The University of Huddersfield, one of SBC's core partner universities in the UK, was recently voted number one in a global survey which asked international students to rate their learning and living experiences.
Some 48,000 students voted and Huddersfield emerged head and shoulders above the rest of the field, scoring 87.4%, almost five percentage points ahead of all other universities rated.
It was rated both number one in the UK and number one in the world.
The survey was the highly regarded International Student Barometer (IBS) carried out by the International Graduate Insight Group, an independent benchmarking and consultancy service for education.
The summer 2011 survey covered UK Higher Education institutions, with 31,000 responses from international students, and 65 international HE institutions, with more than 40,000 responses.
The ISB is an online survey, run since 2005, which covers three key aspects of the student experience: learning, living and support.
Students are asked more than 60 questions. They are asked for their views on issues such as course organisation, expert lecturers, library and technology facilities. The survey also looks at the cost and quality of accommodation, social facilities, catering and the careers service.
Huddersfield scored particularly highly on employability and work experience, with students being given the chance to earn money during their studies. The University’s teachers and courses also scored well, with the clean, modern campus earning high marks.
Currently the University of Huddersfield has 2,500 international students from 120 countries, including 800 from China.
SBC has been working closely with the University of Huddersfield, one of the JV partner owners of SBC and one of only two pioneering UK partner universities officially approved to run degree programmes at SBC. The first ever SBC/USST students completing a full Huddersfield bachelor’s degree entirely in Shanghai graduated in July, with 1/3 of the students receiving First and Upper Second degrees.
In 2010, the unique and exciting collaborative links between the two institutions was strengthened at the highest level by the visit of Professor Sir Patrick Stewart, Chancellor and Professor Bob Cryan, Vice-Chancellor (President) of the University of Huddersfield. When they were in Shanghai, Sir Patrick and Professor Cryan presented awards to seven of the top students studying Huddersfield’s Events Management course at SBC.
Events Management students are offered opportunities to spend a period of time in the University of Huddersfield to gain a truly international experience. In 2010, sixty Year 3 Events Management students at SBC went to the UK and studied in Huddersfield for two months, and earlier this year another 57 students were sent to Huddersfield for an extended study period.
Moreover, there has been a rapid growth in the number of 2+2 and 3+1 students going to Huddersfield from SBC. For example, for 2+2 students, in 2008 there were only 10 2+2s went to Huddersfield, but in 2011 the number has gone up to 57, making the total number 173 for the last four years.
Professor Ian Gow OBE, Principal of SBC is very delighted about the news. He said: "It is not really surprising that they have won such a prestigious internationally recognized award. I visited the campus recently and Vice Chancellor (President) Bob Cryan had personally arranged a special celebration for all Chinese students to celebrate Chinese New Year. It was very clear then that Huddersfield really looks after all its international students with all round support and great cultural sensitivity. The university deserves our warmest congratulations."
