International Education

America is in the top position as a chinese students education destination

2009-06-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

.....Last year, among the nearly 300 graduates at the school, 80 were accepted by American universities and 40 others are headed to the countries such as the United Kingdom, France and Japan.About 180,000 Chinese students went to overseas universities last year, nearly half of them high school students….In big cities across the country, famous local high schools have seen an increasing number of students head abroad, either for a better education or simply to avoid the make-or-break entrance exam.The one-year preparation for the exam usually involves all-day study, endless tests and huge mental pressure for both students and parents.About 10.2 million students were registered for the exam this year and the average college admission rate is expected to reach 62 percent, according to the Ministry of Education.
But in recent years, the rigid college entrance exam and poor quality of the higher education system have met with complaints from education-conscious Chinese parents, said Yin Kai, an education expert from Chivast Education International Company.Since 2005, many overseas universities have lowered admission standards to attract more Chinese students.Li and her daughter have been preparing for six years, taking TOEFL and SAT as well as participating in various community activities…[View Full Article]

India Students Prefer to Return Home after Their Degree

2009-06-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

………Talented young people in India looked to the shores of the United States as a beacon for career opportunities. Many would book one-way airline tickets, enroll in American colleges and live out their lives as American citizens and highly productive members of the nation’s workforce. But according to recent research, India’s love affair with the United States, at least in regards to its job market, may be cooling. The trend is a worrying one with potentially devastating consequences for the United States, which relies heavily on immigrant contributions to fuel its economic growth. More than one-quarter of all U.S. startup companies are now headed by immigrants, and immigrants’ contributions to U.S. global patent applications surged from just 8 percent in 1998 to more than 25 percent in 2006….the study found career opportunities, quality-of-life concerns and family considerations were the driving factors behind the immigrants’ return to their home countries. Moving home also seemed to bolster the careers of most respondents; while only 10 percent of Indians reported holding a senior management position in the United States, a full 44 percent occupied high-level positions in India. And while Wadwha advocates a comprehensive program to lure and incentivize highly skilled immigrants to remain in America, “at the very least, the United States should remove any barriers to talented foreign nationals who want to work in the United States."….The research attracted a storm of media interest in the United States – the study was initially broadcast on the CNN news network “every five minutes,” – and infuriated several academic and industry officials…..If we don’t change the course we’re on now, if we don’t change our immigration policies and create incentives for immigrants to stay in America, the United States economy is going to crash and burn………[View Full Article}

Tough Job Market for Graduate

2009-06-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

…………………The major in international studies with a focus on Latin America said she has wanted to live in Brazil for a long time, but the economy there is just as bad as here……….Students were able to interview with several law firms in one day. Herron-Sweet said that while there has been plenty of angst on campus about trying to enter the workforce while the economy is in crisis, everyone she knows seems to have found something to do after graduation………..While it was hard this past week to find a member of the class of 2009 who had nowhere to go after graduation, Middlebury's executive director of career services ……….
"Although they are quite qualified to do almost anything, some of our students believe their competition will be stiffer because they don't have finance degrees or accounting degrees or engineering degrees,"
The National Association of Colleges and Employers estimates employment for the class of 2009 will be down by at least 22 percent nationally, across all disciplines. Roseborough said Middlebury is projecting a 10 percent drop in employment for this year's graduates…….Monique Couture, about to graduate from Green Mountain College with a self-designed degree in environmental management, said she was only too happy to be bypassing the American job market by going into the Peace Corps.
The number of students going to graduate school from Middlebury is up about 4 percent, "It is a gamble, "Unless a student is sure he wants to practice law, going to law school to wait out a recession is an expensive, risky proposition."Even a master's degree in history or English, won't do much for one's chances to get a job that does not specifically require such a degree. Getting a master's and then applying for a job that doesn't require it, she said, could even be a mark against a candidate…..With an estimated 80 percent of Castleton State College's graduates getting hired, director of career development Judith Carruthers said she is more worried about finding part-time and summer jobs for undergraduates.
Carruthers said students do seem to be taking the job search more seriously this year, but the job market is easier on them than, say their parents.
"The students that are spending most of their time on online job boards, applying through company Web sites, are working in a very low rate of return area," Roseborough said. "It's akin to mass mailing. … It's a big numbers game. There are gazillions of graduating seniors who do that...[View Full Article]

We have a choice...

2009-03-03T07:28:00.000-08:00

Let students choose their preferred language

………..Those who support the teaching of Science and Mathematics in their mother tongue argue that it is easier for students to understand the subject; it has been proven successful previously; and the teachers are widely available etc…………..
………...On the other hand, those who support the teaching of the two subjects in English argue that English is an international language; reference materials are readily available and it would be easier for students when they enter universities where the subjects are mostly taught in English etc……………
…………The fundamental solution here is really only one, which is “choice”. If given the liberty to choose, each party will surely stick to their choice of language used in teaching the two subjects. But I believe we can work out a win-win solution for all………… (View Full Article - http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/2/20/focus/3304291&sec=focus)

Students impart art of dumpling making Chinese cultural exchange event is mouth-watering affair

2009-02-25T07:57:00.000-08:00

Some 120 Chinese students and Japanese rolled up their sleeves and got their hands full of flour and sesame oil as part of the fun at an educational dumpling party in celebration of the Chinese New Year.
…………."We organized this event to have better communication and share our culture with Japanese people," said Zhong Lei, chairman of the students' association organizing the event held last month at the Tokyo International Exchange Center in Tokyo's Koto Ward…………
……………“It's fun to make dumplings, but it's really difficult," said Hinata..........
………….This is a great opportunity among cultures to share their experiences and enhance relationships among individuals. And, one main thing: is very important to know how cook in China because if you don’t know how, you cannot get married!!! "It's common for Chinese men to cook," Yang said…………… "Men who can't cook can't get married in China," she said laughing…………… (View Full article http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090224ev.html)

The eighth national conference of the Vietnam Students’ Association

2009-02-17T07:38:00.000-08:00

Student association to review achievements, set new targets

…………….The eighth national conference of the Vietnam Students’ Association opens today at the Hanoi Palace of Culture and Friendship with the participation of nearly 850 delegates………………

…………..The conference will also discuss four forum themes: studying – being creative, the key to success; volunteer students; the student association as the students’ companion; and students developing skills for global integration…………… (View Full Article - http://www.thanhniennews.com/education/?catid=4&newsid=46121)

Cheaper but professional education system in India

2008-12-30T09:09:00.000-08:00

Many Indian students want to study abroad, paying through their nose in the process. At the same time, students from across the world are filling university seats here for “cheap, professional and internationally ranked” Indian education.On an average, about 3,500 students visit India on educational programmes from over 70 countries every year, courtesy the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).................. “It is even more advanced here and easily accessible to outsiders. If we study over here, we get better job opportunities back home or anywhere in the world.”…………. “Every student in Afghanistan prepares to come to India. In fact, most of the students don’t want to work in their own countries; they want to study abroad and serve as a UN member and studying here makes it easier for them,”………….(view Full Article)

Increasing rate of Malaysian students in USA

2008-12-17T08:35:00.000-08:00

The number of Malaysian students in the United States rose to 5,428 from 5,281 in the last academic, reversing a 10-year decline, the US Institute of International Education said here Monday.Malaysia ranks number 22 in the list of foreign students making up 0.9 per cent of total foreign students in the US.Malaysian students in the US are mainly made up of 61.9 per cent undergraduate students and 25.2 per cent graduate students.The report says the number of internationals students at colleges and universities in the US increased by 7 per cent to a record high of 623,805 in the 2007/08 academic year. [ View full Article]

Malaysian Students In The US On The Rise

2008-12-11T07:49:00.000-08:00

…….. The number of Malaysian students in the United States rose to 5,428 from 5,281 in the last academic, reversing a 10-year decline, the US Institute of International Education said here Monday.Malaysia ranks number 22 in the list of foreign students making up 0.9 per cent of total foreign students in the US.Malaysian students in the US are mainly made up of 61.9 per cent undergraduate students and 25.2 per cent graduate students.In the meantime, the number of American students heading to Malaysia to study has also risen from 108 students in the 2005/06 academic year to 121 in 2006/2007.…………..[View full Article]

Indian students number highest on US campuses

2008-12-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK: India has, for yet another year, emerged as the leading place of origin for international students in the United States with 94,563 enrolling into campuses across the nation in 2007/08. The double-digit increase at 13% from the previous year, is followed by China in second place with 81,127 students (up 20%), South Korea in third place with 69,124 students (up 11%), and Japan in fourth place with 33,974 students (down 4%). The number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased by 7% to a record high of 623,805 in the 2007/08 academic year, ………………Open Doors data show an even stronger increase in the number of "new" international students, those enrolled for the first time at a U.S. college or university in fall 2007. International students contribute over $15.5 billion to the US economy, through their expenditures on tuition and living expenses. …………………………..Open Doors 2008 reports that 62% of all international students receive the majority of their funds from personal and family sources. When other sources of foreign funding are included, such as assistance from their home country governments or universities, 67% of all international students' primary funding comes from sources outside of the United States. …………………..The majority of Indian students study at the graduate level. ………….Business & Management remains the most popular field of study for international students in the United States, increasing 7% and comprising 20% percent of the total, followed by Engineering with an 8% increase and comprising 17% of the total. Agriculture is the field of study showing the largest percentage increase (from a smaller base number), up 20% from the prior year. Also continuing to increase is Intensive English, showing a gain of 15%. …………….[ view full Article]

