HEAD START 2019/20 EDITION

2020 The definitive guide to higher education

The Key to Success and All-Round Development in the 21st Century � STUDY SKILLS � CAREER FOCUS � UAE SCHOOLS � 12 Education Destinations www.counsellingpoint.com

What’s New with the TOEFL® Test?

A Better Test Experience!

What would you do with 30 extra minutes in your day? You could grab lunch with a friend or watch an episode of your favorite show, spend time outdoors or catch up on reading. Whatever you decide, you’ll have time back in your pocket after taking the updated TOEFL® test, recently shortened by 30 minutes to just three hours!

As of Aug. 1, 2019, students taking the TOEFL test will now experience a shortened version with fewer questions in the Reading, Listening and Speaking sections. While the overall test format, question types and scoring scale remain the same, highlights of the changes include fewer questions per passage in the Reading section, fewer lectures in the Listening section and fewer independent and integrated tasks in the Speaking section.

Put Your Best Foot Forward with MyBest™ Scores What does life at university look like for you? Is it studying abroad in historic London, England, or the hustle and bustle of New York City in the United States? Whether your ideal experience is close to home or an ocean away, the TOEFL test can help you get there.

In addition to the shorter test time, students can now take advantage of MyBest scores, which take your highest section scores from all valid TOEFL iBT® test scores from the past two years and create what is sometimes referred to as a “superscore.”

If your performance on the first go-around wasn’t quite what you hoped for, or your dream university has requirements that are slightly above your results from one individual test

date, MyBest scores offer an opportunity to show your holistic potential rather than your performance on one test date.

And one more thing — taking advantage of MyBest scores is easy and requires no extra effort! Institutions will automatically receive MyBest scores along with the individual test dates you select. Be sure to check out score acceptance policies on the college and university websites to which you’re applying to for more information.

Preparing for Test Day with Free Resources There are a variety of great (and free!) preparation options for the TOEFL test, whether you have an hour to sit down and study or are looking for something on the go, or just need more information about what to expect on test day: Visit www.TOEFLGoAnywhere.org for test prep tools, tips, advice and helpful content on studying abroad, test format, dates and fees, scores and more.

Download the TOEFL Go!® Official app, available through the Apple App Store® or Google Play™, which provides free access to sample questions and insider tips.

Enroll in the TOEFL® Test Preparation: The Insider’s Guide, available at www.edX.org, a free and comprehensive six-week long, online study course that provides sample questions, videos, quizzes and more to help you prepare for test day.

Visit the TOEFL® page on Facebook® for tips and advice, motivational messages and videos in English.

Copyright (c) 2019 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo, TOEFL, TOEFL GO! and TOEFL iBT are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service (ETS) in the United States and other countries. IN ENGLISH WITH CONFIDENCE and MYBEST are trademarks of ETS. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For more information about the free resources available to you, visit www.ets.org/toefl/uae.

Letter from the editor Dear Readers, You hold in your hand a guide that will give you or your child/student a head start in his/her higher education journey and aid in career planning. The invaluable feedback from my students, their families as well as my peers from the counselling fraternity helped me conceptualize the contents. While some of the articles have been adapted from other journals, I have included source and websites so that you can get even more information as needed.

The highlight of this year for us at Counselling point was not just the advisees who got into Ivy league institutions and others with amazing scholarships but also the wonderful opportunity of addressing high schoolers of more than 34 Arabic schools as part of the International Education Show. In these sessions, I presented talks on higher education and career planning. A gist of the presentation is in my article titled 'Career Quest'. This is complemented by the article on career planning that gives practical tools to help you navigate the arduous path.

EXPO 2020 is here. The UAE has amazing plans and major projects are underway to actualise the vision of the rulers. 'With 173 days to celebrate, collaborate and innovate, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you simply cannot miss', states the EXPO 2020 website. This is the primary reason why I chose collaboration as this year's theme. The plans being made, will come to fruition when we all work together as one. It is collaboration or synergy that makes even the seemingly impossible, possible. Mrs Rosy George has shared her insight on the subject.

As 2019 was celebrated as the Year of Tolerance, my student advisee shared her perspective on the subject and her submission was selected as a winning entry by the representatives of the Gulf Education and Training Exhibition.(GETEX) She donated the money received (AED5000/) to 'Operation Smile,' the NGO that works with children with cleft lips/palate. Volunteering, another article featured herein speaks of the benefits and the difference it can make to the volunteer and the beneficiary.

In this issue, I have not only updated information on twelve popular study destinations but also included trends in careers, skills and jobs in the coming years and techniques to improve learning. I am extremely grateful to the people who contributed to this book including Suad Alhalwachi, Rosy George, Anju Manoj, my family, Deepakk Chandiramani, my marketing manager and my designer Shahab. We are able to distribute this handbook for free only because of the unstinting support of the advertisers, many of whom have been with me from the very first edition. I hope we can continue to collaborate in the interest of students in the years to come.

I wish you the very best in your journey, whether you are 15 or 51.

Rema Menon V.

Introducing a better TOEFL iBT ® test experience

3A Shorter Test 3MyBest Scores

3Easier Registration 3Scores in ~6 Days

9 out of 10 top universities in the US

On average, TOEFL® test takers in the UAE have higher

prefer the TOEFL test over other English language tests.1

than IELTS™ test takers.2

™

English proficiency

www.ets.org/toefl/uae Copyright (c) 2019 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo, TOEFL and TOEFL iBT are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service (ETS) in the United States and other countries. IN ENGLISH WITH CONFIDENCE and MYBEST are trademarks of ETS. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

1. Source: Survey of 94 admissions officers at US universities who accept both TOEFL and IELTS scores and who expressed a preference.

2. Source: Based on annual mean scores for the TOEFL iBT test (https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/94227_unlweb.pdf ) and the IELTS Academic test (https://www.ielts.org/en-us/teaching-and-research/test-taker-performance), and using the score comparison tables at https://www.ets.org/toefl/institutions/scores/compare/.

Table of Contents

26 10

CAREER FOCUS:

CAREER QUEST

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER

COLLABORATION

123 I My Page

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EDUCATION:

44

UAE SCHOOLS

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER: 10 Collaboration

The Key to Success and

All-Round Development in

the 21st Century 16 Volunteering

How Helping Others

Helps You study skills: 18 8 ways

to study effectively 20 Overview of

VARK learning style

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24 Technology becomes

your learning bestie! career focus: 26 Career Quest 28 Career Choices 30 Make a career plan 32 The Four Things

Resilient Teams do 120 The most in-demand

Jobs and Skills education: 36 UAE Schools

DESTINATIONS Destinations: 44 United Arab Emirates 52 United Kingdom 64 USA 70 Canada 76 Australia 82 Ireland 88 Malaysia 98 Singapore 102 India 110 New Zealand 113 Switzerland 116 Germany 123 My Page

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TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER

The Key to Success and All-Round Development in the 21st Century 10

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Collaboration is a character trait that belongs to the set of soft skills that have more to do with who the person is, rather than what he or she knows. It is beneficial is beneficial to everyone on the team as it is a phenomenon that is mutually beneficial. It aids in increasing the gamut of knowledge that exists within the team and also helps in finding countless solutions to challenging situations using different approaches.

Collaboration and knowledge creation go hand in hand.

Scientific breakthroughs and intuitive solutions are achieved by collaborative behaviour. Collaboration means being actively involved in a group that works together to achieve a common goal. It just does not mean passively particpating in a group discussion, but it also means adding value to the

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conversation. Teamwork is very much a part and parcel of collaboration. Building relationshps and maintaining them is extremely vital to fostering resilient partnerships. Showing due respect and valuing each and every member for their input is as important as expressing your voice.

Collaboration is defined as “working jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor�

(Merriam-Webster, 1999).�Collaboration helps break barriers, bridges unnecessary gaps and wipes away prejudices that otherwise exist in our daily lives. With collaboration in teams, members can welcome change and embrace diversity. This is why collaboration needs to be advocated for and should be made a mandatory subject in institutions around the world.

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The duo of mathematical geniuses, G.H. Hardy and Srinivasa Ramanujan, stands the test of time, because they showed the world how powerful the strategy of collaboration was. Hardy was once asked in an interview what his greatest contribution to mathematics was, and he was quick to respond that it was the discovery of Ramanujan. The two even collaborated on many mathematical problems.

The education system being followed in many countries now has moved beyond the traditional classroom pedagogy and has started to employ different training strategies. Learning becomes all the more interesting when there is peer-to-peer collaboration and meaningful dialogue. The World Economic Forum has stated coordinating with others, along with emotional intelligence and creativity, as one of the top ten skills required to progress and succeed in 2020. Hiring

managers nowadays seek persons who can work as part of a team. On many an occasion, whether it be a research or work environment, persons with different skill sets who belong to varying disciplines are brought together to see that the project runs smoothly. In fact, cities are lately being designed on the premise of collaborative participation.

Everybody is a winner when there is healthy collaboration.

Everyone’s efforts are applauded and successes acknowledged by placing trust in each other.

- Rosy George

Helen Keller rightly said,

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

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www.counsellingpoint.com

If you plan to learn, you have to learn to plan.

Let us help you find the right career path Making a choice on subjects, courses or universities can be very daunting. we can help you make those hard decisions by giving you access to a range of informed choices.

PO Box 103926, Dubai, United Arab Emirates T: +971 4 397 8846 • M: +971 50 564 2709 E: avi127@eim.ae www.counsellingpoint.com

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER

Volunteering How Helping Others Helps You

Volunteering has a positive effect on your community — and it’s good for you too. Ben, a college freshman who did volunteer fund-raising work, calls it “a win-win situation." He says, "You feel good because you're helping others, and the others feel good because they're getting help.”

Volunteering can help you learn more about yourself and even put you on a path to your future career.

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Reasons to Volunteer

Giving back to your community is valuable in itself, but helping others also offers many benefits. For example, it can help you learn more about yourself and even put you on a path to your future career. Learn more about the reasons to volunteer below.

Gain valuable life experiences & skills

Whether you build houses for the homeless or mail flyers for a local politician, you can experience the real world through hands-on work. And you can explore your major or career interests at the same time.

For example, as a premed freshman, Gregory spent his summer volunteering at a local health clinic. He picked a clinic in an area with a lot of Spanish speakers so he could practice his language skills while observing medical workers. He also found time to ask the doctors questions.

Meet Interesting People

Both the people you are helping and your fellow volunteers can give you new insights. No matter what groups of people you’re working with, you’ll find that they have information and ways of looking at the world that can broaden your horizons.

Get Academic Credit

Some high schools offer academic credit for volunteer work through service learning — a program that offers hands-on learning through service to the community.

To find out if your school offers service learning, talk to your school counselor.

Show Colleges You’re Committed

Your volunteer work illustrates your interests and character. When you list your volunteer work on your college applications, you show admission officers the value you’ll bring to their campus community.

• Call programs based in your community and ask if they need help.

• Visit your town’s website. It may list volunteer opportunities in your area.

• Contact a local museum or other cultural institutions or get in touch with similar organizations that can point you in the right direction.

• Ask libraries, religious organizations and community colleges if they sponsor any volunteer groups.

Before You Volunteer

To get the most out of your experience, ask yourself these questions before you get involved with an organization: • What have I done in the past that I’ve enjoyed?

• What do I want to do as a volunteer — and

What would I rule out doing?

• • • •

How much time can I commit?

What talents or skills can I offer?

What kinds of people do I want to work with?

What would I most like to learn by volunteering?

Some volunteering opportunities in the UAE: • Community Development Authority (CDA) • Emirates Environment Group (EEG) • Emirates Marine Environment Group EMEG • Red Crescent • Dubai Cares • Operation Smile • Al Noor Training center for children with special needs • Special Needs Future Development Center Source: Big Future - College Board

Make a Difference

It’s eye-opening to realize that doing even small things can have a big impact on others. Rhea, a college sophomore, still remembers a visit she made to a senior home with a choir when she was in middle school. “An elderly man in a wheelchair looked up at me after the last strains of ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and said in a gravelly voice, ‘You’ve made my day. This means so much.’” She recalls, “No one had ever thanked me in such a way for doing something so small, and a stranger no less!”

How to Get Involved

Organizations everywhere need volunteers. Here are some ways to get started: www.counsellingpoint.com

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STUDY SKILLS

WAYS to study

effectively

If you’re a student, you’ll know that studying is (or should be) a big part of your life. Then again, there are many other things that form part of your life as a student.

There will be clubs, societies or sports to participate in, events to organise or attend, and you’ll also need time to socialise. Some of you may even hold a part-time job. So how do you make sure you have enough time to study?

Maybe you’ve noticed how some of your school or college mates seem to have time to do everything and yet have time to study and score straight As to boot.

And maybe the answer is not just finding time to study but making your study time more effective.

So what does studying effectively mean? First of all, studying effectively is not a single event but a process.

You’ll need to implement changes and stick to them in order to get the best results. If you spend a lot of time studying but find that you don’t get much out of it, chances are you’re not studying as effectively as you can.

Here are a few things you can start to implement immediately. Remember, you’ll need to stick to them—it may seem hard but once you do, you’ll very likely see the positive results you’ve been waiting for.

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1. Study in a group If you choose your study mates carefully, this could be one of the best ways to boost productivity when studying. Studying in a group minimises the chances of procrastination especially when you’ve set a time to study and committed to being accountable to each other. Group study also helps you fill in the gaps where you may have missed out something important in your notes. If you don’t understand something, chances are one of your study mates will be able to explain it to you. Being in a group also means you can sharpen your study skills and learn new ways to learn things.

2. Avoid multitasking A long time ago, the ability to multi-task was a prized talent. Unfortunately, it’s been shown by many experts that it doesn’t quite work when it comes to studying.

Instead of spending a lot of time doing lots of things at the same time – studying, answering emails, checking updates on social media apps, etc. – it is way better to study for a shorter period with zero distractions. This is more effective in the long run. www.counsellingpoint.com

3. Use a variety of ways to learn the same information Do you find yourself reading a chapter or even a page over and over and at the end of it, you still don’t get it? Or maybe you have trouble remembering the key concepts?

You’re not alone. Don’t continue torturing yourself.

Instead, use different ways to learn the topic. Besides reading your notes and the textbook, you could watch a video on the topic, look up other online resources, create a mind map, teach someone what you’ve learned, and do practice questions from a variety of sources.

4. Space it out An impactful learning strategy you could try is called distributed practice. This means spacing out your study sessions over several short periods of time over several days and weeks. For example, an effective practice is to work a short time on each subject every day. Instead of burning the midnight oil the entire weekend, short daily sessions will help you retain the information more effectively in the long term.

5. Practice, practice, practice Studying alone is not enough. You need to practise. So get your hands on past year papers or other practice exercises and start practicing. Time yourself if possible.

You need to get used to writing out your answers, particularly for long essay questions. For subjects like math, there’s nothing better than practice to boost your speed and accuracy.

6. Sit in front If you’ve been sitting at the back of the class all this time, try to move up and sit in front. We guarantee that you will notice some changes in the way you react to www.counsellingpoint.com

learning in class. We don’t mean to say that students who sit at the back don’t do well – what’s critical is to let the change in your environment nudge you out of your comfort zone. Go on, try it!

7. Eat well, sleep well With all that hard work you’re putting into your studying, you need to refuel and recharge! If you find that you need to pump yourself up with coffee and energy drinks day after day, you might be overdoing it. The quantity and quality of sleep that you get have a big impact on learning and memory. If you’re sleep-deprived, you cannot focus your attention optimally and therefore cannot learn efficiently. Also, when you sleep, you give your brain a chance to consolidate your memory; this is essential for learning new information.

As for diet, junk food and sugary snacks don’t do you any favours. Science tells us that some foods increase awareness and mental sharpness, while other foods make us lethargic and give us brain fog. So stick to foods that are packed with vitamins and minerals, good fats, and rich in antioxidants. Besides being nutritious, these foods can boost your memory while sharpening your focus.

8. Plan, plan, plan If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. So corny but oh, so true. Planning is essential because not only does it help you ensure you’ve got everything covered, it helps boost your confidence and give you a sense of achievement as you tick off your list of completed items. Planning also helps you decide how much time you need to spend on a topic—more time for the tough stuff, of course. Don’t forget to add sleep and exercise to your schedule!

Source: www.studymalaysia.com HEADSTART 2020

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STUDY SKILLS

Overview of

VARK Learning Styles Which learning style do you have?

Learning styles are a popular concept in psychology and education and are intended to identify how people learn best. The VARK model of learning styles suggests that there are four main types of learners.

These four key types are: • Visual learners • Auditory learners • Reading/writing learners • Kinesthetic learners It has long been a question as to whether students learn best when teaching methods and school activities match their learning style, learning strengths, and 20

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preferences. The popularity of this concept grew dramatically during the 1970s and 1980s, despite the evidence suggesting that personal learning preferences have little to no actual influence on learning results.

VARK Learning Styles In Fleming’s model, which are often referred to as VARK learning styles, learners are identified by whether they have a preference for visual learning (pictures, movies, diagrams), auditory learning (music, discussion, lectures), reading and writing (making lists, reading textbooks, taking notes), or kinesthetic learning (movement, experiments, hands-on activities). www.counsellingpoint.com

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What Type of Learner Are You? In order to identify which type of learner people are, Fleming developed a self-report inventory that posed a series of situations. Respondents select the answers that best match their preferred approach to learning.

Example

Imagine that you are learning how to perform a new physical skill such as riding a bike or dancing a certain style of dance. In which way would you learn this skill the best?

• • • •

Looking at pictures of people performing the skill Listening to an expert explain how to do the task Reading about how to perform the task in a book Watching someone else perform the skill and then trying it yourself

If you chose number one, then you might be a visual learner. If you would rather listen to someone explain how to do the task, then you might be an auditory learner. Those who would prefer to read written

instructions are likely reading/writing learners, while those who would rather gain hands-on experience are most likely kinesthetic learners.

Take a closer look at what each of the VARK learning styles entail.

Visual Learners Visual learners learn best by seeing. Graphic displays such as charts, diagrams, illustrations, handouts, and videos are all helpful learning tools for visual learners.

Visual learners prefer this type of learning would rather see information presented in a visual rather than in written form.

If you think you might be a visual learner, answer the following questions: • Do you have to see information in order to remember it?

• Do you pay close attention to body language??

• Are art, beauty, and aesthetics important to you?

• Does visualizing information in your mind help you remember it better?

If you can answer yes to most of these questions, chances are that you have a visual learning style.

Aural Learners Aural (or auditory) learners learn best by hearing information. They tend to get a great deal out of lectures and are good at remembering things they are told.

Are you an auditory learner? Consider the following questions: • Do you prefer to listen to class lectures rather than reading from the textbook?

• Does reading out loud help you remember information better?

• Would you prefer to listen to a recording of your class lectures or a podcast rather than going over your class notes?

• Do you create songs to help remember information?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, then you are probably an auditory learner.

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Reading and Writing Learners Reading and writing learners prefer to take in information displayed as words and text.

Reading/writing learners prefer materials that are primarily text-based.

Could you be a reading and writing learner? Read through the following questions and think about whether they might apply to you.

• Do you find reading your textbook to be a great way to learn new information?

• Do you take a lot of notes during class and while reading textbooks?

• Do you enjoy making lists, reading definitions, and creating presentations?

• Do you prefer it when teachers make use of overheads and handouts?

If you answered yes to these questions, it is likely that you have a strong preference for the reading and writing style of learning.

Kinesthetic Learners Kinesthetic (or tactile) learners learn best by touching and doing. Hands-on experience is important to kinesthetic learners.

example, a student might feel that both visual and auditory learning are equally appealing.

While aligning teaching strategies to learning styles may or may not be effective, students might find that understanding their own learning preferences can be helpful. For example, if you know that visual learning appeals to you most, using visual study strategies in conjunction with other learning methods might help you better remember the information you are studying—or at the very least make studying more enjoyable.

If no single learning preference calls out to you or you change preferences based on the situation or the type of information you are learning, you probably have what is known as a multimodal style.

For example, you might rely on your reading and writing preferences when you are dealing with a class that requires a great deal of book reading and notetaking, such as a History of Psychology course. During an art class, you might depend more on your visual and kinesthetic preferences as you take in pictorial information and learn new techniques.

Source www.verywellmind.com

Not sure if you’re a kinesthetic learner? Answer these questions to find out: • Do you enjoy performing tasks that involve directly manipulating objects and materials?

• Is it difficult for you to sit still for long periods of time?

• Are you good at applied activities such as painting, cooking, mechanics, sports, and woodworking?

• Do you have to actually practice doing something in order to learn it?

If you responded yes to these questions, then you are most likely a kinesthetic learner.

Why It Matters Some critics have suggested that labeling students as having one specific learning style can actually be a hindrance to learning. Despite the criticism and lack of empirical support, the VARK model remains fairly popular among both students and educators. Many students immediately recognize that they are drawn to a particular learning style. Others may find that their learning preferences lie somewhere in the middle. For www.counsellingpoint.com

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study

skills

Technology becomes your learning bestie!

Technology today is an integral part of our lives, be it for learning or for leisure. From the time computers were used in education in the 1960s, to the millennium and beyond, technology has transformed the way we learn, work, play, interact, live and heal.

The plethora of tools available today giving us information at our fingertips allows students to learn at their own pace. It has given teachers the opportunity to create instructional and assessment materials and to give more opportunities for students to learn in their preferred style and at their own convenience.

