India’s Taiwan Education Center to focus on language

The first Taiwan Education Center in India was inaugurated on Monday to promote learning the Chinese language, the latest step in the government’s campaign to project Taiwan’s soft power overseas.

The new facility was the eighth Taiwan Education Center to be established worldwide under a program sponsored by the Ministry of Education and run by National Tsing Hua University.

Located in Sonipat, Haryana Province, just north of New Delhi, the new center is a cooperative venture between Tsing Hua and O.P. Jindal Global University of India (JGBS)

The new center is expected to offer two Chinese language classes of 20 students each by the end of the year.

Wang Wei-chung (王偉中), the dean of Tsing Hua’s Office of International Affairs, said the center has employed a certificated teacher and a local assistant and will use teaching materials provided by Tsing Hua that all use traditional Chinese characters.

Tsing Hua plans to invite students of JGBS and other Indian universities to Taiwan to learn more about teaching Chinese, Wang said.

The Taiwan Education Center will also play a critical role in promoting Taiwanese culture and educational cooperation between the two countries, Wang said.

Raghar Ranganathan, a freshman at JGBS, said learning Chinese was indispensable because interaction between Taiwan and India has grown much closer.

During his two years of courses he hopes to have the opportunity to attend more seminars in Taiwan or China and said learning Chinese would definitely be an asset to his future career.

DEGREE SWAPS

Bid for uni degree swaps with India  

INDIAN students in Australia will be able to complete part of their degrees at Indian universities - and Australian students encouraged to study in India - under a program being worked out between the two countries.

 After a serious rift over attacks on Indian students in Melbourne and Sydney, and a big fall in the number of Indian students coming to Australia, the federal government is trying to rebuild the relationship and is targeting the tertiary education sector.

International student visa applications from India have fallen about 63 per cent in the past financial year, a government report showed this week.

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The Minister for Tertiary Education, Chris Evans, is in India on a four-day tour, selling Australia as an education destination and encouraging more co-operation between institutions.

One of the main priorities of the new Australia-India Education Council will be a credit-sharing arrangement between universities, similar to those established with countries such as China and Malaysia.

''It's not just about an overseas degree in Australia, it's about allowing credit for exchanges, for a semester, a year,'' Mr Evans told the Herald in Delhi. ''Many universities are looking to joint-badge degrees.''

He said any scheme would encourage students to study in India. ''I'm very keen to get more students to study abroad. We can be monocultural in Australia and we need to have our students with a view of the world.''

Mr Evans said that recognising overseas qualifications benefited the labour markets of both countries.

DILEMMA in US of A

The website of the University of Northern Virginia (UNVA), will tell you the university is accredited by the American University Accreditation Council (AUAC), an accrediting body.

But it will also tell you that AUAC is not recognised by the US Department of Education.

UNVA says that though it is one of the few graduate schools in the US which does not require a GRE or GMAT score for its master's students, it recommends the international applicants not already in the US, to take the GRE test as they would be viewed as a more "serious" student by the US visa officer when they apply for the visa."

These and many such suggestions dot the university's website which was raided by the US Department of Homeland Security on Thursday regarding an alleged visa fraud.

The university, with a total strength of 2,400 students, has around 90% of its students from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

While UNVA will be temporarily blocked from accepting new international students, overseas education consultants in Hyderabad say that students have already begun considering options other than the US for higher studies.

“It is their greed for dollar dreams that lands these students in such situation. In this age and time when they have information available on their fingertips, they fall prey to sham agents and such universities,” said Arun Jacob, managing director, Array Globe.com, an overseas education consultant based out of Hyderabad.

Jacob adds that many of these students fall for the work-while-you-study scheme offered by such universities and thus land in trouble.

Early this year, Tri-Valley University, another sham university was shut down after being raided by US' Immigration and Customs Enforcement due to a possible visa fraud. Majority of the students at the university again, were from Andhra Pradesh.

UNVA's enrollment practices and business model is said to be on the same lines as those of Tri-Valley University. It had enrolled students who work full-time in without being required to attend actual classes.

