Annual Report 2009 - St Mary's University College

St Mary’s University College
Twickenham London
Annual Report 2009
www.smuc.ac.uk
St Mary’s University College
Twickenham London
Annual Report 2009
www.smuc.ac.uk
Chaplaincy
International
Office
Carol Singing for Children’s
Charities
Growing in Faith: The
Chaplaincy at St Mary’s has a
strong Catholic identity, but is
open to everybody of all faiths
and none, with Mass celebrated
on campus each day and the
multi-faith prayer room being
well used. The Chaplaincy
Centre is purpose built and
provides an excellent
atmosphere where students
can meet and socialise together.
The Chaplaincy helps students
to grow in their friendship with
others, to feel supported and to
be part of building community
on our campus.
The Chaplaincy team believes
that it is important that students,
while studying for their degrees,
are also educated in their faith.
During the academic year we
organise various short courses,
retreats and talks, as well as
taking part in pilgrimages.
Former student Claire Keily
recently returned to St Mary’s
to talk to a group of students
on her one year placement in
the Philippines which was
organised by the Chaplaincy.
Claire spoke of her work in the
Katin Aran Children’s Centre
and thanked the Chaplaincy
for their generous funding
which supported the food
programme and the rebuilding
of their Chapel.
We have recently been
awarded the title of Fair Trade
Chaplaincy. The Interfaith Week
was celebrated on campus in
November to strengthen
relations between faiths at
all levels and build stronger
bonds of understanding and
co-operation.
The Chaplaincy has introduced
a Facebook group and the
Chaplaincy blog and the
students are responding well to
the messages which we send.
The Chaplaincy continues to
play a pivotal role in the life of
the University College, working
closely with staff and students
to ensure the continued growth
and development of our
community and beyond.
–
Chaplaincy
Chaplaincy
Facebook Group
The 2008-12 St Mary’s
Strategic Plan saw the inclusion
of a new strategic aim: the
expansion of our international
dimension. The International
Office, established in early
2008, contributed to this in a
number of ways:
– We expanded the number
of EU and non-EU partner
institutions from ten to thirty,
with wider-ranging
geographical locations all over
the world. This has enhanced
both our home student
mobility and our international
student intakes significantly.
– Our non-EU undergraduate
and postgraduate student
intake increased by 33% from
2007/08 to 2008/09 and the
attached income levels rose
by 55%. The international fee
policy was brought closer in
line with sector standards
and the foundations of a
support infrastructure were
also laid down.
– To give us more international
edge and visibility, we have
joined the British Council
Education UK Partnership;
UKCISA, the UK Council for
International Affairs; NAFSA,
the Association of International
Educators; ACCU, the
Association of Catholic
Colleges and Universities
and BUTEX, the British
Universities Transatlantic
Exchange Association.
– We created partnerships with
local institutions that welcome
and prepare international
students for entering UK
Higher Education. Part of
these efforts was to create a
Foundation Programme with
three dedicated St Mary’s
academic study skills modules,
which was completed by
fifteen international students
in 2008/09.
– We have started the
development of an overseas
agent network, to provide
us with representation in
countries that our small team
cannot regularly reach for
student recruitment purposes.
The Head of the International
Office was joined by a second
member of staff, an International
Officer, in June 2009.
International Office
16
17