Technology now enables real time communication creating virtual classrooms for students with similar interests or difficulties to come together and learn.

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Technology, if used effectively helps in moving away from the ‘one size fits all’ classroom structure to a flexible learning platform, to accommodate the specific and diverse needs of multiple students. While students with physical disabilities now use various Assistive Technology solutions to access computers and tablets, students with learning disabilities, or even with different learning styles can find an extensive range of support from various applications, lovingly called ‘apps’. Technology accommodates the different learning styles - Visual, Auditory, Verbal, Kinesthetic, Logical, Social or Solitary.

Graphic organizers, mind mapping apps, flash cards, interactive lessons and review games, to name a few. It helps to combine multiple learning styles with a variety of lessons to help students understand the various concepts.

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Google Chrome – apps and extensions helps personalize learning. Applications are standalone programs that run in an operating system, with a user interface and user interaction, whereas Extensions can be used across websites and apps.

It extends the functionality of the browser being used. ‘Voice In Voice’ and ‘Speak it’ are one among the many speech to text and text to speech extensions that can be used across different websites, useful for students struggling with learning and literacy. ‘Grammarly’ and ‘Ginger’ are grammar and spelling checker extensions, which helps students with learning disorders like dyslexia. They help eliminate spelling and writing errors, making learning effective. Kami – a pdf and document marker, Beeline Reader, Reading ruler, Snap and Read, and Google Read and Write are a few other extensions to aid in learning. Graspable Math makes math learning easier for students with dyscalculia, from simple addition to complex equations and algebra.

TechMatrix, associated with American Institute for Research (AIR), which is one of the largest behavioral and social science research organizations in the world, provides a sea of resources covering all topics for students with learning difficulties, with customer guides and pathways to help students and educators find the right tool as well as use it effectively.

Apps like ‘Socratic’, available on both iOS and Android platforms supports Math, Science, Economics and History. ‘Mathspace’ dedicated to solving math problems makes it easier with step-by-step feedback, help and built-in reward systems.

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Modern technology has given us multifunctional devices with newer ways of learning and collaborating. The advantage with technology today is that all these and much more is available even on the smart phone that almost everyone carries around with them. The everchanging and ever improving bank of apps available in all operating systems, gives the students and teachers the flexibility to search and find apps that suit their specific requirements.

PS: These are resources that I have worked with some of my students with learning disabilities and even used on my own. The article does not endorse any specific platform or product.

Anju Manoj Equipped with a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Diploma in Special Education, Anju has worked in the field of Special Education for more than 15 years. Currently working as an Assistive Technology Specialist at Al Noor Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities, she provides technology solutions to People Of Determination.

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C A R E E R

F O C U S

CAREER QUEST You can count the seeds in an apple but can you count the apples in a seed?”

I read this line as a young girl and it stayed on in my mind because it talks about the power of possibilities and phenomenon of fruition. Each one of us is endowed with multiple capabilities and amazing potential but few of us take the time to discover the potential lying deep within us. Some of us plod along, while others drift by and yet others want to expedite

the process and try to fly even before they learn to walk!

In the past, a career was a lifelong commitment. In today’s world, the scenario is totally altered. In one’s lifetime, one takes on multiple careers and numerous jobs. While constant change may not be in the person’s interest, change is necessary if one perceives that one

is not suited to the position. Self awareness is of crucial importance in the process called career exploration and planning. We need to look within ourselves to recognize our aptitude, areas of strength, and weakness.

As a teenager, the tendency is to look outside for answers. We seek what our peers seek, what seems to be the rage or is “in” and give little or no regard to our own likes, abilities or interests. As teenagers, we want to conform to the choices of our friend circle’s rather than our own. There is danger in that because we are all unique and going by a ‘herd mentality’ may not be the best way to optimize our own abilities and strengths.

Whatever be the age, one useful tool for career exploration is the recording of one’s experiences, dreams, aspirations and goals in a journal form. As we become increasingly aware of ourselves, what motivates us, our value systems, ambition, personalities, we recognize our inherent needs, talents, desires and wants.

“You can count the seeds in an apple but can you count the apples in a seed?”

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To actualize this, we need to research. The internet is a brilliant store house of information on a plethora of options. We could also meet people from different careers; learn about options and check to see if it is the right fit.

When you ask people about their jobs, you will be able to get a peek into their world of work. Those who are enthusiastic about their jobs speak animatedly about it.

Such enthusiasm is infectious.

‘Sound career decisions rely on three significant steps.

You must have self awareness - of who you are and what you like to do including hobbies, school activities, school subjects, interests, values, goals, work activities, skills and abilities. You will do best at what you really like to do. Knowing who you are will help you decide what you want to do in the world of work.

You must also investigate career opportunities by learning about the requirements, demands, working conditions, salaries and educational requirements.

Knowing about the wide range of working environments will allow you to relate what you know about yourself to the many occupations available.

After you have chosen a field, you must prepare to enter your chosen career area by creating a realistic set of goals and a plan to attain them. Your plan will need to include the education and training necessary to reach your career goal’ - Cambridge Research Group.

As I understand it, this era is going to be one of specializations, and those who qualify themselves professionally and can offer a unique skill/expertise can look forward to better remuneration and faster growth in their chosen career path. What is most important is to find out what you are good at and to match that with your interest and passion. A fusion of strong aptitude, keen interest and the necessary skill sets, indicates potential for growth. When setting off on a new track or taking the plunge into a pioneering field, do not hold back because there does not appear to be ‘scope’ in that area at this time, or by the fact that no one else seems to be doing it. If you are good at your combination of subjects and can specialize in a niche area of the wider career, chances are that you will probably become a pioneer in your chosen field.

Trends that are both existing and emerging, contribute to drive job growth and creation the world over.

Developments in technology, health care, environmental protection and globalization, as well as current trends in the economy are bringing to the forefront several cutting-edge careers. So whether you wish to become an actuary, a genetic counselor, a robotics specialist, a web consultant or a green architect, the world is your oyster. Whatever your ambition, remember the seeds lie in you. Explore your potential and make the most of your present, for therein lies your future.

In this rapidly evolving world, what are some of the emerging careers that offer challenging opportunities, exciting financial returns, and excellent growth prospects? Although there is no sure shot method of predicting what would be the best career or the one that would be most in demand, it is possible to study trends and consider options. As long as one is willing to be a life long learner, capable of adapting to change and have an open attitude, there are not one but several suitable careers out there waiting for you! For students, an understanding of these emerging careers offers a chance to be ahead of the game, while for adults, a shift within their career field or a transition to a completely new specialism offers a dose of freshness and exposes the individual to a challenging new dimension in a fresh professional direction. www.counsellingpoint.com

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CAREER FOCUS

CAREER CHOICES Suad Alhalwachi Founder and Director, Education Zone

I am a 60 year old educator, and even though many folks may think that I’m ready to hang up the boots, I still want to learn more and do a million other things on top of that! I went through a few jobs in my life, starting from an economist, a book keeper, accountant, management accountant, auditor, director, lecturer, and finally a business owner. I performed really well at all my jobs, but deep inside I didn’t like some of the practices involved, plus I felt the roles were really limiting and weren’t showcasing my full potential.

New Zealand was my home for a short period and while there, I started thinking of becoming a teacher, and found that one has to have a certificate in teaching to teach in New Zealand. This is to learn about the various theories of how students learn, and the different models of teaching. It was like opening a Pandora’s box; I was fascinated, and from that moment on, I am discovering new things on a daily basis.

I became passionate about how people learn, about the theories of learning and the behavioural science behind it all. The more I looked into this the more it became clear to me that we are all different in how we learn. So we cannot teach in one way and think that it would fit everyone in the classroom. It is not just chalk and talk. I am worried that I cannot learn everything to do with education by the time I retire, for that reason I cancelled the idea of retirement and will leave it to those more accomplished in their lives!

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Back to the subject of education, you can never get me to stop talking when it comes to the topic of school improvements. I unearth the problems that the kids face but unfortunately, I find that students come to me for a solution after they have really messed things up. Have you heard of 21st-century skills? These are communication skills, critical thinking, collaboration and creative thinking. Well, we have not integrated them in our education system! Why? Because we are busy focusing on examinations and tests without looking at the child’s interpersonal skills, communication skills, writing skills. This has created a large number of students who find it difficult to hold a conversation and have low language ability.

We have lost our identity so our kids cannot read and write in Arabic and of course, they cannot read and write in English. In language testing most of our kids score low on these two very important attributes and we think why is this so if they have been in schools for 12 years. Did you know that we do not have a test for Arabic language like the famous IELTS or TOEFL? To top it all, we had to dedicate a year to reading because our rulers realized that they must do something about it.

They also thought that reading will make the students and everybody happy, so we now have a Minister of happiness. We do not focus on Arts, Music, Dance, www.counsellingpoint.com

Sports, Poetry, or Story-telling, nor do we concentrate on any extracurricular activities. Our kids spend their summers at home, in malls, sleeping or playing games.

Besides all of these issues, many of our kids don’t know what they want to do in life. What are the Careers of today? I will not concentrate on traditional careers such as doctors, dentists, engineers, accountants and lawyers. These are careers that parents push their kids into. If I were able to start again I would pursue a career in the field of education. Why is that? To make a real change in the world. However, I have seen very few young students going for a major like this one.

According to a study, there are 260 thousand jobs in IT that have no one to fill them. Especially in creating applications and in the field of social media. Did you know that there are jobs for Twitter content writers? But there are very few that can communicate and write a sentence that makes sense in 140 characters. I did a study on a group of adults and asked three questions: what did you study? what are you doing now? and what do you want to do when you retire? Well 70% work in fields different to what they studied, and 90% want to open restaurants when they retire. Imagine if these people studied cookery or hospitality? Wouldn’t we have the best food outlets in town?

Another thing that we must remember in this day and age is that you cannot limit yourself to one career. One can hold different careers in life and it’s not scary. If I can change my career five times in my lifetime, so can you. We all fail, the good thing though, is that we get up and try all over again; failure is not the end of life, it’s the beginning of a new life. Trying again and again is like finding a new way to do something; I always tell my kids, if I can do it, so can you.

One thing I learnt from my life is that only I can make a difference in my own life; no one else. I can receive support from others but in the end, I have to do it on my own. And the same is true for you. While you may think these words sound clichéd, let me be honest and tell you that it has not been easy. I had to do a lot of things by myself, for example:

• I love to see the world poverty-free so I started my own society to help in eradicating poverty • I like to call myself an educator as I would love to see at least a Bachelor degree in every household in my country. So I started a company that sends students abroad to study and accomplish exactly that • As I love art, I did a project to scout 200 unknown Bahraini artists and helped them in selling their art online, with the help of a website and social media.

I learned that nothing is impossible, I had the courage to go for different fields and even multiple fields at the same time. It worked for me, it might take time, but you can go after your dreams too as our society needs good role models. Although I might not be the most successful, or the richest woman in the world, I can certainly tell you with confidence that I’m a happy woman. Happy that I tried. Happy that I made mistakes and happy that I never once dreamed of giving up.

I would like to tell you a secret, in February I watched a TED talk of my favorite author. I told myself then that I must do a TED talk. We are in May now and I am in front of you, doing this TED Talk. That’s the power of positive thinking.

In my lifetime, I aim to give hope to people, students, women, people in the region of all ages to go after their dreams which are not anymore limited to society’s rules or expectations. People at any age and gender can achieve more than they think they can. And I am a real example of this. Go after your dreams, be passionate about what you do, so you don’t have to wait for the weekend to have a life.

This article was adapted from a TED Talk delivered by Suad Alhalwachi, Founder and Director, Education Zone

• I like to write but found that nobody would publish my articles, so I created my own magazine, and my own blog website www.counsellingpoint.com

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CAREER FOUCS

Make a career plan A career plan lists short- and long-term career goals and the actions you can take to achieve them. Career plans can help you make decisions about what classes to take, and identify the extracurricular activities, research, and internships that will make you a strong candidate.

Whether you are in high school, university or in your first job, careful career planning iis of paramount importance and will have lifelong repercussions.Below are some helpful steps to guide you in creating a career plan customized to suit your interests and ambitions.

Prioritize.

It’s not enough to list options. You have to prioritize.

What are your top skills? What interests you the most? What is most important to you? Whether it’s intellectually challenging work, family-friendly benefits, the right location or a big paycheck, it helps to know what matters to you -- and what’s a deal-breaker.

8 Steps to an Effective Career Plan Identify Your Career Options.

Develop a refined list of career options by examining your interests, skills, and values through self assessment. Narrow your career options by reviewing career information researching companies and talking to professionals in the field. You can further narrow your list when you take part in experiences such as shadowing, volunteering, and internships.

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Make Comparisons.

Compare your most promising career options against your list of prioritized skills, interests and values.

Consider Other Factors.

You should consider factors beyond personal preferences. What is the current demand for this field? If the demand is low or entry is difficult, are you comfortable with risk? What qualifications are required to enter the field? Will it require additional education or training? How will selecting this option affect you and others in your life?

Gather advice from friends, colleagues, and family members. Consider potential outcomes and barriers for each of your final options.

Make a Choice.

Choose the career paths that are best for you. How many paths you choose depends upon your situation and comfort level. If you are early in your planning,, then identifying multiple options may be best. You may want several paths to increase the number of potential opportunities. Conversely, narrowing to one or two options may better focus your job search or graduate school applications.

Set “SMART” Goals.

Now that you’ve identified your career options, develop an action plan to implement this decision. Identify specific, time-bound goals and steps to accomplish your plan. Set short-term goals (to be achieved in one year or less) and long-term goals (to be achieved in one to five years).

Specific : Identify your goal clearly and specifically.

Measureable : Include clear criteria to determine

progress and accomplishment.

Attainable : The goal should have a 50 percent or

greater chance of success.

Relevant : The goal is important and relevant to you.

Time bound : Commit to a specific timeframe.

Create Your Career Action Plan. It’s important to be realistic about expectations and timelines. Write down specific action steps to take to achieve your goals and help yourself stay organized. Check them off as you complete them, but feel free to amend your career action plan as needed. Your goals and priorities may change, and that’s perfectly okay.

Meet with a Career Advisor.

To get another perspective, do talk to a professional.

Online Research Tools

These online tools can help you in your research: • Muse U: career advice, job postings, email classes and videos • Occupational Outlook Handbook: the US Department of Labor’s occupation guide • MIT Library Business Databases: industry reports and overviews • https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/ majors-careers • https://www.careerkey.org/

Source

https://capd.mit.edu/explore-careers/careerfirst-steps/make-career-plan Adapted from MIT’S Career Advising and Professional Development www.collegeboard.org www.bls.gov www.counsellingpoint.com

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OLIVER FURRER/GETTY IMAGES

CAREER FOCUS

The Four Things Resilient Teams Do - Bradley Kirkman, Adam C. Stoverink, Sal Mistry and Benson Rosen Adapted from Harvard Business Review - July 19, 2019 Whether it’s an entrepreneur who finally succeeds in the marketplace after numerous failed attempts or bankruptcies, a scientist who generates the breakthrough compound for a life-saving medication after years of failed drug trials, or a basketball player who overcomes a severe injury and a shooting slump to advance their team in a big tournament, resilience is often identified as one of the factors that helps individuals get ahead. But few of us work entirely alone, and how our teams persevere matters just as much as how individually resilient we are.

But how do teams build resiliency? We surveyed almost 2,000 NCAA coaches to get their perspective on how they build resilient teams and worked with hundreds of team leaders and members in a wide variety of wide variety of industries to find out how teams become more resilient, and why it matters. We discovered that resilient teams — different from resilient people — have four things in common.

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They believe they can effectively complete tasks together. Beyond each individual having confidence in their ability to be successful, team members collectively believe that they can effectively complete tasks. However, too much confidence, and team members become complacent and don’t look for signs that adversity is ahead. Too little confidence, and they may not take important risks.

They share a common mental model of teamwork. All team members must be on the same page about their roles, responsibilities, and the ways they interact with one another during adversity. This is their mental model of teamwork, and it helps them coordinate effectively, predict one another’s behavior, and make decisions collectively on the fly. These mental models have to be both accurate (Are we doing the right thing at the right time?) and shared (Do we all agree on what we’re supposed to do?) in order to be effective. Having one or the other is not enough, as team members might agree on what www.counsellingpoint.com

actions to take but end up taking the wrong set of actions; or, team members might know the right thing to do but let their disagreements cause a delay in responding. Neither scenario is good for teams facing adversity. When team members share an accurate understanding of what needs to be done and how their roles — and the roles of others — fit into the big picture, they are well positioned to respond to adversity effectively, and without hesitation.

They are able to improvise. Teams must be able to improvise and develop new ideas or ways of handling adversity. Improvisation is really about the deliberate process of adjusting to changing circumstances in real time. To do so effectively, teams need to be able to access existing knowledge from past experiences and creatively reconfigure it to develop new and novel ideas when facing a setback. Resilient teams are intimately familiar with one another’s knowledge, skills, and abilities so that they can draw upon the right expertise at just the right time.

They trust one another and feel safe. Finally, team resilience is enhanced when members share the belief that it is safe to take interpersonal risks in their team, such as offering unusual or creative ideas without fear of being criticized or singled out by fellow team members.

This is often referred to as team psychological safety.

Studies have shown that team members often discuss only ideas that are already commonly known, rather than unique ideas, because they fear being ostracized or rejected for offering novel information. On resilient teams, members respect one another’s thoughts and trust that they will not be ridiculed or rejected for speaking up. This feeling of safety enables members to openly and honestly voice their ideas and opinions, which leads to a greater diversity of perspectives at a time when such diversity is badly needed.

Building a Resilient Team Team leaders and managers can increase their teams’ resiliency by making sure they are working to develop these four attributes. In our research we identified three key moments to do this: before adversity strikes, during an adverse event, and after adversity has subsided.

cross-training, providing a general framework for crisis response that can be applied to a variety of different situations, emphasizing the strengths and advantages of diverse teams, teaching them to leverage their diverse expertise to generate novel solutions, repeatedly and passionately discussing the culture of mutual trust and respect within the team, emphasizing inclusivity and speaking and acting appreciatively, and immediately and publicly reprimanding any disrespectful comments likely to deteriorate the team’s shared feeling of safety.

During an adverse event. Leaders should remind their teams of their resiliency. They should also provide teams with as much relevant information as possible, help them set a direction, coach members and boost their confidence as they move forward with a strategy, and reframe challenges as opportunities to learn and reflect.

After an adverse event. Leaders should provide a forum for careful reflection and debriefing. These after-action reviews should focus on a balance of successes and failures. Leaders should encourage their team members to speak up and raise any relevant concerns they have about the adversity. They should also recognize and show appreciation for those who do. Leaders should span boundaries by coordinating activities and relationships between their teams and other parts of their organization.

Leaders will also need to be good buffers against outside pressure and be skilled at acquiring resources, so their teams are adequately prepared for future adversity.

Resilient teams are just as important to businesses as resilient individuals, but while individual resilience is built independently, team resiliency must be carefully cultivated by leadership. Our work with many team leaders and members demonstrates that the actions we describe here should help to make sure team resilience is a widespread team attribute, rather than a scarce one. It’s hard work, but the payoff is organizations and teams that are built to last.

Before adversity strikes. Leaders should build team confidence, clarify how team members’ roles fit together, strengthen improvisation ability, and develop a culture of safety. This can be done through activities such as: establishing clear goals and processes, empowering teams with hypothetical training exercises and opportunities to master difficult challenges, training and www.counsellingpoint.com

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in World University Rankings (QS 2020)

Top 50 Under 50 (QS 2020)

in International Outlook (THE, World University Rankings 2019)

City University of Hong Kong is a dynamic, world-renowned university located in the heart of Asia’s world city.

City University of Hong Kong is one of Hong Kong’s eight publicly funded universities. In a city that highly prioritizes education, One of CityU visions are to aspire to become a leading global university, excelling in research and professional education. We continue to develop rapidly and is consistently ranked among the world’s best universities with a burgeoning local and global reputation for professional education and research.

We are strongly committed to creating an internationalized space for professional education, pursuing a research agenda designed to benefit society, establishing a culture of innovation and discovery, and nurturing the talents of our students.

City University of Hong Kong is a highly international institution; over 60% academic staff are international, and more than one-fifth of the undergraduate population are non local students. Classes are taught in English. With over 400 exchange partners in 44 countries and regions, CityU highly prioritises international experience for students. Each year over 1200 CityU students participate in student exchanges programme visiting institutions from across the world.

Hong Kong is a city of immense opportunities. Situated in the heart of Asia, this humming metropolis attracts people from around the world with its unique cultural heritage, accessibility, open economy and a bold foucs on the future.

This is a city of perpetual motion, in Hong Kong east meets west and tradition meets innovation.

Hong Kong is famous as a city of endless skyscrapers but as CityU exchange students discover, Hong Kong is also a place of great natural beauty. Students enjoy the freedom to explore the vibrant city or to hike beautiful mountains, relax on pristine beaches and the ease of travel to explore neighbouring countries, all from one of the safest cities in the world. With uniquely located at the heart of Asia’s World City, CityU aims to pursue excellence, promote innovation and nurture creativity for Hong Kong, the region and the world.

