What keeps an international student recruitment expert awake at night?

The life of an international recruitment expert is extremely demanding but very rewarding. I still remember the first student I ever counselled, at a fair in 2010, who decided to come study an MBA with us at Brunel. Today, he is a senior manager at a technology company in South Asia. He still recalls our conversations and how I devotedly answered his hourly questions over LinkedIn. I still remember him as the student who asked me a new question every hour until the day he enroled with us.

You may not believe this, but behind the glory of travelling across the world, international recruitment experts often experience a host of challenges that keep them awake at night. One of the aspects of that worries me is the inclusion and success of international students.  

An international student leaves their home, friends, and family to come to an alien country; probably one they have never been before and often facing a cultural shock and homesickness. Do we educate our prospective students enough on what life will be in the UK? They are often speaking with consultants in their home country who more than often show them the ‘big dream’, but think of yourself - do all of our dreams always come true? How do you prepare these students to face challenging circumstances?  

Effective communication is key to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for international students. Language barriers, cultural differences and varied communication styles can pose significant challenges. Sometimes I wonder do we do enough to make the leaders of tomorrow feel warmly welcome to their new home? 

In my team, we recruit international students to do a placement year with us, and we end up learning so much from them and their journey. Our current placement student is from Kazakhstan and very excitedly shared how she has come out of her introvert self to become a TikTok influencer!  

Lastly, but very importantly, I feel anxious about the positioning of the UK in the higher education galaxy. I say galaxy because studying overseas is a ‘dream’ for most study abroad aspirants. I am a very strong believer in the value an educational experience in the UK has to offer, it can change your life in a way you never imagined it would. When I look back at my journey as an international student in London in 2008, I can tell you I was nervous, anxious, excited, and most certainly preparing for a bright future. London and Brunel welcomed me with open arms and became my home in days of my arrival and looking at myself today, life comes back a full circle. I wouldn’t be here in the higher education industry if I hadn’t come to the UK for my masters.  

Shivani will be joined by Lily Rumsey, Director of Global Engagement at Loughborough University, at International Student Recruitment Conference 2023. They will be discussing the issues keeping their teams awake at night. Secure your spot today on our site.