“Many students who were looking at US universities for their higher education have already sought clarification from us on their accreditation process so far. While it is good that students are doubly checking the status of the universities they wish to study at, it may also see student traffic getting diverted from US to other nations,” said the vice president of an overseas education consultancy which specialises in sending students to the US.

Consultants say Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Hyderabad are the cities which have reported a spurt in sending students to such sham universities overseas.

Agents get anywhere between 15-20% commission from universities to send students to them.

“There are many agents in the market who have made sending students to such universities their business. These students too, without doing their due diligence, fall for the immigration racket. Credible registered agents in India is the need of the hour,” adds Jacob.

Agents also say that there is no single accreditation body in the US which accredits universities and colleges. It is largely state accreditation that universities bank on. While in the UK, the UK Border Agency maintains a list of accredited institutes, even Australia and New Zealand release list of accredited institutes in their country.

DESTINATION US

The United States of America (USA) is the brightest destination for the students. The American degrees are recognized world over and give a cutting edge advantage for a successful career. Student can encounter and experience almost any climate, landscape, lifestyle, and culture by selecting the right location, the experience obtained during campus life is worth as much as the education itself.

United States of America has the world’s largest International students population, with nearly 6, 50,000 students Nearly 4% of all students enrolled in higher level education are international students, and the numbers are growing each year. USA is the premiere destination for international students, because it has more institutions of higher learning than any other country in the world. There are more than 3,800 universities and colleges in the USA, offering courses at various levels. Research at many of these universities is cutting-edge and often published in journals worldwide the vast of resources in America, the opportunities for practical training related to your field of study are vast.

Education System

The U.S. has the world’s largest population of international students: nearly 600,000. Education system in the USA is different from the British system of education as practiced by India and from other countries.

One could join the first year of college, either in a community college which offers a two-year Associate degree or a technical institute of similar duration programs. Completion of this level will make one eligible to take up two more years of the undergraduate program at a four-year college or a university, on completion of which leads to a Bachelor's degree. A Master's degree after that could be between one to two years. And Doctoral level education could be simultaneous along with the Master's or additional, which can be another 3-4 years. On completion of two years in college (first two years of Bachelor's program) one could join a first professional degree, which will be an additional four years. First professional degrees are normally offered in Pharmacy, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Law, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine etc. In some fields, the master's degree is the next highest degree awarded after completion of the first professional degree.

Finally, once a student earns his doctoral degree, he couldursue further research/study as a Post-Doctoral Fellow, which is the highest level of education anywhere in the world.

COST OF EDUCATION
US Universities are either public or private institutions. Thus, public school tuition expenses are based on nonresident costs which are less expensive than private universities. It differs from university to university ranging from public cost $ 5000 a year to $ 30000 per annum for private institutes. Whereas, living expenses come to around $10,000 a year.

Required Test

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is becoming popular even in the US too and is being accepted by many universities now.

Polar Bears Over Kangaroos!!

International students are flocking to Canada at the expense of Australia due to uncertainty over visa rules and not because of the high Australian dollar, according to a major education company.

One of the biggest providers of English courses to overseas students, Navitas, says parents in China and Vietnam are confused by changes to Australia's visa rules and are now choosing to send their children to other english-speaking countries.

Navitas says student enrolments in Australia have fallen 14 per cent for the 2011 June/July semester, in line with "similar industry trends".

It comes as the federal government conducts a review of the student visa program.

Among other things, the review is looking at reducing visa assessment levels for Chinese and Indian applicants.

Navitas chief executive Rod Jones said parents, particularly in the lucrative Asian markets, were unsure about visa requirements and were now sending their children to Canada and to lesser extent, the United States.

"They don't understand what it all means," Mr Jones said.

"Canada has been an enormous beneficiary out of this. The numbers there have just gone out of control."

However, he predicts the Canadian government will tighten its visa policies for international students as Australia and the United Kingdom have done.

"They just can't absorb the demand," Mr Jones said.

Navitas reported a 20 per cent increase in full year profit on Tuesday despite a softening of demand for student enrolments.

The education provider has more than 8,500 international students on its Australian books and a total of 14,600 students worldwide.

It says instability caused by the federal election, changing government policy and the strong Australian dollar hit the English division in full year 2011.

