TUTORING INTERNATIONAL DEGREE STUDENTS

Purpose, People, Process & Principlesat Oulu UAS

Bastian FähnrichInternational Tutor Training

12 April 2013

International Student(s)

International Coordinator

Tutor Teacher

Tutor Student(s)

• Presenter: Bastian Fähnrich- Working currently as International Coordinator at Oulu UAS’ School of Engineering- Born & grew up in Germany, 1974-1997- Moved to Finland, Oulu in 1997- Reasons: (1) Love (2) exchange/degree studies and (3) work- Education: University of Oulu, Master of Education- Motto: “The sign of a healthy soul is that it can laugh at itself.”- Kept a diary about learning experience of being and/or becoming an international degree student (see example later)

INTRODUCTION /1

• Topic: Tutoring of International Degree Students

• Classical way of presenting and exploring a topicor human activity:

• Posing and answering questions(related to International Tutoring):

Why international tutoring?Who is doing international tutoring?How is it done? (including the following:What is done? By Whom is it done? When & Where is it done?)

INTRODUCTION /2

• Other classical way of presenting and exploring a topicor human activity:

• Defining aims and means to reach the aim(of international tutoring):

Aim: final state of affairs which is intended to be reachedMeans: method = a regular and systematic wayof accomplishing something, reaching an aim.Method stems from Greek methodos, pursuit, method :meta-, beyond, after; see meta- + hodos, way, journey.Means and methods are people (abilities, commitment)and their resources (time, place, money) and activities etc.

INTRODUCTION /3

• New way of presenting and exploring a topicor human activity: In terms of business management and industrial / organisational psychology:

• Purpose, People, Process, PrinciplesPurpose: aim or goal that is intended to be achievedby people through a process and activitiesPeople: people engaged (in an individual and collaborativeeffort) to meet a purpose through a process, guided by principlesProcess: purposeful activities or tasks planned and carried outby people with their abilities and resources(at places and during a time period)Principles: rules of conduct which are defined and agreed uponby people. Principles guide people and their process and activitiesof meeting a purpose.

INTRODUCTION /4

INTRODUCTION /5

Purpose

People Process

Principle2

Principle3

Principle1

PURPOSE /1 Purpose

• Tutoring aims at facilitating and achieving agood learning experience of international degree students

• Learning experience starts with application to degree programme in home country, preparations of moving to host country, travel, arrival and accommodation, registration and first days at place of living and study

• Learning experience continues throughout and beyond degree studies, including living, studying, working (as trainee or worker or job seeker/worker) in host / home country

• Learning experience consists of several components, and each deserves attention from all the people helping degree students to facilitate and achieve a good learning experience

Physical ComponentGetting familiar and learning

about (urban / natural) environment, accommodation, registration in local community and education facilities, food

provisions and monetary means and funds to make a living etc.

Personal ComponentLearning new things, recognising old features about oneself and others on

a personal level.

Social ComponentHaving the opportunity to

enlarge one’s circle of friends, meeting people from different

cultures / host culture and backgrounds: students, coordinators, teachers, workmates, locals etc.

Cultural ComponentExperiencing and learning about

different ways of life, food, customs, beliefs, values etc.

Academic/Professional Component

Getting to know different ways of learning, studying and doing work across cultures / in host culture, accomplishing good results for

academic and professional career.

Linguistic ComponentCommunicating in different

languages / host language(s), learning new languages,

improving language skills etc.

Organisational Compoment

Working together, cooperating, communicating effectively in participating, organising and

coordinating activities related to international mobility, education

and tutoring

PURPOSE /2= good learning experienceof incoming international

degree student

PURPOSE /3 Purpose

• Example 1 of a good learning experience of aninternational degree student (next slide):- Bastian’s diary entry, 1997- Diary entry shows a learning experience consisting of a cultural, social, linguistic and academic component- Note that learning doesn‘t always go smoothly, it involvesproblem solving and pain but leads to joy having learned sth

• Example 2: Learning experience possible for everyone involved in international tutoring and education (next slides)

• Example 3: Group Interview with degree students / international tutors and their learning experience, with reference to the components of a good learning experience (next slides)

