International outlook

BU embeds global perspectives within the curriculum, ensuring students and staff think beyond a local and national context.

International outlook

BU graduates enjoy worldwide career opportunities. To be successful in the global environment they need to possess the skills, knowledge and self-awareness to adapt to the dynamic, international business environment. BU established a new and unique Centre for Global Perspectives to address these issues.

Of the 17,800 students enrolled at BU, nearly 1,500 are from outside the UK and over 1,100 of these come to Bournemouth from beyond the European Union. BU’s recruitment of 150 academics over the last three years also reflects its international aspirations as many of this group bring with them strong global connections.

Developing students’ global outlook

BU opened its Centre for Global Perspectives in November and is already working to familiarise staff and students with global issues and processes enabling them to appreciate the need for sustainable development and work effectively across cultures and in contexts of diversity. For further information on Global Perspectives.

The Centre’s Director Christine Shiel has led the University’s global perspectives agenda since 1999 and in 2005 won a Higher Education Leadership Foundation award for her work in this field.

Collaboration with the Chinese Scholarship Council

The Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) funded five PhD students to study within the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) during the year.

This marks the first time such scholarships have been awarded to BU. There are over 2,000 universities in China but the CSC programme is open only to the 138 ‘elite’ universities in the top two tiers.

BU’s award indicates a major cultural shift within Chinese academia as the scholarship programme had previously been linked only to the UK’s ‘top’ traditional universities. The fact that it is being granted to new institutions such as BU, who demonstrate excellence in a particular field, confirms that the work of the Media School and the NCCA has been recognised at an international level.

Student-led international development activities

Global perspectives are not just confined to visits and other initiatives abroad. It is equally important for BU to share its international experience with members of the surrounding community.

A group of students started the Bournemouth International Development Society (BIDS) linked to a national student organisation, U8, with the aim of establishing development projects overseas and raising awareness of global issues at home through talks and film screenings.

Sports overseas

Originally established in 2007, the BU Camp Kenya Sports Development Expedition (SDX) returned in 2008 with an expanded programme to include volunteers from the University of Portsmouth.

Student and staff volunteers used their African experience to meet new cultural and communication challenges by contributing their efforts and inspiration in some of Kenya’s underprivileged communities – all under the umbrella of sport.

The month-long programme involved coaching in local schools and direct assistance with the development of basic sports facilities before organising a multi-sport festival showcasing football, netball and athletics.

Several BU students were involved in international sporting events. Golfer Andy Shakespear returned from this year’s world university golf championships with two bronze medals. The 21-year-old placed third individually in the event played on the Gary Player course in South Africa. Andy also joined his compatriots in securing bronze for Great Britain in the team competition.

Caroline Atkins from BU’s Sport & Recreation team also flew the flag for BU during this year’s England ladies cricket tour of Australia and New Zealand, which featured a test match, 10 one-day internationals and one 20-20 international match.

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