Global Engagement Office geo@cityu.edu.hk

CityUHKGlobal

@CityU.DiverCity

cityu.edu.hk/geo

UAE SCHOOLS "A country’s greatest investment lies in building generations of educated and knowledgeable youth�

- H.H The Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Abu Dhabi contributes to more than 60% of the GDP of the UAE. Education is considered a fundamental pillar for the development of a sustainable economy based on knowledge and the aspiration to achieve the objectives of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Both Ministry of education schools and private schools with different fee structure exist in the UAE. The Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) in Abu Dhabi takes serious steps to upgrade the capacity of private schools and enhance the learning process as well as facilitate investment in the private sector. The ADEK website states that there are 198 private schools in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. Of these, 253,000

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students are in private schools (88%) These schools offer 14 different curricula.

In Dubai, the government body called Knowledge and Human Development Authority(KHDA) is responsible for improve the quality of private education. It aims build a high quality education sector that foster happiness, and a good life As per the latest KHDA report, in Dubai, 79% students follow CBSE curriculum, 10% CISE/ICSE. From 21 Indian schools in 2010, it has grown to 35 schools catering to 79,113 students. Aside from this, there are 2562 students following the Pakistani curriculum.

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Some of the most popular curricula on offer include:

International Baccalaureate The IB diploma is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education that prepared students aged 16 to 19 for success at University and life beyond. IB diploma students study six subjects at higher or standard level Students must choose one subject from different subject groups thus ensuring breadth of experience in languages, Social Studies, the experimental sciences and mathematics.

The sixth subject may be an arts subject chosen from group 6, or the student may choose another subject from group 1 to 5. At least 3 and not more than 4 subjects are taken at higher level (recommended 240 teaching hours) , the others at standard level (150 teaching hours). Students can study these subjects, and be examined in English, French or Spanish.

The International Baccalaureate has already educated over 1 million students since it was founded more

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than 40 years ago, earning a reputation for quality education, high standards, consistent and rigorous assessment, and leadership in international education.

It synthesizes the best research and practice from a range of national systems with the wealth of knowledge and experience in international schools. The IB’s programmes for students aged 3 to 19 help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalising world.

At present there are a further 1 million IB students at approximately 4000 schools in 144 countries studying the PYP, MYP and Diploma programmes.

Students take a written exam at the end of the programme. The highest total that a diploma holder can be awarded is 45. The marks awarded for each course ranges from 1 to 7, with  7 being the highest. A score of 24 or above must be secured to be granted a diploma along with satisfactory performance in CAS. Up to 3 points can be granted for the extended essay and theory of knowledge. Universities in USA may offer credits for high scores in the IB.

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www.manipaldubai.com

MAHE-DUBAI: Rated among top Universities in UAE by KHDA Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Dubai Campus has been rated among the top Universities of Dubai in the first cycle of Higher Education Classification Rating Framework (HECRF) by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai. MAHE Dubai has been rated 4 stars overall by the framework that evaluates Universities against a range of performance indicators such as teaching, innovation, student wellbeing, and employability among others.

MAHE Dubai has been rated highly across all the core criteria set by the rating framework, which includes teaching, research, internationalization and are rated full 5 stars for employability of its students. Apart from being highly rated in the core categories, MAHE Dubai also topped the other categories, earning 5 stars in learning environment facilities and student well-being.

The rating further strengthens the reputation of MAHE Dubai as one of the top Universities in Dubai following the award for ‘Outstanding Support for Students’ by Forbes Middle East earlier this year.

MAHE Dubai offers over 40 industry-oriented UG, PG, Certification, Foundation, and Ph.D. Programs at its 750,000 sq ft ultra-modern campus in Dubai International Academic City. The University also offers courses for working professionals through its evening and weekend programs, designed to suit the learners who want to learn while they continue to work.

MAHE Dubai is the offshore campus of MAHE, India – the best Private Indian University as per the QS World Rankings 2020 and the second-best Private University as per the NIRF Rankings of Government of India 2019.

MAHE Dubai Campus delivers higher education to over 2000 students from over 40 nationalities in the streams of Engineering, Business, Design & Architecture, Media & Communication, Life Science, and Arts & Humanities.

Over 4000 students have graduated from MAHE Dubai campus since its inception in 2001. www.counsellingpoint.com

Dr. S.V. Kota Reddy

Academic President, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai Campus

“At Manipal, we strive to give an ecosystem that drives a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship Our strategic tie-up with Coursera – the global leader in online education, our Machine Learning powered Learning Management System - EduNxt and our digital student collaboration tool – Collpoll, are all progressive steps towards becoming tech-driven University of tomorrow. Furthermore, our Manipal Innovation and Incubation Centre provides a nurturing environment to technology-based business ideas so that the students prosper and become capable contributors to the community and economy.”

Key Courses on offer • BTech (Chemical, Civil, Computer Science, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Electrical & Electronics) • BCom Professional (with ACCA) • BBA – Day/Evening • BArch • BSc Biotechnology • BSc Information Systems & Management • BA Media & Communication • BA Humanities (Psychology, Sociology, English) • Work Mode MBA – Evening/Weekend • MBA Global Business • MTech (Manufacturing Engineering & Technology, Construction Engineering & Management, Engineering Management • PG Diploma in Data Science • PG Diploma in Logistics & Supply Chain • MAHE Dubai Foundation Program and many more…

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British Curriculum Schools The International GCSE (IGCSE) is an internationally recognised qualification which was designed as a secondary school qualification for pupils overseas but it is now being adopted by an increasing number of schools and colleges in the United Kingdom in preference to the standard GCSE. IGCSEs are the same qualification level as a standard GCSE and the qualifications are considered by many to be a more rigorous preparation for A-levels. IGCSEs offer progression to ‘A’ Level, BTEC vocational courses, and other similar qualifications that are recognised internationally and by the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). IGCSE is offered to students in over 150 countries and is gaining popularity in the UK .World-wide over 1.5 million students enter IGCSE exams every year.

A Level Courses

A Levels are considered the Gold Standard of the British education system and abilities, even in later life are still measured against it. Because A levels are usually studied over a two year period each syllabus is divided into two halves or “AS & A2 Levels”. Whilst each half covers approximately the same amount of

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material, the conceptually harder elements will nearly always be found in the second “A2” half. Generally, AS and A2 will each consist of two units. Each unit leads to a corresponding exam. Examinations are normally in June, although you may be able to arrange to sit some exams in January. You can start an A Level course at any time but you can only sit your examination in an appropriate examination window.

To prepare for A Levels, students should have a minimum of 4 GCSEs at grade C and above or equivalent qualifications. These would ideally include English and Mathematics. Various subjects are on offer and can differ from school to school. Students can also prepare and appear for exams privately through the British Council with permission from the school.

Apart from this, some schools provide, Cambridge IGCSE curriculum for 14-16 year olds, leading to globally recognized Cambridge IGCSE qualifications.

It is part of the Cambridge Secondary 2 stage.

Schools worldwide have helped develop Cambridge IGCSE, which provides excellent preparation for the Cambridge Advanced stage including Cambridge International AS and A Levels and Cambridge Pre-U,

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as well as other progression routes. It incorporates the best in international education for learners at this level. It develops in line with changing needs, and is regularly updated and extended. Cambridge IGCSE teachers can draw on excellent resources, training and advice from subject experts.

Assessment for Cambridge IGCSE includes written and oral tests, coursework and practical assessment. Schools have the option of assessing learners using only external examinations or, in most subjects, combining examinations with coursework. Coursework is set and marked by the teacher and externally moderated by Cambridge.

Teachers who have received training from Cambridge, or who possess suitable experience of marking coursework may carry out this assessment. In most subjects there is a choice between core and extended curricula, making IGCSE suitable for a wide range of abilities. Each learner’s performance is benchmarked using eight internationally recognised grades. There are clear guidelines which explain the standard of achievement for different grades. Cambridge IGCSE examination sessions occur twice a year, in May/June and October/November. Results are issued in August and January.

Assessment for Cambridge IGCSE includes written and oral tests, coursework and practical assessment.

Schools have the option of assessing learners using only external examinations or, in most subjects, combining examinations with coursework. Coursework is set and marked by the teacher and externally moderated by Cambridge.

BTEC Courses: BTECs are career-based qualifications designed to give students the skills they need to move on to higher education or go straight into employment. When combined with academic learning in a school or college (or as a stand-alone course in further or higher education), a BTEC develops a range of practical knowledge and skills which help learners to prepare for – and progress in – their chosen career.

More employers and Higher Education institutions than ever before are choosing BTEC-qualified candidates for their academic and practical knowledge and skills Some schools in the UAE now offer BTEC qualifications as well.

BTECs are graded using a Pass (P), Merit (M), Distinction (D) and Distinction* (D*) scale. Depending on the size of your course, you may receive one, two or three grades.

Central Board of Secondary Education There are 174 CBSE schools in the Gulf Council and each GCC country is represented by a Chapter Convenor who co-ordinates with each other. In UAE, there are 84 schools offering an Indian curriculum, Dubai boasts of 35 schools. These schools follow the curricula of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or International Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE). According to KHDA statistics, around 79,113 students currently attend schools offering an Indian curriculum in Dubai alone.

In most subjects there is a choice between core and extended curricula, making IGCSE suitable for a wide range of abilities. Each learner’s performance is benchmarked using eight internationally recognised grades. There are clear guidelines which explain the standard of achievement for different grades.

Cambridge IGCSE examination sessions occur twice a year, in May/June and October/November. Results are issued in August and January. Some institutions in America give credits to A level students.

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The Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) conducts final examinations every spring for All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE) for Class 10 and 12.The board also annually conducts the AIEEE for admission to undergraduate courses in engineering and architecture in numerous colleges spread over India. It also conducts NEET for admission to medical colleges in India.

The curriculum is so designed as to inspire the students to acquire and use the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a multi-cultural, technologically sophisticated environment that places intellectual and emotional quotient on par. Students who graduate are eligible for admission to any school in any part of India or other parts of the world. The All India S.S.C Examination of the Central Board has been recognized as a qualifying examination for admission to Indian as well as foreign Universities. Hindi is taught as a compulsory second language up to Grade 7. The student has a choice of opting for French from Grade 8 onwards. Arabic is a compulsory language for all grades up till Grade 10 and optional for Grades 11 & 12.

Scheme of Studies

Secondary (Grade 9 and 10) These 2 crucial years of school life are spent almost exclusively in preparing the child to appear for the All India Secondary School Examination conducted by CBSE, New Delhi.

Core Syllabus - English, Arabic, Hindi / French, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Science, (History, Geography, Economics, Civics and Political Science, Disaster Management), Computer Science, Art Education, Work Experience, Physical and Health Education.

Senior Secondary (Grade 11 and 12)

The AISSCE conducted by CBSE, New Delhi has been recognised as a qualifying examination for admission to Indian as well as foreign Universities. The schools

Rosy George served Indian high school Dubai for almost 40 years. She retired as the head of the English Department earlier this year. She enjoys quizzing and prepared students for debates, declamation and quzzes.

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offer various streams of study at this level for example: Science, Commerce or Arts. The electives offered may be changed under instructions from the Board.

Compulsory Subjects - English Core, General Studies, Physical and Health Education, Work Experience.

American Curriculum Schools

Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations

The American curriculum is based on American standards of achievement in all subject areas, supported by a huge range of co-curricular activities that ensure students have the opportunity to develop fully as individuals. It includes enquiry-based, handson teaching methods and learning strategies geared to individualized instruction. Any American curriculum refers to a broad and balanced Kindergarten to Year 12 [K-12] program commencing with entry to Kindergarten at age 5 and concluding with the award of the American High School Diploma on successful completion of Grade 12, at age 17.

The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education or ICSE examination is an examination conducted by the

The American diploma is accepted for entrance by all US universities and colleges, and is increasingly recognized by international schools of higher education. To cater to the needs of the diverse community; schools offer a range of course options and curricula. Some schools in UAE offer a combination of two curricula. Some may have a British system along with IB while others like the SABIS schools offer APs or advanced placement along with A levels. The costs, facilities and structure vary greatly. The choice is yours to make.

In all subjects other than Science and Computers, students must submit compulsory coursework assignments. In groups I and II they count for 20% of the student’s performance in the subject; in group III the assignments count for 50%. In Science and Computers, students are tested on their laboratory work. In subjects where there is more than one paper, the mark in the subject is calculated by taking the average of all papers in the subject. Candidates appearing for the examination have to study seven subjects, with anywhere from 1 to 3 papers in each subject. This makes for a total of 8-12 papers, depending on the subjects. The certificate has international equivalence and enables students to transfer to International Universities.

Source: http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/ academic/middlesec/igcse/subjects http://www.edexcel.com/International/ Documents/Edexcel-Capabilities-FinalUnitedKingdom.pdf http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/ academic/middlesec/igcse/overview http://icseguide.com/icse-board-open-itsdoors-to-information-seekers/ http://www.cisce.org/council.html http://cbse.nic.in/welcome.htm www.khda.gov.ae www.adec.ac.ae/en

With its affiliation to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi, India, some schools follow the curriculum of the CISCE Board and prepares students for the ICSE examination in the Secondary School and ISC examination in the Higher Secondary School. The Board and the curriculum framework provide a platform for diversity of intelligence in children and provide multiple avenues to focus on the student’s potential.

Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination. a private, non-governmental board of school education in India, for class 10,. It has been designed to provide an examination in a course of general education, in accordance with the recommendations of the New Education Policy 1986 (India), through the medium of English. The examination allows secure suitable representation of Governments responsible for schools (which are affiliated to it) in their States/ Territories. Private candidates are not permitted to appear for this examination.

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES The vision of the UAE’s leaders is to make the UAE a knowledge-based economy and a major education hub in the Middle East. The Ministry of Education has released a policy document outlining a strategy for educational development in the UAE up to the year 2020 based on several five-year plans. The UAE is already known for its well-considered international education strategies.

Last year, the British Council published its Shape of Global Higher Education report based on an analysis of international higher education policies across 38 countries. The UAE was ranked #2 for quality assurance and degree recognition, and # 5 for openness and mobility.

Dubai is home to more than 200 nationalities today and 90% of the city’s population comes from abroad, which is one reason that international branch campuses are such a natural fit. Speaking with Gulf News, Dr Warren Fox, chief of higher education for the UAE’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority, noted that over 40% of Dubai’s 30,000 international students are enrolled at branch campuses operated by some of the top universities in the world.

The United Arab Emirates, has become the sixth-largest study destination for Indian students with 13,370 students—a trend partially driven by the fact that Indian labor migrants now make up more than 25% of the country’s resident population, also, a number of Indian universities have set up branch campuses in the Emirates.

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International students studying in the United Arab Emirates are now be eligible for a five-year student visa, replacing the one-year visa term in place until now. In addition, plans are being finalised to allow students performing exceptionally well to apply for a 10-year residency and students who live as dependents of their parents in the UAE to apply for a visa extension after graduation. The UAE strives to lessen its reliance on the oil and gas sector and to move the country further along its path to becoming a knowledge based economy. .

More branch campuses expected

The UAE has for years been aiming to be an education hub in the region and indeed, it hosts the second-highest number of university branch campuses in the world after China. Mohammad Abdullah, managing director of the Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) and the Dubai Knowledge Park, said that the expectation is for still more branch campuses to set up in the region.

He cautions, however, that universities applying to start branches in DIAC will be carefully assessed UAE is home to a wide range of universities, both public and private. UAE citizens can attend government institutions free of charge. According to the UAE Ministry website, ninety-five percent of all girls and 80 percent of boys enrolled in the final year of secondary school apply for admission to a higher education institution.

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International students studying in the United Arab Emirates are now eligible for a five-year student visa, replacing the one-year visa term in place until now. In addition, plans are being finalised to allow students performing exceptionally well to apply for a 10-year residency and students who live as dependents of their parents in the UAE to apply for a visa extension after graduation. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced this in May 2018. The news comes as the UAE works to lessen its reliance on the oil and gas sector and to move the country further along its path to becoming a knowledge based economy.

Dubai is home to more than 200 nationalities today and 90% of the city’s population comes from abroad, which is one reason why international branch campuses are such a natural fit. There are 52 institutions in Dubai that offer higher education programmes. Many offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. Dubai International Academic City and Knowledge Park are purpose-built zones in Dubai that provide facilities and infrastructure for higher education. They have attracted institutions from all around the world to provide highquality international degrees. Other purpose-built areas that include higher education institutions are Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai Healthcare City, and Dubai Silicon Oasis.

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BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus Creating Leaders in the field of Technology

BITS Pilani, Dubai is the branch campus of the internationally reputed Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India, an university ranked among the top 100 universities in the QS University Rankings BRICS 2019 and the top 300 universities in Times Higher Education Asia Rankings 2019. Recently the Institute also received the "Institute of Eminence" status from the Govt of India. It is among the top and pioneering institutions in Dubai, and successfully serving the student community from UAE and other countries since the year 2000.

Aiswarya Iyer B. E. Computer Science Currently employed as: Sr. Analyst, Business Intelligence Dell, Bengaluru, India "From the most knowledgeable and approachable faculty to a bunch of passionate like-minded souls, BITS gave me everything. It's a nurturing campus where one learns to be a leader, to take up roles that would help in betterment of society, to follow your passion and to exhibit your talents"

The Dubai Campus offers Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral programmes in Engineering and Technology.

Dedicated to the field of engineering education, BITS Pilani is one of the largest educational institution in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). It has achieved great prominence among the region’s educational institutions by adapting itself to the diverse milieu, use of technology and modern facilities.

Students enrolled at BITS Pilani also have a unique advantage of undergoing a 7½ month Internship programme (Practice School) in companies, as a part of the programme, providing a great opportunity for them to get hands-on experience and a real life professional exposure, helping them in a smooth transition from the classroom environment to the professional world. The Institute has linkages with more than 300 reputed Industries in the U.A.E. and India to offer internship to the students.

With an highly impressive campus comprising of 46

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multiple academic blocks, separate hostels for men and women, very good sports facility. more than 30 modern scientific and engineering laboratories, smart classrooms etc, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus, is a high tech smart centre of education. A Cisco Telepresence Conference Room and Classroom which has the stateof-the-art high-definition video conferencing facilities comprising of large multiscreen displays and highfidelity multichannel sound system facilitates use of knowledge, skills and instructional expertise of the faculty and professionals from other universities and industries across the globe. A Creative Lab has been set up for encouraging students to realize their innovative ideas with 24x7 working opportunity.

The Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre caters to the entrepreneurial spirits of our students which has led to the success stories of several BITS students winning business idea competitions, creating startup companies and becoming successful entrepreneurs.

The graduates of BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus are placed in blue chip organizations around the world and are living testimony of high standards of teaching.

Several meritorious students have won scholarships for higher studies and secured admissions in universities like Stanford, Cornell, Harvard, MIT, etc.

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According to KHDA, there are 432 academic programmes available in Dubai. The majority (227) of these programmes are Bachelor’s degrees, and a further 141 programmes are at Master’s level. The programmes cover a wide range of fields of study. Many (39%) are within the field of business, and there are also programmes in information technology, engineering, law, media and design, education, social studies, Islamic studies, health and medicine, and natural and physical sciences.

Dubai has put in place specific processes to ensure institutions provide quality education to the student community. The University Quality Assurance International Board (UQAIB) was established by KHDA to assure the quality of education at international branch campuses.

UQAIB uses a validation model to ensure that the academic programme delivered in Dubai is the same accredited programme taught at the institution’s home campus. All higher education institutions located in Dubai’s Free zones must undergo the UQAIB quality assurance process. This process complements the Commission for Academic Accreditation(CAA). The CAA is a function of the federal

Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which licenses and accredits all higher education institutions outside the Free Zones. UAE currently has 80 licensed institutions offering 1028 programmes. In 2018, DIAC had a total of 94 new degrees offered by its universities. This includes 39 new Bachelor Degrees, 47 new Masters Degrees and 8 new PHD Programmes.

Public universities include the UAE University that awards over 70 undergraduate degrees and several post graduate ones; Doctoral degrees will also be offered in the coming years. The all women institution, Zayed University established in 1998 has campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and is organized into five colleges—Arts and Sciences, Business Sciences, Communication and Media Sciences, Education, and Information Systems while Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), UAE’s largest higher educational institution with an enrollment of over 16,000 UAE nationals was founded in 1988 with four campuses.

Various other vocational and technical educational centers include the Emirates Institute for Banking and Finance, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Career Development Center, Dubai School of Government, Dubai College of Tourism etc. Because of global partnerships, a number of international universities are opening campuses or programs in the UAE. Free trade zones such as Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Financial Centre, RAK Free Zone and Academic City host some of the finest institutions with state-of-the-art infrastructure. Students from the ME region are benefitting from these educational opportunities housed in multi-university complexes.

As per the Abu Dhabi Education Council, in 2012, there were 18 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) operating in Abu Dhabi. Each emphasizes particular fields of study or programs, but all aim to prepare well-qualified graduates for the labor market. In addition, some have a specific mission to focus on research and advance knowledge. Besides the 18 institutions, there are four HEIs that prepare students directly for military or police careers. There are three federally accredited institutions in Ras Al Khaimah – the American University of Ras Al Khaimah, Higher Colleges of Technology, and the Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University. Apart from this, there are several

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institutes operating in the free trade zones. At present, there are about 7,000 students, with 1,500 of them in free zones.

Bath Spa University and University of Sterling are two of the latest universities to join RAK Education Zone.

