For Students

You Said We Did 2

We don't just ask for your opinion, we do something about it!

ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION

You said: It would be useful if internship information was sent earlier and it provided more details on the industry, the company, the internship position, and dress code.

We did: We have completely revised our internship preparation materials and all information is now easily accessible directly on our website, presented in a clear and engaging way

You said: More courses available on journalism, languages, architecture, filmmaking, culture, London subcultures, psychology, diversity with focus on refugees and migration, markets in London

We did: New courses developed and approved – Literary London , Twentieth-century British Migrant Fiction, London's Consumer Landscape: Arcade Halls and Shopping Malls, Intro to the Business Practices of the Evolving British Music Industry, and Diversity in Britain: Immigration, Discrimination, and Integration

You said: We didn’t know about the required course packs and related fees prior to arrival

We did: We created a clearer email related to textbooks, course packs, lab fees, and used textbooks (what is required, where/when available, prices) as part of our pre-departure communications

ADMINISTRATION

You said: More information should be sent earlier prior to arrival, and there should be less, more concise and engaging emails

We did: We introduced the ‘Preparing for London’ email campaign, reducing the number of emails from 14 to 5, and incorporating clear checklists of actions students need to complete at the time of each email

You said: Registration day is too busy and disorganized. Passport copies take too long.

We did: We have allocated timeslots per group/institution to spread arrivals throughout the day and avoid overcrowding. We invested in two tablets and implemented scanning instead of photocopying of passports which has reduced the waiting time to 1 minute per passport

You said: Laundry app is difficult to use and malfunctions often. It’s hard to plan when to do laundry since there are machines only in two of the residences

We did: We replaced the app with a top-up contactless card which is easy to use and does not depend on mobile phone settings or wi-fi

You said: The immigration information and visa application processes are difficult to understand

We did: We revised the information on the website, updated our Tier 4 and Short-Term Study Visa Guides with visual aids and process timelines, and created clearer emails.

You said: We would like to receive clearer, individual class schedules prior to arrival

We did: We invested in a new scheduling system, which provides individual schedules for each student. The schedules are sent 1 month prior to arrival.

STUDENT LIFE

You said: On orientation days it was hard to find the various sites

We did: Residence Life Supervisors lead groups of students for every registration slot from the residences to Foundation House

You said: Orientation schedule could be better structured, and indicate all events, timings, locations and mandatory meetings

We did: New schedule in a leaflet format was created and distributed in both paper and electronic form.

You said: Internet speed and wifi coverage could be better

We did: We are gradually replacing old access points with new ones which can handle more users at any given time. New firewalls were put in place which have a pass-through of 100Mbps on 100Mbps network and 1gbps (1024Mbps) on 1gbps network.

How we work together to make a difference

STUDENT PROJECTS
HOW IT WORKS
LEAD A PROJECT
SUBMIT AN IDEA

STUDENT PROJECTS

Examples of how students have made a tangible change at FIE

Megan Castillo, LMU, Spring 2018	Sydney Strother, Winthrop University, Fall 2018

Black British History	LGBTQ+ Dublin
Megan created Black British History: A Quick Historical Guide as a resource for students who may not know about the history and background of the African diaspora in Britain. Her work provides students with the opportunity to learn about black history through a British lens – a big change from the American-centric education many FIE students will have received.	Sydney created a resource guide for LGBTQ+ students studying at FIE Dublin. The guide includes information on resources from all 3 Dublin partner universities, healthcare, helplines, and travel information.

Bryan Moreira, CSBSJU, Spring 2017	Raquel Quezada, University of Florida, Spring 2017

Islamaphobia presentation	Anti-Immigration: A Global Crisis
Bryan gave a presentation at the 2017 Student Global Leadership Conference engaging in the tough topic of Islamophobia. His work encourages people to disarm tensions and build bridges through understanding.	Raquel presented her project – Anti-immigration: A Global Crisis – at the 2017 Student Global Leadership Conference. She articulated the importance of fighting anti-immigration sentiment with empathy, grace, and good humour

Abdulsalam Oganla, Knox College, Spring 2016	Lizette Medina, University of Florida, Fall 2016

FIE Charity Football Tournament	FIE Student Blog
Abdulsalam organized a football (soccer) tournament for his fellow students and FIE staff to raise money for Marol Academy – a school in South Sudan. An article on Abdulsalam’s project was also published on Knox’s news website.	Lizette was the first student blogger to the newly created FIE study abroad blog. She wrote about the things students are concerned about; settling in, living with other people, getting to travel, balancing all of it with studying in a way that is relatable and easy to follow. Through her posts about the culture, religion, and food from the places she visited, she explored the diversity and inclusivity in London, in England, and in other countries. Read her adventures at www.fiestudyabroad.wordpress.com

