Student's website among best

A website designed to introduce Staffordshire to potential international students has been shortlisted for the prestigious 'Webby' Awards.

The site Hello Staffordshire was designed by Interactive Multimedia graduate Serim Abboushi, as part of her final year project at Staffordshire University and she is now hoping for support as the only UK university student in the competition.

Serim is one of three students short-listed and now faces stiff competition from the University of Miami and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She is appealing for people to vote in the Webby's via her website, www.serim.me.uk/hellostaffs.

The Webby's are the leading international awards honouring excellence on the internet. Established in 1996 during the internet's infancy, the awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

Serim's colourful and information-packed site was designed in response to her own experiences as an international student, coming into the area to study. She said: "When I was thinking about coming to England to take my degree I wasn't at all sure where to go or what to expect.

"It wasn't until I came to Staffordshire on an open day during my gap year that I realised how much the area has to offer and what a good mix of countryside and bustling city life there was here.

"When my lecturer Missy Price suggested doing a recruitment-based site for the faculty for my final year project, I thought it would be great to give international students the chance to get a taste of what university life in Staffordshire can really be like."

The tailor-made website not only gives students a guided tour of the university campuses and the surrounding areas, but it also gives information and advice on socialising, the community, shopping, nature, cuisine and other activities in the region.

Serim came from a Turkish and Jordanian background in 1999 to study BA(Hons) Interactive Multimedia at Staffordshire University. She went on to receive a distinction for her Masters in Interactive Multimedia in 2007.