But Mr Jones said the strong Australian dollar wasn't the "major impact".

Canada, which also had a relatively strong currency, was doing particularly well with international student numbers while the United Kingdom had experienced a downturn despite the weakness in the pound.

"The biggest things at play here are government policy," he said.

Anecdotal evidence from the Navitas' Asian operations shows China and Vietnam markets were the most worrying, Mr Jones says.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has said the review of the student visa program will look at ways to better manage immigration risk in the student visa caseload and deter breaches and misuse of the program.

It would also consider the suitability of separate visas for different education sectors.

To date, the review has received two hundred submissions and is expected to release its findings in September.

Sout East Asia Calling!!

Taiwan Educational Center opens in India

The first Taiwan Education Center in India was inaugurated Monday to promote Chinese language learning, the latest step in a campaign to project Taiwan's soft power overseas.

The new facility was the eighth Taiwan Education Center to be established worldwide in a program being sponsored by the Ministry of Education and run by National Tsing Hua University (NTHU).

Located in Sonipat, Haryana Province, just north of New Delhi, the new center is a cooperative venture between NTHU and O.P. Jindal Global University of India (JGBS).

On Monday, a ceremony was held to inaugurate the new center, which is expected to open two Chinese language classes of 20 students each by the end of the year.

Wang Wei-chung, the dean of NTHU's Office of International Affairs (OIA), told CNA that the center has employed a certificated teacher and a local assistant so far and will use teaching materials provided by NTHU that all use traditional Chinese characters.

As an extension of the program, NTHU plans to invite students of JGBS and other Indian universities to Taiwan to learn more about teaching Chinese, Wang said.

Aside from language training, Wang believed the Taiwan Education Center would also play a critical role in promoting Taiwanese culture and educational cooperation between the two countries.

Raghar Ranganathan, a freshman at JGBS, said learning Chinese was now indispensable because interactions between Taiwan and India had grown much closer.

He believed that during the two-year courses he would have opportunities to attend seminars in Taiwan or China and felt that learning the language would be an asset to his future career.

Wang and NTHU OIA Vice Dean Hu Yu-chen, the head of JGBS C. Raj Kuma, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in New Delhi Ong Wen-chyi, and other TECC officials attended the center's dedication ceremony.

Plan Your Study Abroad

What to plan and pack when you're studying abroad

 Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity full of culture, language, culinary delights and many other unique and exciting experiences.

Study abroad program participation grew in the 2009-10 school year, according to the Institute of International Education. Colleges and universities modified and revamped programs to cater to where and what students want to study.

If your child plans to study abroad this school year, the excitement levels are likely pretty high as you get him packed and prepared for the trip.

You've already researched the climate, food, language, transportation and school where your child will study, so you have a good idea of what clothing, school supplies and personal items he'll need to pack. But you might not have considered some items which should probably be added to the list:

* Brand name products you must have. This is important if you're traveling to Africa, Asia and even South America. If you love to chew gum, use a specific brand of shampoo or deodorant or even prefer a brand of pain killers for headaches, chances are that the country you're traveling to won't carry that brand. So stock up on those products that you'll need to last you the entire time you're away.

* Travel assistance. You hope that medical, legal or even stolen document emergencies won't happen to your child while she's studying in a foreign country. Investing in On Call International for travel assistance can help give you peace of mind that if an emergency occurs, she will have access to financial, legal and transportation assistance. On Call International's memberships offer travelers help for medical evacuations as well as medical transport home after a hospitalization. The program also includes a 24-hour nurse helpline and worldwide legal assistance. Visit www.oncallinternational.com for more information.

* Current conversion kits. Foreign countries have different outlet shapes and electrical currents than the United States, which means if your son plugs his laptop or cellphone charger into an outlet while abroad, the plug won't fit. If he's planning on packing electronics, purchase an electric conversion kit for the county he'll be traveling to. Check with the travel abroad program about its recommendations for cell phones. It may be easier and cheaper for him to purchase a cell phone plan overseas.

