Published in association with Expat Media International Distribution LLC. Peter Souri Raj P.O.

Box181681 Tel: 04 2973932 Email: psr@expat-group.com Exclusive Sales Agent World of Media JLT P.O. Box 340505 Dubai, UAE Ashish Limaye Email: ashish@worldomedia.com Jason Verhoven Email: jason@worldomedia.com Design and Layout by Merwyn Rodrigues Email: merwyn@jumpmediaonline.com Editorial: Counselling Point Rema Menon P.O. Box 103926 Tel: 04 3978846 Email: counsell@eim.ae Printed by United Printing Press (UPP) - Abu Dhabi
Contributor's opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or editor and while every precaution has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this handbook is accurate and timely, no liability is accepted by them for errors or omissions, however caused. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Expat Media Int'l and Counselling Point and cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission.

OVERVIEW

UAE School Systems Career Quest Making Learning Fun Say YES to your Childs Dreams
EDUCATIONAL DESTINATIONS

6 14 18 24

Higher Education in the UAE Advantages of Accreditation Study in USA Study in Canada Study in Australia Study in UK Study in Germany Study in Malaysia Study in India Study in New Zealand Study in Switzerland
FUTURE COURSE OF ACTION

30 38 44 50 58 62 70 74 78 82 86

Professional Qualifications Future Proof your Careers Shape your Tomorrows

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Young adults today have a dizzying array of course options and study destinations to choose from, making them both excited about the possibilities and mystified as to what to choose. For the past seven years, with the help of well wishers and sponsors, I have been hosting a seminar on 21st September called Head Start for Studies Abroad to commemorate the International day of peace. This year, recognizing the need to embrace change, we are calling the event Head Start for Higher Studies because we find more and more young people are choosing locally available options. Through this hand book, Head Start, I aim to reach out to those youngsters and their families who need to make informed choices regarding school curriculum, subject stream, study destination and possible fields of study. The unstinting support of my husband Mohan, brother Karun and well wishers like Sunita, Deepak, Jason, Girish, and Merwyn made this book possible. I have based its contents on my personal experience and collated data from various websites and newspaper articles. It has been an extremely enriching experience and I hope it will serve as a resource tool as you chalk out your road map and navigate your way through it to your college. Remember a career is no longer a destination, it is a journey; at times there may be road blocks and setbacks but you will need to believe in yourself, change course mid stream if necessary, re-qualify and continue on a new and untried path. From time to time, focus not just on the outside world but also within you. Introspect, ask yourself if you are happy; for if you are not, it is time to say masalama change track and move ahead. As a counsellor working in the field of personal and career counselling from 1986, I have had the pleasure of guiding several individuals, both young and old. It has been an amazing learning experience for me that has been extremely satisfying and inspiring. Many of the youngsters who sought my counsel are now

editorial

working in responsible positions all over the globe. It is gratifying to know that I have played a small part in shaping their lives. Through recession and hard times all one needs to remember is that this too will pass As long as there is hope in your heart and belief in your dreams, impossible is nothing! As Walt Disney once said, Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve. So what are you waiting for? Make those lifetime dreams a reality and enjoy the journey. All the very best!

Rema Menon. V

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UAE SCHOOL

SYSTEMS
As people from over 152 nationalities reside in U.A.E, apart from the government funded state schools, there are various curricula are offered like the American, British, International Baccalaureate (IB), Indian, Australian, Canadian, German, French, Iranian, Pakistani, to name a few. More than 18 different education systems are on offer in the U.A.E. The number of CBSE Schools in the Gulf is 119 of these, UAE has more than 50%. Schools in Dubai are inspected by Knowledge and Human Development Authority. (KHDA). This enables maintenance of quality.

According to a Khaleej Times report dated 14th September 2011, the growth of international schools in Dubai and the UAE has been significant. In the year 2000 there were 97 international schools in the UAE teaching 77,000 students. By 2009, this had increased to 251 international schools teaching 174,600 students and today there are 357 international schools in the UAE teaching 302,300 children. Just over 50 percent of schools in the UAE use an English curriculum, with 22 percent following an Americanbased curriculum, and 19 percent follow an international curriculum such as the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). According to ISC Research, a company which maps the world's international schools, the Middle East was responsible for two-thirds of global growth in international primary and secondary schooling in 2010/11, a year which saw a record number of schools and a record number of enrollments. The leading cities for international schools are Dubai with 175 schools, Doha with 101 international schools, Bangkok with

100 international schools and Karachi with 99. In Dubai alone, 143,661 students study in international schools taught by 11,453 English-speaking teachers. Some of the popular educational systems available here are described below.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
The IB diploma is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education that prepares 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 each of 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.