India's wealthy students opt to study in Britain

2008-12-11T06:47:00.000-08:00

Wealthy Indian students who fail to get into elite universities at home see the UK as an "easy alternative", a British Council report says.The study, published this week, says that, as a result of exceptionally stiff competition for places at Indian universities, well-off students are looking overseas to avoid middle-of-the-road institutions at home.It says: "For Indian students who have wealthy parents - and ... rapid economic growth means that there are an increasing number of these - but who lack either the talent or the ambition to obtain admission to a top Indian university, attending a good university abroad is far preferable to attending a mediocre university at home."It adds that one of the factors attracting them to the UK is the "relative ease of entry criteria into the top universities" .………..In the case of India, it predicts continued growth in students travelling to the UK. Indian students are the second-largest group from overseas at universities in the UK.……….Unlike China, where the number of 15-19-year-olds peaked in 2007 and is now in decline, the number of Indians of student age is expected to grow by 8 per cent by 2015. [view full Article]

Better edu opportunities in US attracting students: Study

2008-12-11T06:40:00.000-08:00

CHENNAI: A majority of Indian students going to the United States are attracted by better educational opportunities, primarily in the fields of
engineering, computer science, business and management, physical and life sciences, according to a study by the US Consulate here. A recent count showed that 94,563 Indian students study in US colleges and universities in various disciplines. Since 2001, the trend has shown no sign of abating. However, the number of American students studying in India was small in comparison at just 2,627, the consulate said.It said that many in India are unfamiliar with the American community college system, which at relatively low cost, allows students to complete the first two years of the typical four years of undergraduate study. Many American students in India focus on the study of Indian civilisation -- its languages, literature, history, religions, among others. Colleges and universities in both countries benefit from the presence of international students, who contribute to an intellectual and cultural ferment on campus and in the wider community. The Consulate study also revealed that the trend toward studying abroad has myriad benefits. …………………..[View full Article]

Record numbers of college students studying abroad

2008-12-11T06:22:00.000-08:00

Learning at a global level is 2-way street, with record traffic in both directions
If there’s any doubt the world is getting smaller, look what’s happening on college campuses. Not only are more Americans studying abroad than ever before, but there are record numbers of foreign students enrolled at U. S. institutions. …………………….. Students are coming and going for many reasons, educators say. Colleges encourage students to spend time overseas, as the job market becomes more international. Families have had the means to send them. At the same time, a shortage of higher education in some parts of the world has a growing middle class turning to other countries, notably the United States, which is more than happy to take in bright, young scholars. “The great universities in America have reached out to international students for a long time,” said Allan E. Goodman, president of the Institute of International Education, “but what we’re learning is that education is still in really short supply globally.” The number of international students studying in the United States rose last year to an all-time high of 623,805, according to a recent report by the institute. The largest numbers come from India, China, South Korea, Japan and Canada to study business, engineering and the sciences, the most popular programs for foreign students. …………………… [View full Article}]

Weak dollar attracts students to United States,

2008-08-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

The falling dollar and economic growth in home countries are favorable for international students. The falling value of the dollar and the improvement of the economy abroad has opened the door for more international students to come to the University of Kansas. The low exchange rate, mixed with China’s economic boom, has given students an opportunity to study abroad and become a Jayhawk. Peter Morgan, Hastings, England, junior, was one student who took advantage of the weak dollar. “Now is the time to study abroad if you want more for your money,” he said.…………………………..While it is easier and less expensive for students around the world to come to the United States, there has been an influx of Chinese students eager to take advantage of the chance to learn in America’s capitalist environment.“The Chinese economy is improving so parents have money now to send their children to school overseas,” McGill said.…………………… [View Full Article]

China climbs ranks of top study abroad spots

2008-08-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

China is hoping that American college students watching the Summer Olympics will want to travel there, providing a bump similar to what Australia and Greece enjoyed in 2000 and 2004.
But even before the 2008 Games, China was already on its way as the hot new destination for study abroad. There are almost certainly at least 10,000 U.S. students now enrolled annually in programs in China, up fivefold from a decade ago. China is the seventh most popular destination for U.S. students, according to the Institute of International Education. But it's growing so quickly that, if trends continue, it will soon pass countries like Britain, Spain and Italy and become the most popular.…………………While study abroad generally is growing, China's particular popularity has a range of explanations. It's cheaper than Europe, whose currencies have pummeled the U.S. dollar. There's a supply of American-trained Chinese academics who help bridge the language and culture gap. And China itself has become more welcoming, hoping to emulate how the United States has used its universities to extend its global influence..
They're also looking for a challenge……………Still, like so much associated with rapid growth in China, it's not clear if the current growth rate can continue. Some universities have put the breaks on expansion plans for their Chinese partnerships. There are concerns about quality, and programs admit there's a long list of challenges — lining up local staff, host families, and issues like health care. [View Full Article]

Britain tightens rules for overseas students

2008-08-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

International students in Britain failing to attend classes will be reported by their universities and colleges, according to new rules aimed at improving education services offered for foreigners announced Wednesday.………However, the government is keen to root out any abuse of the system and encourage only "genuine students and education providers", the government said.Under the new rules, universities and colleges will be required to take greater responsibility for their international students by………………..Any education provider failing to follow the new rules risks a ban on recruiting international students and bogus colleges will be shut down. Under the rules, students will need to be sponsored by a licensed education institution and obtain an identity card in advance, have a good academic track record and demonstrate they can financially support themselves and any dependants.[View Full Article]

UK to launch new visa system for foreign students

2008-08-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

New Delhi (PTI): In a move likely to benefit foreign students, including Indians, the United Kingdom is all set to launch a new visa system to enable them pursue studies in the country without hindrance.
The new visa rule will be applicable under Britain's Point Based System (PBS).
Under the new system, the country will simplify the existing immigration rule for the students and education providers, the British High Commission said in a release here.
The key benefit of the system is that students will be able to work out whether they have sufficient points to qualify before applying for a visa.
"The government is committed to encourage people from overseas to study and train in the United Kingdom. The new system will be more transparent and easily understood," it said. [View Full Article]

Wooing international students

2008-08-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

At a time when American, European and Australian universities are elbowing each other to woo international students, Indian varsities have decided to shape up for the fear of being shut out when competition comes calling in the form of foreign campuses.
……..Behind these numbers are amends that institutions have put in place—establishing exclusive departments for international students, setting up fully air-conditioned accommodation equipped with hot plates, dryers and other things out of an American hostel. [View Full Article]

Foreign student quota to expand

2008-08-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

China plans to increase the quota for government sponsored overseas students, an official with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) said Monday. The country will offer 20,000 overseas students scholarships in 2010, doubling that of 2007..................Overseas students who are awarded scholarships will be given subsidies covering living and tuition expenses......."China has paid great attention to education, and overseas students are also very important," Liu said. He said these students will help Chinese universities become more international. The country is expected to welcome 500,000 overseas students by 2020, including self-sponsored ones, Liu said. China increased the living subsidy for overseas students by almost 50 percent this year from that of last year....................[View Full Article]

Indian students get 2 yrs work time in UK

2008-07-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

Indian students pursuing education in British universities can now work in the UK for two years after completing their courses, instead of one year as allowed earlier.
Starting from Monday, students can seek employment for up to two years under Tier 1 of the Points-Based System (PBS) introduced by the government in early 2008 to replace an earlier scheme, according to official sources.
The students were allowed to stay in the country only for one year after completion of their studies under the previous International Graduate Scheme (IGS).
Indian and other international students will now be able to work in the UK for two years without the need for a sponsor or a work permit, the sources said. [View Full Article]

India's illiterate population equals all the people in USA

2008-07-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

India has one of the biggest education systems in the world. On a typical day, roughly 290 million students are attending classes somewhere. That's more than the total population of any country in the world, except China, India and the US. Most of these students are in school — there are over 1.2 million schools ranging from pre-primary to senior secondary. Over 1.1 million students attend colleges and universities. Then there are those learning vocational skills in diverse streams. A vast army of teachers — over 6.3 million of them — guides and nurtures the young, on their way to adulthood.
……. over 380 million people illiterate. That is the largest number of illiterates in any one country, more than the total population of India at the time of Independence and would be the third largest country by population.
…………. The total number of children and youth, in the age group of 6 to 24 years, is about 460 million. This is the age group that should ideally be in the education system. But only about 63% of them are studying. Over 170 million potential students are left in the lurch. [View Full Article]

38% rise in Indian students going to US

2008-06-11T11:12:00.000-07:00

CHENNAI/MUMBAI: America continues to grow in stature as the most-favored
destination for Indian students with the last seven months showing a 38% increase in the number of candidates going there.
What's more, Chennai seems to be one of the largest exporters in the country.
Sample this: 38,274 student visas were issued from across the country in fiscal year 2006-07 (October 2006 to September 2007), of which the Chennai consulate gave out 19,973.
Correspondingly, between October 2007 and April 2008, 50,316 student visas were issued from across the country, of which the Chennai consulate alone accounted for 24,975.
With a rising middle class in India able to afford American university programmes and schools actively recruiting them, Indians have become the largest group of international students in the US.
Experts point that the increase in the flow of Indian students could also be reasoned to America now accepting the three-year bachelor degree programme as a valid one for entry to their graduate schools. [View Full Article]

Singapore, Hong Kong favoured destinations for MBA aspirants

2008-06-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

While opting to pursue management studies continues to be a popular trend among Indian students, the destinations where one can acquire a management degree are, thankfully, multiplying by the day.

