The number of international students worldwide has rapidly increased in the past two decades and growth will continue as the world reopens post-pandemic. It is vital to understand what impacts their experience on campus and how that affects student wellbeing. This session will shed light on what aspects of the learning and living experience matter most in determining respondents’ happiness with their life as an international student, and highlight appropriate institutional interventions.

Data drawn from students from over 100 institutions in 14 countries will be used as the basis for analysis of factors that contribute most to student happiness. Key elements such as building good contacts, employability, course organisation, and social facilities will be examined, and strategies highlighted to improve these areas. There will be a closer look at the links between student happiness and (i) value for money, and (ii) the student arrival experience. Students with the highest satisfaction with these aspects of their experience are more likely to report a high level of happiness with their overall study experience.

We will draw on client experience to highlight practical steps on how to enhance the student experience, improve the happiness of your students and thereby increase the flow of international students to your campuses.

Learning objectives:

• Greater clarity on what makes students happy.

• An appropriate understanding of how to effectively harness, measure and evaluate student feedback.

• Appropriate institutional strategies to promote, encourage and manage student happiness effectively.

The PIE Live Europe Programme

Programme