The aim of this ICTL-funded project is to build a student community across the TNE programmes and London by developing the communication and professional skills of students through a podcasting format.

Students across the TNE programmes have limited opportunities to build a community with each other, let alone with students in London, so by bringing together groups of students we hope to build a wider QMUL community where students can network and make friends. It is also important for students to communicate spontaneously and in everyday conversation as well as being able to use professional skills such as teamwork, project management and digital skills which are useful for the current and future academic journeys.

The students from QMES and BUPT-Hainan will be recruited from all year groups and will be actively encouraged to form multi-year groups. The student ambassadors who visit QMES from London will also form a group and all groups will create monthly podcasts on topics such as student life, study life, subject specific talks. There will also be special podcasts on culturally significant events in China and the UK. Students will use Stream to record up to 15-minute podcasts and create a SharePoint page to share content with all TNE programmes and SEMS in London. Questionnaires will be given to participants and listeners of the podcast to assess the effectiveness of the podcast and viewing metrics will also be analysed.

The project will culminate in a celebratory event next year to coincide with the ambassadors visit where we will showcase the podcast work and celebrate the coming together of friends and community.