PIM GUIDE FOR NEWCOMERS
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This guide is intended to help newcomers understand the PIM world and its different activities.
The first three sections of this page aim to give information about PIM structure, to explain PIM activities/resources and to describe the main elements of the annual conference.
The last part is to give you hints on how to use PIM resources.
- Chairs
- Network Coordinator
- Membership Committee
- Branding Task Force
- Survey
Starting from PIM 2003 Conference in Mexico City, PIM has initiated an annual membership report system to collect and maintain exchange data and compile international education activities from each member school. This enables the organization to identify where our consortium has been most effective and where it requires attention to maximize its potential.
The results of the annual survey are usually presented during PIM conference.
Operational details: every year the Network Coordinator sends out a message inviting Member Schools to complete the survey, with all relevant information and instructions to fill in the survey and providing the link to reach the survey form.
- PIM Forum
The PIM Forum is intended to be a tool for administrators to share comments and information regarding programs, best practices, new assignment, etc… Moreover, it is used for all dues announcements, deadlines, fact sheets, member updates, etc.
That is to say anything that can be handled by the administrators/primary PIM point people.
- Fact Sheets
Fact Sheets are brief information forms about PIM Schools, to help coordinators advice exchange students going abroad.
Every year Member Schools are required to upload their fact sheet on the website, with updated information regarding contact persons, term dates, deadlines, academic/experience requirements, grading systems, living expenses, student services etc.
- Market Place
This is the time dedicated to exchange coordinators, to discuss and negotiate student flows and numbers.
- Coordinators Meeting
This section is specifically designed for administrators, even if everyone is invited to take part in the meetings.
The topics are decided year by year. They are mainly focused on managing activities connected with the exchange programs, such as best practices, administrative matters, new programs, structural changes in partner universities.
- Business Meetings
These sessions are dedicated to the discussion of issues strictly related to PIM and all participants to the conference are invited to attend, provided they represent Schools that are PIM full members (no Guest Schools).
- Guest Schools participation
Guest Schools are welcome to participate to the annual conference. They can take part to the opening speech and to all social events but they are not allowed to attend Business Meetings.
- Gala Dinner
This is the main event of all the social gatherings. Formal attire is usually required.
- Send out a message through the PIM Forum
To send out a message through the PIM Forum you have two options.
1. You can write an email and address it to pimforum@yahoogroups.com (group names are not case sensitive).
Note: you can only post to groups you've joined, and only from email addresses registered with Yahoo! Groups. If you misspell the name of a group, or attempt to send an email from an account other than the one you joined under, your message will not be delivered. If you receive a failure notice, check your email addresses and try again.
2. You go to the Forum page http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pimforum/ (you can also access the forum through this website, by choosing Resources). After you have entered the restricted area click Post, write your message, and then click Send Message.
Note: Yahoo! Groups restricts messages to 1 megabyte in size to prevent abuse.
- Update your Fact Sheet
Every year Member Schools are required to upload their fact sheet on the website, with updated information. The fact sheet can be easily updated by following the instructions below.
If you cannot access the copy of the PIM fact sheet you submitted last year, you can pull your current copy off the site and work from that. Go to www.pimnetwork.org and click on PIM Schools/Member Schools Once you're on the index page which lists all the schools & flags, go to your school and find where it says fact sheet.
Right click on the word fact sheet and then click on "save target as". Do not rename the file, or the fact sheet will not be uploaded.
You can now make all the changes. Once you are ready to upload it, go to this link: www.pimnetwork.org/schooldb/upload/upload.html and use the usual user name and password (this area is password protected for the protection of everyone's data. This link is for use of PIM exchange contact people only). Then you will just have to follow the steps to upload the page.
- Use the PIM Logo
Go to Resources/PIM Logos to find links to the official PIM logo files (updated in 2004) in various formats. You may download them individually or in one ZIP file. To download image files such as JPG image files, simply follow the link, then right click on the image and choose "Save As" in your browser. To save the EPS, PSD and ZIP formats, simply click on the file and follow your internet browser's prompts.
You can use the logos for Word and/or Excel documents, PowerPoint presentations and even for items that will be printed, such as t-shirts, mugs etc.
- Find contact numbers
PIM website is a useful tool to find all the contact numbers of PIM. To do that you go to the link Members Directory and then surf the database. You can search contacts using different criteria (i.e. name, last name, university, school, etc…)
- Print the PIM Certificate
All PIM Schools can decide to give a PIM Certificate to their incoming exchange students, stating they have attended a semester at their University. By clicking on Resources/PIM Certificate you can access a sample copy (in ppt format) that you can modify with your University logo, name and contact persons.
University of Otago School of Business, New Zealand