We’re winning awards for supporting international students

Jo Holliday who works in the Students' Union as an International Student Adviser has won a major national award for her work with international students. 

She has been named International Student Adviser (ISA) of the Year at the National Union of Students Internationalisation Awards.

Jo said: "I’m very proud to have won this award on a personal level and also to bring further recognition to the great work that Sheffield SU is doing to support and represent its students."

Jo's primary role is to provide a one-to-one advice and casework service to international students on immigration and financial issues.

So far this year she has worked on 247 student immigration cases and has achieved many positive outcomes for students, including overturning a 10-year ban for the wife of a PhD student.

The judges, made up of representatives of the NUS, the UK Council for International Student Affairs and the British Council, recognised Jo from among more than 90 nominations as one of the leading ISAs for her expertise in family and work immigration issues.

Daniel Stevens, NUS International Students Officer, said: "I'm excited that at a time when negative stories about international students are all around that we can come together to celebrate the positives that are more representative of international students in the UK.

"The winners and nominees of these awards demonstrate the incredible commitment and immense value that international students bring to their campuses and local communities and the way universities work with Students' Unions to create a truly international experience for all students."

The awards recognise the outstanding contributions of international students and those that support them. They reward best practice at universities and students' unions and recognise some of the hard work that students' unions and officers put into supporting international students.

Jo has been instrumental in training staff, regularly contributes to national training and has also been involved in the establishment of a postgraduate qualification for ISAs. The strategic framework and audit toolkit she developed has now helped more than 40 students' unions nationwide.

Krissy Meyer, Students' Union's International Officer 2011–12, also reached the shortlist for the International Officer of the Year award.

New report demonstrates £120 million benefit of international students to Sheffield economy.