The newly-established Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU) combines the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MI), the Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR) and the Petroleum Institute (PI) into one world-class, research-intensive institution, seamlessly integrating research and education to produce world leaders and critical thinkers in applied science and engineering. Khalifa University endeavors to be a leader among research intensive universities of the 21st century, while catalyzing the growth of Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s rapidly developing knowledge economy.

Types of Higher Education Providers (HEP) operating in Dubai: As per the KHDA website, Dubai has 62 HEPs; 39 in Free Zones and 23 outside Free Zones. Since the introduction of the Free Zones in 2003, the number of HEPs has increased significantly from four in 2002 to 39 HEPs for the academic year, 2017-2018.

HEP Branch: A university, college, academy, or institute located in a Dubai Free Zone, which acts for, on behalf of, and in the name of a HEP headquartered outside a Free Zone (usually in another country).

Currently there are ten Free Zone clusters that are home to the largest number of HEP Branches in Dubai.

These are located in three different Free Zones: Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP), Dubai Internet City (DIC) and Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). Other Dubai Free Zones hosting HEPs are Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), Dubai Health Care City (DHCC), Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) and Dubai South.

Education System The higher education institutions in UAE offer higher national diplomas, certificates, undergraduate and postgraduate studies. While some of these are awarded by local institutions, others are branch campuses of institutions from countries such as Canada, United States, the UK, Australia, India, Pakistan, France and other European countries.

The duration of courses vary depending on the parent institution. The country now has 78 recognised institutions offering more than 950 accredited programs. The Council for Academic Accreditation, functioning under the Ministry of Education is entrusted the task of accrediting programmes. The stringent measures followed by the CAA to ensure quality of service delivery, streamlines procedures and safe guards the interest of students. The growing

HEP Local (Private/Government): A university,

college, academy, or institute which provides academic programmes leading to the awarding of higher education qualifications. HEP Locals can be either funded privately or by the Dubai government. These institutions are licensed by the Ministry of Education (MoE) with programme accreditation by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA). These institutions may also obtain international accreditation.

HEP Federal: A university or college which provides academic programmes leading to the awarding of higher education qualifications. HEP Federals are established by federal decree. www.counsellingpoint.com

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importance of the higher education sector to Dubai’s economic development is supported by Resolution 21, which entitles graduates from all private universities in Dubai to have their degrees certified by KHDA, and guarantees that their qualifications will be recognised by the public and private sector in Dubai.

Types of Qualifications Schools, colleges, Universities and Institutes in the UAE offer a variety of programmes from various countries to suit the country’s multi-cultural society.

One can get a two year vocational program or BTEC from the UK, a three year Indian or British degree or a four year American or Canadian one, the choice is yours. Vocational courses varying from jewellery design, sound engineering, and film production to hotel management are on offer along with traditional degree options in a wide variety of specializations.

To meet the country’s growing needs, institutions are designing newer programmes that will improve employability and make the younger generation skilled, contributing citizens.

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Application Process Students can fill forms online or approach institutions directly to seek admission. Most institutions need to see a minimum of 12 years of schooling. If you seek enrolment directly after O levels, you would need to do a foundation year. Based on the programme of study sought, there will be a minimum requirement in terms of grades or marks secured. This could vary with each institution.

Admission Requirements The majority of institutions in the UAE have a September intake. Some offer summer programmes and a few have a January intake. Most institutions require a TOEFL or IELTS score to demonstrate English proficiency. Some establishments conduct their own entrance exam. The varying norms of entry requirements make it advisable to contact and reconfirm with institutions individually.

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Deadlines Admissions open in April and offers are made through September. Admissions get finalised after the schools’ final exam results are announced between May and July. Increasingly, institutions are offering a Spring intake where classes begin in January/ February. International students applying from overseas are advised to secure their residence visa in time for the commencement of the programme.

Fees, Finances & Scholarships Costs vary greatly between institutions and can range from AED2000 to AED6000 a month. Some of the institutions offer merit scholarships.

Scholarships are also offered by some leading business houses and MNCs, criteria for this could vary.

Visas For all male students above the age of 18, a student visa is mandatory. To secure this, the institution requires the following documents:

• Student Visa Application Form (Student Entry Permit) • Eight passport size photographs taken with a white background • Student Enrolment Contract. This is required for Knowledge Village students.

• An official offer letter without any conditions • Four photocopies the applicant’s passport (including pages showing UAE visit visa or residence visa, if application is made locally) • Copy of a personal bank statement showing minimum of AED30,000; this should be recent and have the stamp and signature of a bank official. Alternatively a financial sponsorship letter from parents or guardians indicating their willingness to bear the financial responsibility for the tuition and cost of living.

• A copy of the receipt showing payment of full tuition and student visa charges • Forms related to the visa processing can be secured from the sponsoring institution. Health Insurance is mandatory and an annual fee ranging from AED1200 to AED2000 will be charged for the same. Students seeking sponsorship for visa need to bear the costs and this may range from AED 6,000 to AED 7,000/.

Costs will also be incurred during the annual renewal of visa and a sum of AED 1,200 to 2,200/ may be charged for every visa renewal. These amounts can vary depending on the current laws and individual institution’s rules.

Source and Web Sites of Use Commission for Academic Accreditation www.caa.ae Knowledge and Human Development Authority www.khda.gov.ae Ras Al Khaimah Institutions - www.rakftz.com Abu Dhabi - www.adec.ac.ae Dubai Knowledge Park- www.dkp.ae Academic City- www.diacedu.ae ICEF Monitor

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UNITED KINGDOM The UK higher education is an internationally recognized system, and it’s standard and quality is guaranteed by official bodies like the Qualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA). This independent body recognises the quality of the university’s teaching and general facilities and RAE examines the Research Assessment Exercise and publishes its findings every five years. The assessment results are freely available on the internet. The Higher Education funding councils also provide information on quality assurance through the UK- wide Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

There is a wealth of choice in courses when it comes to higher education in the UK. There is also a good mix of highly established institutions which are hundreds of years old, and more recent establishments to choose from.

Many provide degrees with a strong vocational foundation and enjoy good links with businesses and professional organisations. A huge advantage is the opportunity to hone your English language skills or learn English as part of the university preparation or foundation programme.

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Students who wish to pursue an academic education may select a three or four year undergraduate degree followed by post graduate studies or research. Entrance qualification is a minimum of three A level qualification or its equivalent. As an alternative, students can enroll in an access, foundation or bridging course before enrolling in the degree programme. Students who want vocational training can combine their training with job-related skills.

Apart from Universities and institutes, UK also has further education colleges that offer courses to adults over 18 years of age that make them more employable.

By combining vocational education with academic study, one can gain skills in broad occupational areas, together with an academic content that is accepted as entry to a degree course.

Some universities may offer Sandwich programs which include work experience. The degrees enable you to join the workforce sooner so it becomes financially affordable. www.educationuk.org provides comprehensive information for anyone considering studies in the UK along with links to local British Council offices.

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Current Trends A long period in the UK in which post-study work rights for international students were greatly reduced will soon be over.

The British government has announced that beginning next year, all foreign students who graduate from a recognised UK university will be eligible to stay in the country for two years.

Currently, students are able to remain in the country for only four months after graduation. The new immigration route will allow undergraduate and graduate students to work or seek employment at any skill level after completing their courses at a recognised higher education institution with a track record of adhering to immigration law. No restriction will be imposed on the number of eligible students.

Longer work period possible for some At the end of their allowed time working in the UK, the Department of Education states that international students “on the [graduate] route will be able to switch on to the skilled work route if they find a job which meets the skill requirement of the route.” The two-year extension has thus been met with enthusiasm from the university sector.

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International students essential to scientific breakthroughs In its press release announcing the new work rights period, the government emphasised the great potential that international students in STEM subjects represent for the UK. The announcement was made at the same time as the government approved £200 million in funding for a “whole genome sequencing project” – the largest of its kind in the world and one whose goal is to fight deadly diseases.

Policy supports overall plan The announcement fits well with two goals introduced in the new International Education Strategy for the UK released earlier this year: • To increase international student numbers in higher education in the UK to 600,000 by 2020; right now, there are about 460,000 foreign students in British universities; • To nearly double the value of education exports to £35 billion (US$46 billion), which will require an average annual growth rate of 4% through 2030.

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In 2017–18, there were 2.34 million students studying at UK higher education institutions.

• • • • • • •

Undergraduate: 1.77 million Postgraduate: 0.57 million Full time: 1.84 million Part time: 0.5 million Students from the UK: 1.88 million Students from the EU: 0.14 million Students from non-EU countries: 0.32 million

• 31% of first year non-UK domiciled students come from China.

• The subject area with the highest number of students is Business & administrative studies, accounting for around 1 in every 7 students.

• The number of first year postgraduate taught students continues to increase with a 4% increase on 2016/17 in 2017/18.

(Source: HESA Student record 2017–18)

Application Process The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) co-ordinates applications to full time first degrees, foundation degrees, Higher National Diplomas etc. ‘Apply’ section in the UCAS site leads to the online application system. One can apply to five institutions through the UCAS. You can only submit one application in each application cycle. You would need to provide the email address of an academic referee who will then be

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invited by UCAS to send a reference letter. The application fee for this service can be paid online by credit card.

UCAS allows you to track your application status.

Admission Requirements Prospective international students should demonstrate proficiency in English by furnishing an IELTS or PTE Pearson Test of English score. If you do not meet the required level of English, you could enroll in an English language preparation course.

Entry Requirement may vary for each type of course and subject. College prospectuses will list them under ‘Minimum Entry

Requirements’.

As part of the UCAS form, you are asked to write a personal statement. This descriptive account gives you the opportunity to speak about your academic and personal goals and tell the institutions not just about your academic capability but also the kind of activities you have undertaken both within school and outside.

Apart from this, courses like Law, Medicine, Dentistry etc may need entrance exams like LNAT, UKCAT, or BMAT and interviews. Students hoping to pursue Art, Architecture or Film may have to submit a portfolio. It is best to check the requirements on line before preparing your UCAS application.

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Deadlines

Fees, Finances & Scholarships

Students, who wish to apply for the Medicine, Dentistry or veterinary science programmes, would need to apply before 15th of October and can opt only for four institutions. This deadline is shared by Oxford and Cambridge as well. For all other programmes, international students can apply up until the end of June but 15th January is the preferred deadline.

UK course fees vary depending on what you are going to study and for how long. The cost of foundation courses may range from 5000 to 12000 pounds, Other courses range between 7 to 20,000 pounds a year.

Most institutions will give you conditional acceptance based on your predicted grades and previous academic history if you apply before your Board exam results are declared. Some of the institutions offering Law would need you to sit a national exam called LNAT – National Admission test for Law. For Medical entrance you would need BMAT(Biomedical Admission Test) or UKCAT(UK Clinical Aptitude test) and an interview while admission departments of Art, Film and Architecture may want to see your portfolio.

Each institution sets its own admission criteria. Academic records of applicants are reviewed as part of the admissions process. The university year is usually from September to April, with intakes in September and January.

As the application process is competitive and deadlines vary, it is best to apply six to eight months before the start date of the desired programme of study. It is also advisable to apply to multiple institutions to avoid disappointment.

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You will need to visit the websites or contact the universities that you are considering for precise information on course fees and financial help available to you. However, competition for study grants is intense and most often you would need to be nominated by the Government. If you wish to attend an institution in UK, you should apply for scholarship well in advance. Some institutions offer bursaries or fee waivers toward your room and board.

Visas You can find out if you need a visa on the UK Border Agency website. Applying can take some time, so it is important to apply well in advance of your intended date of travel. There are a number of different types of visa available. Most students will under Tier 4 student applicant category discussed here: • Tier 4 (Child) student: You can apply as a child student under Tier 4 of the points-based system if you are between 4 and 17 years old. If you are between 4 and 15 years old, you must be go to the UK to be educated at an independent fee-paying school.

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EXPLORE CREATE SUCCEED Dating back to 1824, Manchester Metropolitan University is home to over 38,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, including a diverse community of 3,000 international students from 120 countries.

The University is undergoing a £400m major capital investment programme to facilities, buildings and public spaces, and is the UK’s greenest university**.

* Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2017 ** People and Planet University League 2017

The University is ranked in the world’s top 200 universities under 50 years old*.

We provide our students with regular employability events, including advice workshops, industry networking, guest speakers and careers fairs, as well as careers advice during their studies and for life after graduating. 93% of our graduates go straight into employment or further study within six months of graduating.

ENHANCE YOUR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES www.mmu.ac.uk/international

Top Tips for Developing your Career through Employment or SelfEmployment

by David Taylor, Management and Enterprise Programme Coordinator, Business School, Manchester Metropolitan University • Find t h e righ t U niversit y course for you.

• Have purpo se in lif e bot h inside and outside the University, and demonstrate an ethos which encompasses this purpose.

• Learn t o t rust o t h ers in order t o ref ine and test out your thinking.

• Develop your net work s in ligh t o f yo ur personal and business needs.

• Seek out a m ent or you’re inspired by and can help guide you.

• Learn f rom f ailure and be ref lect ive • Be co ncise wh en com m unicat ing wit h others and always be able to justify the points you make.

• U nderst and t h e m ark et and indust ry you are looking to work in, clearly outline who your key customer is, and always put this customer at the centre of everything you do.

Manchester Metropolitan University is situated in the heart of Manchester, a city whose economy is currently flourishing and attracting businesses and investment.

Students at Manchester Met gain advantage through the University’s close links to companies and organisations. Many of our courses offer an optional internship or work placement opportunity and professional accreditation. Our Accounting and Finance degree, for example, offers maximum exemptions for ACCA and CIMA and an optional internship. For many courses, such as Business Management, enterprise is a core part of the curriculum. This creates a demand from employers for the University’s graduates, which is reflected in higher graduate employment rates and starting salaries. In addition, Manchester Met students can participate in an extensive and innovative career and employability package.

Professional careers advice is available during your studies and after graduating.

Manchester Met’s Careers and Employability website ( www.mmu. ac.uk/careers ) is an excellent source of information on finding work, preparing applications and interviews, and making the most of the skills you have gained during your study. The site also describes some of the services provided to our students including the Future Skills Award (www.mmu.ac.uk/futures ) and Mentor Me, our Career Mentoring Programme that matches professional mentors with Manchester Met students, providing a valuable opportunity for students to gain an insight into the world of work.

Tier 4

You can find the latest information on the UK Border Agency website. For adult Tier 4 (general) and child students coming on Tier 4(Child) student visas, the UK has a points-based visa system which is designed to be objective and transparent. To apply, you need to gain 40 points. This includes 30 points for a “confirmation of acceptance for studies” (CAS) from the university, college or school where you want to study.

Your chosen place of study must be on the UKBA’s official Register of Tier 4 sponsors(approved education providers) This register is designed to ensure that you are applying to join a genuine institution. The remaining 10 points comes from demonstrating that you can afford to cover your fees and living costs to study in the UK. This has been put in place to help you avoid any financial difficulties that might affect your ability to complete your studies. The first year’s tuition fees and living expenses should be in the bank for a period of one month before one applies for the visa. This rule is strictly followed by the VFS that does the processing.

Apart from one year’s fees as indicated in the CAS, you would need to show proof os availability of maintenance funds. So if you are living in London, GBP1265/ per month and GBP1015/ if you intend living outside London during your course.

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Overview You can apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa to study in the UK if you are 16 or over and you: have been offered a place on a course • can speak, read, write and understand English • have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - the amount will vary depending on your choice of institution and location • are from a country that’s not in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland • meet the other eligibility requirements. There will be no change to the rights and status of EU nationals living in the UK nor UK nationals living in the EU, while the UK remains in the EU. This situation could change after BREXIT

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When to apply The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you start your course.

You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Fees It costs £348 to apply for this visa from outside the UK. You must pay £348 per person for any dependants.

You’ll also have to pay health care surcharge as part of your application.

For current information, do visit the website of the Embassy in your country of residence.

Source and Web Sites of Use: Central Admissions Service: www.ucas.ac.uk Association of Colleges in UK and Wales www.aoc.co.uk Association of Colleges in Scotland www.ascol.org.uk UK Accreditation Council www.the-bac.org Information on UK Education: www.britishcouncil.org/me Information on scholarships: www.educationuk.org/ scholarships Quality Assurance Agency: www.qaa.ac.uk English Test: Int’l English Language Testing System: www.ielts.org UK Visa Information: gov.uk-Tier 4 visas: www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa Comprehensive information studying in the UK www. educationuk.org universitiesuk.ac.uk/facts-and-stats and www.hesa.ac.uk/

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Discover Dundee, UK The University of Dundee was founded in Scotland in 1881 and became a college of St Andrews University in 1897. In 1967 we became independent once again. With around 15,500 students, we offer an excellent range of undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees. Many of our master’s degrees have both January and September start dates.

Our friendly campus, world-class teaching and fantastic facilities make us one of the best places to study in the UK.

Dundee Edinburgh

London

→ UK University of the Year for Student Experience (The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020) → 3rd in the UK for satisfaction with teaching (Guardian University Guide 2020) → A leading university for graduate employment with 96.4% in work or further study six months after graduation (Destination of Leavers From Higher Education in the United Kingdom, 2018) → A Gold award winner in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2017 → Located in a city that offers a high quality of living → A city campus which means students are just a five minute stroll from Dundee’s shops, restaurants, theatre and art centres → Located in a city where the cost of living is approximately 14% lower than the UK average which means that your money should go further

Dundee is a city with spirit and the University is at the heart of it.

Discover Dundee where leaving home feels like coming home.

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Find out more at: dundee.ac.uk

CRAFTING THE PERSONAL STATEMENT, SOME DOS AND DON'TS Your UCAS application is incomplete without a personal statement. The statement is your opportunity to demonstrate in words what your life experiences have been, what your passions are and most importantly, it supports your application to the four/five universities or colleges.

Remember that you have only 46 lines to articulate why you’d like to study a particular course and those skills and experiences that you possess that show your passion for your chosen field.

Dos when writing your personal statement • Do use your best English and don’t let spelling and grammatical errors spoil your statement.

• Do show that you know your strengths and can outline your ideas clearly. Use words you know will be understood by the person reading your statement • Do be enthusiastic – if you show your interest in the course, it may help you get a place.

• Do expect to produce several drafts of your personal statement before being totally happy with it.

• Do ask people you trust for their feedback.

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Don’ts when writing your personal statement • Don’t exaggerate – if you do you may get caught out at interview when asked to elaborate on an interesting achievement.

• Don’t rely on a spellchecker as it will not pick up everything – proofread as many times as possible.

• Don’t leave it to the last minute – your statement will seem rushed and important information could be left out.

Source: UCAS www.counsellingpoint.com

Source and Web Sites of Use: • Central Admissions Service: www.ucas.ac.uk • Association of Colleges in UK and Wales www.aoc.co.uk • Association of Colleges in Scotland www.ascol.org.uk • UK Accreditation Council www.the-bac.org • Information on UK Education: www.britishcouncil.org/me www.counsellingpoint.com

• Information on scholarships: www.educationuk.org/scholarships • Quality Assurance Agency: www.qaa.ac.uk • English Test: Int’l English Language Testing System: www.ielts.org • UK Visa Information: gov.uk Tier 4 visas: www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa • Comprehensive information studying in the UK www.educationuk.org • Trends: www.universitiesuk.ac.uk HEADSTART 2020

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The U.S. higher education system consists of diverse academic institutions that vary in mission; public, private nonprofit, or private for-profit status; degrees offered; learning environment; selectivity level; religious affiliation; and cost (McFarland et al. 2019). This institutional diversity is often regarded as a strength of the U.S. higher education system (Harris 2013), allowing it to serve a range of students and meet many societal goals.

According to Education USA, there are over 4000 accredited Universities and colleges spread over the 50 states of America. Of these, more than 650 are public four year institutions while more than 1,100 are public two year institutions.

These public state-run institutions have a lower tuition fee but financial assistance tend to be limited.

There are over 2000 four year private institutions both for profit and not for profit. Such private institutions mostly have higher tuition and fees but financial assistance may be provided. The plethora of course offerings provided by the institutions spread over the country is mind boggling.

Should finance, pre-requisite tests or GPA be an issue, students can also consider enrolling at a community college for a two year Associate degree.

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to another institution to complete their degree. While choosing an institution, it is important to consider factors like size, location, costs, financial aid, research opportunities, international student services and entry requirements. As there are so many institutions and programmes to choose from, you need to invest considerable amount of time in researching options and identifying the right fit.

Institutions in S&E Higher Education During the 2017–18 academic year, there were approximately 4,400 postsecondary degree-granting institutions in the United States, of which about 37% were public, 40% were private nonprofit, and 23% were private for-profit.​,​ Public institutions awarded two-thirds of all degrees and nearly 70% of S&E degrees overall.

In computer sciences, the number of bachelor’s degrees increased sharply f ro m 2000 to 2004 and dropped as sharply through 20 09, but it has increased again since then, surpass in g its previous high. In biological

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sciences, the largest field in natural sciences, numbers of bachelor’s degre es awarded were relatively flat until 2004, then gr ew substantially. The number of engineering degrees reached the same level as those in psychology. Mast er ’s degrees may fully prepare students for establ is hed career tracks in some S&E fields. In others, th ey primarily mark a step toward doctoral degrees. Be tween 2000 and 2017, master’s degrees awarded in S &E fields more than doubled from about 96,000 to about 206,000. According to the U.S. Departmen t of Education, this increase is projected to conti nu e at least through 2028 (Hussar and Bailey 2019). In creases occurred in most major fields and were st ro ngest in engineering, computer sciences, mathema ti cs and statistics, and biological sciences. The numbers of master’s degrees awarded in computer scien ce s and engineering declined between 2004 and 20 07 but have since increased to their highest po ints in the last 17 years, with especially rapid growth since 2014.