Today, besides the much-sought-after B-Schools in the US and the UK, countries such as Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong too, are becoming favoured destinations for aspiring management graduates, with an increasing number of reputed institutes setting up their campuses in these countries.
……. "In 2007, there were over 86,000 students of 120 nationalities in Singapore, an increase of 7.5 per cent over the preceding year. India today, contributes the fourth largest number of international students in Singapore." [View Full Article]

Canada relaxes work permit rules

2008-06-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

For students aspiring to take up post graduate studies at Canada and getting a work permit subsequently, there is good news. International students will now be able to obtain an open work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Programme, with no restrictions on the type of employment and no requirement for a job offer.
The duration of the work permit has also been extended to three years across the country. Earlier, the programme allowed international students to work either for a year or for two years, depending on location. The move comes as major incentive for Indian students, especially those who have started looking beyond the UK, US and Australia for education.………….."The increased flexibility offered by the expanded programme will benefit graduates and employers. It will help international students get important work experience while responding to Canada's labour market needs," said the spokesperson. [View Full Article]

More Indian students at U.S. colleges

2008-06-05T09:07:00.000-07:00

…….. With a rising middle class back home better able to finance American university degrees and schools actively recruiting them, Indians have become the largest group of international students in the United States. Students from India numbered more than 83,000 last year and have doubled their presence at U.S. campuses in the last decade. The increased enrollment from India reflects a shortage of space in graduate programs in India, as well as the relaxation of some of the strict procedures to obtain a student visa imposed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Indians enroll at U.S. schools for the expected rewards. [View Full Article]

‘Canada must attract India’s Student Class’

2008-06-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

Canada has become an increasingly popular destination for foreign students, particularly due to changes to work permits for international students studying at a Canadian institution. But some countries are feeling ignored. It is estimated that that over 60 000 international students came to Canada last year and this year these numbers are set to grow. Despite this it seems that the Canadian government have not yet tapped into the highly sought after Indian market. India is a great source of skilled immigration, especially in Canada, but the number of Indians coming to Canada to study is still low. Indian High Commissioner RL Narayan, in a speech arranged by the Canada-India Business Council, said that student visas should be fast tracked, in order for Canadian institutions to attract Indians. Yes Canada aims to attract as many bright and talented students as possible in order for them to gain skilled labor but, according to Narayan, it is the Indian young talent that should be focused upon. [View Full Article]

German universities struggle to keep foreign students

2008-05-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

…….German universities have drawn some of the 20th century's greatest minds but efforts to woo a new generation of international scholars are faltering because foreign students find it difficult to integrate. A new report from the Education Ministry ranks Germany third on the list of top destinations for students studying outside of their home country -- only the United States and Britain have more foreign students. But Germany is struggling to keep this ranking. After growing rapidly since 1997, the number of foreign students -- Chinese form the biggest group -- has barely budged since 2003.……..only half of those enrolled in the country's institutions of higher learning successfully complete their degree programmes."German students aren't hostile to foreigners - but they don't feel the need to approach foreigners and offer help,"………Nearly 190,000 foreign students studied in Germany in 2006, according to the ministry report. By comparison, the United States was the destination of choice for over 590,000 foreign students in 2005, while 318,000 went to Britain in the same year.
The largest contingent in Germany by far come from China, which sent over 26,000 students in 2006.……….Culture shock and a failure to acclimatise to German academic life are two key reasons so many foreign students leave before completing their degrees.……..German academic culture, which gives students a great deal of independence and relatively minimal supervision, also poses a challenge for foreign students who are used to structured curricula. [ View Full Article]

Foreign students face higher costs to attend American universities

2008-04-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

The rate of foreign applications to American universities has increased over the last decade, but this may slow as the U.S Department of Homeland Security plans to double the fees that international students must pay in order to study here.The fees help offset the costs of federal surveillance that monitors student activities.This could have a negative effect not only on major colleges and universities with a large contingent of foreign students, but also on smaller institutions that rely on full tuition-paying students from abroad to help offset costs and subsidize scholarships for American students. The increase in fees to as much as $200 is scheduled to take effect Oct. 1. Nationally, after seeing a 12 percent growth in 2006, the number of applications from abroad dropped to just 3 percent this year. Admissions officials were startled to see no growth in the number of applications from India in 2007, the country that has traditionally sent the largest number of students. China follows India in sending the most students to the U.S. each year. …………..An increase in fees could have a negative impact on enrollment at such small universities, many of them having spent years establishing close ties to China and other foreign countries. The contributions these universities make to American culture and education often go unnoticed. [View Full Article]

Growth in Foreign Student Applications to U.S. Graduate Schools Slowing

2008-04-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

……The growth rate of foreign applications to American graduate schools has slowed substantially amid increased international competition to attract students seeking advanced degrees, according to a recent survey by the Council of Graduate Schools. The council, composed of 500 member institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada, found that the number of applications for admission to CGS-member graduate schools increased by just 3 percent this year, compared to a 9-percent increase in 2007and a 12-percent increase in 2006. As universities in Australia, Britain, France, and Germany have bolstered their marketing and financial aid programs, the ability of American graduate schools to better attract international students is faltering, researchers found. ………..With students from China, India, and Korea accounting for about half of all non-U.S. citizens attending American graduate schools, the slowing influx from these countries in particular could create a significant void at American institutions. As all three Asian countries continue to expand their own postsecondary and postgraduate educational opportunities, their students may find even less need to come to the United States for their graduate studies: [View Full Article]

New Visa Fees Would Send the Wrong Signal

2008-04-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

Almost all of us can remember America’s reaction to 9/11. In the days following the horrendous event many defensive initiatives were taken and, since two of the perpetrators were foreign students, one reaction was to restrict access to America’s colleges and universities. Barriers were imposed overseas, visas became difficult if not impossible to get. Personnel in American embassies were frosty, if not outright rude, to inquiries from those interested in enrolling as undergraduate or graduate students. …………. our ambassador he acknowledged the unusual circumstances and the problems they were causing both for his staff and Chinese nationals. …………. The U.S. authorities stood firm. Students who had contemplated studying in the U.S. redirected themselves to schools in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and other more welcoming English speaking countries. …………… It was important that persons from other countries studying in the U.S. come to know our values and return home able to make the case for America; …………………..China and India have been sending students to our shores with renewed vigor. Conservative U.S. visa practices seem to have become more flexible. ……………..the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is considering doubling the fee that international students were going to be required to pay when they applied for visas. The numbers aren’t consequential in the larger scheme of things, going from $100 to $200. [View Full Article]

Growth in Foreign Student Applications to U.S. Graduate Schools Slowing

2008-04-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

……. The growth rate of foreign applications to American graduate schools has slowed substantially amid increased international competition to attract students seeking advanced degrees, according to a recent survey by the Council of Graduate Schools. The council, composed of 500 member institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada, found that the number of applications for admission to CGS-member graduate schools increased by just 3 percent this year, compared to a 9-percent increase in 2007and a 12-percent increase in 2006. As universities in Australia, Britain, France, and Germany have bolstered their marketing and financial aid programs, the ability of American graduate schools to better attract international students is faltering, researchers found. ……..Applications to U.S. graduate schools from students in India, which had increased by 12 percent in 2007 and by 26 percent in 2006, were flat in 2008, as were applications from students in Korea. Applications from students in China increased 12 percent in 2008, down from an increase of 19 percent in 2007. [View Full Article]

Indian students to get right to work in Australia

2008-04-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

There is good news for thousands of Indians studying in Australia as changes to the visa system, coming into effect on Saturday, will give them automatic right to work in the country. The Australian government has made changes to its visa system so that Indian citizens studying in Australia will automatically become eligible to work part time during their courses.……. all student visas will be granted with work rights attached, removing the need for people to make a separate application."………….A total of 34,146 student visas were granted to Indian citizens in the year ending June 2007. Overall 228,592 students from 191 countries got visas during the same period. Today, India is the second largest source of overseas students and a significant contributor to Australia's international education market……… [View Full Article]

Bid to attract foreign students gears up

2008-04-24T06:26:00.000-07:00

The country is pushing ahead in its efforts to become a leading destination for international students, riding on the wave of a growing number of foreigners coming to study in recent years.
This year alone, the authorities will increase the amount of scholarships for foreign students - a group that grows by 3,000 people every year - to attract more of those coming for advanced degrees and study, ……….The government has earmarked 500 million yuan ($71 million) for the scholarships this year, up 40 percent from that of last year. The grants will provide each student free education and accommodation, plus a monthly bonus of 800 to 1,400 yuan, the ministry said.The move comes on the back of a rising number of foreigners educated in the country.…………….The number of foreign students studying in China reached a record of more than 195,000 last year, up 20 percent year on year,…….."With a good social environment, fast economic development and rising international stature, China has become more and more attractive to foreign students in recent years,…………China has also signed mutual diploma recognition contracts with 32 countries including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, New Zealand, Austria and Russia. Students came to China attracted by its unique culture and low cost of living and tuition....... [View Full Article]

Virtual classrooms making India a knowledge economy

2008-04-23T06:55:00.000-07:00

Though Indian education system drastically lags behind the developed countries, but it is taking on a whole new dimension. Virtual classrooms, introduced in India, though are not popular, but in the recent years will surely gain popularity.

