University develops game to help foreign students

Portsmouth University has developed an online game to help its international students adjust to British life.

C-Shock gives people a map of the university's campus and lets them create an avatar that can travel to different buildings. Here they are given a range of interactive games to help them learn about British culture.

For example, visiting the canteen will give information on British meal habits and visiting the student union will tell students about views on alcohol.

The site also gives people helpful hints about life as a student such as how to manage money, live a healthy lifestyle, job hunting, fashion, dating and travel. It also features important information such as police and emergency telephone numbers.

Nipan Maniar, who developed the game, used his experiences from when he studied at the university as a student from India eight years ago.

"When I arrived in Britain I found some aspects of British culture very different to what I was used to in India and it was hard to know how to react or behave appropriately.

"When I became a student ambassador I noticed overseas students struggling with the same concepts I had grappled with myself and, as a member of staff, I decided to use technology to help," he said.