New International Centre to bring student benefits

Swansea Metropolitan University has officially launched its International Centre, which ultimately aims to further enhance the student experience for overseas applicants and their UK counterparts.

Special guest at the launch was Virginia West, director of the Welsh International Consortium (WIC). WIC is an organisation, formed in 2003, by all the higher education institutions in Wales to promote Wales in the international market. She was joined by Swansea Met Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Warner, head of the International Centre, Brian Griffiths, and members of staff from across the University.

Explaining the work of the Centre, Brian Griffiths said: “The International Centre gives Swansea Met an effective and efficient mechanism by which to promote the University overseas, while assisting staff within the University. Inside Swansea Met, the Centre will aid communications,
decision-making, interaction and relationships between departments with regards to international recruitment. Externally, the Centre will manage the University’s image and dealings with individual students and collaborative partners, such as other educational institutions and agents.

“Hopefully, this will be a very positive step for the future of international activities at Swansea Met.”

Approximately eight percent of Swansea Met’s total student population are from outside of the European Union and their contribution to the University as a whole has been praised by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Warner.

Professor Warner said: “We have introduced this Centre as International students are a small but very important part of our University. Our Welsh, and indeed UK, students will learn from them as they bring the world to Swansea and, with it, different cultures and different ways of life.”

Students from across the world have enrolled on a wide range of programmes at Swansea Met and come from as far away as Scandinavia, China, the Middle East and India.