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Latest Statistics as per Open Doors For the tenth consecutive year, China remained the largest source of international students in the United States in 2018/19 with 369,548 students in undergraduate, graduate, non-degree, and optional practical training (OPT) programs, a 1.7 percent increase from 2017/18. India (202,014, +2.9 percent), South Korea (52,250, -4.2 percent), Saudi Arabia (37,080, -16.5 percent), and Canada (26,122, +0.8 percent) round out the top five.

Engineering remained the largest academic field for international students in 2018/19, with 21.1 percent of all international students. 51.6 percent of international students in the United States pursued STEM fields in 2018/19 and the number of international students in Math and Computer Science programs grew by 9.4 percent, surpassing Business and Management to become the second-largest field of study for international students. The number of students enrolling for the first time at a U.S. institution in 2018/19 declined by 0.9 percent, recovering from sharper declines the year before. The leveling of declines in newly enrolled international students continues into the 2019/20 academic year, according to data from the 2019 Fall International Student Enrollment Snapshot Survey, a survey conducted by IIE and nine partner higher education associations.

Around 500 institutions participate in this survey, a subset of the more than 2,800 institutions surveyed for Open Doors.

Policy changes that allow STEM students to remain in the United States on Optional Practical Training opportunities for 36 months after the completion of their studies likely continues to drive the increase in students on OPT programs, which increased by 9.6 percent to 223,085. The number of students in nondegree programs declined by 5.0 percent to 62,341.

The total number of international students enrolled in undergraduate programs declined by 2.4 percent to 431,930, and the number in graduate programs declined by 1.3 percent to 377,943. All this statistical data was secured through Open Doors.

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Application process One of the easiest ways to apply to multiple universities is through a service such as Coalition Application, or Common Application. Some schools want you to apply directly through their website. Use the www.applytexas. org website for schools in the Texas system and the UC common application for the nine schools in the California system. apply.universityofcalifornia.edu/

Supporting documents You would need to submit transcripts of the last three years, essays, information on extra-curricular activities including sport, voluntary work and leadership initiatives undertaken; information on summer courses/ internships etc.

Your teacher and/or counsellor will be invited to send confidential letters of recommendation online along with the profile of the school. Students will also be asked to send TOEFL and SAT/ACT scores directly from the Education Testing Service and College Board. An IELTS or PET score can be submitted instead of the TOEFL to demonstrate

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English proficiency. Some institutions would need SAT II subject tests as well. Certain schools may not require SAT scores from international students. Also, ACT scores may be submitted in lieu of the SAT. www.actstudent.org has information on the ACT. With the SAT changing its structure, more students are opting for the ACT. Please note that supplementary forms may be required from you so ensure that you read instructions carefully.

Students who wish to pursue Art, Design or Architecture will also be required to submit a portfolio. Extracurricular pursuits and internships undertaken need to be reported and are looked upon favorably.

If you wish to apply for an early decision or early action, the deadline is usually in November. Some schools have early action deadlines in mid October.

Please visit individual websites for the specific dates.

Students wishing to apply for admission to University of California for the fall term must submit an application

by November 30th of the year prior to enrolment. Most other institutions have a January 1 deadline for the Fall intake under regular decision. For the January intake, applications must be sent in by October.

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Scholarships

Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee for F and M international students has increased from $200 to $350.

Merit based scholarships are granted on academic merit. There are also scholarships for outstanding sports persons. In some institutions, grants are awarded to students who have demonstrated financial need. Some universities need additional forms and essays for scholarship consideration while at others, every applicant is automatically considered for scholarship at entry.

US immigration policy requires that all foreign students submit proof of financial support for their studies. The financial guarantee may take the form of a bank statement or a letter from a sponsoring agency. For updated information on documents needed, visit the Embassy website.

Visa process The process of applying for an F-1 student visa begins with acceptance to an American college or university. Following admission, the educational institution in the United States will issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student Status (I-20 form) and provide that to the student.

Sponsoring academic institutions are required to enter accepted foreign students’ names into SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitors Information System.

Students should verify with their sponsoring academic institution that they are entered into SEVIS before they apply for a visa. Upon receiving the I-20 form, students are required to pay a I-901/SEVIS fee online at www. fmjfee.com and take a printed copy of this receipt to the visa interview. The I-901 Student and Exchange

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Documents needed during the Visa interview: Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students or Form I-20M-N, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status for Vocational Students. You will need to submit a SEVIS generated Form, I-20, which was provided to you by your institution.

You and your school official must sign the I-20 form.

Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, Form DS-160. Visit the DS-160 webpage to learn more about the DS-160 online process.

A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant’s intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific

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agreements provide exemptions). If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must complete an application.

• One (1) 2x2 photograph.

• A MRV fee receipt to show payment of the visa application fee.

• The SEVIS I-901 fee receipt.

Applicants should also provide the following documents: Transcripts and diplomas from educational institutions attended; Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, etc.(As applicable); Financial evidence that shows you or your parents who are sponsoring you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study. For example, if you or your sponsor is a salaried employee, please take original bank books and/ or statements. If you or your sponsor owns a business, please take business registration, licenses, etc. and original bank statements.

Source and web sites of use: www.collegeboard.com (Information on SAT) www.toefl.org (English proficiency test) www.educationUSA.state.gov: EducationUSA website University and College Search www.collegeboard.com / www.petersons.com Accreditation:www.chea.org US Department of Education: www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation Post graduate Admissions: www.gre.org (Graduate Record Examination) Graduate Management Admission Test: www.gmat.org / www.mba.com Medicine College Admission Test: www.aamc.org/students/mcat Law School Admission Test: www.lsat.org Science and Engineering Indicators 2019 U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, special tabulations (2017), Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database.

There are two Education USA centers in U.A.E. one located in the American Embassy premises in Abu Dhabi and the other in the American Consulate in Dubai. They can be contacted by emailing EducationUSAAbudhabi@state.gov or EducationUSADubai@state.gov www.counsellingpoint.com

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CANADA Canadian universities are known for their high quality and excellence in academic standards and are consistently ranked among the top universities internationally. While Canada’s quality of education and standard of living are among the highest in the world, the cost of living and tuition fees are generally lower than in other countries. Canada’s universities offer more than 15,000 undergraduate and graduate degree programs – as well as professional degree programs, diplomas and certificates – in a broad range of disciplines. It ranks among the most multicultural nations in the world. Regardless of ethnic origin, international students feel at home in the diverse and welcoming campuses.

As per the national recruitment strategy in 2014, it was planned that Canada would host 450,000 international students by 2022. Canada surpassed that target in 2017 when it enrolled 494,525 students – an increase of 20% over the previous year.

In 2018, Canada added another 80,000 international students to reach a total of 572,415 students for growth of 16.3% over 2017. Canada’s international student population includes a heavy concentration of Chinese students, as well as an even larger proportion of Indian students thanks to strong growth from this key market over the last three years. Together, China and India made up 55% of all foreign student enrolments for Canadian educators in 2018.

Universities Canada is the voice of Canadian universities, at home and abroad. It is a membership organization providing university presidents with a unified voice for higher education, research and innovation. Universities Canada, formerly the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, advances the mission of its 96 member institutions.. The association is a non-governmental, membership-based organization headquartered in Ottawa.

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As per a report in ICEF, more than 60% of all international students in Canada come from five sending markets: China, India, France, South Korea, and the US – with the US supplanting Saudi Arabia for the number five spot this year. A recent study conducted by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) revealed that 70% of Canada’s international students want to work in the country following their studies and that six in ten wanted to immigrate to Canada in the future.

Community Colleges In Canada Community colleges are government-regulated postsecondary institutions offering 1- to 2-year academic and pre-professional certificates, diplomas, 2-year associate’s degrees and even 3- and 4-year specialized bachelor’s degrees. More than 150 community colleges represent approximately 900,000 full-time and 1.5 million parttime learners at over 900 campuses across Canada. Close to 6,000 international students come to Canada for community college study each year. Community colleges fill a unique niche in Canada’s education system, combining high quality, comprehensive academics with employer-centred

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programs, industry connections and internship opportunities.

Community colleges offer academic courses in the arts and sciences as well as specialized career and language training. The college itself may be a general education school offering a variety of programs in different fields (such as health, business, technology, trades, academic upgrading, applied and creative arts, social services, hospitality and university preparation), or it may be a single field-, industry- or culture-specific college (for example, college of forestry, art and design, justice and public safety, or Native studies). Community colleges may also be faith-based, offering specialized Christian programs in leadership, ministry and theology.

Compared to universities, community colleges have smaller classes, more options for off campus courses, a greater ratio of laboratory space to classroom space, more interactive teaching, more co-op and practicum opportunities and more inclusive admissions requirements. Many community colleges have university transfer agreements, so you can transfer your credits toward a university degree program.

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Application Process The University year is usually September to April, intakes being September and January. As the application process is competitive and the deadlines vary, it is best to apply six to eight months before the start date of the program.

Most students apply to multiple institutions. American curriculum students will need to send a SAT score. For students from other curricula, although SAT is not mandatory, some institutions may require it for scholarship consideration. It is best to check admission requirements of individual institutional websites.

For undergraduate admission, academic records from grade 9 to the most recent will be reviewed as part of the admissions process. A good academic profile is given preference.

Extracurricular activities are looked upon favorably by Canadian institutions. Students who wish to take up commerce related subjects should take up Mathematics in high school. Prospective international students should demonstrate proficiency in English or French as per the language of instruction in the institution being considered. Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL) the International Language Testing System (IELTS), the Pearson Test of English (PTE) or Test de francais international(TFI) are the tests necessary. Preparatory courses before the commencement of the program may be needed for those with inadequate scores.

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The province of Ontario, Alberta and that of British Columbia have a centralized application system for admission. The Ontario Universities Application center(OUAC), Ontario’s application hub started in 1971 and can be accessed by visiting www.ouac.on.ca British Columbia’s centralized application system can be accessed through myBCampus. To apply to Alberta, visit centralized online application and transcript transfer system through www.applyalberta.ca. After completing the online application, you would need to send all supporting documents like transcripts, reference letters, essays, proof of language proficiency etc. so that your application gets reviewed and processed. Remember to include your student ID number for easy reference.

Professional courses like Medicine, Dentistry, law, architecture etc may need one more test as a pre requisite.

Student Permit Student visas, or study permits, are required when studying for more than six months. They are issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Depending on circumstances, an international student may wish to apply for a student work permit as well.

To obtain a student visa, the student must have a letter of acceptance from a Canadian school, college, university or other educational institution. The student must then fill out an application in his or her own country of residence and submit it to CIC for approval, paying the processing fee. Other documentation may also be necessary, depending on the student’s country of origin.

In addition to academic studies, the study permit

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allows students to work part-time for their educational institution in some cases. However, students may also wish to investigate a student work permit, which also allows for off-campus part-time work.

Working As An International Student Working as an international student in Canada maybe possible on your study permit, or you may require a separate work-visa. This depends on who your employer is and how many hours of work are available. A work-visa does not guarantee employment, but will allow you to take advantage of the opportunities that are already available.

There are several kinds of work available to an international student, with different permit requirements.

On-Campus Employment International students in Canada can work part-time for public post-secondary educational institutions, and at some private institutions, using their study-permit.

Off-Campus Employment Students who wish to work off campus must apply for a student work permit. You must be a full-time student for at least six months before you can apply. Once granted, the work-permit will allow you to work up to 20 hours aweek off campus during the school term or during school breaks. There may be restrictions on types of employment available, or a medical examination may be required. Your student work permit is valid for as long as your study visa.

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Co-op or Internship

Double the amount of time to apply

Some programs include work-experience (also called co-op) in their curriculum. You must apply for the student work permit as well as the study permit if you are enrolled in such a program.

Under changes to the programme announced on 14th February 2019, where students used to have only 90 days to apply for a PGWP following the completion of their programme, they now have twice that amount of time – six months (180 days) – to apply. The 180-day period begins when students’ final marks have been issued or when they receive a formal written notification of their programme completion. In addition, the application rules regarding PGWP have also been relaxed to the effect that:

Post Graduation Work Permit International students who want to work in Canada following their studies at a Canadian institution will have more time to apply for the country’s popular Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The PGWP allows international students who have completed a programme of at least eight months’ duration to stay on to work in Canada for up to three years, experience that can count towards a future application for permanent residency in the country.

Students will no longer need to possess a valid study permit to apply – the study permit only needs to have been valid at some point during the 180-day period; Students may apply for a PGWP from their home country, meaning that they may return home for up to six months after finishing their programme without jeopardising their chances of obtaining a work permit for employment in Canada.

Source and web sites of use:

www.univcan.ca/universities/facts-and-stats/internationalization-at-canadian-universities-quick-facts/ www.univcan.ca/programs-and-scholarships/scholarship-partners-canada/ www.univcan.ca/ www.schoolsincanada.com/Community-Colleges-In-Canada.cfm Canadian Embassy Abu Dhabi: www.abudhabi.gc.ca Study Permits: www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study.asp ICEF Monitor

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AUSTRALIA

Australia is a technologically advanced country with a strong, globally competitive economy. It is also a friendly and welcoming country. As a nation it values individual freedoms, and the rights of citizens and visitors are protected under a transparent legal system. They are also a multicultural society with respect for others no matter who they are or where they come from. Almost 30% of Australians are born overseas? This has made the country rich with nationalities and cultures from all over the world. When you study in Australia, you will join more than half a million international students from 192 countries who have been welcomed into Australian life.

As per ICEF Monitor, Australia is once again on its way to double-digit growth in international student numbers for 2019, with 720,150 students enrolled across various sectors as of September 2019, a 11% increase over the same time the previous year. Foreign student numbers in Australia grew by 11.4% in 2018 and 12.6% in 2017, so this will be the third year of major increases in the international student population. Responsible for most of the growth are the higher education and vocational (VET) sectors, contributing 12% and 17% year-over76

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year increases, respectively. ELICOS (English-language training) increased marginally (3% growth) and there were small decreases registered for schools (-4%) and non-award programmes (-4%). Five countries compose more than half of all international student enrolments in the country: China (28% of the total) India (15% of the total) Nepal (7% of the total) Brazil (4% of the total) Vietnam (3.5% of the total).

There are in total, 41 universities; of these, 38 are government funded or public and three are private. These institutions offer Bachelor’s degree, and post graduate qualifications including Masters, graduate certificate, post graduate diploma, Masters, MPhil and PhD. Apart from this, Australia has several vocational institutions who offer skill based courses that are practical and industry linked. Some of them offer pathway programmes to Universities. The Government funded Technical and Further education institutes (TAFE) offer excellent vocational training. National agencies monitor teaching, learning, administration and research in institutions.

Most Bachelors degree programmes are three years in duration while Masters level courses are one and a half to two years in duration. Students who need to improve their English proficiency, can enroll in one of the private language centers or take a pre- sessional course at one of the universities or vocational centers. www.counsellingpoint.com

Australia has a national regulatory and quality agency for higher education – the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). It was established by the Australian Government to monitor quality, and regulate university and non-university higher education providers against a set of standards developed by the independent Higher Education Standards Panel. In addition, student rights are protected by law under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) As an international student on a student visa, you must study with an institution and in a course that is registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). CRICOS registration guarantees that the course and the institution at which you study meet the high standards expected by international students. You can search for courses and institutions on the Study in Australia website.

Along with the ESOS Act and National Code, there are also regulatory and quality assurance organisations for higher education and VET institutions. These government organisations are responsible for registration/re-registration of institutions and accreditation/re-accreditation of courses.

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Entry Criteria To be accepted to study on a student visa in Australia you will need to demonstrate a sufficient level of English language proficiency, and meet minimum academic requirements.

Academic Requirements

The academic requirements (including evidence of English language skills) you need to study in Australia will vary depending on the level of education you want to study. Institutions can have different entry requirements, so read the course information on their website carefully and contact them to ask for advice.

Here is some general guidance on entry requirements for the different levels of study:

English language - Entry requirements vary between institutions, and according to the level of English language course you want to study.

Schools - Entry requirements vary between schools depending on the state or territory you will be studying in. Academic performance and ability is considered during the application process.

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Vocational education and training - In most cases there are no entrance exams for VET institutions. However, some courses may have specific pre-requisite subjects or work experience requirements.

Higher Education Undergraduate - To gain entry into an Australian undergraduate course you will need to have an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (Year 12), or the overseas equivalent. Some undergraduate courses may also have specific prerequisite subjects.

Higher Education Postgraduate - As well as the

satisfactory completion of at least one degree at undergraduate level, your institution may take research ability or relevant work experience into consideration.

Application Process The academic year commences in February/March and ends in October/November. There are usually two intakes per year; one at the beginning of the academic year ie February and the second in June/July. Students would need to start the application process at least

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3 months in advance. English language courses are offered all through the year. You can apply directly to an Australian education institution via an online form or visit an agent that represents several Australian institutions. Individual institution would have varying admission criteria based on the programme and level of study. It is best to visit the relevant web site for specific deadlines and admission requirements.

Finances The costs of studying in Australia depend on the institution and the level of study you choose. As an international student, your tuition fees are payable before you study. You can use the Course Search on this website to find courses and see details such as their tuition fees.

There may be additional costs for your course, including course materials and access to institution facilities.

Scholarship There are many scholarships, grants, and bursaries which can help support you financially with your studies in Australia. They are offered by the Australian Government,

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education institutions, and a number of other public and private organisations. To learn more, visit: www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/global/australianeducation/scholarships

Visa requirements

medicines and an ambulance in an emergency. When studying in Australia, you will need OSHC for yourself, and any family travelling with you, before you arrive. It is a requirement of your student visa that you maintain OSHC for the duration of your time on a student visa in Australia.

The student visa you need depends on your chosen course of study. As a guide, the typical key requirements you will need to meet are: • Issued an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) certificate.

• Meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement • Sufficient funds for airfares, course fees and living costs.

• English language proficiency.

• Meet health and character requirements.

• Acceptable Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

To study in Australia you’ll need to apply for both admission to an institution and also for a student visa from the Australian Government. There are a number of steps you must go through including: • Deciding on your preferred course and institution.

• Submitting your application to the institution.

• Receiving and accepting a Letter of Offer.

• Receiving your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE).

• Applying for your student visa.

Overseas Student Health Cover

There is a range of entry requirements that you will need to meet both for you institution application and your visa application. This can include: • Academic requirements.

• English language requirements.

• Evidence of funds to support your study.

• Overseas student health cover.

Australia has a special system of health cover for international students called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). It will help you pay for medical or hospital care you may need while you’re studying in Australia; it will also contribute towards the cost of most prescription

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If you’re already living or working in Australia, you may still be able to apply to study here as an international student.

Australia introduced a simplified student visa framework (SSVF) on July 1st 2016. Under the SSVF all visa applications by international students and education agents are processed online by creating an account on ImmiAccount.

Visa options and requirements are sometimes subject to change. In order to stay up to date, the best place to get accurate information is on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) • This visa allows eligible international students who have completed an Australian education to stay in Australia to gain work experience.

• You can work in Australia for a period of 18 months and up to 4 years, depending on your qualification.

• This visa does not restrict the type of work you may do or the number of hours you may work.

• Applications for this visa must be made in Australia and you must hold an eligible student visa in the last 6 months.

• You must meet Australian study, English proficiency, health insurance, health and character requirements.

• You must meet the specific requirements of the stream in which you are applying for this visa.

Evidence of financial capacity If you need to provide evidence of financial capacity, you will be able to demonstrate this by providing one of the following: • Evidence of funds to cover travel to Australia and 12 months’ living, course and (for school aged dependants) schooling costs for the student and accompanying family members.

• Evidence that you meet the annual income requirement • An Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Students (AASES) form (secondary exchange students only) • A letter of support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Department of Defense.

Character requirements Everyone who wants to enter Australia must be of good character and will be assessed against the character requirements. You must answer a number of character related questions on your visa application form and the information you provide will be used to assess your character. You might be asked for more information. For updated information please visit, the government website.

Websites of use and source: The Australian Government: www.australia.gov.au Study in Australia: www.studyinaustralia.gov.au Visa regulations: www.border.gov.au

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IRELAND Ireland is home to a range of innovative institutes of technology that produce thousands of skilled graduates each year. Moreover, the relatively affordable cost of tuition for students in Ireland, combined with its diverse and expanding economy make studying in Ireland an attractive proposition for students looking to begin their career quickly upon completion of their studies.

The higher education system in Ireland consists of the university sector, institutes of technology and private independent colleges. The entry requirements for international students to higher education are determined individually by each institution and are generally based on national examination performance and English language aptitude. Irish higher education institutions offer degrees at ordinary and Honours Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate levels and undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas over a full range of disciplines.

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The Irish Government invests over 782 million annually in research in Ireland’s higher education institutions. The impact of this funding is that Ireland’s higher education institutions now lead the world in an increasing number of fields. They are in the top 1% of research institutions in the world in terms of research impact in 19 fields, spanning natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities. This creates a unique opportunity both at the undergraduate and postgraduate level to join research programmes that are driving innovation and changing lives.

