INTO This Week 62

Appropriately enough for a conference with the theme of "integration", the event brought staff together from our international regional offices, our centres in the UK and US, and our newest partner, St George's. A programme of excellent workshops, speeches and entertainment - including some dance-floor action - was enjoyed by all.

The conference kicked off with a plenary session in the University's main lecture theatre. In his opening speech, INTO Chairman Andrew Colin paid tribute to the hard work and commitment of staff in helping INTO achieve five years of 'incredible' growth. He also forecast that the network would grow further still, with more jobs created and scope for staff to take on new roles. 2012, he declared, would be "the year of INTO people", and he invited staff to suggest ideas to celebrate and develop the initiative.

The audience also heard from Nicola Burness Smith and other INTO staff members about developments for INTO Giving over the next year, including a range of exciting new projects that are likely to make a big impact. INTO This Week will bring you further news on these over the next couple of weeks.

The other keynote speakers were as riveting as expected. The newly knighted Professor Sir Steve Smith, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, gave his thoughts on the future landscape of UK higher education and what it might mean for university internationalisation, while sharing anecdotes about his meetings with the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary.

Dominic Scott, CEO of UKCISA, a UK body that advises international students and international student advisors, talked about the impact of the recent UK visa changes and the ways UKCISA can help INTO staff advise students. Jeremy Harmer, an influential ELT writer and teacher trainer, rounded the day off with an inspirational talk on current ideas about the interplay between teachers, students, materials and learning styles, focusing particularly on generating exchanges that were useful and meaningful for students.

Over the two days, conference participants shared best practice through a series of workshops run by more than 60 members of staff. The theme of integration was filtered through a diverse range of topics including the integration of language and subject teaching; integration in technology; cross cultural communication; and the integration of INTO students into their university communities. Staff were clearly engaged by the organisational and sector issues raised, judging by the lively discussions that followed many workshops.

During the event guests also got to explore the innovatively designed INTO Exeter centre - a testament to INTO's commitment to improving the student experience. Much of the event's socialising occurred in the striking foyer  - the centre piece of the design, affectionately referred to as "the egg" by Centre staff - while workshops were held in the Centre's 'wall' of classrooms. Likewise, guests enjoyed the honour  of being the first residents ever to stay in the new student accommodation at Duryard house; all, we are assured, enjoyed restful nights' sleep.

As is custom, the conference gave INTO staff ample opportunity to network - essential for an organisation with operations in locations as far removed as Oregon, Glasgow and China. Guests chatted over coffee, lunch and a lavish hog-roast dinner held in a marquee on the University grounds. A huge thank you must go to INTO Exeter staff who provided such excellent hospitality, as well as resident music man DJ Griff who got guests swinging on Friday night.

Liz Munro, the conference chair, said: "The conference was a delight and that's down to our fantastic plenary speakers, the brilliant workshops organised by more than 60 members of staff, and every single delegate who came and contributed. Next year the conference is going to be held at INTO OSU - we look forward to it!"

Most importantly the guidelines, which affect applications for visas made from July 4th 2011, allow pathway students to continue entering the UK with an English language level of Common European Framework Level (CEFR) B1 (equivalent to IELTS 4.0) rather than the proposed level of CEFR B2 - something that would have "all but wiped out Foundation provision in the UK," according to Tim.

Student rights to work and bring dependants to the UK, progression criteria, and funding requirements will however be affected, although this will have a relatively minor impact on INTO's overall business and in most cases be simple for students to adjust to. In addition, a new streamlined application process to help students from low-risk countries will be implemented.

Tim O'Brien said: "Broadly this is a positive outcome for INTO relative to the original proposals, and could have been a lot worse following a consultation process that was unsettling and created nervousness in a multi-billion pound export market for the UK."

The outcome owes much to INTO's close partnerships with trusted universities (a source of student immigration Home Secretary Theresa May agreed to protect) - something that speaks to the strength of its joint venture model. It is also thanks to the concerted lobbying that went on during the consultation process, which saw a Home Affairs Select Committee, various think tanks, and major universities and HE providers including INTO speak out against the original proposals.

"Without a shadow of doubt, the intense lobbying campaign waged by INTO and others has had a very significant impact on the outcome," said Tim. "The consultation also coalesced the industry. INTO worked closely with UUK, UKCISA, English UK, other pathway providers and the media to ensure that the arguments were well rehearsed and the dangers to the industry of pushing ahead with some of the more damaging proposals were clearly spelt out in the newspapers, television, to the Government and to the UKBA."

However, stressed Tim, "We need to remain vigilant. Students are included in net migration figures - and if the present Government cannot control the volume of other migrants coming to the UK, they may continue to target those over whom they do have some control - namely students. Damage to the industry could be seen as acceptable unless we ensure that our voices are heard in a wider campaign to win votes and headlines in the run up to the next election."

Looking at the Government's new guidelines in more detail it is clear that INTO will be less affected than rivals like Study Group. Student rights to work, for example, will only be given to those at HEI's or publicly funded FE colleges, but because INTO predominantly operates in joint ventures with universities, all of its centres bar INTO Manchester will remain unaffected.

With regards to dependants, only those sponsored by HE institutions on courses of NQF level 7 or above lasting 12 months or more, or Government-sponsored students following courses longer than six months, will be able to bring their partners and children to the UK.

Other requirements include education providers to vouch that every new course taken by a student represents 'academic progression', and for students to provide proof of maintenance funds from validated financial institutions (UKBA will publish a list of banned finance institutions). Students may also be asked to attend an interview, either as part of the application process in-country or when they enter the UK.

Meanwhile, a new streamlined application process will assist students from low-risk countries such as Brunei, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore (full list available on UKBA website) who will have to provide fewer evidential documents.

For a more detailed explanation of the new Tier 4 guidelines (highly recommended for all INTO staff) please visit the UKBA website.