can offer and our excellent facilities."

Carolyn Walker, INTO Exeter's Academic Director, said: "The programme is intended to help in the recruitment of international PGR students, and also to provide these students with a grounding in the culture of research, so that they are in a better position to complete PhD theses in good time. The University is hopeful that this will have the dual effect of enhancing both the internationalisation and research agendas."

INTO UK Academic and Operations Director Liz Munro said of the Postgraduate Certificate in Pre-Doctoral Studies, "One hopes that other partners will follow suit, as it is an excellent example of the INTO centre and the university working closely together to support students who are not traditional pathway students."

One of them was Hanna Janneh, Regional Director Africa, who visited INTO University of Exeter, INTO Manchester and INTO University of East Anglia. At all she met senior staff, discussed African students and future marketing plans for Africa, and learnt more about the respective centres.

She also introduced INTO Exeter and INTO UEA staff to Blessing Tasie, an African agent who has placed Nigerian government scholarship students at INTO UEA and INTO Newcastle University. And while in Manchester, she visited The University of Manchester to learn more about its programmes, and discuss how INTO and the University can work together more closely in African markets.

Said Hanna: "Centre visits are a good reminder that we are one team. Regional Office staff learn what the challenges are at the centres, and the Centre staff what those are in the markets."

Meanwhile Stephen Jones, Regional Director South Asia, visited INTO London, INTO Scotland and INTO Queen's University Belfast where he met with Centre Directors, finance teams, frontline support staff, marketing teams and programme managers - as well as students.

Said Stephen: "Seeing fully functioning INTO centres full of happy students is vital for all Regional Directors to understand how we help our students to be successful, and also the daily challenges of the Centres and their teams. During my visits I met with students from South Asia who were full of praise for colleagues in centres and the wonderful job they do on a daily basis. Seeing the centres in action will help back in market to give students better advice regarding their location and choices. It will also support our work with agents when doing agent training."

Tom Keenan, Regional Director South East Asia, visited INTO UEA where he met with Newton A-level students from Malaysia and Vietnam, along with a Diploma student (currently in his second year at UEA) who will undertake an internship at INTO's Kuala Lumpar office this summer. The internee, Choong Long, will gain valuable experience in sales, marketing and office administration, and join June Chai, Regional Manager South East Asia, at exhibitions, interview sessions and school visits throughout Malaysia to provide a first-hand example of INTO's success.

Tom said the overall experience had been very positive and said Centre staff were also getting the opportunity to see South East Asia. "We have regular visitors to market from centre. At the moment we have Robert Graham and Lorna Campbell from INTO Scotland, Helen Hollingworth from INTO UEA London, and Pat Corr from INTO Queen's all in our region," he said.

Liz Munro, INTO's UK Academic and Operations Director, said: "The UK centres are really pleased that Regional Directors found the time to visit them, to meet with their students and the staff, and to experience firsthand the changes that are constantly being implemented to support the student experience. We hope this will be an ongoing process as it really helps promote dialogue between the centres and the sales and marketing team."