W04: The empathy revolution: Enhancing support for international students through deeper understanding

09:00 – 12:30 BST, 8 September 2026 ‐ 3 hours 30 mins

Room: Carron 2, SEC Centre, Ground floor

Workshop

🎟️ Registration required (paid)
🤝 Workshop (collaborative)
💡 Staff skill development

Do we truly understand the barriers international students face, and how institutional structures and our own actions shape their experiences? This workshop invites higher education professionals to reconnect with international student experiences and explore how empathy can transform communication and support. Constant exposure to student challenges can lead to desensitisation and a focus on individual resilience instead of systemic change. Using a game called Walk a Mile, developed by international students, you will learn through theory and experiential learning, bypassing psychological defences to uncover barriers and develop empathy and compassionate communications, and you will design concrete actions to build more inclusive environments.

Learning outcomes

• Apply concepts of empathy and compassionate communication in interactions with students;
• Identify psychological defences that hinder empathetic engagement and learn strategies to bypass them;
• Understand on a deeper level the hurdles international students face;
• Develop concrete, actionable steps to strengthen empathetic and inclusive support at home institutions.

Target audience
This workshop is targeted at higher education professionals, including academic and administrative staff, student advisers, and managers who engage with international students or contribute to institutional decisions, policies, and structures affecting their experiences.

Speakers

Larissa Vanamo

University of Helsinki, Finland

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Geraldine Dufour

Therapeutic Consultations Ltd, United Kingdom

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Larissa Vanamo

University of Helsinki, Finland

Larissa Vanamo has been working in university administration since 2012, specializing in services for international degree students at the University of Helsinki. As the Team Leader of International Student Advice, she coordinates a comprehensive range of services that are critical to the success and well-being of international students, including tutoring, tuition fees managing, scholarships, and housing. Her previous role as Assistant Programme Manager for the University of Helsinki's summer school further strengthened her expertise in developing the services for international students. Larissa is deeply committed to ensuring that the perspectives of international students are integrated into all aspects of university life, with a strong focus on removing obstacles and creating a welcoming environment for all.

: larissavanamo/

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Geraldine Dufour

Therapeutic Consultations Ltd, United Kingdom

Having worked in universities for over 20 years, Géraldine Dufour is a leading expert in matters related to university wellbeing and mental health. She is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Essex and works directly with individuals and organisations across the sector facilitating specialist HE training, consultancy, coaching, supervision and research. 
Previously head of counselling at the University of Cambridge, chair of national executive committees for student mental health and counselling and founding member of national research groups in student mental health, Géraldine has a wide-ranging experience and an interest in international education. Former French Erasmus student, working and collaborating internationally, Géraldine is interested in cross-cultural work, difference, diversity and Chair of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) Student and Alumni Services Thematic Committee. 

: /geraldine-dufour-at-therapeutic-consultations/