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The right kind of foreigner

How do you embrace the foreign environment when the fact remains that it is ‘foreign’? There may be challenges, barriers, and a lot of apprehensions to be faced. But with the right kind of character extensions, awareness, and approach, adapting might just become easier. We curate our character as we grow and putting in conscious and focused efforts might help us transform challenging phases of our lives into memorable ones. Leanne Pooley once said,

‘You can never be too prepared.’

There has to be some truth to that, right?

Nowadays, our travel ambitions have found both acknowledgment and encouragement. Many more students are determined not to settle for anything less. 

 

Image from Unsplash.com by @rutmiit

With the zeal to explore and achieve, students apply for scholarships, fellowships, and work opportunities abroad.  Their conviction takes them to great foreign universities even if it falls beyond their realm of comfort.

However, what happens when the new life becomes an everyday life? How exactly can you keep it still filled with vigor and feel if not at home, at least something close to it?

Initially, getting even the simplest tasks done can feel like a scavenger hunt, causing a lot of confusion and exhaustion. Realistically, though, being a true international is not just going to be about happy explorations. Being aware of the challenges and the possible solutions beforehand will equip internationals to approach life abroad with a more flexible and adaptive mindset.

A few helpful points to focus on can be: 

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Author:

Jeny Jose

Article Writer & Content Contributor

Jeny Jose Assistant Editor at GiLE Journal

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The opinions expressed in this article/publication are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of GiLE or its members.

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Developer &
IT-related roles

The following roles are available:

The role consists of:

> Deploy, upgrade and monitor typical open source server software (mainly in a Linux environment).

> Test and integrate new tools and technologies to support the organisation and its operations.

> Configure and maintain the organisation’s computer networks and systems.

> Manage user rights (server level), ensure that the IT infrastructure is operating securely.

> Manage containerized applications.

> Minimize downtime, investigate processes and events negatively affecting continuous operation.

> Help determine technical requirements for new technologies.

> Provide technical support to all users of the website and hosting platform.

 

Location: can be done remotely. Occasional (monthly) meetings in person or online.

 

Skills and requirements:

> experience with databases and able to write advanced SQL queries with confidence.

> well versed in popular server-side technologies with an emphasis on web back-end technologies.

> confidence writing code in PHP and/or Python and/or JavaScript is an advantage.

> able and willing to work within deadlines;

> English language skills: at least A1-A2 advanced level.

 

Qualifications: no formal qualifications required, however, the candidate should have previous demonstrable experience.

 

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary. Minimum 3-4 hours on average, per week, depending on the project. Deadlines may require working additional hours.

The role consists of:

> Create custom web experiences with the latest web technologies.

> Ensure that the website is appealing to the target audience and catches attention.

> Design accessible web user interfaces (UI), enhance platforms with custom style sheets.

> Make sure all web platforms adhere to the Design Guidelines

> Help update Design Guidelines, suggest improvements to current design considerations.

> Determine technical requirements.

> Create back up files.

 

Location: can be done remotely. Occasional (monthly) meetings in person or online.

 

Skills and requirements:

> experience building visually appealing websites from the design standpoint

> experience in using common CMS systems, like WordPress and Drupal

> comfortable with CSS and preferably has a basic understanding of popular web technologies/frameworks

> high level understanding of web design concepts, UI principles

> basic experience in app UI design (for example the UI builder of Android Studio)

 

Qualifications: no formal qualifications required, however, the candidate should have previous demonstrable experience.

 

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary. Minimum 3-4 hours on average, per week, depending on the project. Deadlines may require working additional hours.

The role consists of:

> Keep website fully functional at all times, inform colleagues of any expected downtimes.

> Deploy and update WordPress ecosystem components.

> Make sure the site’s user interface is easily accessible for most users.

> Ensure that the websites are operating securely.

> Plan and orchestrate content rollout by other contributors.

> Create back up files.

 

Location: can be done remotely. Occasional (monthly) meetings in person or online.

