Queen’s University Centre for Educational Development
TESS - Case Study Template
(ideally 2 x A4 sheets, Arial 11)
Title of project: Expanding International Learning
Context
Institutional theme – e.g. Enhancing the student academic experience:
Internationalizing student experience/ Localizing international students
School/Subject:
History and Anthropology
Learning Environment (e.g. lecture, tutorial, fieldwork) and Level of Student:
Field trips
Abstract
Brief project summary (max 500 words) – including aims, rationale, methods used,
outcomes:
The goal of this project was to expand opportunities for international learning within the
School of History and Anthropology through interactive, experiential investigation at
historical sites. The TESS funds enabled international students visiting Queen’s to take
part in a series of local excursions to enrich their coursework in Irish History, Irish Studies
and Anthropology.
Four field trips have taken place and two more are planned. Thus far, some 80 students
have participated in at least one and many in more than one field trip. These have
included a large number of students from China, the USA and Germany, in particular.
The trips include:
1. May 2010. Trip to Derry and the border area by ten MA students. This trip was led
by Prof. Mary O’Dowd, as well as Drs Paddy Fitzgerald and Brian Lambkin who
are from the Centre for Migration Studies in the Ulster American Folk Park.
2. October 1, 2010. Coach tour of Belfast led by Dr Dominic Bryan of the Institute for
Irish Studies.
3. October 7, 2010. Coach tour of Derry under the leadership of Dominic Bryan of
the Institute for Irish Studies.
4. October 24, 2010, Walking tour of River Lagan, including Giant’s Ring, Shaw’s
Bridge and Lockkeeper’s Cottage led by Dr Todd Weir.
5. October 2011, Trip to Derry or Strangford Lough with a lecturer from Irish Studies.
6. May 2012, Trip to Derry and the border area for MA students to be led by Prof.
Mary O’Dowd.
For international students in Northern Ireland for one semester or one year, the chance to
get outside of Belfast and experience historical and anthropological sites first hand has
proven invaluable. Many students were first able to make sense of local history during
these tours.
Evaluation and Reflection
What benefits have there been for staff/students in your School?
International and GB students formed the overwhelming bulk of participants in these field
trips. These trips served to greatly enhance their learning experience and aid in their
integration into the School community.
The trips benefitted staff by giving them an opportunity to deepen their engagement with
a sector of the student population that is of particular importance to the future of the
University. We learned a great deal, particularly from our new Chinese students, in the
course of these trips.
Impact of the project on the institutional theme (identified above):
These tours helped with our internationalization efforts in two ways. First they helped
make Queen’s a more attractive and welcoming place for the international students. It
helped lower the social thresholds that keep some international or GB students feeling
isolated from the city or from the Queen’s community more generally. Thus some
students expressed gratitude to trip leaders for getting them to walk into the town center
or along the Lagan river. Overall, these practical opportunities for hands-on learning
aided acculturation as well as learning.
Secondly, these trips raised the profile of the international students within the School.
Many students from GB and Northern Ireland who attended these trips had an
international experience in their interaction with visiting students. The positive
associations developed through the trips can be measured by the number of student
attendees, who later in the semester showed up at recruitment meetings to go on
Erasmus exchange.
Advice And Tips – for anyone doing similar work (were there any challenges, issues,
problems?):
Internet proved to be an effective way to manage the lists of students participants in the
larger trips.
Looking forward – where next for the project?
We would like to see the School continue with such field trips, particularly in conjunction
with international and GB induction activities.
For more information/support material, visit the website (url):
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118115408213214&v=app_2344061033
Contact Details:
Dr Todd Weir
t.weir@qub.ac.uk
tel 3312