Danyal Dawson, CSB-SJU Fall 2014	Scarlyn Gutierrez, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Spring 2015	Thomas Swigart, Temple University, Fall 2015

A Guide to Afro-Caribbean London	Empowering women through sexual education	London Transport: Creating a Sustainable World
Danyal created a guide to Afro-Caribbean culture in London to help students feel close to home even while studying abroad. Working on the project Danyal got to explore new places in London, speak to locals and experience the Afro-Caribbean culture first-hand, sharing her valuable experience with her peers and the students to come.	Scarlyn conducted secondary analysis research on sex education in London to help empower women and begin to understand the topic in the context of British culture. She presented her findings at FIE’s Student Global Leadership Conference and became a leader in the conversation about women’s rights and sex education.	Thomas created a video exploring initiatives the city of London and the UK are implementing to manage millions of people, yet lead a sustainable lifestyle.

HOW IT WORKS

Have you identified something that could be better at FIE? Are there resources we don’t currently provide and you would like to create them? Is there a new initiative or group you would like to organize?

We want to hear all about it! Here is how it works:

Proposal - submit a project proposal using the project form below
Approval - A staff member will be in touch up to 5 days after the submission to discuss your project
Planning – complete project brief with clear outline of tasks, timelines, goals and team roles
Project activities – execute your project tasks, track progress and communicate regularly with your team and staff partner
Project end – submit final summary of the project and showcase your achievements

LEAD A PROJECT

Ready to make a difference? Fill out the information below and let’s get started!

First Name
Last Name
School
Semester
Year
Tell us about your project idea, send to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Consider including the following details: What is your idea? How are you going to achieve it? Are you going to work alone or with other students? Will you need the help of FIE staff and for which activities? What resources would you need? Are there any limitations you anticipate? How much time will it take you to implement? How will your project improve the experience of students and FIE’s services?

At FIE we are committed to working with you as partners with shared responsibility and decision-making, empowering you to be co-creators of your own educational experience. In the spirit of true partnership we have listed below the key actions we are committed to and what we expect from you in return, so we can all learn, live and work better together.

Our Commitment to You	Your Commitment to Us
Working and living together We encourage everyone living and learning with FIE to be a part of our diverse, supportive and inclusive community, in which we ensure equal opportunities to all.	Working and living together Be a responsible and respectful member of the FIE community, valuing diversity and learning from differences in people, ideas, and situations.
Teaching and learning We are committed to providing you with high-quality educational experiences through rigorous academic content, experiential learning and curriculum driven by FIE’s core values - inclusivity, ethics and human rights, social and cultural engagement, and sustainability.	Teaching and learning Take ownership over your own learning and participate in all learning activities. Submit academic work in accordance with course requirements. Evaluate the impact of your behavior, as global citizens, on an environmental, social, and economic scale using London as your classroom.
Sustainability We are committed to fostering a sustainable future by implementing value-driven curriculum and community initiatives to encourage sustainable living and practices such as ethical consumption, fair trade and education of those within our community.	Sustainability Recognize your responsibility as a global citizen and consider how your actions impact your immediate environment and the wider world you live in.
Quality Assurance Our academics, housing, and internship provision undergo extensive internal and external monitoring mechanisms to continuously improve the quality of our programs. We provide you with regular opportunities to comment on our services as a true partner in shaping your education experience.	Quality Assurance Help us improve the experience for you and future students by sharing your views through our course, mentor and program feedback, as well as in personal interactions with staff.
Health and Safety Provide a safe, secure, and healthy learning environment for everyone. Provide you with the tools to keep yourself safe, such as the Emergency Incident Response documents, Health and Safety Abroad information, Illness and Emergencies information, and written and verbal instruction before, during, and after your program.	Health and Safety Be proactive and aware of your surroundings. Be prepared and well informed of FIE's safety protocols and who to contact in case of emergency.
Services and facilities Offer a wide range of services and facilities with trained and qualified staff who will provide assistance and advice before, during, and after your program. Providing clear information about your academics, internships, housing, and student life experience while abroad.	Services and facilities Making effective use of facilities and services provided and planning your use of resources responsibly and in accordance with published codes of practice.