According to a report in Irish Times, dated May 21st 2019, the number of international students coming to Ireland increased by 45 per cent between 2013 and 2017, according to the new report. The study was conducted by the European Migration Network, which is part of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) think tank.

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In 2013, some 9,300 residence permits were issued to international students coming to study in Ireland, which had increased to 13,500 by 2017. As universities and Institutes of Technology face increasing financial pressure, due to rising student numbers and static State funding, colleges have focused on attracting international students as a source of extra revenue. The country with the highest number of international students coming to Ireland was China, with Malaysia, America, Canada, India, and Saudi Arabia also among the most common countries of origin. The ESRI study, found the most common courses international students enrolled in were healthcare-related degrees. The number of international students who went on to secure employment permits in Ireland after graduating had also increased in recent years, up from less than 50 in 2013, to 871 in 2017.

10 (doctoral degree) of the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). As per the Education in Ireland website, eligible graduates who have studied in Irish higher education institutions and whose award is granted by a recognised Irish awarding body at masters or PhD level can remain in Ireland for two years to seek employment.

On the whole, international students are happy to have chosen Irish higher education. The 2016 i-graduate International Student Barometer found that Ireland is performing better than the global average in terms of student satisfaction in a number of areas, including the welcoming and supportive environment that visiting students find in the country.

The new 24-month stay back option appears to be aimed at boosting Ireland’s international competitiveness as a study destination. The possibility of gaining valuable post-study work experience makes Ireland a very attractive option for international students.

The new extension is welcomed as a way to fill the skills gap and to improve the employability of postgraduate students emerging from Irish higher education institutions. Non-EU/EEA students completing Level 8 programmes (honours undergraduate degrees) will continue to have a 12-month stay back option, whereas those completing a Level 7 qualification (ordinary undergraduate degree) will also remain eligible for a sixmonth stay back.

In Ireland, you’ll find a unique ecosystem that sees academic researchers working hand-in-hand with small home-grown and start-up companies in partnership with some of the most powerful multinationals on the planet through a programme for shared research projects developed by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.

In a new development, the Irish government has extended the period during which foreign graduates of master’s and doctoral programmes may remain and work in the country after their studies. Under Ireland’s Third Level Graduate Scheme, international students completing advanced degrees may stay in Ireland to seek employment, work for up to 40 hours per week, and/or apply for a further work permit or green card.

Until recently, graduates from outside the European Union/European Economic Area were entitled to stay and work in Ireland for up to 12 months after graduation.

However, this term has now been extended to 24 months for those completing recognised degrees at either Level 9 (master’s degree or post-graduate diploma) or Level www.counsellingpoint.com

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Tuition Fees:

Applying for a Student Visa

Tuition costs vary considerably depending on the institution and the study programme. Tuition costs do not remain static, so it is important to check the fees with the institutions you are considering applying to.

Average Course fees

You must make your visa application on-line using the AVATS online facility. The visa application facility is available worldwide and must be used by all applicants.

You should read the visa application details very carefully. If you do not provide the documentation required, your visa will be refused.

Tuition fees for 2019/2020 for non-E.U. students at a higher education institution are as follows: Tuition for Medicine and related courses range from Euros 39,500 to 55,000 while business can be Euros 9850 to 19,500, science and technology Euros 9850 to 25,500 and arts and humanities Euro 9850 to 19,500/

Your application will only be processed when the on-line form is completed AND the required documentation, passport photograph and appropriate fee are received by the relevant office as indicated by the on-line system.

Some points for you to note. When making an application you must:

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• Complete the online form • Check the Irish Embassy details where your documentation is to be sent • Provide a passport sized photo • Ensure your passport is valid for 12 months • Pay the application fee • Provide a signed letter of application which explains why you require the visa • A Letter of Acceptance from the Irish university, college or school, confirming you have been accepted and enrolled on a course of full-time education, involving a minimum of 15 hours organised daytime tuition each week.

• This letter must name the applicant and verify the title/duration of the course • It should also confirm the amount of fees payable for your course, and that this amount has been paid.

• If the college has taken out medical insurance on your behalf, details of this must be contained in this letter of acceptance. If it is not arranged by the college, you must organise this yourself and provide evidence with your application.

Evidence of Payment of Fees Evidence that all fees have been paid prior to the visa application being submitted.

• You should apply as early as possible for your visa as it normally takes eight weeks for it to be processed but in busy periods it may take longer than this.

• You can check online to see if your visa has been processed (using your Visa Application Number).

This list is updated weekly.

• If you get approval for a visa, the Embassy to which you sent your documents will affix an Irish visa stamp.

Insurance Non-EU nationals are required to hold medical insurance for the duration of their stay in Ireland. This is an immigration requirement and the immigration authorities will require proof of medical insurance.

Stvisa to your passport.

Scholarships There are hundreds of scholarships available for international students from a wide variety of sources such as the Government of Ireland, the Irish higher education institutions and other organisations.

A complete list is given on this website: www.educationinireland.com/en/How-Do-I-Apply-/ Tuition-Costs-Scholarships/Scholarships/

Source: www.educationinireland.com/en www.educationinireland.com/en/How-Do-I-Apply-/ Get-Your-Student-Visa/ www.educationinireland.com/en/News/Ireland24-Month-Stay-Back-Option-.html The Irish Times, May 21st 2019 www.moving2ireland.com

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MALAYSIA Malaysia is a multi-racial country living together harmoniously.

With about 31 million people, the three major races are Malay, Chinese and Indian. Other ethnicities include Peranakan (Straits Chinese), Orang Asli (indigenous people) and Eurasians (who are mainly of Portuguese, Dutch or British descent). Its strategic location in the region and recognition as a liberal, multi-ethnic country has made it an attractive study destination. It is fast becoming a popular study destination for international students, thanks to the government’s initiatives to ensure a high quality of education and also because it offers ‘value for money’. Malaysia’s commitment to being a worldclass knowledge economy – and a regional education hub – received a boost with the launch of its higher education strategy: The Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) Malaysia currently hosts 170,068 international students from 160 countries studying there.

One of many reasons why international students choose Malaysia is because of its costeffective, high quality tertiary education. By choosing to study at a foreign university branch campus in Malaysia, the student will study the same course and will be awarded the same degree as that of the main campus; however, the student will pay lower tuition fees and spend less as the cost of living in Malaysia is considerably lower. In 88

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addition, depending on the course, students can choose to spend part of their studies at the main campus Malaysia accounts for two per cent of the international student population around the world. The education sector offers a variety of higher educational programmes as well as professional and specialized skill courses that are competitively priced. Branch campuses of reputed Australian and British institutions also have been established in Malaysia. Universities from UK, USA, Canada, Australia, France, Germany and New Zealand offer twinning, franchised and external degree programmes in partnership with Malaysian institutions.

As of March this year, the enrolment of international students in Malaysia has reached 127,583, of which 70 per cent are from private higher education institutions and the rest from public higher education institutions. Malaysia aims to double its international enrolments from 135,000 in 2014 to 250,000 by 2025.

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Step into a world beyond limits Ranked top 100 universities worldwide QS World University Rankings 2020 We provide a broad range of recognised foundation, undergraduate, and postgraduate courses and research opportunity.

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The Malaysian government has been instrumental in the establishment of two higher education zones in collaboration with private partners: EduCity Iskandar and Kuala Lumpur Education City. Investment in educational infrastructure has also been linked to the country’s strategic plans for economic development. Such zones have also helped Malaysia to become a popular host country for international branch campuses. The EduCity Iskandar campus, for example, is currently home to foreign institutions such as New Castle University Medicine Malaysia, University of Southampton Malaysia, Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology, and University of Reading, Malaysia. There are 20 public universities, 91 private universities & university colleges and 10 foreign university branch campuses.

The affordable cost of quality tertiary education is one of many reasons why international students choose Malaysia.

For example, you can acquire a UK engineering degree (3 years) in Malaysia through a franchised degree programme at an estimated USD21,000, whereas the tuition fee of the same degree programme at the host university in the UK

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is about USD48,000/.The ministry is concentrating on awarding large amounts of research funding under its Fundamental Research Grant Scheme.

The major draw of the Malaysian education system, as far as UAE students are concerned, are the relatively low fees and the common religion, in addition to the quality of education and the availability of courses on Islamic Banking, Shariat Law etc. which are relevant to the UAE.

Enrolling at a ‘Licensed’ Private Educational Institution Students must confirm whether the institution of their choice has been ‘licensed’ and ‘approved’ before enrolling.

To safeguard the interests of international students, all private schools, international schools, private colleges, private universities and foreign university branch campuses in Malaysia must obtain approvals from the relevant regulatory bodies of the Malaysian government.

These approvals include:

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Tertiary Education Private higher educational institutions which offer tertiary education - besides obtaining approval from the Ministry of Higher Education, these institutions need to ensure that the courses offered are endorsed by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. As such, students are advised to check with the institution concerned or online at www.mqa.gov.my to determine if their intended course of study is endorsed or accredited by MQA. In addition, these institutions need to be licensed by another authority i.e. the Ministry of Home Affairs (Malaysian Immigration Department) to accept international students. The Immigration Department will issue a ‘Student Pass’ to every international student enrolled at these institutions.

• Photocopy of valid international passport - all pages • Photocopy of identity card • Most recent passport sized colour photograph (4 to 6 copies) • Personal medical health report • Application fees (ranging from US160 to US250, usually non-refundable) You may obtain the application form online from the institution’s website or from the institution’s overseas representative in your country. You will be asked for evidence of your academic achievement and proficiency in English. Ideally, you should apply about two months before start of the programme.

Enrolling at a Public University Public universities offer postgraduate studies and limited places for bachelor’s degree programmes to international students. Funded by the government, these public universities are allowed to recruit international students for full-time undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Their courses are assured by MQA and the Immigration Department will issue a ‘Student Pass’ to every student enrolled by these universities.

Applying to Study at a Malaysian Institution Applying to study at the Malaysian institution of your choice is simple. Just complete the relevant International Student Application Forms for your chosen course and return it to the institution of your choice with the following documents and fees: • Certified copies of all relevant examination results and academic certificates (preferably with copies translated in English if documents are in another language) • A completed accommodation form (if accommodation is required) www.counsellingpoint.com

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Universiti of Malaya (UM) https://www.um.edu.my/ Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) https://upm.edu.my/ Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) https://www.ukm.my/portal/ Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) https://www.usm.my/

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)) https://www.utm.my/

• Well ranked in the QS World University Rankings 2020 • Leading universities in research • Prestigious quality of study • Wide range of programmes

World renowned university branches Smooth transfer to mother campus Guaranteed quality of study Lower fees and cost of living

Getting an Offer from the Institution Processing your application usually takes 5-7 days. If you are accepted, the institution will issue an ‘Offer of Place’ letter. This letter will confirm the full-time course details, commencement dates, and enclose an invoice for the tuition fee, miscellaneous fees and accommodation fees. Following which, you make arrangements for the payment of fees. The institution will issue a receipt upon confirmation of payment.

Application for Student Pass Next, the educational institution will apply for an approval for a student pass from the Malaysian Immigration Department in Malaysia on your behalf. This will take approximately 14 working days, provided all documents are in order. The institution will then proceed to notify the student regarding the status (approved or rejected) of the application for the student pass. With the receipt of the Immigration’s approval letter through the Institution, you can prepare for your journey to Malaysia. You do not need to apply for a separate visa to enter Malaysia.

Travel Before leaving the country for Malaysia, you should inform the educational institution of your port of entry (airport), flight number, arrival date and time. Upon arrival at the airport in Malaysia, the educational institution’s representative will receive you at the immigration checkpoint. Within 2 weeks of your arrival, the educational institution will submit your passport to the Immigration Department, which attaches the student pass sticker.

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Source: www.studymalaysia.com and MEPC-Malaysian Education Promotion Center Source and websites of use: Ministry of Education Malaysia www.moe.gov.my, www.educationmalaysia.gov.my Malaysian Qualifications Agency www.mqa.gov.my Study Malaysia Online Course Search: www.studymalaysia.com Important Contact Address: Malaysia Education Promotion Centre Dubai, UAE Consulate General of Malaysia 83, Street 10D, Mankhool P.O. Box 114140 Dubai Tel : +9714-398 5843 Fax : +9714-327 5151 Email: mepc@eim.ae In the 2016 World Competitiveness Yearbook published by the Swiss-based Institute for Management Development (IMD), Malaysia ranked 19 among the most competitive countries in the world. Malaysia was also ranked 5th by International Living Magazine under the category of ‘The World’s Top Retirement Havens’ for 2016.

The number of higher educational institutions 20 public universities 495 private higher educational institutions 34 polytechnics 94 community colleges

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ENGINEERING AND ICT I N M A L AY S I A

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EDUCATION MALAYSIA Consulate General of Malaysia Villa 83, Street 10D, Mankhool P.O. Box: 114140 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel: +971-4-327 5151 Fax: +971-4-327 5252 Email: mepc@eim.ae www.educationmalaysia.gov.my

SINGAPORE Singapore may be small but in the areas of higher education and research, it is highly reputed.

A whole series of global reports have recognized Singapore as a world leader in research and innovation over the past few decades.

In recent years, it’s been ranked seventh in the 2015 INSEAD Global Innovation Index, third in IMD’s 2014 World Competitiveness Rankings and second in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report for 2014-15.

Singapore has one of the best education systems in the world as government initiatives focus on the value and importance of educational innovation being part of the country’s economy. Within this context of global competitiveness and innovation, universities in Singapore are also gaining growing recognition, as Asian nations more generally strengthen their position in the global education market. Singapore’s two leading universities are now both ranked within the world’s

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top 15, and the city itself is ranked 14th in the QS Best Cities, reflecting its combination of educational excellence, high quality of life, and diverse student community. Over the last two decades higher education gained prominence and Singapore is now home to world leading universities. The 5.7 million city-state attracted around 75,000 in 2015. Furthermore, a series of global reports have recognized Singapore as a hub leading research and innovation.

There are 34 universities in Singapore, of which six are national. The two best-known, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) both feature very highly in the 2018 QS World Ranking and offer courses in a wide range of subjects to their student populations of over 30,000 each.

Singapore has the reputation as one of the leading economic and business centres of the world. Its geographical position makes travel within the Asian region very easy and affordable. It has a successful free market economy with a vibrant lifestyle. Despite its cosmopolitan population, its history as a centre of trade and entrepreneurialism positions it closer to the West than its neighbours. While Chinese, Malay, and Tamil are also official languages, English is widely spoken and understood by 75% of the five million strong population and is the officially designated language for the education system.

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The education system in Singapore revolves around the premise that every student has unique aptitudes and interests. They have evolved from the old-school British system, adopting a flexible approach to allow you to develop your potential to the fullest. Most institutions offer merit based scholarships Moreover, students can fast track programmes and transfer into parent campuses in UK or Australia.

Even as other countries in the region are accelerating their international recruitment efforts, Singapore is taking a step back. This is because there are not enough university spaces to meet local demand. The city-state capped international enrolment in 2011, well short of a long-standing goal to attract 150,000 students by 2015. Public subsidies and grants for foreign branch campuses in Singapore are now more constrained as well in the wake of several high-profile closures.

The government continues to encourage international partnerships in Singapore but with a greater emphasis on increasing capacity to meet local demand.

Apart from National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological university, and Singapore Management university, Singapore is home to a selection of recently established collaborative institutions.

These bring together universities in Singapore with leading universities around the world. One example is the Singapore University of Technology and Design,

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developed in partnership with the US’s MIT and China’s Zhejiand university. Launched in 2011, Yale-NUS College is another international collaboration. It is the first liberal arts college in Singapore, as a partnership between the National University of Singapore and Yale University. These collaborations reflect a wider focus on internationalization and innovation among universities in Singapore, which is generating a growing selection of exciting options for prospective students.

Applications for entry and visa formalities are handled by the university to which you are applying.

Each university has minimum entry requirements. The closing date for normal applications is in February of the year of entry. The rise of the National University of Singapore (NUS) to the top of the QS University Rankings Asia is the latest evidence of Singapore’s strengthened position as a regional education leader.

Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) also jumped in the rankings.

Entry Requirement: Apart from exacting academic requirements, for applicants whose mother tongue is not English, the individual universities will set their required IELTS/ TOEFL scores. Individual institutions will have varying entry requirements. Visit the institutional websites for the details.

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Fees and Funding Tuition fees vary widely between institutions and courses. International students can apply for a tuition grant which is administered by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and offered to all admitted students.

Scholarships: Most of the scholarships are for Singapore nationals but a few are on offer for international students. For a list of scholarships and eligibility, please visit www. moe.gov.sg/admissions/scholarships/sia

Cost of Living: An international student in Singapore spends on average about S$750 to S$2,500 a month on living expenses. The amount of course, varies depending on your individual lifestyle and course of study.

• The Registration Acknowledgement Letter from the institution you plan to attend • Your travel document bio-data page • Your personal information, including the list of countries you have previously resided in, your educational background, employment history and financial support • Your parents’ personal information (if applicable) • Your residential address and contact details in Singapore • You must submit your Student’s Pass application using the eService at least one month and not more than two months before your course begins.

• A non-refundable S$30 processing fee is payable.

If your application is successful, ICA will issue you an InPrinciple Approval (IPA) letter. Your Student’s Pass will only be issued if you meet all the conditions stipulated in this letter. You must then bring all the documents listed in your IPA letter to ICA.

Working during school term You can work during the school term without a work pass if you meet all of the following criteria: You are a full-time matriculated or registered student in one of the approved institutions. You hold a Student Pass issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).Additionally, your work needs to meet one of these requirements: It is for a maximum of 16 hours a week.

It is under an industrial attachment programme conducted by your university or educational institution. The industrial attachment can be either compulsory or elective but it must contribute towards your graduation requirements.

Visa Procedures A foreigner who has been accepted by an educational institution to pursue full-time study in Singapore will need to apply for a Student’s Pass. The requirements and procedures for a Student’s Pass differ slightly depending on the type of educational institution in which you intend to study. You will need the following documents/ information to complete your Student’s Pass application, please have them ready before you apply: 100 HEADSTART 2020

Source and websites of use: www.moe.gov.sg/admissions/internationalstudents/general-info www.mom.gov.sg/ www.ica.gov.sg/#/pass/studentpass/apply QS Top Universities website www.expat.com www.counsellingpoint.com

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INDIA India is a rapidly changing country that has the largest youth population in the world—a veritable army of six hundred million young people under the age of 25. Twenty eight percent of the population is less than 14 years of age, and more than 30 babies are being born every minute India is expected to overtake China as the largest country on earth by 2022 and grow to about 1.5billion people by 2030 (up from 1.34 billion in 2017).

India’s higher education system, meanwhile, does not have the capacity to achieve enrollment ratios anywhere close to those of other middle-income economies. The country’s tertiary gross enrollment rate is growing fast, but remains more than 20 percentage points below that of China or Brazil, despite the creation of large numbers of higher

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education institutions (HEIs) in recent years. Educational attainment in present-day India is also not directly correlated to employment prospects—a fact that raises doubts about the quality and relevance of Indian education. Although estimates vary, there is little doubt that unemployment is high among university graduates—Indian authorities noted in 2017 that 60 percent of engineering graduates remain unemployed, while a 2013 study of 60,000 university graduates in different disciplines found that 47 percent of them were unemployable in any skilled occupation. India’s overall youth unemployment rate, meanwhile, has remained stuck above 10 percent for the past decade.

Student mobility trends in India are of great interest to university admissions personnel in the U.S., Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and increasingly in countries like Germany or China. India is currently the second-largest sending country of international students worldwide after China, and outbound student flows are surging. The number of Indian international students enrolled in degree programs abroad doubled from 134,880 students in 2004 to 278,383 in 2017, as per UNESCO. According to data

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provided by Project Atlas of the Institute of International Education (IIE), there were 18,717 Indians studying in China as of 2017 (a sharp increase from 10,178 students in 2013).

India released a Draft National Education Policy (DNEP) in June 2019. It’s the first comprehensive policy proposal on education in the country since 1986 and a major, game changing statement. The proposed new policy is remarkable for two main reasons. First, it takes a coldeyed look at the existing educational structures and processes in India. The document reflects honestly and in depth on state-level universities and colleges where the majority of students study. In these institutions, the facilities, teaching, and governance are usually poor.

A second remarkable element to the draft is the scale and boldness of the vision. The policy aims to make changes across all levels of education – from early childhood to university. The draft policy, which is currently in the consultation phase, recommends doubling funding for public education from the present figure of roughly 3% of GDP to 6%. It aims to change the structure of school education so children begin their schooling at three years old, with three preschool years incorporated into the formal structure.

The DNEP recommends dismantling the current system of universities and private and public colleges to develop between 10,000-15,000 multi-disciplinary universities, which would be funded in part through the increased government investment in higher education.

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The document notes the current system is made up of more than 850 universities and about 40,000 colleges, with 20% of those colleges offering just a single program of study, and 20% having under 100 students.

The DNEP states:

The main thrust of this policy regarding higher education is the ending of the fragmentation of higher education by moving higher education into large multidisciplinary universities and colleges, each of which will aim to have upwards of 5,000 or more students.

In higher education, the MHRD directly controls 47 central universities and administers 91 institutions designated as Institutions of National Importance. The ministry also oversees the UGC—a statutory body set up by federal legislation that is tasked with establishing and maintaining quality standards in tertiary education.