PURPOSE /4 Purpose

• For Student:“A tutor student acts as a guide and a support for [foreign] students (…). Foreign students need someone to help them to cope with their studies and student life as well as with culture shock (…) Without tutors, the students might feel lost and alone especially during the first days of studies.” (OSAKO, International Tutor’s Guide)

• For Tutor Student:“As an international tutor you benefit from your work. International affairs have become a part of our everyday life and also labour market call for international know-how. You gain new friends, get to know different cultures, get international work experience and improve your language skills (...) As a tutor you get to meet a lot of new people and develop skills that you cannot learn by sitting on a school bench, such as social skills, leadership, organizational skills and performing experiences.“ (OSAKO, International Tutor’s Guide)

• For Oulu UAS:“We value the work being done by tutor students, as they guide and assist foreign students from a student point of view. They have an important role on our campus in welcoming foreign students and creating an edifying study culture together with fellow students as well as academic and administrative staff.” (International Coordinator).

PURPOSE /5 Purpose

• Let‘s have a Group Interview with degree students / intl. tutors and their learning experience, with reference to the components of a good learning experience!

• We‘ve invited students / intl. tutors from the Degree Programme in Information Technology. Welcome along! We shall let them introduce themselves first, and then I will present questions to them. Feel free to comment and ask as well!

PURPOSE /6 Purpose

• Introductory Questions:– What is your name and where are you from?– When did you come to Finland?– Why did you come for studies in Finland/Oulu?

• Main Questions:We’ve just heard about different components (cultural, social, academic) that make up a good learning experience for foreign degree students!We’d now like to ask you briefly about your own experience as a foreign degree student and/or international tutor!– Which of the components presented do/did you personally find important

when you came to Finland / worked as a peer tutor?– Is there any positive experience and critical instance that you value

and would place emphasis for future tutors?

• Concluding Question:Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts! To end this group interview:– Could you give one tip for our international tutors of what they should pay attention to when

tutoring foreign degree students in the future!

PEOPLE /1

• People engaged in achieving and facilitatinga good learning experience (NB! Different people at schools – this topic will be dealt with in more detail in school tutor meetings!) :

International Degree Student(s)International Tutor Student(s)International Coordinator(s)Tutor Teacher of Degree ProgrammeTeachers and Head of Degree Programme and DepartmentAdmissions / Student Affairs Officer…

People

Purpose

PEOPLE /2• People working together, collaborating for a purpose:

People

International Student(s)

Tutor Student(s)

International Coordinator

Tutor Teacher

Teacher(s)

Admissions Officer

Family member(s)

Friend(s)

Other People

PROCESS

• Process consists of activities and tasks planned and carried out by people (tutor students etc.) to meet a purpose, i.e. a good learning experience of international degree students(NB! Different process at schools – this topic will be dealt within more detail in school tutor meetings!)

• Activities and tasks pertaining to a process are performedby certain people at different places andduring various time periods

• People join, create, reflect on and evaluate the processby means of their abilities and resources

• Principles guide people and their process and activitiesof meeting a purpose (last slide)

Process

PRINCIPLES /1

• Principles guide people and their processand activities of meeting a purpose.

• People define and agree upon principles.• People are committed to principles and act accordingly.

PRINCIPLES / 2

Participation & Exploration

Everyone involved, especially, degree student(s), tutor and

international coordinator. Carrying out tasks and

participating in / exploring process and activities, including evaluation

Organisation & Coordination

Organising and coordinating the process of tutoring together, on the basis of certain tasks and activities as well as abilities and

resources!

Information &Communication

Exchanging information, keeping each other posted by e-mail,

facebook, phone, face to face, special occasions etc. – includes

all the people directly and indirectly involved in tutoring

USEFUL INFORMATION

www.oamk.fi/english/ects

www.osakoweb.fi > International Tutor’s Guide

Material & Resourcesfrom International Coordinator

www.oamk.fi/~bafahnri/kv-tuutorointi/2013

All the best foryour tutoring activities

and experience ;-)

QUESTIONS & COMMENTS

International Student(s)

Tutor Student(s)

International Coordinator

Tutor Teacher