Only 2.7% characterised the academic standard as bad, while the remaining 17.0% deemed it satisfcatory.
188 international students from the University of Stavanger, who began their first semester in August 2011, participated in this student survey. 84.8% responded that, in their experience, the standard of English in lectures was very good, an increase from 79.4% in 2009. The numbers of those respondents who felt that the standard of English is poor sank to 1.1% from 4% in 2009.
The survey reveals that a large number of international students have chosen UiS because they consider the Stavanger region to be both culturally attractive and a favoured tourist destination.
49.5% of the students took part in the Norwegian language course offered at UiS, for a minimum of 4 hours a week. Participation in this course has risen from 44.2% in 2009. Most of the students have expressed satisfaction with the courses offered. Inspite of the interest and participation in language courses, language skills continue to the biggest challenge for international students struggling to find work.
Siri Haugen at the UiS Career Centre comments that an inadequate network in the region and language barriers are the key reasons making it difficult for international students to find part-time work. 39.4% of the respondents express a desire to work alongside their studies, but have been unable to find part-time work. 54.8% of the respondents say that a lack of proficiency in Norwegian is the biggest challenge when applying for part-time work. The survey shows that those respondents who work part-time, work an average of 16.3 hours a week.
The largely positive results from the survey provide encouragement for further internationalization and recruitment efforts at the University of Stavanger.