PRESENT EDUCATION system in India is quite perturbing. As compared to 1.8 million schools in China, India has only 1.2 million and against 900 universities in China and 3600 in USA, India has only 362 universities. Further about 26 million people are added every year to the existing education system, making it a cumbersome task to provide quality education. Globalisation is demanding more knowledge outsourcing from India, but the already existing rift between supply and demand of quality educators is also widening. Then rises the concerning question of bringing equilibrium. …………. “Virtual classroom is the answer to the shortage of quality education providers, not just within India but also abroad. There is a huge demand of Indian teachers worldwide. Indian students travel miles, to developed nations, to their pursue higher education, but with new age technology and knowledge sharing platforms India is observing a reverse trend. [View Full Article]

Locals not taking up Indian study offers

2008-04-23T06:31:00.000-07:00

MALAYSIANS are not taking up the Indian Government and universities' offer of scholarships and other educational exchange opportunities to study in India.
“Existing educational opportunities, through scholarships, are not being optimally utilised by Malaysian students,” said Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha.………….Those nominated under the program are provided with return airfare, accommodation, full board, training fees and monthly allowance in India.[View Full Article]

US Visa rules altered; Techies can stay longer

2008-04-15T06:27:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: Just a few weeks after Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates’ testimony to the House of Representatives, the US government has extended the time foreign graduates can stay and work after graduation from 12 to 29 months. This means that a graduating student now gets a longer stay in the US without a worker visa, typically an H1-B. The decision also extends the period of stay and work authorization for all F-1 students with pending H-1B petitions, and allows students to apply for OPT within 60 days of graduation.……………In a press release, The US Department of Homeland Security said it had issued an interim final rule extending the period of Optional Practical Training (OPT) from 12 to 29 months for qualified F-1 non-immigrant students. The extension will be available to students with degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics employed by businesses enrolled in the E-Verify program.……………The decision also extends the period of stay and work authorization for all F-1 students with pending H-1B petitions, and allows students to apply for OPT within 60 days of graduation.The yearly cap on H-1B visas is 65,000. [View Full Article]

Young Indians turning to France

2008-04-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a change in the mindset of young Indians about Europe. More and more students and highly skilled immigrants are looking at non-English speaking countries such as France as a destination for higher study and work. Of course, in terms of sheer numbers America, Australia, UK and Canada still attract the largest number of Indians, however, France is working hard at increasing the number of Indian students studying there. Besides, certain reforms such as making work permits easier for Indian students who finish courses in France are also being introduced. ……….. With India playing an important role amidst growing globalization, we are very keen on many more young people from here going to France to study and being exposed to the French culture and way of life. Besides, French multinational companies are also keen on hiring larger numbers of highly skilled Indian workers for their global operations. ……….He adds that the French government is making some immigration policy reforms that will allow foreign students to remain in France for some months after they finish their studies to look for jobs. [View Full Article]

US sneezes, India catches a cold

2008-03-27T06:59:00.000-07:00

…………India has started feeling the pinch at the earliest signs of a recession in the US economy. Look at some of the recent headlines. “IT firms put off campus recruitments “, `Techies get pink slips’, `Indian students in US left in the lurch’, `US firms put a freeze on recruitments’. Well, the emerging scenario is spreading panic among those employed and aspiring for jobs in the IT/ITES sectors.………..The students who were offered campus placements last year are made to cool their heels. Indian students pursuing higher students in the US are in an equally sad predicament. After doing their MS and PhD, most students are unable to find a job in the US and are forced to return to India……..The risk of a full scale recession in the US is rising and India cannot remain immune to its impact. Indian economy went through a rough patch in 2000 when US saw one of its biggest recessions, leading to the infamous dot.com bust in India. [View Full Article]

Number of undergraduates predicted to decrease

2008-03-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

Demographic changes in the UK will result in a decrease in the number of undergraduates in the UK student population over the next ten years, it has been predicted. The study from Universities UK forecast a moderate fall in the number of 18 to 20-year-olds between now and 2019, with this decrease being equal to 70,000 full-time graduates over the next decade.……….universities are in an excellent position to prepare for such fluctuations, but it is crucial that future government policy takes these demographic projections into account.'
………. it is important that the UK remains an attractive destination for international students and must continue to improve the rate of 16-year-olds staying on in education.
[View Full Article]

More students set to study overseas

2008-03-18T06:43:00.000-07:00

STATE school students will be able to live and study overseas for up to six months under a multimillion-dollar pilot program to be launched today.
The $400,000 Overseas Study Program, to be announced by Education Minister Bronwyn Pike as part of International Education Week, will allow more than 80 students from Victorian government schools to study overseas this year.
Destinations include the United States, Malaysia, China, Japan and Germany, with students to be away for between two weeks and six months.[view Full Article]

Colleges institute overseas programs

2008-02-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

Universities around the United States are becoming a major export. Many schools are taking their programs overseas, where the American system of higher education has long been the envy of other countries' higher education systems.
American universities are competing to set up outposts in countries with limited higher-educational opportunities. These schools are starting or expanding hundreds of programs and partnerships in booming markets, such as China, India and Singapore.
Overseas programs can help American universities raise their profile, build international relationships, attract top research talent - who may attract grants and produce patents - and gain access to a new pool of tuition-paying students………….
"Where universities are heading now is toward becoming global universities," [View Full Article]

More U.S. Universities Set Up Campuses Abroad

2008-02-19T06:43:00.000-08:00

More American universities are setting up campuses abroad, reports The New York Times. American universities, as well as Australian and British ones, are starting or expanding programs in China, India and Singapore. Many are now considering full foreign branch campuses, particularly in the Middle East. Students in the Persian Gulf state of Qatar can attend an American university without the expense, culture-shock or post-9/11 via problems of traveling to America. ………..
Overseas programs can help American universities raise their profile, build international relationships, attract top research talent, and gain access to a new pool of tuition-paying students, just as the number of college-age American students is about to decline. The demand from overseas is large, officials say. …………………Most overseas campuses offer programs in business, science, engineering and computers. There is also much demand for technology schools. [View Full Article]

Indian Students in OZ Battle With Loneliness and Depression

2008-02-11T07:32:00.000-08:00

Students studying abroad experience loneliness that sometimes even 'gets to the point of depression,” according to a new study.
A recent study by Monash University and the University of Melbourne revealed that 67 per cent of female and 62 per cent of male international students experience 'periods of loneliness and isolation' while studying in Australia.
The survey involving 200 students at nine universities across the country found that foreign students were hesitant to form friendship with domestic students, which contributed to their loneliness.…………. The students from Singapore were the loneliest, with 100 per cent of those interviewed agreeing that they felt isolated and left out. Malaysian students also had high rates of friendlessness and desolation, along with students from Indonesia and China. ………'I just stay in my room ... sometimes I cry and when I cry out, I feel better,' News.com.au quoted a Malaysian student, as saying. [View Full Article]

Britain is becoming the world's most popular destination for overseas students

2008-02-06T10:43:00.001-08:00

Despite its food and weather, Britain is beginning to topple America from its position as the most popular place for overseas students to study, according to a survey published today.Prospective students from around the world reckon the UK is safer than the United States, has respected higher education institutions and, amazingly given the complaints about British immigration control, is easier to get a visa to study in, says the survey from the International Graduate Insight Group (i-graduate).……………."Since 9/11 the US has been seen as less safe,……… "If you are from a Muslim country, you will think twice about going to the USA because it is not seen as so welcoming now, whereas the position in Britain hasn't changed. "After the attack on the twin towers in New York, the US publicly tightened its visa policy, making it harder for overseas students to get into the States. [View Full Article]

Schools used as visa scam front

2008-01-31T12:18:00.000-08:00

Some UK language schools are being used as bases by people selling false papers enabling immigrants to obtain student visas, the BBC has found. Some are paying up to £600 for fake documents which they use in visa applications to extend their stay in the UK, the Ten O'clock News reported. It filmed people selling documents to immigrants who had indicated they had no intention of studying in the UK. The Home Office plans a more rigorous system of registering colleges. It believes more than half of 83 registered language colleges it inspected recently should be shut down. The Home Office will grant a student visa only if the applicant is studying at a registered school. ……………And in the future it will be made mandatory for colleges to make it compulsory to report students who do not attend classes regularly. ……In one highlighted case, £350 was paid for papers saying an applicant had completed an eight-week course despite her making it clear she had no intention of studying. A man connected with a different center offered to arrange a visa for £300 without the need to attend the school. [View Full Article]

Oxford to target students from India

2008-01-29T09:54:00.000-08:00

Lord Chris Patten, Chancellor of Oxford University, will visit India next month as part of a drive to attract brightest students from the country to help university compete with the better-funded US Ivy League colleges."Globalisation doesn't end at the Thames Valley……….."I hope it will be the first of several visits to India and China over the next few years," he said. "I don't think a serious university can do without a properly thought-through strategy for China and India."………… there were about 17,000 Indian students in Britain, compared with nearly 80,000 in the US.He said, "we have to fight very hard to keep our position in the world league table to stay up there with Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and MIT." [View Full Article]

