London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has won a Pilot Project Award under the scheme run by the UK Council for International Student Affairs with funding from The Prime Minister’s Initiative for International Education.

The project 'Preparing international students for the British higher education experience: the role of Regional Alumni Hubs' is designed to better prepare international students for the British postgraduate education experience, by arranging links with alumni in their own countries before departure. Volunteer Alumni Ambassadors will be appointed in Nigeria, Kenya and India, and together with students offered places at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, will be invited to attend an alumni event in that country.

The meeting between the Alumni Ambassadors and the new students will allow the students to meet each other, to exchange information and concerns, and for the Ambassadors to share experiences and offer guidance. This could include practical advice about visa issues, bank accounts, transport and housing, things to take, useful contacts, and places to visit, as well as advice as to how to get the most out of the educational opportunities available. The meetings will also be attended by the Alumni Relations Manager and a member of staff from the Registry.

Alumni Relations Manager Alice Perry says: “Alumni Ambassadors initiate a continuous relationship with students, acting as mentors, a source of advice about life in London, and keeping students up to date with developments and opportunities in their home country. Linking students with alumni from their home country will build international capacity and fully involve the student and alumni community in the School’s mission to improve health worldwide.”

Stuart Anderson, the Associate Dean of Studies says: “By strengthening the quality of the student experience, with students making full use of the educational opportunities available, we hopeto further enhance satisfaction ratings amongst the students concerned. Many other higher education institutions are currently developing links with their alumni, including their international alumni, and the model being piloted in this study has the potential for wide application throughout the sector.”