The UGC approves and recognizes HEIs and disburses funds (grants) to these institutions.

The UGC has been the main national quality assurance body in Indian tertiary education since its inception.

However, the institution has in recent years been criticized for being overly bureaucratic and ineffective.

In 2018, the Indian government introduced that will limit the role of the UGC to the administration of grants, while quality control will be shifted to a new body called the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI).

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The main regulatory agency in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under the auspices of the MHRD. The AICTE is a statutory body tasked with accrediting academic programs and promoting quality and consistent standards in the post-secondary TVET sector. Given the growing importance of technical education in India, the AICTE has become an increasingly influential institution over the past decades.In addition, there are several statutory bodies like the Medical Council of India, the Dental Council of India, and the Bar Council of India that regulate education in the professions.

NAAC Accreditation Aside from recognition by the UGC, there is a separate accreditation process for universities and colleges under the auspices of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Headquartered in Bangalore, the NAAC was established in 1994 in response to concerns about deteriorating quality in India’s expanding higher education system. It is an autonomous body under the UGC tasked with the periodic evaluation and accreditation of HEIs. It evaluates and grades institutions based on a variety of criteria, including their curricula, teaching, student assessment methods, research, infrastructure, resources, student support, and institutional management. The NAAC is focused on both

quantity (increased access) and quality (the relevance and excellence of academic programmes.).

NAAC assessment methods include institutional selfevaluation, student satisfaction surveys and onsite visits by peer review teams. Accreditation is granted for five-year periods and institutions need to apply for reaccreditation six months prior to the expiration of each accreditation cycle.

The NAAC reevaluation after five years may result in changes in an institution’s grade from one accreditation cycle to the next. Institutions that achieve the highest grade for three consecutive cycles are eligible for extended accreditation periods of seven years. The current NAAC grading system is listed below. A directory of accredited institutions, including their grade, can be found on NAAC’s website.

Until recently, NAAC accreditation was voluntary, similar to accreditation in the United States. However, the UGC in late 2012 made NAAC accreditation mandatory for all universities and colleges, except for technical institutes under the purview of the AICTE. Institutions not in compliance may be barred from receiving federal grants or even have their UGC approval revoked. According to the latest available NAAC annual reports, the number of accredited institutions rose between 2013/14 and 2015/16, from 182 universities and 5,350 colleges to 413 universities and 8,853 colleges. However, that is still less than half of all universities and less than a quarter of all colleges. Only 39% of colleges in the state of Maharashtra, for example, were accredited as of 2017.

In Bihar, a state with 27 universities in total, only seven universities held NAAC accreditation in 2018. It is also not unusual for some universities to delay their renewal of exiting NAAC accreditation, sometimes for years.

Types of Higher Education Institutions Compared with other education systems, India’s has a large variety of HEIs. India’s UGC Act of 1956 specifies that only universities that were established by federal, state, or provincial legislation, or institutions that have been granted the status of a deemed university by the federal government, are allowed to award academic degrees in India. Thus, there are five types of institutions with degree-granting authority:

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Central Universities (also called Union Universities) are established, overseen, and funded by the federal government, mostly through UGC grants. There are presently 40 central universities directly under the MHRD. In addition, there are seven federal universities, including the Indian Maritime University and Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University, which fall under other federal government bodies like the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Tuition fees at most central universities are nominal, but the UGC has in recent years repeatedly asked central universities to increase fees to make them less dependent on federal funding. Examples of central universities include the prestigious University of Delhi, Banaras Hindu University, and IGNOU. State Universities are established and overseen by the governments of the individual states. There were 370 state universities as of 2017. State universities are generally eligible for UGC grants, but not all of them receive such grants, instead deriving funding from state governments, tuition fees, and other sources. Like central universities, state universities are bound by UGC standards regarding matters like curricula, program structures, and admission requirements, even though the regulatory reach of the UGC may sometimes be blunted in federal court. Most are larger, multidisciplinary institutions, but there are also a large number of specialized agricultural universities among the state universities. Prominent state universities include the University of Mumbai, Bangalore University, and Guru Nanak Dev University.

Private Universities are privately owned institutions that have been established by federal or state legislation and are therefore sometimes also referred to as “state private universities.” Private universities can only be set up by nonprofit entities (philanthropic societies, religious groups, non-profit organizations etc.). For-profit higher education is officially not permitted in India, but many private universities are said to operate like de facto for-profit institutions.

Private universities face greater restrictions than public institutions. The UGC stipulates that they “cannot affiliate an institution/college. They cannot establish off campus center(s) beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the concerned State. However, they can establish off-campus center(s) within the concerned State after their existence of five years and with the prior approval of the University www.counsellingpoint.com

Grants Commission. So far, UGC has not approved any off campus center(s) of any Private University.”

There were 282 private universities in India as of 2017.

They comprise a diverse group that includes small specialized institutions and larger multidisciplinary research universities. Many, but not all, have lower admissions requirements than public universities and charge high tuition fees by Indian standards. An example of a larger private university is Amity University, which has gained government approval in a number of different states and is therefore able to run 11 branch campuses throughout India. It has 150,000 students and offers a range of bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs with annual tuition fees between USD$4,500 and USD$9,000.

Deemed-to-be-Universities are defined as non-university institutions of high quality, public or private, that the federal government has declared to be of equal standing with universities via executive order based on the advice of the UGC. There are presently 124 of these institutions, which have the same academic status as universities and are eligible to receive UGC grants, if only under certain conditions.

Deemed universities have the right to award the same types of degrees as state universities, although most of them have a much narrower, more specialized academic focus.

The extent to which the UGC regulates deemedto-be-universities has varied widely over the years and remains in flux. However, the current UGC criteria for obtaining and maintaining deemed university status are rigorous; and deemed universities include several toplevel institutions. The UGC in 2006 allowed these institutions to call themselves universities, but a supreme court ruling in 2017 reversed that decision and barred them from using the word “university”.

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Deemed universities are not allowed to affiliate colleges and must seek UGC approval before offering new types of degree programs, although some deemed universities have recently been exempted from these restrictions under a new “graded autonomy” system. Only high-quality deemed universities that have been in existence for more than five years and offer postgraduate programs are allowed to operate outside the confines of their relevant states. The majority of deemed universities are private institutions and mostly deliver undergraduate programmes.

Institutions of National Importance (INIs) are defined as institutions that serve “as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country/ state” INIs are specialized, highly selective elite institutions that are usually set up, or declared, by federal legislation and receive special central government funding. There are 91 of these institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the National Institutes of Technology, the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, and the Indian Institutes of Information Technology. In 2017, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), a group of top-quality public institutions specialized in postgraduate management education, were also declared INIs, which means that these institutions are now authorized to award academic degrees. As a group, INIs predominantly focus on technical education and enjoy much broader autonomy than other university-level institutions.

In addition to these university-level institutions that have degree-granting authority, there are many socalled stand-alone institutions (SAIs), which can be private or state-controlled. There are more than

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11,000 recognized SAIs that range from polytechnics, teacher training institutes, and nursing schools, to business schools awarding postgraduate diplomas in management (PGDMs).

Most of these institutions fall under the purview of the AICTE and other regulatory bodies like nursing boards.

Unless they have been conferred degree-awarding authority by the UGC, SAIs can only award diploma and postgraduate diploma type credentials. The IIMs, for example, were not authorized to award degrees until they were declared INIs, even though their PGDMs were factually considered equivalent to university-issued MBAs by the Association of Indian Universities, as long as their programs were at least two years in length. Other SAIs try to get around these restrictions by issuing credentials like a “bachelor’s program in engineering” as opposed to a “Bachelor of Engineering.”

However, these credentials are not recognized as official degrees in India.76 percent of SAIs are privately owned.

India is not a major international study destination, but the country is currently seeking to attract more international students in order to internationalize and modernize its education system. In 2018, the government launched a Study in India campaign aimed at quadrupling the number of foreign students in the country to 200,000 by 2023.

The initiative targets a number of African countries, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Malaysia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as other countries with sizable Indian populations of importance to Indian foreign relations.

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Engineering and Technical Education The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are a group of autonomous prestigious engineering and technologyoriented institutes of higher education established and declared as Institutes of National Importance by the Parliament of India. The IITs were created to train scientists and engineers, with the aim of developing a skilled workforce to support the economic and social development of India.

They have a common admission process for undergraduate admissions, using the Joint Entrance Examination (popularly known as IIT-JEE) to select around 8,000 undergraduate candidates a year.

Postgraduate admissions are done on the basis of the GATE, JMET, JAM and CEED. About 15,500 undergraduate and 12,000 graduate students study in the IITs, in addition to research scholars. There are also, 8 IIITs in Hyderabad, Allahabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Jabalpur, Gwallior, Calcutta and 8 IIMs in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Shillong and Ranchi. Â The National Institutes of Technology (NITs), are colleges of engineering and technology education in India. They were originally called Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs). In 2002, the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, decided to upgrade, in phases, all the original 17 Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs) as National Institutes

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of Technology (NITs). There are currently 20 NITs, the latest being NIT, Agartala and Karaikal (Union territory of Pondicherry).

The Government of India has introduced the National Institutes of Technology (NIT) Act 2007 to bring 20 such institutions within the ambit of the act and to provide them with complete autonomy in their functioning. The NITs are deliberately scattered throughout the country in line with the government norm of an NIT in every major state of India to promote regional development.

The individual NITs, after the introduction of the NIT Act, have been functioning as autonomous technical universities and hence can draft their own curriculum and functioning policies.

Medicine Indian Medical Institutes are known worldwide for providing medical education of international standards.

There are 18 university level institutions and 785 medical colleges offering undergraduate Programmes in medicine and related areas (including pharmacy, Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathic and nursing).

All medical/ dental/ pharmacy/ nursing colleges in India are recognised and regulated by the statutory bodies’ i.e. Medical council of India / Dental Council of India / Pharmacy Council of India / Indian Nursing Council at central level.

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Entrance Exams National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test - NEET

This test will be conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to MBBS/BDS Courses and other undergraduate medical courses in approved/recognized Medical/Dental & other Colleges/ Institutes in India.

The students will thus go through a regular process of counselling for the state colleges and will have to provide domicile details so as to be enlisted in the state merit lists. This will ensure that state colleges seats are filled and satisfy the 85% quota of state medical colleges.

Direct Admission for Students Abroad - DASA

Students in grade 12 (in 2019), and are appearing for grade 12 final exams in 2020, will need to take the SAT 2 for applying under DASA 2020 for admission to NITS and IIITs. However, students who are in grade 11(in 2019) and will be appearing for grade 12 final exams in 2021, will need to taker JEE 2021 to apply under the DASA 2021. The DASA Scheme as well as its subset (the CIWG Scheme) will be available for admissions in the academic year 2021-22. By applying under these schemes, students can take admissions in NITs, IIITs, CFIs & SPAs. The only difference is that from 2021 JEE Mains Rank will be considered valid, not SAT 2. The benefit with JEE is that the students who happen to be eligible for JEE Advanced (decided on the basis of JEE Mains Results), can take JEE Advanced Exams to try for admissions in IITs, the most premier engineering Institute in India. If students can’t clear JEE Advanced, they can still take admissions in NITs, IIITs, CFIs & SPAs on the basis of JEE Mains Rank.

The JEE cutoff varies every year because of the percentile system. Hence, the exact cut off can not be mentioned.

Every year, JEE cutoff is announced at the time of JEE Result Declaration & it is valid only for that particular year.

Agricultural/Veterinary Education

India is the  preferred destination for agricultural education including study of animal sciences, dairy and fishery sciences. There are 40 renowned university level institutions and more than 199 colleges offering various courses in Agriculture. Undergraduate Programmes are offered in 11 major disciplines and postgraduate Programmes in as many as 65 different specialisations. All universities also offer Ph.D Programmes in these specialisations.

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The universities offering medical educations in India are under the control of an apex national body, Indian Council for Agricultural research (IICAR), which is responsible for the promotion and coordination of agricultural research and higher education in various branches of Agriculture and Allied Science in India.

Management Courses

To meet the growing demand of management professionals, India started its first formalised management educational Programme in the late 1950s.

Today, India has 600 institutes offering Programmes in management at undergraduate and postgraduate levels with prestigious institutes like the Indian Institute of management (IIMs). All management colleges/ institutes in India are recognised and regulated by All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), a statutory body of Government of India.

Natural/Applied Humanities

Sciences/Liberal

Arts

and

Students from all over the world come to the Indian shores for study of Natural and Applied Sciences, Liberal Arts and Humanities, the reason- India has a wealth of resources, from infrastructure to faculty. A variety of Programmes are available in traditional liberal arts and humanities. There are 162 traditional universities and more than 7,494 colleges offering degree in Science/ Arts / Commerce. Undergraduate Programmes are offered in more than 150 disciplines and post graduate in more than 50 specialisations.

Hotel Management and Tourism

The degrees offered by the Indian institutions in Hotel Management and Tourism studies equip students with all required skills and knowledge to effectively discharge supervisory and managerial responsibilities in the hospitality industry.

With 24 Institutes of Hotel Management (IHMs) and 6 Food Craft Institutes spread all over the country, India offers three-year degree Programme in hotel management and catering technology. The Indian Institute of Travel and Tourism Management (IITM) offers short term courses designed for travel and tourism studies. www.counsellingpoint.com

Fashion and Design Technology

India has always been the hub of textile and garment trade. There are as many as 75 institutes in India that offer courses in fashion, design technology and related fields. Training at these institutes is imparted keeping in mind the demands of the international market.

The institutes are equipped with latest technologies, laboratories, workshops, design and research centres, libraries, and computers.

Undergraduate Courses

Undergraduate courses, in general, are of three years leading to Bachelor degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, etc. Undergraduate courses leading to a first degree in professional subjects like Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy are of a longer duration ranging from four to five and a half years. Most of the engineering courses take four years, to complete while the medical courses are about five and a half years long.

Postgraduate Courses

Postgraduate Courses in Arts, Science, Engineering and Medicine are usually for two years ending with the award of a Master’s degree. Some universities and institutes offer a diploma or a certificate course of shorter duration. However the duration of these courses varies from university to university. Doctoral courses like M Phil and PhD are available only at the university colleges. These courses involve research work under a guide, leading to thesis submission and viva-voce.

Application Process: Most Colleges and Universities in India begin their academic term in June/July. The application process varies from Institution to institution and from state to state. Institutions start distributing application forms four to six months before the commencement of classes. Students must have completed 12 years of schooling to be eligible to apply. The competition for seats is intense and the cut-off percentages for entry can be extremely high as there are more applicants than seats. Most professional courses have prerequisite qualifying examinations, some of which are all India level while others are state level. Some institutions offer Management seats or charge higher fees for their selffinancing sections. Minority groups get preference and some seats are reserved for them. Some courses such as architecture require aptitude tests. Most private institutions offer foreign nationals and non resident Indians seats. The costs for these spots are much higher and some institutions have special entry tests before admission. The result of these tests along with board exam results is used to determine the student’s eligibility for admission.

Visas Internationals desirous of studying in India would need to submit the following documents: • A valid passport • Provisional acceptance letter for an accredited institution • A health certificate

Source and websites of use: www.ugc.ac.in: Information on Universities www.educationindia4u.nic.in Education Consultants of India www.aicte.ernet.in: All India Council for Technical Education www.mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/ publication_reports/Youth_in_India-2017.pdf www.studyinindia.org wenr.wes.org/2018/09/education-in-india https://dasanit.org/

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NEW ZEALAND New Zealand is rated in international surveys as one of the world’s most peaceful, least corrupt countries. The 2018 Global Peace Index, which compares 163 countries for the risk of personal violence, rates New Zealand as the world’s second safest country after Iceland. It is one of the safest and friendliest places you can choose for your studies. It is the size of the UK or Japan but with a population of only 4.6 million people, so it gives you room to breathe and the space to be yourself, states the New Zealand Government website.

New Zealand has eight state-funded universities, 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPS) and about 550 Private Training Establishments (PTEs), which include English language schools. Universities offer higher degree-level education. Programmes are research-led and generally academic rather than vocational. QS World University Rankings, ranked New Zealand universities in the top 3% in the world.

All New Zealand’s universities offer a broad range of subjects for undergraduate, Masters and Doctoral (PhD) degrees in commerce, science and the humanities. Some universities offer degrees in specialist fields - such as medicine, agriculture, engineering, etc. A number of universities have more than one campus, often located in different cities, and some have overseas programmes.

New Zealand also has 18 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs). They provide professional and vocational education and training ranging from introductory studies through to full degree programmes.

Many ITPs also offer English language training and postgraduate study options, including up to Doctoral (PhD) level. Courses are more vocationally oriented, emphasising practical experience and application to work situations. A degree from one of these institutions has equal status with a university degree.

Admission Procedures To study for diplomas and degrees at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics, students coming through New Zealand’s secondary school system 110 HEADSTART 2020

generally need NCEA Level 3 qualifications. Students from overseas need to be able to show they’ve achieved a similar University entrance level of education - that can include GCSE A levels for students from the UK, Hong Kong ‘A’ Levels, STPM /Malaysian Higher School Certificate Australian Matriculation Year 12 Certificate.

They also need to be able to prove their English skills.

The Universities New Zealand website has more information about the admission requirements for students with overseas qualifications. Students can also do short-term foundation studies or pre-university orientation studies at PTEs or universities to prepare for university-level study. You need to check with the tertiary education provider you’re considering.

Applying Tertiary academic year The academic year is from March to November. However a July start date may be available for some courses and summer semester courses (January to March) may be available.

Once you’ve found the institution and course you want, you’ll need to complete and return the relevant paperwork. Once accepted, the institution will send you an ‘offer of place’ letter and once you’ve paid the fees, the institution will send you a ‘confirmed offer of place’.

If your course is for less than 12 weeks, or your country has a visa-free agreement with New Zealand, you don’t need a visa.In all other cases you’ll need to apply for a New Zealand student visa and be able to show the confirmed offer.

One year ago, New Zealand Minister of Education Chris Hipkins announced the New Zealand Education Strategy 2018–2030 at the annual NZIEC conference. A move away from employer-assisted work visas to open work visas. As a related statement from Immigration New Zealand explains, this means that for students, “Your work visa won’t be linked to any employer and the employer-assisted post-study work visa will no longer exist. You won’t need a job offer to get a poststudy work visa.” Students studying at levels 4–6 in the New Zealand Qualifications Framework will receive a one-year open work visa. Level 7 students enrolled in www.counsellingpoint.com

graduate diploma programmes leading to a professional designation will receive an open work visa for two years.

Students engaged in degree studies at Level 7 or above – that is, undergraduate or higher – will receive a threeyear open work visa.

According to statistics released by Ministry of Education, New Zealand, student numbers, during the 2016 calendar year, the number of international fee-paying students was 121,735. This represents growth of 6.8% when compared to the 2015 calendar year, for which the number of international fee-paying students was 113,985. The school sector experienced the largest growth of 13%. Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) and universities experienced growth in student numbers of 7% and 6% respectively. Growth in student numbers at unfunded PTEs offset a decrease in student numbers at funded PTEs, with overall growth in student numbers of 6% for the sector.

Application Process The first semester starts during the month of February and is over by the end of June. The second semester starts in July and finishes in November. Some universities have a three-semester pattern where the semesters begin in February, July and November.

Admission Requirements

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The requirements for entry are course and institute specific. However certain aspects can be considered uniform. Entry into colleges and universities in New Zealand mandate 13 years of education. Students from the Indian curriculum will be accepted directly into the programme provided the board exam result is 75% and above. For all those with less than 75%, the yearlong foundation is mandatory. A student with high school marks that are less than 75% would first be enrolled in one of the polytechnics for one year until he/she improves his/her grades and will then be moved to a university for a Bachelors degree. Further requirements need to be confirmed with the institution you are applying to. Most tertiary institutions need you to prove that you have a reasonable grasp of the English language.It is always best to apply three months to six months before the commencement of your course. That way, one can find out all the specific requirements for admission and work towards attaining them.

While applications can often be done online, you’ll still need to post or courier some documents, such as certified copies of academic certificates and transcripts, proof that you can meet the institution’s English language requirements, and a recent résumé or curriculum vitae.

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Finances & Scholarships

Undergraduate study can cost about NZ$18,000–$25,000 a year, depending on your course. It can cost up to $40,000 a year for postgraduate courses. The cost of studying a Diploma or Post-Graduate Diploma in New Zealand may cost NZ$ 10,000 to NZ$ 20,000 approximately per year, while cost of studying for a Post Graduate Diploma may be anywhere between NZ$ 15,000 and NZ$ 30,000. All international students are required to have medical insurance when in New Zealand. This can be arranged before you leave home, or your institution will arrange insurance for you when you enroll.

International students in New Zealand are eligible for a wide variety of scholarships through the government, educational institutions, foreign governments, and private funding sources.

