Student review [#53115] for International Business
at University of Hertfordshire - UH

Great academic standards, has a high rate of diversity inclusion but student welfare and supoort support services (Housing, Lecture duration, Administrative assesibility and course timetable flexibility) needs improvement.

The University can boast of its teaching staffs diversity, made up of over 80% African, Indian and European lecturers, 5% Asian, and 15% British lecturers. Likewise, there is a mix of cultural diversity amongs its non-teaching staffs, with Africans, Indians and Pakistanis making up the numbers with other Europeans and British.

Among its very unique qualities and applauded successes, which includes; a high-rate of international students acceptance, serene environment, modern infrastructures, and the quality of its teaching staffs that boast of a mix of both young and old, alumnus and industry experts with extensive professional experience and skills. Also, the University can also boast of its boisterous and energetic student unionist and career support engagements. And the school is very affordable in terms of quality learninge, mentorship and academic excellence, with great emphasis on ensuring students acquire the required knowledge, skills and independence to hold their own in the corporate environment.

However, some of its major low scoring areas includes; International post-graduate students welfare, flexibility with learning schedules and duration of lectures. Other areas which needs to be addressed in terms of its quality of service includes; housing, transportation and administrative support to students needs, direct asses to technical support, information relating to immigration, transfer program and program advisory (the univserity currently run a centralised student service desk that oftentimes do not have a clue on subject matters, understand the need for critical deliberation, and not proactive enough in terms of time management), while seeking redress on crucial matters or allocating cases.

Also, housing is a major glitch as the locals intentionally extort students, demanding for ridiculous amounts and requirements. While the school, rather than focus on a CSR program to get assist student in settling well and fast in terms of subsidising housing, transportation and making provisions for international post-graduate students with dependents, are more concerned in marketing their hostels out to Bachelor or single students (with ridiculous demand for extended rent duration of 6 months or more). Similarly, the attitude of the campus busses is sickening as well. These drivers do not care if students miss their early classes that begins by 9 am or bother if students waited at the bus stop for hours. Sometimes, you see them take a smoke break at the detriment of students missing lectures. And the security operatives within the school premises, especially the Library, can be rude!

Again, the duration of the an hour for the amount of volume to learn, compressed time tables, and early classes (beginning by 9am) is really unfair because studnets had to travel daily from kilometers aways, as far Manchester, Glasgow, Kent etc., just to attend classes. A situation created by the local landlord’s who ridiculous demand international students pay from their nose, provide document from a UK house owner, before agreeing to lettings. Worst of, after several complaints, the school has done nothing to address the matter.

Lastly, the attitude of some lecturers in skimming through their lecture notes, racing to complete their one hour classes early and leave students with their misery is a challenge. Students complaints of the volume of materials and resources to learn within an 8-Weeks duration with all the challenges. In fact, social life for post-graduate students, active participation in sports, work on campus, student unionism etc., favours onsite single and undergraduates more than international post-graduate students with dependants.

Likewise, recruitment of students to subsidise jobs in areas of corporate management, planning, administration, teaching assistance etc., by tapping into the skills and qualities of these International post-graduate students should be encouraged to create a synergy and ease of integrate during and after studies as obtainable in the US. In US, students can take up employment in relation to their study within and outside the campus.

In summary, University of Hertfordshire has impacted knowledge and created quality experience. However, there is room for improvement, active student engagement with proactive decision making, and scale-up in future.