Universities see sharp rise in foreign students

2008-01-18T06:42:00.001-08:00

The number of foreign undergraduate students at British universities has leapt by 8 per cent to almost 50,000, boosted by double-digit increases from China and new EU member countries. The rise - the fastest since 2003 - testifies to the continuing international appeal of British higher education. Four of the world's top 10 universities are British, according to the latest Times Higher Education Supplement survey, including Imperial College London and University College London, where at least a third of the undergraduates are foreign.
The popularity of British higher education abroad also boosts UK private schools, some of which have high numbers of Chinese and German students in particular - anxious to earn A-Levels that prepare them for entry to the best universities.…………………"UK degrees are recognised around the world as being high-quality and lead to excellent employment opportunities."………..The number of successful candidates from the 12 newer EU countries jumped 30.5 per cent to 7,024. Many are likely to stay in Britain, providing skilled labour.[View Full Article]

Record number of students gain university places

2008-01-18T06:28:00.000-08:00

The number of full-time students gaining places at UK universities in 2007 rose to a record 413,430, bouncing back after a decline in the first year of top-up fees.…………….There was a rise of 7.9% in overseas accepted applicants. Norway (17.5%), Malaysia (14.4%), China (12.4%), Sri Lanka (8.6%), Hong Kong (7.9%) and Canada (7.5%) saw the largest rises outside of the EU. Figures for China and Hong Kong are listed separately by Ucas.……………………"Universities have worked hard to ensure that all eligible students are aware of the many strands of financial support available, and that this information is as accessible and easy to understand as possible.
"Furthermore, the international figures show the UK remains one of the leading international destinations for students looking for a quality higher education experience," she added. [View Full Article]

200,000 Chinese Students Predicted to Study Overseas in 2008

2008-01-17T08:21:00.000-08:00

The number of Chinese students heading overseas to study is estimated to reach a new record of 200,000 this year, state media reports. Citing official sources, China Daily says that this figure is set to significantly outpace the “average of 130,000 Chinese who have been going abroad for studies every year over the past few years.”
The growing demand for overseas study reflects the increasingly gloomy job situation for graduates in China. While the country is expecting to produce 5.5 million college graduates this year (up from five million in 2007), one-fifth of 2007 college graduates had failed to find a job by the end of the year, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE).…………. "The grim job situation at home, a strong and rising yuan and a favourable visa and scholarship environment will together prompt more students to study abroad.”
[View Full Article]

Destination education

2008-01-16T06:40:00.000-08:00

It is a phenomenon that cannot go unnoticed - the market of Indian students heading overseas for further education is opening up fresh avenues for the tourism sector of the respective countries and no one wants to be left behind…………It may be one of those offbeat ways to cash in on tourism, but the governments of many countries are working on renewed strategies to increase their visitor arrivals through the solid presence of Indian students in their region. Although the unfurling of India's prosperity in terms of economic growth has prompted many to return to their home country, the thrill and liberation of studying in a foreign country continues to be enmeshed in the Indian student's psyche. It is true that many have abandoned their dreams of building futures in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia, deeming it far more profitable and enterprising to stay back in India, graduate from an Indian university and build a life and career on this side of the fence. [View Full Article]

How Cambridge wants to lure Indians away from US varsities

2008-01-15T08:31:00.000-08:00

LONDON: While the new British universities have benefited from the influx of Indian students, older universities like Cambridge, which has had a long relationship with India, has been losing out to the United States. “We have fewer Indian students coming to us then in the past because our competitors in the USA offer more scholarships and funding, and with their determined efforts to get students more of them are going there instead of coming to us,” ……….lately the name Cambridge is no longer enough, because Indians don’t think of Britain as the first place to go,………. “At undergraduate level we take very few international students, and at postgraduate level we have very high standards, we are a difficult university to get in,…..In order to bring Cambridge back in to the Indian student radar the Vice-Chancellor Professor Alison Richards has planned her first visit to India in January next year. ……….attend the 50th anniversary celebrations ………. to meet the university alumni as well as hold a series of workshops with them and other industrial partners.[View Full Article]

Nepal to Abolish Monarchy

2008-01-14T08:37:00.000-08:00

……… Nepal's major political parties have agreed to abolish the world's last Hindu monarchy as part of a deal to bring former Communist rebels back into the government, ……..No timetable has been set for the Communists to rejoin the government.…………..The Communists, who are known as Maoists, ended their decade-long rebellion last year and later joined the country's interim government. ..…………. The move plunged Nepal into a political crisis and threatened its transition to democracy.[View Full Article]

Korean students lured to study in Qingdao

2008-01-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

……… "In Korea, everyone knows Confucius, even the little kids. Confucian culture has a deep influence both in China and Korea, …… "There are so many Koreans in Qingdao …… "The rapid development of China's economy makes the relationship between China and South Korea closer. Many Koreans are optimistic about doing business in China," …………The economic cooperation between China and South Korea brings new opportunities to young Koreans. In South Korea, the competition for jobs is fierce. It is not easy to find a good job even for students graduating from Seoul National University. Therefore, many young Koreans are now looking to China for job opportunities,……A growing number of Korean students choose to study in China. Currently, there are many international schools recruiting Korean students in Qingdao, Weihai, Yantai and other cities of Shandong. [View Full Article]

Chinese B-Schools Lift their Game

2007-12-05T07:03:00.000-08:00

As the schools' reputations improve, more local students are choosing to study at home rather than earn degrees abroad…………. Foreign case studies haven't been thrown out altogether, but the new emphasis on Chinese business reflects the changing priorities of China's business schools. As the curricula become more relevant to Chinese students, the schools' reputations are improving, and more local students are choosing to stay home rather than earn degrees abroad. In an exclusive poll of 253 recruiters from such companies as Huawei, General Electric (GE), and Nokia (NOK), 34% of respondents called the supply of high-quality talent from China's MBA programs "excellent" or "good," up from 19% last year, according to BusinessWeek China's third annual survey of Chinese B-schools. The quality of MBAs "is becoming better and better," [View Full Article]

Students Seeing Advantages of Mandarin Chinese Program

2007-12-05T06:18:00.000-08:00

…………The national language of the more than 1.3 billion inhabitants of China and millions more ethnic Chinese around the globe, Chinese is the most widely spoken first language in the world. Though more than 200 million Chinese schoolchildren are studying English—often begun as early as the second grade—experts estimate that no more than 50,000 U.S. students are studying Chinese. China is now emerging as a world economic power after years of global isolation. By learning the language, not only are students embracing the unique culture of China, but they are also becoming competitive in a global economy. [View Full Article]

MBA in India

2007-12-03T10:08:00.000-08:00

As far as higher education is concernced, the educational scenario has changed dramatically in India in the last decade. In the debate of an MBA in India versus abroad, as a student currently pursuing my MBA in India, I believe that an Indian MBA scores over an international MBA on several counts.

The main advantage is the cost. An MBA from any good B-school in the US or UK costs anywhere between Rs 25 to 50 lakhs, whereas Indian MBA schools charge ten per cent of the same amount. Secondly, when living abroad, you spend far more than you would in India, and as a result need to work there for at least a few years to recover the amount. This severely hampers your prospect of returning to India after the completion of the degree. [View Full Article]

TB cases connected to student

2007-11-29T06:36:00.000-08:00

Cases of latent tuberculosis have been found in a group of Colorado State University-Pueblo students who likely had contact with an international student who died from the disease in June………. Dangol died four hours after being admitted to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs after twice earlier seeking medical attention for her illness. A pre-nursing student, she attended three semesters' classes at CSU-Pueblo but lived in Colorado Springs - never on campus. [View Full Article]

A novel approach to global market

2007-11-29T06:22:00.000-08:00

Universities compete like mad for overseas students because they are able to charge higher fees for undergraduates from non-EU countries, and thereby increase their threadbare coffers. For years they have been pulling out all the stops to lure young people to these shores, but now the approach is changing.
This is partly through necessity – the Chinese, for example, are no longer coming in the numbers they used to – but it is also morally desirable. We in the UK have as much to learn from China and India, as they do from us. We are in a global economy, so we have to understand one another...... [View Full Article]

Educators Suggest 'Mental-Health First Aid' for International Students

2007-11-27T07:18:00.000-08:00

The risk factors for mental illness or mental-health issues are higher for international students and students who are studying abroad, so universities and colleges should consider setting up "mental-health first-aid programs" that can recognize and deal with... [View Full Article by subscription - The Chronicle]

The road to China

2007-11-27T06:38:00.000-08:00

China is no longer a sleeping dragon when it comes to drawing foreign students as the world shows growing interest in the country.CHINA today is certainly much more than just an economic powerhouse. The modern China not only aims to make itself recognised as the host of the upcoming Olympics, to be held in Beijing next year, it also wants to be better known as an education provider.Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges of China (AGUCC), Malaysia president Ting Chee Seng says the trend of learning Chinese has attracted foreigners to study in China. As he sees it, the language has gained popularity and prominence in recent times given the global interest in China, especially in relation to business. “It's important to master Chinese to stay competitive in the job market. [View Full Article]

Korean universities drawing more foreign students

2007-11-21T06:12:00.000-08:00

The number of foreign students studying in Korea has been continuously rising, a government report said. The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development announced Monday (Sept. 19) that foreign university students studying in Korea numbered 32,000, or 0.9% of the nation's university students. Last year, the number of foreign students here was about 23,000. Chinese students accounted for over 70% followed by other Asian countries, such as Vietnam, Japan and Mongolia. Education officials say strategies are needed to lure more students from other regions.………The percentage of Koreans with higher education marked the highest rate in the world last year at 82.1%, and it increased again to 82.8% this year. Korea's education environment is generally improving thanks to government investments....... [View Full Article]