 

Skills and requirements:

> Thrives in the WordPress ecosystem, is aware of new trends and has a good command of the most popular web technologies (HTML, CSS, Javascript);

> Has a UX-first mindset, is able to create modern and accessible wireframes/concepts and iterate fast on ideas;

> Can develop complex webpages using Theme Builders like Elementor or Divi;

> Has experience in creating webpages with WordPress, using plugins;

> Can actively monitor user behaviour using tools such as Google Analytics, in order to identify any challenge and provide recommendations;

> Is able to provide technical support to all users of the website(s).

 

Qualifications: no formal qualifications required, however, the candidate should have previous demonstrable experience.

 

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary. Minimum 3-4 hours on average, depending on the project. Deadlines may require working additional hours.

Events, Marketing & Communications

The following roles are available:

The role consists of:

> Administer and engage on all social media channels.

> Creating engaging text, images and video content that can be posted on the GiLE Foundation’s official social media platforms.

> Ensure that the texts, images and video content are displayed in a manner that’s consistent with the GiLE Foundation’s brand strategy and Brand Standards Guide.

> Maintain a unified brand voice across all the official social media platforms of the GiLE Foundation.

> Research audience preferences and discover current trends that can support the GiLE Foundation’s approach to marketing and promotion activities. Where applicable, this should be specific to each of the official social media platforms of the GiLE Foundation.

> Stay up to date with changes on all the official social media platforms to ensure the GiLE Foundation can maximum effectiveness.

> Facilitate online conversations with the GiLE Foundation’s target audience and respond to queries or messages in timely manner.

> Prepare monthly social media reports that shows the latest analytics/metrics on social media engagement, the performance levels on social media campaigns, and which identifies areas for improvement.

> Where possible, attend events and produce live social media content.

 

Location: can be done remotely. Occasional (weekly) meetings in person or online.

 

Skills and requirements:

> experience with managing multiple social media channels, i.e. FB, IG, LinkedIn, YouTube

> experience with social media analytics and reporting

> creativity and curiosity;

> pay attention to details;

> able and willing to work within deadlines;

> English language skills: Advanced (at least A1 – A2) level.

 

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required, however, the candidate should have previous demonstrable experience.

 

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary, Minimum 3-4 hours on average, per week, depending on the project. Deadlines may require working additional hours.

The role consists of:

> proof read all social media content as required.

> write clear, persuasive and error-free content for the website, newsletter and brochures that reflects the foundation’s brand voice

> assist with the development of creative ideas and concepts for advertising and social media campaigns.

> where necessary, amend, revise or redevelop texts to drive lead generation and to make the reader want to take action.

> help drive brand consistency across all communication platforms

> familiarise yourself with the foundation’s projects, activities, target audience and competitor activities in the market.

 

Location: can be done remotely. Occasional (weekly) meetings in person or online.

 

Skills and requirements:

> experience in copywriting for multiple social media campaigns.

> creative and curiosity.

> ability to collaborate and communicate with team members.

> high attention to details.

> able and willing to work within deadlines.

> English language skills: Advanced (at least A1 – A2) level.

> creative copy writing experience an added bonus.

 

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required, however, the candidate should have previous demonstrable experience.

 

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary, Minimum 3-4 hours on average per month, depending on the project. Deadlines may require working additional hours.

Content Creation
& Design

The following roles are available:

The role consists of:

> designing marketing and publicity material, brochures, business cards, letterheads,

> assembling cover and other images for the websites and social media platforms

> assembling cover images for journals, books

> reviewing final layouts and suggesting improvements if required.

Location: in-person and online/remote.

Skills and requirements:

> demonstrable design experience for social media platforms experience with design applications, software and technologies, such as Canva, Quark Xpress, InDesign or Illustrator, and photo-editing software such as Photoshop.

> a keen eye for aesthetics and details;

> ability to translate campaigns into a visual creative direction

> English language skills: B1-B2 level

 

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required, however, the candidate should have previous demonstrable experience.

 

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary, Minimum 3-4 hours per week on average, depending on the project. Deadlines may require working additional hours.

The role consists of:

> Create interactive content, motion graphics, effects, and animation for various online media following the Design Guidelines

> Record and edit video content

> Design UI and branding elements (icon, logo, branding, journal covers, podcast episode covers, etc.).

