YSJ International
YSJ International brings together in one Directorate the full range of international
activities at York St John University; these encompass international recruitment,
international partnership development, staff and student mobility, international
student welfare, internationalisation, and a thriving EFL department. The EFL
Department operates year-round, offering a range of general English, EAP, ESP and
teacher development courses. The majority of our students come from the Middle
East, Europe and Asia.
Our general English course comprises students who are studying English for various
purposes. Some come to York St John to improve their overall language ability
during a break from work or studies. However, most have very specific high-stakes
goals that they wish to achieve. Many would like to pursue a university degree but
first need to improve their overall level of English. Others are working towards
entering professional training in the UK.
An important part of YSJ International’s work is under contract from the Royal Air
Force. Students, primarily from the Middle East, progress from general English to
aviation English in preparation for entering flying training, starting with Ground School
at RAF Cranwell. Some groups may be preparing for other training with the British
Armed Forces such as Initial Officer Training at RAF Cranwell. YSJ International also
offers general Military English courses, sponsored by MODUK for officers from
Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
During the summer, YSJ International runs a variety of courses. We offer an English
Language summer programme for 6 weeks in July and August, which attracts
students from many countries and backgrounds. Overseas universities also send
students to study in closed groups, on our summer programme, or on our general
English course. Summer is also the most popular time for teacher development
courses for primary and secondary teachers of English, and we traditionally welcome
groups of teachers from Europe and Asia.
YSJ International offers EAP courses in the summer and throughout the academic
year. In the summer we have a pre-masters and a pre-sessional course. During term
time, YSJ International offers an International Foundation programme (that
constitutes the first year of the York St John 4-year degree) and a tailor-made study
abroad programme for English Major students at undergraduate level. YSJ
International’s Language Support Tutor also provides in-sessional language support
for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
YSJ International courses have been operating for over 25 years and are accredited
by the British Council. We enjoy quality teaching accommodation in the heart of the
University and, over the years, we have built up an excellent range of resources for
learning and teaching. The Language Support Centre, located within YSJ
International, is open Tuesday afternoons and all day Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The Language Support Centre has an impressive range of computer-based and
paper-based resources for self-access. The Language Support Tutor provides
focused in-sessional language support through a mix of workshops and
individualised learning plans and tutorials.
Teaching posts within YSJ International are not under the national academic contract,
as they do not include a research or income-generation commitment. Teaching staff
are required to make a full commitment over the summer months and may be asked
to undertake some overseas work for short periods.
For further information, please see our website (www.yorksj.ac.uk ) or contact
Theresa McDonald (Head of EFL) on 01904-876789 or email t.mcdonald@yorksj.ac.uk
York St John University: About Us
Our Mission
York St John is committed to the provision of excellent, open and progressive higher
education that embraces difference, challenges prejudice and promotes justice, and
is shaped by York St John's Church foundation.
Building on this foundation, we will:
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Provide widely-accessible opportunities for life-long learning, underpinned by
scholarship and research;
Extend and deepen YSJ's external contribution regionally, nationally and
globally; and
Foster a supportive, creative, critical and reflective community which
promotes personal and professional development for both students and staff.
York St John is a Church of England University, with a distinctive vision, that secures
student success.
Ethos
We welcome and encourage people of all beliefs continuously to question, discover
and celebrate life through openness, struggle, laughter and reflection. In the daily life
of York St John we express our values and spirituality in a creative and challenging
environment that enables people to develop their potential in a changing world.
Key Strategic Aims
The following key strategic aims have been developed in support of the University’s
Mission:
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To be an inclusive and accessible university
To provide flexible student-centred curricula with excellent teaching
To be an employer of choice
To be a leading regional university with a strong commitment to
internationalisation
To be a learning organisation promoting lifelong learning through partnership
and collaboration
To offer a transforming student experience
To build capacity and good practice in research and knowledge exchange
To be financially and environmentally sustainable
Branding
Within the highly competitive higher education sector ‘brand’ differentiation is an
increasingly critical success factor in marketing, recruitment and retention. The
University has therefore identified five brand values to inform our 2007-12 planning
cycle.
These have been identified following extensive consultation with staff, students and
external audiences and stakeholders.
1. Inclusive
2. Transforming
3. Progressive
4. Relevant
5. Approachable
Branding Attributes
• Quality higher education and knowledge creation
• Open to all with the actual or latent ability to benefit
• Grounded in an established and constantly evolving progressive social tradition
• Locally owned
History
York Diocesan Training School, for teacher education, opened in May 1841 with one
pupil on the register, 16 year old Edward Preston Cordukes. (The current Students'
Union building is named in his honour). 1846 saw the foundation of the Female
Training School. Both prospered and the lack of space in York resulted in the move
of the Women's College to Ripon in 1862. The college in York was described as St
John's College from the late 1890s.
By 1904 St John's was the largest Diocesan College in the country with 112 students
(today we have just over 5,000 students studying with us).
The 20th century saw both institutions develop new education programmes for
increasing numbers of students, culminating in their unification as the College of
Ripon & York St John in 1974.
Our relationship with the University of Leeds dates back to 1920. In 1990 we became
a full College of the University. During the summer of 2001 College signed a new
accreditation agreement with the University which allowed the maximum level of
devolved responsibility that the University can give whilst retaining responsibility for
the award of degrees.
In 1999 the College's Board of Governors decided to relocate all taught courses to
the York campus - and by the end of 2001 all students and staff had transferred
across to York. In view of the change of location a new name was chosen, York St
John.
In September 2005 York St John was granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers.
Following this, YSJ received approval from the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
to become a University College and adopted the full title of York St John University
College on the 1 February 2006.
Our application for university status meant undergoing a further stage of assessment
and scrutiny and as of 1 October 2006, York St John University College changed its
name and identity to become York St John University. This tremendous
achievement took place in York St John's 165th year. We can look back proudly over
our long and successful history, but it is also with great excitement and anticipation
that we look forward to our future as York St John University.
The current curriculum portfolio is detailed in the prospectus and at www.yorksj.ac.uk
Our Future
Strategic Transformation
The achievement of University title is part of an ongoing process of strong investment
in and ambition for the future of York St John as a higher education regional provider.
The University is nearing completion of the development of a corporate plan for the
period 2007-12 which will underpin its recently agreed key strategic aims.
A major investment of £75 million in recent years has seen the development of
exciting and cutting-edge buildings and facilities. The campus is now an impressive
blend of the contemporary and the historic, ranging from the recently completed De
Grey Court to the Victorian Quadrangle. De Grey Court is a signature building that
was designed to complete the dynamic modernisation of the campus. Completed in
2008, the new building contains modern teaching spaces and office accommodation
for the Faculty of Health and Life Science and York St John Business School. The
building has won eight awards for its architectural design and build quality.
We are now looking to the future and are currently planning the refurbishment of one
of the older Victorian buildings to provide multi purpose office accommodation.
Working in Partnership
York St John University is actively engaged in developing partnership work through a
range of initiatives and activities. Below is a small sample of some of the partnership
working we are involved in.
Higher York
Higher York is a partnership linking college and university education for the benefit of
local learners, staff, employers and the wider community. York St John University is
one of the partners, along with Askham Bryan College, The University of York, York
College and the City of York Council.
Church Colleges and Universities
York St John University is an active member of the Council of Church Colleges and
Universities (CCU) which seeks to provide a Christian voice in higher education.
International links
We have a strong strategic internationalisation agenda at York St John, covering our
curriculum, services, partnerships and the student body. We have a long tradition of
welcoming international students, with increasing numbers coming from the USA,
Canada, the European Union, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, South East Asia and Central
European countries.