China's bid for world domination

2007-11-19T12:01:00.000-08:00

What defines a global "superpower"? In the past, it was the size of national armies or possession of nuclear weapons.
But now there is a more important (and peaceful) benchmark: the size and prestige of university systems.
And, while the US is still the global higher education "superpower", China will soon be knocking it off top spot if current trends continue. ……… rapidly China is moving through the field in the higher education race. It should be a wake-up call to universities and governments around the world……….. China is now the largest higher education system in the world: it awards more university degrees than the US and India combined. ……. The rate of university expansion has been beyond anything anyone in the West can easily imagine. ……Meanwhile China now has three universities in the top 100 plus another two if you include Hong Kong. Across Asia as a whole, the number of universities in the top 100 has risen to 13. [View Full Article]

Malaysia stepping up efforts to woo international students

2007-11-15T06:22:00.000-08:00

Malaysia will mount more campaigns overseas to woo international students by leveraging on the country’s established reputation as a quality education hub in the face of strong competition.
……………. We will be more aggressive next year and are planning one in China in either February or March,” said Malaysian Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed who arrived yesterday for a five-day visit to Beijing and Shanghai.………“We have about 1,000 Vietnamese studying in Malaysia but this is small because 50,000 Vietnamese students go abroad annually. We want to grow our share of the pie and the potential is there,” he said.
“There is a premium on learning English and getting a degree abroad in Vietnam. The government there is also keen on more vocational education to produce a big skilled workforce,” Mustapa added.He said Malaysia already ranked behind the United Kingdom, United States and Australia in popularity among Vietnamese students and urged more Malaysian institutions to explore partnerships in Vietnam.“We want to do better and we have our strong points too because of our proximity with Vietnam and the students can obtain UK and US degree courses in Malaysia at cheaper costs through twinning programmes,” he said.[View Full Article]

Students grab visas for US career paths

2007-11-15T06:09:00.000-08:00

THE number of Chinese studying in the US has reached a new high, the US Consulate General in Shanghai announced yesterday.And people from Shanghai have a better chance of getting a US visa than residents of any other part of China.Officials said the consulate issued student visas to 88 percent of applicants in the past year up to September 30.Outside Shanghai China's average rate for successful student visa applications is 71 percent.………….China is the second largest country of origin for students in the US after India.The total number of international students enrolled in US colleges and universities increased by three percent - a major rebound in international enrollments after 9/11. [View Full Article]

China tops OSU international students

2007-11-13T08:39:00.000-08:00

Students from around world choose to study at OSU
After receiving her bachelor's degree in China, Yan Xu wanted to go to graduate school in the United States and began researching colleges with prestigious history departments. ………..The reasons large numbers of Chinese students travel halfway around the world to come to Columbus is a strong OSU alumni presence in China promoting the school, and the fact that Chinese students want to come to the United States' biggest university.…………."In China, the university setting is more teacher-centered, while here education is more student-centered and problem driven," she said. "It is teaching someone how to fish, rather than just giving them a fish. My colleagues and I try to create people who can fish."……….. There is a huge pool of potential students," she said. "Also, the U.S. system is open and welcomes diversity. The quality of U.S. institutions is unrivaled."[View Full Article]

Chinese and Indian students might choose the US or Britain over Australia

2007-11-13T07:58:00.000-08:00

Australia's historically high currency exchange rate may prompt Indian and Chinese students to seek university admissions in the United States and Britain in the near future. Commentators said more students from China and India might begin to choose the US, with its weak currency, or Britain over Australia. According to commentator Simon Marginson, the Australian Government may have to step in to shore up second-tier universities, which are "losing sleep" over the currency crunch.These universities presently feel deprived of foreign student income. With markets expecting an increase in official interest rates today, and sustained upward pressure on the Australian dollar, the 9.5 billion dollar education export industry is facing an unprecedented challenge on price competitiveness. [View Full Article]

Harvard leads world university pack

2007-11-13T07:47:00.000-08:00

…..Harvard University still reigns as top dog in the world university in the top 50 rankings put out by Times Higher Education Supplement-QS — UK’s definitive university ranking guide — on Thursday. Cambridge and Oxford tie for second place, along with Yale. What’s different about this year’s rankings is an increasing internationalisation of universities — with 27 universities from 14 different countries entering the top 200 for the first time. However, while Chinese universities, as well others from Asia make it to the final 50, Indian universities have still to make a debut in the top 200. Three Latin American universities make it to the world’s top 200, while even Africa makes a debut, with Cape Town ranked at 200………UK universities are closing in on their American counterparts, ……….The increasing trend in internationalization is also borne out by the fact that 143 of the top 200 universities reported an increase in their percentage of international faculty to total faculty, while 137 of the top 200 universities reported an increase in their percentage of international students to total students. [View Full Article]

India falls off the league table of top universities

2007-11-13T06:05:00.000-08:00

LONDON: For the first time, no Indian university figures in Britain’s most authoritative league table of the world’s top 200 universities while China is in with six universities revealing a wide gap in higher educational standards between the two competing Asian giants.
Other Asian countries with world-class universities are Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea………….The survey, which covers 28 countries, confirms the English-speaking world’s dominance in higher education with America and Britain leading the pack. Harvard University tops the league table followed by Cambridge and Oxford at second and third positions respectively. The top 10 universities are all either in U.S. or Britain. [View Full Article]

Worldwide Competition for International Students Heats Up

2007-11-12T09:23:00.000-08:00

China is looking to Africa for students. Malaysia aims to become a regional education hub. Britain just made it easier for foreign students to stay on and work after graduation.
The competition for foreign students has become heated and complex. "Over all, students have a lot more choices today," says Line Verbik, co-author of a recent report by the Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, in Britain, called "International Student Mobility: Patterns and Trends." While the United States and Britain have maintained their spots as the top two destinations, other countries are gunning hard to catch up.[View Full Article by subscription - The Chronicle]

Total Enrollment of Foreign Students at Graduate Schools Jumps, but Gain in New Students Is Slower

2007-11-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

The total enrollment of foreign students at American graduate schools increased this fall for the second year in a row, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Council of Graduate Schools. The 7-percent increase is the largest gain since 2002, but it was unclear whether total enrollment would continue to rise, as the growth in first-time enrollments slowed considerably from 2006.
"This is the largest gain that we've had in the five years that we've been doing the study, so that's obviously fairly good news," said Debra W. Stewart, the council's president. "But the rebound in international enrollment has not been enough to reverse the declines in absolute numbers that many institutions reported in 2004," she said.[View Full Article by subscription - The Chronicle]

CHINA: Chinese students to dominate world market

2007-11-07T06:34:00.000-08:00

Students from mainland China who go abroad to study far outnumber those from any other country and they will continue to increase their domination of the international student market for decades to come.

This mobile group of young hopefuls is scattered around the world and they contribute an estimated US$6 billion in fees to higher education institutions. Many universities have come to rely heavily on the student fees as a growing source of income.

More than 350,000 mainland Chinese students are believed to be studying for degrees at overseas universities this year and the number is predicted to rise to 645,000 within 20 years.………… although students from India come second in terms of global mobility, they lag well behind the huge crowd from China.……. says lack of university places in their own countries is the main factor causing students to go abroad. But other elements include opportunities for skilled migration, perceptions of improved employment and career prospects for foreign graduates, and beliefs about better quality education and life experiences overseas.[View Full Article]

Few Women Reach the Top in Japan's Universities

2007-11-06T07:37:00.000-08:00

Tokyo
At 68 and after a lifetime of academic work, Mitiko Go is at the top of her profession: president of Tokyo's Ochanomizu University. That might not seem like that unusual an accomplishment, but she is the only female president among Japan's 87 national universities.
"Obviously this is not good enough," she laments. "We have to do better."
Japan's higher-education system is the second largest in the world, after the United States, but it fares much worse than the United States when it comes to gender equity. Just 7 percent of Japan's 750-odd colleges and universities are run by women, compared with 23 percent of those in the United States. And while four out of the eight members of the Ivy League now boast female presidents, none of Japan's top academic institutions has ever allowed a woman to rise to the top. [View Full Article by subscription - The Chronicle]

Malaysia working for higher university standards

2007-11-06T07:29:00.000-08:00

Employing foreign lecturers with doctorate qualifications will improve standards at local universities, but this can only be a stopgap measure until more Malaysians are available to take over, a senior official has said. ……………..He also believes that wooing home Malaysian lecturers teaching abroad could help improve the achievements and performance of local universities.