* Review the policies on social networking sites, email and even cell phone use for the country your daughter will be visiting. There are some countries where the government controls usage of some communication methods, which could come as a surprise to many Americans. Consider packing a smartphone so she can also take advantage of helpful travel and safety applications.

With the right preparation, traveling abroad will provide many wonderful life opportunities for your child. It might not feel like time is flying by while he's gone, but when he arrives back home, he'll have so many stories to tell you and photos to share about all the fun he had while studying in a foreign country.

FLOCKS ARE LED WHERE PASTURES ARE MORE - SCOTLAND Becoming an Ideal Place for Students. Green. Clean. Quality.

Students are flocking to Scottish universities

Although the recent interest surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is probably not unwelcome at St Andrews, the story of many of Scotland's universities goes back hundreds of years, and the country can give prospective students a great deal in terms of education, career prospects and, of course, life-enhancing experiences.

There are 19 higher education institutions in Scotland, including 16 universities.

They boast a rich heritage - St Andrews was founded in 1413, and the principles of the education system pioneered in the ancient universities (which also include Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen) formed the basis of other systems the world over, notably in the US, Canada and France. Nowadays, every Scottish university carries out active research, and more than 4,400 taught courses are available to students across the various institutions.

"Scotland's universities are internationally renowned for excellence and have much to offer," says Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, adding that Scotland has some of the world's oldest universities, and five among the top 150 in the world.Scottish degrees are four years long.

Students aren't restricted to spending all of those years at one place: some might study a two-year higher national diploma (HND) course at college before moving on for two more years of study at university and gaining an honours degree. According to Sim, a four year programme gives learners the opportunity to develop a more rounded skill set. "We must be doing something right as students at Scottish universities report the highest satisfaction rates in the UK according to the National Student Survey," he adds.Scotland is a popular destination for continuing study, with both taught and research-led programmes available.

"Postgraduate students will have the chance to work at research-active universities and opportunities to partner with business and industry, engaging in the exchange and transfer of knowledge and contributing to future economic, business and research development," explains Sim.

While undergraduate and postgraduate students come to Scotland from the UK, a significant number arrive from overseas too - 30,000 students from 180 countries begin courses every year. Wherever in the world they come from, Sim believes they are attracted by more than league table results.

"There's more to university than just study and Scotland is the perfect destination with vibrant, cosmopolitan cities, beautiful countryside and a welcoming spirit," he says.Students can certainly look forward to a wide range of extra-curricular diversions.

Glasgow was named a European Capital of Culture, and Edinburgh hosts one of the world's largest arts festivals every August, should they feel like taking in live music, visiting galleries and museums or scratching a creative itch. Then to recuperate there's the fresh air and altitude of the Highlands and Ben Nevis, the UK's highest peak. Those wanting to go even further can brave the far islands to learn about whisky, or the shores of Loch Ness to learn how to create a legend from a photo of an oddly shaped log.

Then, of course, there's an infectious passion for sport (especially football) that can bring the country to a standstill. You can even surf - just be sure to fully suit-up for the chilly waters.

Beyond education, students might stay on to find employment in major areas such as finance, oil and gas, tourism and the creative industries.

Overseas students can also take advantage of the Fresh Talent initiative, which allows them to stay in the country without a work permit for two years after the completion of an academic qualification (scotlandistheplace.com).

Students applying to a Scottish institution need to go through UCAS (ucas.com). It's worth keeping an eye on the fees situation; EU students currently don't have to pay tuition fees, but subject to parliamentary approval in the autumn, Scottish universities will be able to set their own fees for UK undergraduate students permanently living outside Scotland. Once fee amounts for 2012-13 have been agreed, the information will be available through UCAS.

Wherever students may come from, they are unlikely to have to endure the level of attention surrounding a royal romance, leaving them free to enjoy Scotland's world-class education, proud culture and warmest hospitality. That can only be to their benefit for, as the scholar Dr Louis B Wright once put it: "If one took the Scots out of the world, it would fall apart."

THE SLUMP FUND FOR EDUCATION

An education loan

As far as education goes, funding it has now become one of the major issues and that many institutions and organisations are trying to relax and be flexible, Here for example we talk about Credila

An education loan from Credila offers incredible opportunities and features for students and parents. Credila is India's only dedicated education loan company and hence their field of expertise. A Credila education means hassle-free loan approval and easy repayment.

