March 2008
Swansea University wins in the Wales International Student award
Chinese student Shilin Wang’s inspirational story of student life in Swansea has resulted in him being named Welsh International Student of the Year 2008.
The 22-year-old Swansea University student is now preparing to challenge for the UK’s International Student of the Year 2008 title in a prestigious British Council competition. Shilin is one of 12 regional winners who will be treated to an all-expenses paid trip to London in April, where they will meet a final judging panel before going on to have their extraordinary achievements honoured in a national awards ceremony. Shilin was one of more than 1,500 students, representing 127 nationalities, to enter the sixth annual International Student Awards - the UK’s biggest competition designed to shine the spotlight firmly on international students and their unique contributions to life in the UK.
The competition attracted entries from students studying at universities, colleges of further and higher education, schools and English language institutions all over the UK.Regional runners-up were fellow Chinese students Hong Liu, who attends the University of Wales Bangor, and Yin Qian, who also studies at Swansea.
The International Student Awards is different from other student competitions. It focuses on the virtues of living and studying in the UK, not solely on academic achievements, and aims to celebrate diversity and creativity within UK institutions. From school pupils to postgraduates, international students at all levels entered the competition by writing a personal ‘letter home’ in English, detailing the out-of-class achievements that help make their time in the UK so rewarding.
In his letter, Shilin described how his voluntary work has helped a number of vulnerable groups in his local community. He takes disadvantaged children ice-skating and helps the elderly with household chores. He is in the process of learning sign language and is a project co-ordinator. One of 146 Chinese students to enter the competition, Shilin also raised money for charity through a skydive at Swansea airport last year. He enjoys taking part in a range of outdoor activities, including snowboarding, archery, mountaineering and flying.Shilin, who is studying economics at Swansea University, wrote: “I enjoy living in the UK. I miss the UK when I go home for a holiday.” He said that taking part in such a range extra-curricular activities would be ‘nearly impossible’ in China.
A judging panel, comprising representatives of the British Council and the Welsh Assembly’s International Division of the Department of Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, met in Cardiff last month to discuss the merits of shortlisted entries from Wales. Shilin’s letter was judged to be the best and he will receive a £1,000 prize. The ultimate winner of the title International Student of the Year will receive a £2,000 prize at the glittering competition final next month. Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council, said: “The British Council knows that international students make a huge contribution and commitment to life in the UK.“This competition provides a fantastic opportunity for them to earn some well-deserved public recognition for their achievements – a great chance for them to show the world what they’ve achieved while living and learning in the UK.”
Mark Powell, Head of Government Business, International Business Wales, commented: “Having judged Wales’ regional finalists for the past couple of years, I recognise the value of international students reflecting on their time in Wales and how they have impacted on society here. “Their recording of their experiences in Wales, the challenges that they have faced and they way in which they have enriched and been enriched has been enlightening and touching. A consistent theme throughout has been one of warmth and the forming of enduring relationships.”
Further information is available on the winners at the Swansea University News Centre