"We are not saying that local lecturers are not good enough. In fact, we will send some of them to further their studies and obtain the highest qualification. [View Full Article]

Taiwan, United Kingdom education experts to meet in Taipei

2007-11-06T06:37:00.000-08:00

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The First Taiwan-United Kingdom (UK) Higher Education Conference is scheduled to be held today at National Taiwan University to enhance educational exchanges between the two nations, an education official said yesterday.
………..
During the meeting participants will discuss a wide range of issues concerning joint degrees and courses, research and academic collaboration, as well as international student recruitment, the official pointed out. [View Full Article]

Shuttle service available to foreign-language churches

2007-11-06T06:27:00.000-08:00

……………….
According to a 2005 study by the Office of International Programs, 63 percent of University's international students come from East Asia. Japan is the most represented country with South Korea, Taiwan and China close behind. Germany and Canada are the only non-Asian nations among the top 10.[View Full Article]

Six out of 10 Hong Kong teenagers find world affairs a turn-off

2007-11-06T06:18:00.000-08:00

Hong Kong - Hong Kong students are insular and disinterested in the outside world with nearly six out of 10 saying they consider global affairs irrelevant and boring, according to a survey released Monday.
Only 2.4 per cent of secondary school students said they learned about international affairs at school, and 63 per cent admitted knowing more about celebrities, fashion, music and movies than world events.
Only 13 per cent of the 750 students interviewed for the study conducted by a Hong Kong church said they believed that greater world knowledge would help them academically.
The survey also found that 65.5 per cent of students rarely had any contact with foreigners apart from their own English teachers at school.
The researchers responsible for the survey suggest the Hong Kong government should set up a youth fund to encourage young people to broaden their horizons and learn more about world events. [View Full Article]

More Indians are taking English language test IELTS; greater focus on Indian market

2007-11-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

More Indian students and professionals are taking International English Language Testing System (IELTS). According to IELTS, India is the second largest market for IELTS in the world after China.…………. IELTS measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication. …………….. The top three higher education destinations for Indian students are Australia, UK and the USA. This is reflected in the choice of destinations by Indian candidates taking Academic IELTS. According to IELTS, it is the fastest growing English language test in the world. [View Full Article]

Yonsei Dean Expects More English Classes at Korean Universities

2007-11-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

……. South Korean universities will introduce more English classes in their curriculums as proficiency in the language becomes increasingly important in the workplace, said the dean of Yonsei School of Business. ``It's a global language,'' Kim Tae Hyun said in an Oct. 31 interview in Seoul. ``It's the general trend for Korean universities to increase the number of lectures offered in English.'' …………``The degree of globalization of companies is very strong,'' Kim said. ``In that sense, everybody must learn English and must speak English very fluently.'' ………., 64 percent of the 1,075 South Koreans surveyed said they were stressed at work because they had insufficient English. ……….the growing importance of English is prompting South Korean students to head abroad to learn the language. In the year ended March 31, 2007, 52 percent of the 217,959 students who went abroad for university or higher level education went to the U.S., U.K., Australia and other English-speaking countries, the Education Ministry said. Twenty percent traveled to China. Four years ago, 159,903 went abroad to study. Yonsei's Kim said more English-language classes will help reduce the financial burden of studying overseas. [View Full Article]

Singapore school keen to woo Indian students -

2007-11-02T06:23:00.000-07:00

The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) of Singapore is keen to woo Indian students for various post graduate courses offered by the school, a top official of the institute said.…………….. that the institute aimed at providing research and education in the field of public administration, public management and public policy.……….The Vice Dean said LKYSPP was looking at setting up joint venture programmes with Indian universities to start a study centre in India as part of its long term plans.
He also said that the School offered scholarships on a competitive basis to students combining academic achievement with an interest in public service. [View Full Article]

Candidates Pledge to Improve English Education

2007-11-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

Grand National Party presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak and United New Democratic Party candidate Chung Dong-young have promised, as if in competition, that the government will take responsibility for English education.
Lee has promised to improve the nation's English education system on several occasions -- on Oct. 9 when he announced his education policy, on Oct. 16 when he observed an after-school class and on Oct. 23 at a seminar hosted by the Korea Federation of Teacher's Associations. …………… Both Lee and Chung believe the nation is suffering an English education crisis. In this globalized era, they believe, it is increasingly difficult to get by without English, and we can no longer afford to let the private education market take care of English education and parents bear the burden. …………... Chung said he would establish English language classes at all of the 12,000 elementary and secondary schools across the country if he's elected. English language classes would be conducted mainly as after-school classes using the current school classrooms, and each school would have one native speaker and three English-proficient teachers. [View Full Article]

International spouses combat challenges

2007-10-24T07:05:00.000-07:00

As she recounts her trip to the U.S. from Japan with her husband, Chie Terada plays with her two children in the family’s apartment at Campus View, periodically pausing to speak to them in Japanese. While Terada stays at home to take care of her children, her husband attends classes in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs graduate program.

……………… Britton created a free class for these spouses in 2005, called the International Spouses Circle. Cooking classes, museum trips and guest speakers are typical events for the circle, which lets members choose when they want to meet and what they want to do. ……………..“There’s a large number of women in that situation ... women whose husbands (are) studying here,” Britton said. “What I wanted to create was a group that had members taking ownership and making it into what they want it to be.”………Spouses take advantage of volunteer opportunities as well. [View Full Article]

Principal of Indian sister school visits campus, shares experiences

2007-10-24T06:36:00.000-07:00

India, one of the worlds fastest developing countries, is a mystery to most. But that could soon be changing thanks to Drury's ongoing partnership with a school in India.………………Narayan says the traditional education system in India varies greatly from the American system. "The Indian system is somewhat rigid," said Narayan. "There's not much flexibility. In America, a child can think what he or she prefers to think. In India, you don't have that same opportunity."

While education is provided by the government, it's not compulsory. Narayan hopes the teaching skills she is acquiring while here in the U.S. will translate to a better educated population in her hometown. [View Full Article]

Overseas offers pour in for FMS students

2007-10-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: With companies trying to make good the India opportunity as well as Indian companies announcing their arrival on the world scene, overseas offers are pouring in for students of the Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi. …………. “Indian students are sought everywhere today. It’s only logical for Indian companies to offer them overseas placements in areas they are on an expansion drive. …………A comparison according to the profiles, showed the highest number of students opted for marketing with 39% voting for it, beating finance which had the maximum number last year. [View Full Article]

Ministry of Education eases rules for loans to study abroad

2007-10-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Ministry of Education (MOE) yesterday approved a set of revisions to rules governing loans to students to finance their advanced studies abroad, with those students whose annual family incomes are under NT$1.45 million to apply for the loans, up from a previous ceiling of NT$1.2 million.
This means more students will be allowed to apply for low-interest loans to support their overseas study programs. The interest rate is set at 3.45 percent per annum.
The MOE is scheduled to publicize the revised lending program in mid-October, when it will also inform six domestic banks to offer such education loans. [View Full Article]

Redefining Higher Education

2007-10-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

Higher educa tion in Nepal is said to be sub standard and incompatible with the growing needs of the global society. Hence, large numbers of student go abroad for higher studies annually. The loss of billions of rupees to overseas universities will eventually have harmful effects on different arenas of national development. Therefore, it is necessary to redefine …………….Reportedly, the flow of students from Asian countries to Western universities is high. Asia is by far the largest sending region, accounting for 58% of total international enrollment in the United States. India and China rank first and second respectively in sending students to the US. Nepal, too, sends a large number of students to the US. According to the US-based Institute of International Education (IIE), in academic year 2005/6, Nepal occupied 19th position, with 6,061 students going to the United States for higher studies, an 25% increase over the previous year. …………Studying abroad is not harmful to the nation since it gets highly educated manpower for national development.
However, a country like Nepal is not in a position to bear losses of billions of rupees annually to foreign universities. On the other hand, most of the talented students are not willing to return home after completion of their study due to the uncertain job market in the country. Many, therefore, immigrate. The world has become a small home in this era of globalisation,……… [View Full Article]

Number of international students studying in the county is growing

2007-10-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

……………After a drop following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the number of international students studying at U.S. universities is starting to rebound.
The government has made it somewhat easier for students to get visas, and the United States seems more welcoming than it did a few years ago, said Juanita Hall, director of multicultural and international programs for California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. "Things have gotten easier since right after 9/11, when there was a lot of competition," Hall said. "The government made it so difficult to get a visa. The U.S. didn't seem like a friendly place. It was kind of a hostile environment." Nationally, the number of international students dropped 2.4 percent in 2003-04 and 1.3 percent the following year, according to the Institute of International Education. Enrollment started leveling off last year, and the institute expects it to grow this year, based on the number of student visas being issued. The international students come from around the world, but primarily from India, China, the Republic of Korea and Japan. They're drawn to U.S. graduate programs in science or business that may not be available in their own countries, said Peggy Blumenthal, executive vice president of the Institute of International Education. Or they may simply find the American teaching style, which focuses on discussion and hands-on learning, more appealing than traditional lectures. "International students come to the U.S. for the kind of education they couldn't get at home," Blumenthal said. California is the most popular destination for international students, with USC as the top choice.………..Nationwide, the most popular fields for international students are business, science and engineering — primarily because that's where the top career opportunities are overseas, Blumenthal said. Even in other fields, a degree from a U.S. university can be valuable because so many companies in today's global society are international, she said. An ability to speak English and work with Americans can give overseas students an edge, said Yuejia Wu, 22, a CSUCI student from China. [View Full Article]

New trend in tertiary education

2007-10-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Once they complete secondary education, a lot of local students tend to fly abroad. However, many of us are not aware that Mauritius also attracts a number of international students. More and more foreign students come here for their teriary education. Full-time students as well as those who follow one semester only come to Mauritius from various countries across the world - even from America and Europe. School leavers from neighboring countries such as India, Seychelles and Kenya are also attracted to our country. But why do they choose Mauritius?