Credilla offers education loans at incredible low rates of interest and are customised to the requirements of the students and their respective courses. That means, the more the course fee in a particular institute, the more the loan for the same institute.

Credila helps to parents and students find the exact required margin money, the portion of the fees which is not covered by the loan and has to be paid by them, so that they don't have to run from pillar to post to find the amount. In certain cases, Credila also offers loan amount which is more than the value of the collateral security provided.

Credila's large database of institutes, their finances and prospects means that students and parents can stop worrying about proving that the college or University and course applied for is appropriate for them. Credila provides the loan approval letter in time so that students do not face any problem while applying for Visa or while taking admissions.

Credila also provides round the clock support to its customers during the repayment cycle and accepts overseas repayment as well.

With all these features, Credila education loans are the best choice for students who want to fulfil their dreams of higher and better education.

CHANDNI CHOWK TO HONG KONG

India builds education links with Hong Kong

When it comes to overseas education, the US is the first destination which enters many people's minds. Canada, Australia and the UK are typically the second choices for Indian students...

When it comes to overseas education, the US is the first destination which enters many people's minds. Canada, Australia and the UK are typically the second choices for Indian students. Of late, however, another destination has opened up to Indian students in Asia itself – Hong Kong. With two universities in the world top 100, Hong Kong is a great choice for Indian students looking for higher education. In fact, Australia is losing favor with Indian student community, which is gradually shifting to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has a small but growing Indian diaspora of 27,000 people. In 2010, Hong Kong opened an education centre in India to further strengthen the image of Hong Kong here. A $1bn (HK) scholarship fund has been set-up for international students and a PhD fellowship scheme has also been launched for students who want to pursue research studies. Successful PhD students stand to receive a HK$240,000 a year for stipend and other research activities.

Students can stay 12 months after graduation in search of a work and beyond 12 months if they find employment. Hong Kong has an impressive 95% employment rate for graduates. The typical tuition costs between US$9,000 and US$13,000 per year, which is what many Indian institutions are charging now.

Institutions in Hong Kong teach in English while preserving the Chinese language and culture. Given the proximity of Hong Kong to China and other business centers, business management students will find studying in Hong Kong especially attractive and lucrative. Outside business management, Indian students have shown interest in arts and humanities too. Science and technology are also obvious choices for Indian students and Hong Kong provides great opportunities in these fields.

Hong Kong, a melting pot where Western and Eastern cultures meet, is a great destination for Indian students.

INDIA IN OVERSEAS BANNER

India attracting overseas Vet students

Chennai, India is increasingly turning out to be a favoured destination for foreign veterinary students with the country offering expertise in dealing with a variety of tropical diseases afflicting animals and rarest of rare cases. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University here had been attracting foreign students who want to study about tropical diseases, its Vice Chancellor R Prabhakaran said.  

"We have the country''s only small animal orthopedics and ophthalmology units in our university. Since we are dealing with rarest of rare cases, foreign universities approach us for exchange programmes," he told PTI today. S Ayyappan, Professor inSmall Animal Orthopedics Department in the university, said: "In India, we get a variety of veterinary cases and the rarest of rare cases.Foreign universities send their students on sabbatical mainly to study tropical diseases." The department was the only centre in the country to specialise in the treatment of small animals, mainly pets, Ayyappan said on the sidelines of an exhibition.  

University''s Director of Clinicals S Prathaban said six students each from Virginia Tech University and University of Michigan in the US and four from Malaysia were at the university this year. They were expecting 55 students from University of Chittagong in Bangladesh in September and a student from Indonesia next month on an exchange programme, he said. Thesmall animal orthopedics and ophthalmology centres use the latest medical technology including C-Arc fluoroscopy and gas anesthesia machine, used for human treatment. With more and more animal lovers ready to spend on their pets, veterinary sciences have more takers these days, C Ramani of Opthalmology Department said. 

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Minister for Animal Husbandry N R Sivapathi inaugurated a scientific exhibition in the university campus here as part of its World Veterinary Year 2011 celebrations.