> Contribute to efforts in emerging media formats (AR, VR, immersive web experiences, 360° experiences)

 

Location: can be done remotely. Occasional (monthly) meetings in person or online.

 

Skills and requirements:

> video editing

> highly skilled in a visual creative software suite of choice (Apple FCP, Adobe CC, Corel, Procreate, GIMP, DaVinci Resolve etc.)

> able to closely collaborate with the Social Media Team, occasionally guiding their effort when it comes to online first media

> basic understanding of AR/VR and is not afraid to try new ways to create digital experiences in close collaboration with IT Team members

> willing to learn UI development is a plus

> communication, computer, video creativity, and visual art skills

 

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required, however, the candidate should have previous demonstrable experience.

 

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary. Minimum 3-4 hours per week on average, depending on the project. Deadlines may require working additional hours.

The role consists of:

> Writing thought-provoking blog style short articles on trending topics related to the focus areas of the GiLE Foundation that are relevant for its primary and secondary target audience (i.e. students and teachers)

> Expected to contribute at least one article per month

> Has to follow the guideline documents and the publication process flow

> Having to learn the basics of using Elementor in Wordpress so as to be able to upload and edit the articles on GiLE Foundation’s website

> Arrange page layouts of the article and the photos and images

> Create Lumen 5 videos to accompany and promote the article on social media

> Conduct simple keyword research and use SEO guidelines to increase web traffic

 

Location: can be done remotely. Occasional (monthly) meetings in person or online.

 

Skills and requirements:

> a high level of skill in written English;

> creative thinker who is interested in reaching a wider audience, and figuring out what works;

> prepared to read widely and develop their research skills;

> able and willing to work within deadlines;

> English language skills: at least A1-A2 advanced level.

 

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required, however, the candidate should have previous demonstrable experience.

 

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary, Minimum 3-4 hours per week on average, depending on the project. Deadlines may require working additional hours.

The role consists of:

> follows the guideline documents and the publication process flow and schedule;

> develops story ideas;

> ensures that there is a common thread or alignment throughout a theme-based series;

> prepares for interviews,

> records podcast interviews on trending topics related to the focus areas of GiLE Foundation that are relevant for its primary and secondary target audience (i.e. students and teachers);

> responsible for getting good-quality audio on the front end;

> uses equipment to edit the content, and evaluate content pitches;

> publishes regular series at least once every second month;

 

Location: can be done remotely. Occasional (monthly) meetings in person or online.

 

Skills and requirements:

> has a keen interest in engaging with people on a sincere and holistic basis

> able and willing to work within deadlines

> self-motivated

> has networking skills

> owns a laptop and software for editing

> English language skills: Proficient or native spoken English.

 

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required, however, the candidate should have previous demonstrable experience.

 

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary, Minimum 3-4 hours per week on average, depending on the project. Deadlines may require working additional hours.

Academia & Publications

The following roles are available:

The role consists of:

> Proof-read and correct manuscripts and texts for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors;

> verify factual correctness of information (e.g. dates and statistics);

> check text for style, readability;

rewrite text to improve clarity and readability.

 

Location: can be done remotely. Occasional (bi-weekly) meetings in person or online.

 

Skills and requirements:

> professional with a high level of skill in written UK English;

> familiar with the proofreading techniques and tools;

> pay attention to details;

> able and willing to work within deadlines;

native English or Proficiency level.

 

Qualifications: graduate degree.

 

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary, minimum 3 hours per week on average, depending on the project.

The role consists of:

> Reviewers participate in the journal’s double-blind peer-review system as experts in an article’s research field.

> They have specialist knowledge on the subject matter, and they provide feedback and comment on the suitability of manuscripts for publication, specifically stating the revision required to Assistant Editors.

> Reviewing assigned manuscripts according to the Reviewing Policy and Reviewer Guidelines, on the OJS platform (fully completing the Reviewer Form);

> Maintaining the quality and integrity of the journal by identifying invalid research and ensuring that manuscripts retain the rigorous standards of the scientific process;

> Determining the scientific merit, originality, and scope of the submitted manuscript; 

> Providing feedback via the OJS platform that identifies revision needs of the manuscript and which recommends its editorial status (i.e. requires revision, resubmission, acceptance or rejection) for publication;  

> Informing the Editor-in-Chief if there is any potential conflict of interest – personal, financial or otherwise;

> Timely notification of their ability to review assigned manuscripts, and timely submission of their review of the manuscript. 