Commonwealth Scholarships for candidates from developing countries to study in New Zealand are available at Masters or doctoral level. For Masters Degrees, the scholarships are tenable for up to two years. For doctorates, the maximum scholarship length is four years. Candidates are required to study/research full-time. See more in Commonwealth Scholarships, including nominating agencies on the website. Source(www. newzealandeducated.com)

Visas

The New Zealand Immigration Service only grants visas to students who has enrolled for a course in an NZQA or New Zealand Qualifications authority accredited institution. The documents required include: • An offer of place from an approved provider • Evidence that you have enough money to pay your tuition fees • Your passport & acceptable passport-style photo(s) • Proof of funds – $15,000 per year, to cover your living expenses • A copy of your air ticket home, or proof that you have enough money to buy one • An accommodation guarantee, if you’re under 18 • Your visa application fee You may also be asked to provide a medical certificate and chest x-ray, and a police certificate. Most visitor, student and work visas can take up eight weeks to process, but could also take longer if more information is needed.

You can apply up to four months before you intend to travel. Kindly visit the Embassy website for updates.

Source and websites of use:

www.studyinnewzealand.govt.nz –Institutional profiles and information on studies in NZ. www.studyinnewzealand.govt.nz /how-to-apply/visas/ www.educationcounts.govt.nz

Education Zone:

Dubai Knowledge Park Building 2B, 1st floor, Office F30 P.O. Box 214592, DubaiThe United Arab Emirates Phone: +971 43910257

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SWITZERLAND Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries within Europe.

Home to more than eight million residents, the country’s worldclass universities attract countless prospective students looking for quality higher education. Switzerland continually ranks as one of the safest countries in the world. The 2018 Environment Performance Index (EPI) ranks Switzerland in top position, mainly because of its use of hydroelectric power and its highly efficient public transportation system. A well-preserved environment easily accessible by public transport, safe cities (and countryside), excellent public healthcare and an excellent infrastructure make living in Switzerland very pleasant.

Swiss universities offer a wide range of courses of study at all levels (bachelor, masters, doctorate) at different institutions of higher education (academic universities, universities of applied sciences, universities of teacher education) and in different languages (German, French, Italian, English). Swiss universities are heavily subsidised by the government; so tuition fees are slightly lower when compared to other nations. The tuition fees associated with private universities are normally higher than their public counterparts. However, Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in Europe, with extremely high cost of living; especially when looking at major cities like Geneva or Zurich. So financial planning is a priority.

Universities in Switzerland Switzerland’s two federal technology institutes (ETH Zurich and EPFL) claimed the top two slots in the Times Higher Education ranking of the world’s most international universities; the University of Zurich was ranked 15th.

Overall, international students make up 17% of those studying at Swiss universities. The higher the level of study, the more the international students in Switzerland.

Foreigners constitute 10% of bachelor, 29% of masters and 54% of doctoral students. Students from neighbouring countries Germany, France, Italy and Austria account for the largest share of international students, followed by those from China, Russia and the US. International students coming to Switzerland are particularly keen on science-related fields. In fact, there are now almost three times more international than Swiss students studying natural sciences, mathematics and statistics.

Swiss universities have an enviable reputation around the world. Seven are featured in the top 200 of the QS World Rankings It is a country with a long tradition of higher education. Its first university was founded in 1460 at Basel.

As a result of sustained academic progress over the centuries, Switzerland is now home to some of Europe’s most renowned higher educational systems.

There are twelve state-run universities in Switzerland.

Of those, ten are cantonal, and two are federal institutes of technology. The differences between them are slight.

Cantonal universities are operated and managed by individual cantons, and federal institutes of technology are run directly by the government of Switzerland.

Canton is the traditional Swiss form of an administrative area. There are twenty-six such areas within Switzerland.

The differences, whilst small, do impact the structure of the institutions. The federal institutions are aligned in structure to American universities, thus making it easier for foreign students to transfer there.

As well as these twelve institutions, there are two other types of university; the eight Universities of

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Applied Sciences and the Arts (UASAs), which provide scientific and professional education, and the twenty Universities of Teacher Education (UTEs), which offer practice-oriented teaching education. Doctorates can only be obtained at universities and federal institutes of technology.

All bachelor programmes are open to students in possession of a valid upper-secondary school diploma, a Swiss Matura or a foreign degree that has been deemed equivalent. With their different histories, approaches, and research focus, as well as their language diversity, the 10 cantonal universities and the 2 Federal Institutes of Technology are poised to usher a multicultural Switzerland into the future. They all share a drive for quality in teaching and research, an ambition for excellence, the flexibility to cater to a multitude of demands, and the foresight to anticipate future requirements and challenges. This results in their consistently being ranked among the best universities in the world.

Students learn directly from researchers. Academic excellence is mainly based on an outstanding framework for junior and senior researchers and on the principle of competition. There are several national research funds in Switzerland where scholars compete for funding – for basic research or for R&D. Apart from being an innovation hotspot, Switzerland is also highly successful in international competition for research funds.

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The complete list of accredited Swiss Higher education institutions and criteria for admission is given in the website: www.swissuniversities.ch/en/higher-education-area/ studying/studying-in-switzerland/

The Swiss higher education system comprises three types of universities: Research Universities These universities offer tertiary education leading to Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees and undertake basic research. The standard admission requirement is an academic baccalaureate. Besides the ten cantonal research universities, this type of university also includes the federal institutes of technology and science.

Universities of Applied Sciences These universities offer programmes leading to Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Teaching and research at universities of applied sciences have a strong practical focus. The standard admission requirement is a completed apprenticeship (dual occupational training including theoretical training at a vocational school and practical training at a company) and a vocational baccalaureate, to be earned after the completion of basic training. Switzerland currently has seven public universities of applied sciences and one private, staterecognised institution.

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Universities of Teacher Education Together with other teacher training institutions, universities of teacher education are responsible for training a sufficient number of qualified teachers for all levels of compulsory education. Their remit includes teaching, research & development, further training / additional training, services (documentation centres, expert reports, consultancy, etc.).

As a rule, students may transfer from one type of university to another by fulfilling additional requirements.

Other university institutions, supported by the federal government, include the «Institut universitaire des hautes études internationales et du développement (IHEID)» in Geneva, the «Institut Universitaire Kurt Bösch (IUKB)» in Sion, and the «Stiftung Universitäre Fernstudien Schweiz» in Brig.

Application Process Whether you intend to study a bachelor’s (first cycle), master’s (second cycle) or PhD degree (third cycle) in Switzerland, you will have to submit your application to the university or college of your interest. Your school

will examine the submitted documentation, will check whether you are eligible for the study program or course you applied for and will issue a proof of registration in the event you are finally admitted.In general, universities and colleges in Switzerland ask foreign students to submit the documentation described below in order to evaluate their academic eligibility: • The filled-in application form for the selected study program or course. Most schools in Switzerland have online application systems • A recent passport-sized photo • A notarized copy of your foreign certificates. If you are applying for first-cycle studies (undergraduate), you will have to submit a notarized copy of your schoolleaving certificates. If you are applying for a secondcycle program (master’s), you will have to submit a notarized copy of your bachelor’s degree. And if you are applying for a PhD degree, you will have to submit a notarized copy of your master’s diploma

Scholarships The Swiss Government grants university scholarships to foreign students who have graduated from university or, to a limited extent, university of applied sciences or advanced arts programmes. Detailed information on the application requirements for the scholarships, the relevant countries, and how to apply are provided by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS):

Visa Procedure UAE Students and families wishing to study in Switzerland, need to process applications through VFS Global. The details are given on the VFS Global website.

Source and web sites of use:

www.swissuniversities.ch/en/higher-education-area/ https://www.academics.com/guide/higher-educationswitzerland www.studyinswitzerland.plus/list-swiss-univties/ www.study.eu/country/switzerland www.counsellingpoint.com

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GERMANY For the past few years, Germany’s international recruitment efforts have been boosted by a no-tuition policy for international students, improved opportunities for work during studies and after graduation, and the continuing expansion of English-taught programmes within German universities. More than three-quarters of Indians (78%) preferred Germany above other destinations, and more than half of South Koreans (62%) and Ukrainians (58%) did as well. Fewer than half of students from Syria, the US, Iran, Austria, and Turkey considered Germany a top choice.

Germany was recently ranked first in a study that included 30 European study destinations. The performance was attributed to the country’s “remarkable mix of world-class education at no or almost no fees,” as well as the fact that Germany has made “a considerable improvement in the number of courses offered in English” and boasts the lowest unemployment rate for university graduates in Europe. More than half (57%) of international students in Germany said that Germany was their first choice of destination, and another 20% said that it was their second choice. This is according to a 2016 survey recently reported by DAAD in Focus: Study Destination Germany Motives and Experiences of International Students.

An annual trends report from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) shows that the number of international students in Germany has climbed once again, with 374,580 foreign students enrolled in German universities in 2018, up from 358,900 in 2017. This represents 4.4% growth, slightly less than the 5.5% growth the previous year.

According to a report in ICEF, the online student guide Studyingin-Germany.org surveyed nearly 4,400 prospective students to learn more about the decision making and goals of foreign students planning to study in Germany earlier this year. More than a third of the survey respondents (35.3%) said that the main reason they chose to study in Germany was the freetuition (or low-tuition) fee policies of the country’s universities.

Germany higher education has been tuition free since October 2014, and remains so in most states today. The exceptions are the states of Baden-Württemberg and North-Rhine Westphalia, where tuition fees have since been reintroduced for non-European Union students. A third state, Saxony, allows each of its universities to decide whether or not they will charge tuition fees to non-EU students.

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The survey found that nearly four in ten prospective students (37.5%) plan to finance their studies, in part, through part-time employment in Germany. Another 29% plan to cover their study costs from personal funds, with the balance financing their studies in Germany through scholarships or loans.

When asked to indicate their plans following their studies in the country, almost seven in ten (69.2%) said that they would seek full-time employment and stay for a period of time after graduation. Roughly 17% (16.5%) intend to return to their home countries after finishing their studies.

Students wishing to study in Germany can choose from more than 12,000 degree programmes and subjects offered at 340 state (public) and state-recognized higher education institutions. Each of the 16 states in Germany has its own higher education laws and guidelines. They can join a research oriented programme at a Universität (university) or a more practice-focused course at a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), or an artistic programme at one of the many Kunst-, Film-, or Musikhoch-schulen (college of art, film or music). If you already hold a degree, you can also choose to enter a postgraduate or doctoral programme for advanced qualifications.

Kunst-, Film-, or Musikhoch-schulen:

Colleges of art, film and music offer artistic-creative subjects – like fine art, industrial and fashion design, stage design, graphic art, instrumental music or singing. There are even special media-oriented colleges that train directors, camera operators, authors, filmmakers and other TV or media professionals. Not all of the courses taught are in English-medium, students should check with the institution regarding the medium of instruction before enrolling for courses.

The academic year is generally divided into two sixmonth semesters; the winter semester normally begins in October while the summer semester begins in April. Course duration is around three months in the summer semester and four months in the winter semester. Students can use the non-lecture period to revise material taught in the previous semesters or to complete internships.

Universitäten: Universities and equivalent institutions are greatly focused on research and teaching.

Most Universities offer courses in practically all subject areas while some universities choose to specialize in a particular field. If you want to study at a German university, you will need a “Hochschulzugangsberechtigung” – or “university entrance qualification”. This is a schoolleaving certificate which qualifies you for university study. If your secondary-school certificate is deemed insufficient for study in Germany, you will have to attend a foundation course (“Studienkolleg”) before you are allowed to enroll.

Fachhochschule (FH):

FHs were especially established to give students a chance to engage in the more practical studies and applied research. Subjects offered by FHs cover fields like technology, business, IT, design, social fields, education, nursing and applied natural sciences.

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Besides the state (public) higher education institutions, a number of private universities also operate in Germany that generally offer subjects from the fields of law, economics and business administration and social sciences. Private universities often maintain close contacts with companies in order to give their graduates an edge and better career prospects. Once you have decided on which university or course you want to pursue, it’s time to look at the requirements for university applications.

How To Apply

Application Requirements for universities

At many German universities it’s possible to apply for admission twice a year – to commence studies either in the winter or summer semester. The summer semester runs from March to August atFachhochschulen (Universities of Applied Sciences) and April to September at universities; the winter semester is from September to February and October to March respectively.

To study at a university in Germany one a “Hochschulzugangsberechtigung” (HZB), or higher education entrance qualification. This establishes that an applicant has the required educational qualifications to undertake university education in Germany.

An international higher education entrance qualification lets you study at a German university, provided that the international certificate of education is recognised as higher education entrance qualification in Germany. If your existing higher education certifications do not meet the accepted criteria, you can participate in a preparatory course at a German university. This is where you, together with other international students, develop the technical and cultural requirements to successfully study in Germany. To see if adhere to all the requirements of a German University check out the DAAD website for more information.

For most subjects, you can apply directly to the international office of the university. Alternatively, you can use the website www.uni-assist.de, a centralized admissions portal for international students, run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), although not all universities use this. You may wish to apply for numerous courses and universities separately to increase your chances of being admitted.

In general, applications for winter enrolments need to be made by 15 July, and applications for summer enrolments by 15 January. However, application deadlines vary between institutions, and the same institution may set different deadlines for each program – be sure to carefully check the specific dates for your chosen course.

It’s recommended to submit applications at least six weeks before the deadline, to ensure time for corrections or additions if any information is missing.

You should expect to receive a formal acceptance or rejection approximately one to two months after the deadline has passed.

The specific documents required and application process will be set by each institution, but you’ll typically be asked to submit: • A certified copy of your high-school diploma or previous degrees, and any other relevant qualifications in the original language • A translated overview of your course modules & grades • A passport photo • A copy of your passport (personal information and photo ID page) • Proof of language proficiency (a test certificate or online equivalent)

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To ensure the best chances of acceptance, take care to provide all the documentation requested, make sure all your documentation is certified (copies of documents also need to be certified by the awarding school), and check that you’ve filled out all your information correctly before submitting your application. An application fee may be charged.

For some subjects, there is a nationwide cap on the number of students who can enroll. For these subjects (mostly life sciences), students from the EU (plus Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein) need to apply through the Foundation of Higher Education Admission. Students from outside the EU should apply as normal.

Funding A wide range of scholarships for German and Foreign students especially post-graduates and researchers are offered by Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD). A searchable web-based scholarship database is available to students on the DAAD website (www.daad.de/offices or www.fundingguide.de).

Visas • Admitted students need to submit the following documents to apply for a visa, • Letter of admission • Proof of Health Insurance Cover • Proof of Financial Resources • Documents related to Previous Educational Qualifications • German Language Proficiency Certificate or Plan for Intensive Language course in German • Minor students would need a letter of consent from the person(s)responsible for their care and custody

designed precisely for international students and offered

by German banks, including Deutsche Bank and Fintiba.

The account is considered “blocked” because students cannot access it until they arrive in Germany, and then may only withdraw funds up to a specified monthly limit.

As of 1 September 2019, the amount of money that international students using the blocked account option in their visa application will rise from Euros 8640 Euros to Euros 10, 236. Once students arrive in Germany, they will be permitted to withdraw a maximum of €853 per month.

Such proof of financial means is one of the main requirements to obtain a student visa for Germany. The other ways international students can show proof of financial means are by showing that they have received a scholarship or by providing a letter to confirm that they have an approved sponsor for their study programme.

A student visa is generally issued for a period of 3 months. If the study period is longer, you must contact the foreigner’s authority (Aus-landerbehorde) to apply for a residence permit. The Residence permit is initially issued for 2 years but can be extended for a further period of 2 years. -Source: Study in Germany website, DAAD. Source: www.daad.de www.higher-education-compass.de DAAD Annual Report ICEF Monitor

Financial Requirements In Germany, there are three ways that non-EU international students can show proof of financial means for their first year of study as part of their visa application. The most common way is depositing a minimum amount of money into a “blocked account,” which is a bank account www.counsellingpoint.com

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CAREER FOCUS

The Most In-Demand

Jobs & Skills Jackson Schroeder / 4th Dec 2019 Source: Adapted from University Network Dec 2019

Which jobs are trending and which are disappearing? Which skills are becoming more indemand and which will soon be out-of-date?

These are the questions that many students, job seekers and employers are asking, and a recent report by Burning Glass Technologies and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) provides the answers. “A vibrant economy and, by extension, a healthy society depends on having an adequate supply of qualified workers to meet current and future demand,” the authors wrote. “Both the economy and society depend on ensuring that individuals are prepared for the future and remain employable.”

Together, the researchers gathered and analyzed 95 million online job listings in the United States from 2015 through 2018. From there, they were able to identify which jobs and skills are trending in the U.S. labor market.

Flagship jobs The first category is “flagship jobs.” These are currently some of the most common jobs in the United States, receiving between 10,000 to 1 million listings each year. And demand for workers to fill these jobs is still growing, by up to 20 percent annually.

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To make things easier to digest, the authors also separated the jobs based on groupings used by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Among the flagship jobs that fit the DOL’s “business” job grouping, listings for managers, secretaries and administrative assistants, customer service reps, human resources specialists and sales reps all experienced more than a 10-percent growth in online listings between 2015 and 2018.

Of the flagship positions that fit the DOL’s “digital” job grouping, positions in computer user support, application software development, IT security, systems analysis and database administration saw the biggest increase in demand.

Of the flagship jobs in the DOL’s “science, engineering and manufacturing” group, listings for civil engineers, technicians and production workers all saw a double-digit increase.

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In “construction and transportation,” the flagship jobs that were experiencing the fastest growth in demand were building inspectors and electricians.

And of the flagship jobs in “health care,” there was an evident growing demand for medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, occupational therapists and nurses. Additionally, over the three-year time span, the authors noticed a significant increase in the demand for teachers, human services assistants and even hairdressers. “Not all low-tech jobs are fated to fade away,” they wrote.

Fast-growing jobs The second category is “fast-growing jobs.” These jobs are also receiving between 10,000 to 1 million listings each year, but they’re growing even faster than “flagship jobs” — by more than 20 percent each year.

Of the “business” jobs that fit this category, real estate agents, hotel clerks and interviewers experienced the highest percentage growth in job listings. This is “evidence that new technologies don’t necessarily replace jobs but instead often spur industry growth and job creation,” according to the authors.

“The fields within this grouping all show a strong trend toward automation and disintermediation: consider the use of online videos and websites such as Zillow in real estate, the lodging sites Airbnb and Vrbo in travel and hospitality, and the use of robo-interviews and the digitalization of many processes in human resources,” they wrote. “The aforementioned jobs are in demand despite these technological advances.”

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In the “digital” grouping, the only jobs that showed a growth of 20 percent or more are computer and information research scientists. But, the authors explained, this is because “digital jobs have become much more specialized in recent years.” For example, companies are no longer looking to hire general software developers. They are looking for those who specialize in a specific language, such as Java or Python.

In “science, engineering and manufacturing,” the authors saw a growth of more than 20 percent in listings for computer-controlled machine tool operators, which they explained, “reflects the impact of newer technologies.”

Additionally, they saw growth in demand for people to work more traditional manufacturing jobs, including system assemblers and machine operators.

In “construction and transportation,” the authors saw an increase of more than 20 percent in demand for painters and packagers, industrial truck and tractor operators, light truck and delivery drivers, and taxi drivers and chauffeurs. The increase in demand for truck drivers really struck the authors, given the predictions that autonomous driving may wipe them out altogether. In the future, that is still predicted to be true. But as of now, there is a huge shortage of them.

In “health care,” the fastest growing jobs spanned across nearly every discipline, from professional specialists like anesthesiologists to massage therapists and even medical equipment preparers and dental hygienists.

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Many of the jobs in “personal services, social services and education” also saw a significant increase in demand, specifically in positions as personal-care aides, animal caretakers and childcare workers. “Overall economic growth, an aging population, and longer workdays are contributing to the accelerating growth of these occupations,” the authors wrote.

And lastly, positions as janitors and cleaners, dishwashers and waiters were some of the most common and fastest growing jobs in the report.

High-growth jobs The third category is “high-growth” jobs. These are jobs that still have less than 10,000 annual online listings (a relatively small amount) but are growing at an extremely high rate. Between 2015 and 2018, listings for jobs in this category grew by an average of more than 40 percent.

“High-growth jobs are a beacon of longer-term economic trends,” the authors wrote.

And perhaps not that surprisingly, the “high-growth” category is full of tech jobs.

For example, demand for people skilled in quantum computing, digital currency and the Natural Language Toolkit each grew by more than 100 percent each year from 2015 to 2018. And due to the emergence of many new technologies, demand for skills in chatbots, Amazon Alexa, data lakes and cloud security all grew by more than 40 percent each year.

“Technology is creating new skills and those skills are reshaping the broader job market,” co-author Matt Sigelman, CEO of Burning Glass Technologies, said in a statement. “Skills like machine learning and data visualization are now showing up across the board in a range of listings for roles such as marketing managers and business intelligence analysts, not just in the rarified domain of tech pioneers.”

Between 2015 and 2018, the authors explained, online job listings for senior cloud engineers and Microsoft Azure developers grew by more than 70 percent each year. Jobs listings for Jira administrators grew by 50 percent, on average, each of those years. The same growth was seen in postings for cybersecurity engineers.

And perhaps surprisingly, the authors also saw a significant increase in demand for onboard specialists and talent coordinators. The number of listings for these jobs rose more than 50 percent, on average, over the time period.

Declining jobs

The authors also observed some jobs declining in demand, mostly because they are already being replaced by automation and other technologies. These jobs include telemarketers, office machine operators, loan interviewers, computer operators, tellers and administrative support workers.

Technology is reshaping the skills job seekers need Notably, most of the individual skills for which demand grew fastest over the three-year study were tied to advances in technology.

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- Napoleon Hill

A goal is a dream with a deadline.