Life and Work at LSHTM

Professor Sharon HuttlyDean of Studies

Improving health worldwide

www.lshtm.ac.uk

This session will include– LSHTM as a study environment– Returning to study– Maths introduction– Student support– Safety and security matters– Careers service– Library– IT services– Student Representatives Council

LSHTM as a study environment

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is an ___________ institution

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is an international institution

The next 20 minutes• Provide you with an opportunity to

consider:– That the LSHTM is an international

institution– The potential benefits and pitfalls of

studying in such an environment– Strategies to maximise the benefits, to

prevent pitfalls and to deal with problems

MSc Students by CountryAustralia 6 Austria 7 Barbados 1 Belgium 2 Brazil 3 Cameroon Republic 1 Canada 25 Chile 2 China 2 Colombia 2 Cyprus 1 Denmark 1 Eire (Ireland) 9 Egypt 1 Ethiopia 1 Finland 1 France 12 Georgia 1 Germany 22 Ghana 8 Greece 7 India 9

Italy 18 Japan 10 Kenya 10 Korea, South 1 Laos 1 Lesotho 1 Lithuania 1 Malawi 2 Mali 1 Malaysia 6 Malta 3 Mexico 1 Myanmar 3 Nepal 2 Netherlands 5 New Zealand 2 Nigeria 25 Norway 3 Pakistan 3 Philippines 3 Poland 1 Portugal 7

Romania 1 Russia 1 Saudi Arabia 1 Seychelles 1 Sierra Leone 1 Singapore 5 Slovakia 1 South Africa 3 Spain 5 Sri Lanka 1 Sudan 5 Sweden 5 Switzerland 1 Taiwan 1 Tanzania 4 Turkey 2 U.S.A. 63 Uganda 5 United Kingdom 269 Yemen 1 Zambia 2 Zimbabwe 2

LSHTM as a multicultural institution

Opportunities for learning about:

• British culture

• Many many other cultures

Studying in a multicultural institution

Buzz exercise 1:

What are the potential pitfalls of studying in such an international environment?

Potential pitfalls• Misunderstanding• Giving offence• Loss of social identity• Language, communication

difficulties• Different approaches to

shared tasks• Different lifestyles

• Don’t know what is acceptable/not acceptable – jokes, personal space

• Interpreting non-verbal language

• Assumptions and stereotypes

• Retreat into “polite behaviour”

Potential pitfallsBuzz exercise 2:

How can we prevent the pitfalls?

How can we deal with problems which arise?

Preventing pitfalls/dealing with problems

• Do not assume shared cultural norms

• Remember your culture is one of many cultures

• Approach people with an open mind – see the individual not “the typical…”

• Be prepared to give feedback

• Be prepared to receive feedback

• Ask for help: fellow students, course reps, tutors, course directors, Student Adviser etc.

Studying in a multicultural institution

Buzz exercise 3:

What are the potential advantages?

How can we maximise these advantages?

Advantages• Learning about other

countries• Learning about other

cultures• Becoming more flexible

and understanding

• Making friends in many countries

• Developing a network of contacts for future work

Maximising the advantages• Make the most of social occasions• Create opportunities for interaction• Be aware of what restricts people socially

(expense; time and distance; perception of danger)

• Home visits• Keeping in touch when your studies finish

Final thoughts• Make the best of this challenging and exciting

new environment• We cannot assume shared cultural norms• Be prepared to give and receive feedback

Returning to StudyBuzz exercise 4:

What excites you about returning to study?

What makes you worried about returning to study?

Exciting things• The challenge ahead• Learn new skills for

professional development

• Get away from routine work

• Be my own boss!

• Rich academic and cultural environment

• Time to think and discuss

• New things, ideas, people

• Opportunity for fun!

Worrying things• Financial matters• How to organise and

prioritise study• Balancing work and

study (part-timers)

• Missing family and friends

• Homesickness• Assessment, exams

Help and support• People – staff, fellow students, family and

friends• Key skills sessions, for example English classes,

maths refresher classes – look out for other sessions later this term and beyond

• Written sources – handbooks; study skills guides

And finally….• This is likely to be one of the busiest periods of

your life• Your studies at LSHTM will be finished much

sooner than you think• You will hopefully experience a lot of happy

times here but maybe some difficult ones too• But we hope this will be one of the best

periods of your life!