Location: remote.

Skills and requirements:

> demonstrable experience in academic writing and reviewing at scholarly publications;

> excellent time-management skills

> able to give constructive feedback

> ability to meet the time demands of the position is required

> English language skills: Proficiency.

Qualifications: Phd or DLA or demonstrable experience in research.

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary, the Contributor can provide (a minimum of four (4) hours per week on average.

The role consists of:

> The Associate Editor generally supports the Editor-in-Chief with maintaining high standards and improving the ranking, indexation and status of the journal.

> Ensuring the appropriate implementation of all the policies and guidelines of the journal. This includes maintaining a culture of fairness, objectivity, honesty and transparency, among all staff, volunteers and submitting authors; 

> Ensuring that all publications are in line with the journal’s scope and aims of the journal.

> Regularly liaising with the Editorial Board, as the primary contact person, and being sufficiently responsive to their offered advice and recommendations;   

> Assisting the Editor-in-Chief with revising the roles and responsibilities for all editors, members of the Editorial Board, advisors, reviewers, proof-readers and research associates; 

> Presenting the reviewed manuscripts to the Editorial Board for recommendation for selection;

> Assisting the Editor-in-Chief with making the final decision on the acceptance or rejection of the accepted manuscripts based on the recommendation of the EB;

> Ensuring that there is no conflicts of interest between the authors, editors and reviewers;

> Promoting the journal and encouraging colleagues/students to submit high-quality articles;

> Endorse the journal on different platforms (Publons, ResearchGate, Academia, etc.);

> Assistance with finding indexing platforms in collaboration with the Advisory Board;

> Finding/identifying conferences that the team should attend, motivating them to conduct research together, to cite each other, and occasionally organising/facilitating/moderating (G4Y) conferences – optional

 

Location: remote.

 

Skills and requirements:

> several years of editorial reviewing or writing experience

> access to a broad network of experts working in the field

> excellent interpersonal and communication skills

> ability to meet the time demands of the position

> familiarity with the APA, Harvard, Chicago, or similar style guides

> English language skills: A1 – A2 level or Proficiency.

 

Qualifications: Phd or DLA and demonstrable experience in research and academia.

 

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary, the Contributor can provide (a minimum of five (5) hours per week on average.

The role consists of:

› Serving as ambassadors for the journal;

› Collaborate with the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor in determining Journal Issue topic and focus;

› Offering expertise in their specialist area, and review relevant manuscript when necessary; 

› Supporting Fundraising, finding companies who could advertise – to monetize the journal;

› Ensuring the appropriate implementation of all the policies and guidelines of the journal.

Location: remote.

Skills and requirements:

> solid experience in academia and research

> access to a broad network of experts working in the field

> extensive authoring experience in prominent, peer-reviewed scholarly journals

> a proven record of accomplishment for publishing and editing

> English language skills: Proficiency (or native).

Qualifications: Professionals with academic credentials in the journal’s field

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary. Minimum four (4) hours per week on average.

The role consists of:

› The Advisory Board members are highly experienced professionals or researchers in fields that pertains to 21stcentury skills development;

› Recommending specific research areas or themes for the journal that match the needs of employers and industry;

› Supporting the journal and its Editorial Board by guiding and sharing the best practices, experiences and ideas; 

› Giving advice on the research relevancy of sectoral research needs, as well as identifying dissemination networks and platforms to reach a wider readership; 

› Identifying avenues for research collaboration

› Assisting with finding companies who could advertise – to monetize the journal;

› Making suggestions for and approaching potential contributors, to attract article submissions, and encourage colleagues and students to submit their work;

› Can assist generate engagement online with our target community.

Location: remote.

Skills and requirements:

> solid experience in academic writing

> significant networking skills

> English language skills: a thorough knowledge of the English language

Qualifications: Professionals or academics active in the journal’s field.

Time Commitment: The hours for this role vary. Minimum four (4) hours per week on average.