The University of Mauritius as the lead tertiary education institution attracts more of these international students for different reasons. ………… For most of them, one of the main reasons why they decided to come and study in Mauritius is to escape the competition in their country. But despite being the nationality in majority at SSR, Indian is far from being the only foreign nationality, as there are also students from South Africa...... [View Full Article]

Education consultancies lack transparency

2007-10-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

Kathmandu, Oct. 5: Educational consultancies that are working in the name of sending students abroad for higher education have been running without transparency, specific policies or code of ethics, speakers at the programme organised by Education Journalists' Group on Friday commented. The ministry does not have any legal provision and policy to punish those opened without registration or indulged in malpractice, said Ashok Kharel, under secretary of School Administration at the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES). The ministry has only been keeping record and giving 'no objection letter' to students who have applied to go abroad for study under self-finance and the ministry's scholarship quota. Kharel, however, informed that ministry had stopped giving such letters for some universities of Bangladesh and Denmark. …………There are about 400 consultants in the Kathmandu Valley alone working as consultants for students willing to go abroad to study. But the actual number of such consultants is not known. [View Full Article]

US visa demand graph moves upward: consulate opened in Hyderabad

2007-10-12T07:15:00.000-07:00

Oct 11: In view of the revelation of the department of commerce of US which reports the arrival of around more than 4 lacs people from India to US in the year 2006 US has decided to open a new Consulate General in the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
The decision has been taken on the basis of the fact of 1/3 visa seekers being from Andhra Pradesh.
In 2006 an increase of 18 percent in the visitors to USA has been registered. Due to this increase India will come in the list of the top ten countries visiting USA.
US assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, Maura Harty said that this high growth area is likely to grow by 61 percent which is indicated by the fact that already this year 725,000 visas have been issued which is an increase of 58 percent.

US has the highest number of students in its institutions from India and currently 50,000 student visa applications are under consideration for this year. Indian population constitutes 17 percent of people visiting USA every year. [View Full Article]

Foreign students drawn to China's schools

2007-10-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

The number of overseas students in China has continued to rise as the country's reputation for higher education receives more international acclaim, officials with the Ministry of Education said.

More than 100,000 Chinese students study abroad annually, ranking it the top country in the world with students heading overseas. Latest statistics from the ministry indicate that China received more than 162,000 students from 185 countries and regions last year. The number was triple that of 2000.

Ninety-four percent of them were self-supporting and the rest had government scholarships.

"China's educational sector has made remarkable progress, especially in teaching quality and methods," Cao Guoxing, director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Department under the ministry, told China Daily.

The government has signed agreements with 30 countries and regions on mutual recognition of academic certificates and degrees. [View Full Article]

US visa demand grew 61% in '06

2007-10-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: The demand for US visas in India is the highest in the world, registering a growth of 61% in the last year alone, with a 55% growth just from New Delhi.

……..However, the downside of this explosion in demand is that visa fraud is increasing exponentially as well. The US embassy has now tied up with the CBI to net touts and middlemen involved in visa racket.

"We caution visa applicants not to be fooled by advertisements for visa document packages or promises of guaranteed visas," Harty said.

But the US policy of welcoming Indian visitors and students will continue, she said. "Foreign visitors account for nearly $105 billion in spending and other economic activity in the US annually. International students contribute an additional $13 billion each year to some 4,000 academic institutions." [View Full Article]

Mid-career professionals moving to the US for MBA

2007-10-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

For young and mid-career Indian professionals, taking a break to join an MBA course in the US seems to have become a very attractive option. Besides getting an MBA degree, the career move also helps in moving to the US and, in many cases, finding job opportunities. There’s always been a large percentage of Indian students heading to the US for MBA courses.

While this trend has not changed, there’s a degree of difference in the profile of students. In fact, Indian students are increasingly going to the US at the mid-career level, after gaining a few years of work experience. Many top US colleges too, prefer applicants with some years of work experience to add diversity to their classrooms.

The recent QS Applicants Survey carried out globally by analysing responses from thousands of worldwide MBA applicants, showed that India had the largest number of MBA applicants at the World MBA Fair — a well-known global roadshow. The survey also found an MBA was seen as a viable option for aspiring Indian leaders to improve careers and salaries. [View Full Article]

The Mobile International Student

2007-10-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

Much of the analysis of trends in international student mobility comes from the perspective of individual countries. American academic groups worry about the relative ability of colleges in the United States to attract the best foreign talent. British groups do the same, and so forth. A new analysis from the Observatory on Borderless Higher Education — a think tank based in Britain and affiliated with the Association of Commonwealth Universities and Universities UK — attempts to take a broader perspective. The dominant position of the United States remains clear — it continues to attract more students from other countries than anyplace else does. But the report identifies weaknesses for American colleges, as well as both strengths and weaknesses for some of the competitors to the United States, including some whose raw numbers have attracted attention of American educators.
Three other countries are identified as “emerging contenders": Malaysia, Singapore and China.[View Full Article]

Will a billionaire philanthropist's new American-style university stem the flow of Indian undergraduates heading West?

2007-10-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

British universities which assume there will be an unending stream of students coming from India in search of a quality higher education may be in for a shock in a few years. Indians are beginning to think about building their own elite, private universities – and are ditching the erstwhile British model for American-style higher education.
………... A savvy businessman, Agarwal will capitalise on the Indian demand for universities, and for a more multidisciplinary, American approach to higher education.
Among Indian students who go abroad for their university degrees, the majority prefer to go to the United States – not to the UK – despite the historic ties between India and Great Britain. Of 123,000 Indians studying abroad, nearly two thirds are enrolled in US institutions. This preference is part of Indians' efforts to distance themselves from British influence.... [View Full Article]

America to study & work, China for reform tips

2007-10-11T10:04:00.001-07:00

New Delhi, Oct. 10: A record number of Indian students have applied for visas to study in the United States over the past year, a senior US state department official said here today. “Visa demand is skyrocketing throughout India. The overall demand for visas (of all categories) is up 61 per cent in India, one of the highest visa growth rates in the world,” the US assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, Maura Harty, said. More than 50,000 young Indians have applied for student visas over the past year — a record number, Harty said.…….“Our consular posts in India process over 100,000 temporary worker visas per year, more than in any other country in the world. India has more students studying in the US — 80,000 — than any other country,” she said at a media meet. ……“The department of commerce estimates that this year, India will move into the ranks of the top 10 countries sending visitors to the United States,” she said. [View Full Article]

2007-10-11T10:04:00.000-07:00

Ragging: A Sickness in our Educational System and Society

2007-10-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months, the Indian media has carried stories about incidents of ragging at Indian colleges, including at some of India's most prestigious and well-known institutions (1). The incidents, several of which involve acts
of brutal violence perpetrated on helpless first year students by groups of senior students, raise many disturbing questions: why does this culture of violence exist among
Indian students and Indian society? It is an article of faith among the Indian middle classes that only the Indian masses are capable of irrational violence. ……….Clearly a deep-rooted malaise in Indian educational system, ragging is simultaneously a symptom of a deeper sickness in Indian society. …………I believe that Indian educational institutions have a lot to learn from the American educational system in this regard. It is not the case that there are no incidents of ragging--termed 'hazing' here-- in American educational institutions, but policies, response measures, campus safety provisions, and the threat of lawsuits ensure that such incidents are kept to a minimum and offenders are adequately prosecuted. [View Full Article]

Students urged to revive Indian intellectual traditions

2007-10-09T08:44:00.000-07:00

NIZAMABAD: It is unfortunate that the students of a country which has great traditions in education are now looking at foreign shores for higher education, ………….
The entire world is looking at the Indian intellectual heritage and civilisation, Appala Prasad said and explained that the West was now looking at India for solutions to many world problems. The European and Americans had begun research into the secrets of the Vedas. Unfortunately due to the Western cultural domination many Indian families are looking at America and European countries for higher education, he lamented.…………….It is the responsibility of the students to fight for a National Educational Teaching System to revive the glorious Indian intellectual heritage. [View Full Article]

It's cheaper to do MBA in Japan

2007-10-09T06:48:00.000-07:00

PUNE: Japan, the second-largest economy in the world, could be a cheaper destination to do your MBA than Pune. Mombusho Scholars Association of India (MOSAI) vice-president Umesh Joshi narrated this story to demolish myths about Japan being an expensive destination for higher studies. ………. “India sends between 300-500 students annually to Japan, of the 1.20 lakh overseas students who go there. Most of the Indian students go for language studies, which is a pity since the country has more to offer in high tech areas, than just language studies,” Mr Joshi stated. He added that MOSAI will offer round-the-year counselling and information to students wanting to explore Japan as an educational destination. There is a practical, long-term reason for Indian students to study in Japan, Mr Joshi remarked, given the level of investment being made by that country in core projects in India. Japanese companies, which will invest in India under those programmes, will naturally prefer Indians who have studied there, understand their culture and are familiar with the language. A course of study in Japan more or less guarantees a job with a Japanese company in India and for the Indian, it is a benefit since s/he learns tremendous self discipline. [View Full Article]

England: 'We pay £20 for each hour of contact time'

2007-09-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

International students complain of information overload and lack of value

International students in the UK, who pay fees of up to £5,500 a term, complain that universities here expect them to absorb too much knowledge when term starts, then just leave them to self-directed study. They say class sizes should be smaller, so that their tutors know them better. And what, they ask, is the point of lectures in which all academics do is read out bullet points of a PowerPoint presentation and then leave?……."International students are paying much more than home students. Few contact hours means we are getting less value for our money. Someone I know calculated that we pay £20 for each hour of contact time." [View Full Article]