NEW FACES

Jason Hall 

International marketing and recruitment manager
INTO OSU 

Jason is involved in marketing all undergraduate, graduate, MBA, pathway and English programs overseas and recruiting the best and brightest from around the globe to study at Oregon State University. Jason holds a BS in marketing and an MBA with a focus on international marketing management from Portland State University, and is fluent in Korean. Prior to INTO OSU he oversaw international marketing at a high-tech company in San Francisco. Jason is originally from Medford, Oregon, and his interests include playing and watching sports, volunteering in the community, and being the best dad he can be.

 
 

Lupita Arcipreste 

Executive assistant
INTO OSU 

Lupita supports the director of academic programs and the director of international admissions. She grew-up in Mexico City and, during her adolescent years, moved with her family to Los Angeles, California, where she lived until recently when she decided to move to the state of Oregon. Lupita's interests range from writing short fictional stories in Spanish and English, reading and constructing traditional Mexican papier-mache crafts to listening to music, playing the alto saxophone, volunteering and hiking.

 
 

Susan Beddes 

Associate pathway coordinator
INTO OSU 

Before arriving at INTO Oregon State University in fall 2011, Susan spent two years in Luhansk, Ukraine on an English language fellowship. She has an EdM from Boston University and previous experience teaching in the US and Costa Rica. Susan recently drove across the United States from her home state of Massachusetts to her new home in Oregon and she highly recommends this classic road trip experience. She is an avid traveler who seeks out unique foods and Latin dance venues in each new city she visits.

 
 

NEW JOBS

Student Support Assistant – Web Applications Developer

$9.00 - $11.00/hour
Tampa, Florida, USA

Academic Support Officer

tbc
INTO UEA London

Recruitment Director, China, Hong Kong and Macau

Salary commensurate for the role
Shanghai, with regular travel to regions across China

Marketing Officer (Bangkok)

INTO offers competitive salary rates combined with an achievable bonus system. A monthly wage of BHT28,000-BHT35,000 and up to 20% annual bonus available.
Bangkok, Thailand

Academic programme

£32,000-£35,000 dependant on experience.
INTO Glasgow Caledonian University
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INTO This Week 87

15 Dec 2011

01

‘Tis the season to be jolly…

As we reach the end of a long and busy semester, staff and students around the INTO network have been enjoying Christmas festivities ahead of the winter break.

INTO University of Exeter staff got the party started a couple of weeks ago when they installed a real 13ft Christmas tree in the main lobby area of the new academic building (rather you than us on that ladder!). Dressed in INTO red and yellow decorations, the tree could be seen from around the building and students enjoyed taking photos with it. Staff at the centre were invited to attend the switching on of the tree's lights. Academic director Carolyn Walker did the honours while Christmas music played. After the switch was thrown, staff enjoyed mince pies and mulled wine in the INTO café. The cleaning team at the centre held a secret Santa this week, with an appearance from Father Christmas himself.

At INTO Manchester, staff and students came together last week to witness a one-off festive special - a pantomime performed by staff from the centre. Using an adaptation from the Parish of St Mary, they put on a truly unforgettable farcical version of Cinderella, with a Christmas twist, which raised more than £200 for the Wood Street Mission. Dressed in brilliant costumes (see picture above), highlights included a genius 'Elf and Safety' section and a historic enactment of Beyoncé's 'Single Ladies' by Jack Atkinson, economics teacher and Damian Owen, director of studies for International Diploma.

Adrienne Tighe, admissions and support officer, and also director of the show reflected, "Even though I directed the panto, it was a lovely surprise, and I was caught out with laughter, enough to miss a sound cue!" Dawn Abbott, the centre director commented, "I knew I had talented and dedicated staff but I did not know that the talents stretched to such dizzy thespian heights!!"

Big thanks to all those who took part, with a special mention of Margaret McCaughey, Foundation mathematics teacher for her dedication to costume and set design; Grace Tighe, who kindly helped with costumes and props and Adrienne Tighe, without whose artistic vision and input the show could not have gone on.

Trails, which includes Brighton Admissions' own Adam Rains on drums, have continued to promote their Christmas single, which is being sold to support INTO Giving. The band have played a gig in Guilford last week to raise more money, and this weekend will be playing at The Hope in Brighton on Saturday night. Well worth going to if you can!

INTO Newcastle University also got in to the fundraising act this week. Staff brought in muffins, biscuits and cake for a Christmas INTO Giving collection on Tuesday. It was a perfect pick-me-up for such a cold and miserable day, with the iced muffins baked by welfare officer Christine Upright being a popular fast-seller. Word spread round quickly and reception was soon full of staff and students wanting to buy cakes. In total, £60 was raised!

INTO central staff held their own Christmas party last week. Bringing together staff based in London and Brighton, it was held in a Brighton nightclub on the seafront. Staff dolled up in their finest frocks to enjoy festive cocktails and cheer in a Brighton seafront nightclub.

