International Recruitment

Thursday 2 October, 2008
International Recruitment and Collaboration

Jonathan Richards has been appointed Head of the newly established section for International Recruitment and Collaboration at Aberystwyth University.

Prior to his appointment, Jonathan was a Senior Lecturer in English as a Foreign Language at Wolverhampton University where he was also responsible for establishing international links, principally with central European countries, but also with Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and India.

Jonathan, who is originally from Llanelli and a graduate of Cardiff University, heads a team of 7 at International Recruitment and Collaboration, which itself forms part of the Recruitment and Admissions department

Speaking of his appointment Jonathan said:
“Aberystwyth University is committed to the view that international collaborations, and the presence in Aberystwyth of a diverse range of international students, strengthens the University's academic profile, enriches the student experience and makes a positive cultural and economic contribution to the broader community. Aberystwyth has a long history of international engagement. It has over many decades developed strong international links, both in research and teaching, across a wide span of the curriculum.”

International Recruitment and Collaboration aims to build on the successes of the University's European recruitment work (120 new students recently arrived from Poland and 30 from Bulgaria) and focus initially on 3 other main geographical regions, China and South East Asia, South Asia - specifically India, and North America (USA and Canada).

In North America the emphasis will be on developing links that have been established by the President of the University and former UK Permanent Representative at United Nations, Sir Emyr Jones Parry.
The section will have responsibility for managing and developing the University’s network of educational advisors/agents overseas and also the University’s international institutional agreements.

“I look forward to the opportunity of working closely with academic departments to alert them to international recruitment and collaborative opportunities,” he added.

“The academic strength of the University in areas such as Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, International Politics,  Management and Business (including the AMBA accredited post graduate degrees), and a broad curriculum in subjects such as Computing, Law and Theatre, Film and TV Studies are all areas which have great potential to be developed internationally.”

“In addition, and as an English as a Foreign Language specialist, the work of the University’s Language and Learning Centre with its British Council accredited English language courses will be of interest to international students, providing pathways and progression routes to full degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level.”

International Recruitment and Collaboration
Staff Members
Mr Jonathan Richards, Head
Ms Ruth Owen, International Officer
Mr Xuezhe Piao, East Asia Manager
Mrs Carol Smart, Student Exchange Programme Co-ordinator
Ms Annie Brunt, EU and UK Postgraduate Recruitment Officer
Ms Susan Jenkins, PA to Head and International Administrator
Ms Sandra Morgan, Administrative Assistant with the Student Exchange Programme

Ruth Owen has just been appointed to the post of International Officer. Prior to this Ruth was Job Link Manager at the University’s Careers Service. Originally from Ffosyffin near Aberaeron, Ruth graduated from Coventry University with a degree in Equine Studies and Business Management and has just completed a postgraduate certificate in Management and Marketing here at Aberystwyth.

In her spare time Ruth takes an active part in the management of the Deicin Welsh Cobb stud, which is run by her father, and edits the termly magazine National Equine Student, of which 15,000 copies are distributed to equine colleges across the UK.

Mr Xuezhe Piao, East Asia Manager, started working as Aberystwyth University’s representative in China and South Korea in 2003. Originally from Heilongjiang Province in North Eastern China, he is responsible for promoting collaboration between Aberystwyth and HE institutions in China, South Korea and Japan. Currently the University has 120 Chinese students, 40 from Japan and 10 from South Korea, studying at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Ms Annie Brunt was appointed EU and UK Postgraduate Recruitment Office in July 2007, returning to Aberystwyth from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Prior to this she worked as an administrator at the Language and Learning Centre here at Aberystwyth.

Mrs Carol Smart is co-ordinator for the Student Exchange Programmes, which include Erasmus and the North American Exchange Programme.  Carol joined the University’s International Centre in 1990, working in the European Liaison Office.

Ms Susan Jenkins joins the team as PA to Jonathan Richards and International Administrator. Prior to her appointment she worked for nearly 18 years as PA to the Director of Development and External Affairs.

Ms Sandra Morgan is a part time member of staff and works with Mrs Carol Smart, providing administrative support for the student exchange programmes.

International Recruitment and Collaboration is currently based at 9 Laura Place, but will be moving on to the main Penglais campus at the end of the year.