Global `The Student Working Internationally' Focus groups. GOALS & OBJECTIVES
These focus groups have been designed to gain information and ideas about ways the Global Student project can best resource students at UWA in terms of increasing their understanding and preparedness to work in international and global workplaces so, as graduates, they are in the best position to take advantage of global trends and global employment opportunities (thereby building UWA's reputation in the international arena).
FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS
Key stakeholders for the project are domestic students, international students, UWA administration/hierarchy, employers interested in employing UWA graduates (either globally or domestically), International school... 4 focus groups with unique participants in each will be used to gather information. They will consist of: International students (a self selected group who indicated following the `Will I stay will I go?' seminar they would be happy to participate in a focus group) Domestic students (sourced via uni mentor email and via Nicole Crawford?) Staff from international office, LACE representative, Malcolm Fialho, a global employer representative (looking for graduates from UWA) a UWA admin/hierarchy person...???) academic representative (Michael Sutherland? Nicole Crawford?) Postgraduate students (International and Domestic) A deliberate decision has been made to try to run separate focus groups initially for domestic and international students to better encourage more open dialogue.
PROCESS
The focus groups will be structured with use of open ended questions in order to promote discussion amongst the participants. General questions are planned with limited guidance from the facilitator in order to limit the possibility of the information gained being determined by the questions asked. Potential participants will be emailed so as to determine availability. Once the group is established they will be sent information that will more fully explain the purpose of the focus group, so they have the chance to think about the issues prior to coming together to discuss them. During the introduction phase the facilitator will offer: a brief overview of the Global Student project
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an explanation as to the purpose of the focus group an explanation as to the way the information will be used (and an assurance that the participants will not be identified).
Participants will then be asked to introduce themselves briefly before questions. The first questions will consist of very general key question in order to try to ensure that useful information is not inadvertently excluded by more focused questions. This will enable the collection of information that will provide a context for subsequent information gathered. Participants will be that informed all opinions and views should be expressed and will be recorded. Participants should not be trying to persuade other people that their ideas are the correct ones. The questions will be given and participants will be given a few minutes to write brief notes (individual thinking) before everyone will be given an opportunity to give their response. Following individual responses, a time for clarification will follow then open discussion will take place. Summary and interpretation of the discussion of each question will be written up as part of the process with participants able to suggest amendments. After the focus group questions have been asked participants will be given a range of ideas regarding the Global Student project that have been put forward and asked to comment upon them. Participants will be thanked and offered copies of the focus group report when it has been compiled.
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION
Contextual questions
What does the concept of a global student mean to you? What is your understanding of becoming globalised?
Key information What do graduates from UWA lack in terms of becoming globalised? What information would be useful? What activities/events could help? How is it best to implement the ideas? How can the project best facilitate cross cultural communication between students?
Ideas already identified by the Global Student Steering committee
Networking events (between Australian and International students and both groups with relevant employees)
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Virtual Careers Expo Peer mentoring (an opportunity for students to engage in cross cultural communication particularly in a work environment)
Other ideas Business dinner etiquette (based around a ...