INTO Queen's University Belfast celebrated Christmas in style with a party at a local hotel in Belfast. Among the attendees were staff, current students, former students and even local students from Queen's. After a buffet, Santa (AKA Michael Graham, the centre's social assistant) appeared with a present for everyone. After a raffle, the students spent the night dancing and singing along with the DJ, culminating in a lively student dance off. Elaine Bell, INTO Queen's welfare and accommodation officer said, "I think everyone had a great night, including myself! It's great to see the effort the students go to for these events, they all looked fantastic and really pulled out all the stops. We danced the night away and it was nice to spend some time with the students outside of work. I'm really looking forward to next year's party already!"

At INTO UEA, all students were invited to a free Christmas dinner in the INTO café today, and will also be enjoying some Christmas party games. Tomorrow night, the students will be going to a local Norwich nightclub for the INTO Christmas party!

Over at INTO OSU, staff have planned some fun holiday activities for students staying on campus over the winter break. Students can make their own ornaments at a Christmas tree decorating party, where students can enjoy snacks, meet friends, and celebrate the holiday in Corvallis. Students will also have the chance to visit Portland Zoo, where millions of Christmas lights illuminate the park at night. It's a sparkling wonderland populated by lions, monkeys, and more! To welcome in the new year, staff will also take students to the Hoof'n'Holler Rodeo on December 31. It's a very American way to celebrate the new year, with bucking broncos, bull riding, and cowboy poker!

Happy Christmas everyone and see you in 2012!

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02

Celebrations as first INTO USF students graduate from USF

Last week in Tampa, Florida, a commencement ceremony was held to honor the University of South Florida’s December Class of 2011 graduates. The ceremony held special significance as it recognized four former INTO USF students - the first INTO USF students to progress on to, and complete, a USF program of study.

"This is a great milestone for our students and a demonstration of the results of hard work, drive and dedication," said Glen Besterfield, INTO USF center director.

"We are so proud of these students, who exemplify the excellence in education and student success that INTO USF stands for," he said. "We look forward to the future and wish our students the greatest success as they continue to build on this truly monumental accomplishment."

The students were the first ever students to go through an INTO USF Pathway program and graduate from the University of South Florida with a master's degree - a feat which each student achieved in less than two years.

Yaozhu Huang and Tao Wang were both awarded with a Master of Science (MS) in Mechanical Engineering; Ting-Yu Liao an MS in Material Science and Engineering; and Ye Zhang an MS in Marketing. All four students came from China.

The INTO USF students' achievements recognized during the opening speech by USF president Judy Genshaft as she spoke to the crowd about trailblazing and outstanding student success at the University of South Florida.

Before becoming degree-seeking students at USF, the students were in the Accelerated Pathway program at INTO USF, which allowed them take classes with domestic students while taking classes created specifically for international students to help them adapt to US university life.

-- Above, L-R: Ye Zhang, Dr. Glen Besterfield, INTO USF center director, Tao Wang, Huang Yaozhu celebrate

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03

INTO Exeter students on path to success after progression event

INTO University of Exeter students got to take part in a fun and interactive series of discussions and seminars recently to help give them a taste of undergraduate life and prepare for the transition on to University of Exeter degree programmes.

A series of progression activities have been put in place to help INTO University of Exeter students prepare for study at the top-ranked university. The initiative is a joint effort between INTO University of Exeter, the international liaison office and the University's colleges.

The most recent session was held last week when the college of social sciences and international studies held a programme especially designed for the INTO progressors. Rather than just giving a dry talk outlining the academic programme, the college was keen to engage the 35 INTO students in the real, live aspects of undergraduate study through an undergraduate taster session.

The students were welcomed by the associate dean for education, Professor Susan Banducci. She said afterwards, "We believe for the best academic experience that the relationship with our students starts well in advance of their first lecture. This event was a fantastic opportunity for the college of social sciences and international studies to work with the INTO students before they progress".

The students enjoyed a sample law seminar on murder from Dr Karen McAuliffe, which was interactive and fun. It demonstrated how the International Foundation programme at INTO Exeter prepares students for undergraduate study. The students were able to see how the topics introduced during their Foundation would be developed when they joined the law programme.

The students then took part in a lively panel debate on international relations, led by two PhD students. The INTO students were keen to get involved and offer their thoughts and arguments. The group also heard from students from the college who had completed the International Foundation programme at the INTO centre, which underlined the importance of the preparation programmes and provided the group with some top tips for success.

"There is no doubt that students found this event incredibly engaging," said Helen Turner, programme manager at INTO University of Exeter. "It was great to see them getting involved in the seminar discussion and debate with such enthusiasm."

After the seminars and discussions, the INTO students then listened to a legal debate from the college's award-winning Moot Team. The afternoon ended with a traditional Devon cream team and the opportunity to network with members of the academic faculty and current students from the college, and representatives from the Law and Politics Society.

"The afternoon was a real success," said Chloe Sharpe, international liaison officer at the University of Exeter. "The opportunity for INTO students to attend this sort of event is vital to supporting their successful progression. Hearing directly from academic staff and current students offers so much more than simply reading about the college in a brochure or on the web."

There were additional benefits to the afternoon too; "The event also gave me the opportunity to meet with my counterparts in the college," said Helen. "It is all part of continuing our work on ensuring consistency in programme and module content, delivery and assessment."

All of the students who attended had applied to progress on to one of the college's disciplines, which include law, politics, philosophy and sociology.

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