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OVERVIEW
Group One / Two - Best language and additional language
Students select two languages: one from group 1 and an additional language normally from group 2. Group 1 is for students best language and the course is literature based; Group 2 is designed for students learning the language up to near native level. Students select the language courses based on their language proficiency and the outcomes of the course.

Group Three - Individuals and societies

Business and management Economics Geography History Islamic history Information technology in a global society Philosophy Psychology Social and cultural Anthropology

Group Four - Experimental sciences

Biology Chemistry Design technology Environmental systems Physics

Group Five -Mathematics and computer science

Mathematical studies standard level Mathematics standard level Mathematics higher level Further mathematics standard level Computer science

Group 6 The Arts

Music Theatre Arts Visual Arts In addition the programme has three core requirements that are included to broaden the educational experience and challenge students to apply their knowledge and understanding. The extended essay is a requirement for students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the subjects they are studying. Theory of knowledge is a course designed to

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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
encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical). Creativity, action, service (CAS) requires that students actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom. Students can combine all three components or do activities related to each one of them separately. 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 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 Maths 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.

Assessment
Students take a written exam at th 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.
Source: www.ismoshi.org

Cambridge IGCSE Curriculum

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

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, as well as other progression routes. It incorporates the

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In most subjects there is a choice between core and extended curricula, making IGCSE suitable for a wide range of abilities. Each learners performance is benchmarked using eight internationally recognised grades.

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 learners 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. In most subjects there is a choice between core and extended curricula, making IGCSE suitable for a wide range of abilities. Each learners 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.
Source: www.cie.org.uk and www.edexcel.com

INDIAN SCHOOLS
There are 119 CBSE schools in the Gulf Council and each GCC country is represented by a Chapter Convenor who co-ordinates with each other. In Dubai, there are 21 schools offering an Indian curriculum. 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 58,000 students currently attend schools offering an Indian curriculum in Dubai alone .

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

(CBSE) conducts final examinations every spring for All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE) for Class 10 and 12. The focus is to provide a more learning-centric, interactive and participative pedagogy with stress on enquiry and skill based learning. The curriculum will de-emphasize rote learning and promote thinking skills, analytical skills and communication skills to develop right and objective perspectives facilitating independent judgment. 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 AIPMT - All India Pre medical Test for admission to major medical colleges in India. The Board has introduced Grading at Secondary School level for Classes IX and X from the academic year 2009-10. In this system, students performance is assessed using conventional numerical marking mode, and the same has been converted into the grades on the basis of the pre-determined marks ranges. Accordingly, the Statement of Subject wise

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Performance issued by the Board for Class X 2010 examination will have only grades. The schools affiliated to the Board have also been directed to introduce the above Grading Scheme in the evaluation of their students in class IX under the scheme of Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) 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. Arabic is a compulsory language for all grades up till Grade 10 and optional for Grades 11 & 12.

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 school offers various streams of study at this level 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. Some British Universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial college etc will not admit a CBSE student directly into their programme as they require 13 years of schooling.
Source: www.cbse.nic.in

CBSE International Curriculum

The CBSE-I curriculum is being subscribed by 30 schools in nine countries. It aims to promote critical and creative thinking skills, effective communication skills, interpersonal and collaborative skills and information and media skills. The CBSE has decided to introduce international curriculum for a few selected schools abroad from the academic session 2010-2011 in classes I and IX. This year CBSE International (CBSEI) curriculum will be introduced only in class I and IX to be followed by introduction in classes II, VI, VII and X in 2011 and remaining

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,

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OVERVIEW
classes in 2012. There is no proposal to introduce the international curriculum in the schools in India during 2010-2011. It provides, inter-alia, flexibility in social science and languages. Other features include perspectives on building opinions, critical thinking module, life skill, research project and community service. It is of international standard and gives a global perspective to the subjects of study. For example, while the subject of history in the existing syllabus deals mainly with Indian history, the new syllabus will focus on world history. The new curriculum is not simply textbook-oriented. It has been devised to replicate the curriculum of international boards such as the International Baccalaureate. 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 812 papers, depending on the subjects. The certificate has international equivalence and enables students to transfer to International Universities.
Source: www.icseguide.com and www.cisce.org

Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations

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 students potential. The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education or ICSE examination is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, 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. In all subjects other than Science and Computers, students must submit compulsory coursework

AMERICAN CURRICULUM SCHOOLS

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 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. Most schools are segregated and operate from separate campuses or at different times. The costs, facilities and structure vary greatly. The choice is yours to make. I

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ADVERTORIAL

CAREER

QUEST
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OVERVIEW
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 todays world, the scenario is totally altered. In ones lifetime, one takes on multiple careers and numerous jobs. While constant change may not be in the persons 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 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 ones 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. To actualize this, we need to research. The internet is a brilliant store house of information on a host 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. 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

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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.

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, you will probably become a pioneer in your chosen field. Trends that are both existing and emerging, contribute to drive job

Developments in technology, health care, environmental protection and globalization, as well as current trends in the economy are bringing to the forefront several cuttingedge careers.

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

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. I

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FUN
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MAKING LEARNING ENGAGING AND

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Technological advancements of ICT have brought about a sea change in education; creating new types of learners, new processes of learning and new approaches to evaluation of that learnt content. These changes have revolutionized the role of teachers from mere knowledge disseminators to knowledge facilitators, forcing them to acquire innovative ICT skills to cope with the emerging challenges of an increasingly technology driven learning environment. Technology is making a major difference in the lives of students every day, whether in Dubai, Mumbai or Hawaii. Changes in media and technology enables today's students to stay constantly connected to the internet and social media. This impacts their learning both within and outside the classroom.

Research has shown that technology can, indeed, Britain was found to have a positive effect on student help improve teaching and learning when used wisely learning, according to a three-year study conducted and ICT companies in turn, have responded in kind, by researchers at Lancaster University. In the other creating a mind boggling array of project, software that takes a visual hardware, software, and other Recent studies approach to teaching math devices that give teachers new ways contributed to double-digit gains in from two to engage students, improve the test scores of several Orange different retention, making learning more continents point County, California, elementary interactive and stimulating. students. Moving imagery was clearly to the value of a key means for [students] to 'see education Maya T. Prabhu, Assistant Editor of what is meant,' rather than their technology in eSchool News in her article helping students trying to 'imagine what is meant' 'Technology adds to students' math grasp important when it is just described by teachers, comprehension', states, Recent the report found. Students weren't the yet abstract studies from two different continents only ones affected by using the math whiteboard technology; many point to the value of education concepts-and teachers reported that their approach technology in helping students grasp in both studies, to instruction shifted as well. Some important yet abstract math animations teachers felt the resources enabled a concepts-and in both studies, that allow more collaborative environment to animations that allow students to students to emerge, where they were working visualize these concepts were central visualize these with students to construct problems to the results. concepts were and devise methods to solve them, central to the the study found. In one research project, the use of interactive whiteboards to teach results. 'Read, Reflect, Display, and Do' can math in several schools in Great

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help instructors leverage the internet's potential to help students learn states Curtis J. Bonk in his article, R2D2: A model for using technology in education. He says, While some look at it as a learningstyle model, it is intended as a problem-solving wheel that represents phases of learning-from reading and exploration, to reflective writing, to visualization of the content learned, to attempts to try it out. R2D2 is also a means to help instructors consider diverse learner needs. At its core, it is also a tool for reflecting on one's teaching practices. ICT has also enabled learning through multiple intelligence as it has introduced learning through simulation games; this enables active learning through all the senses,

The UAE ranked the 1st of all the Arab states in the 2009-2010 Networked Readiness Index (NRI) study issued by the World Economic Forum and 23rd among all 133 countries assessed.

catering to needs of students with differing learning styles. Many view technology as simultaneously a transformative tool for teaching and learning and one that should not be overly dependent on. The ever growing stream of new technologies since the start of the millenniumincluding digitalbooks, wikibooks, podcasting, Twitter, Second Life, open educational resources, pathfinder, online tests, shared online video, Facebook, and much more makes the traditional teacher, unused to modern technology both apprehensive and inadequate. Unless we keep pace with this increasingly technology driven world, we will be inadequately preparing our students for this knowledge intensive world that is inter dependent. Iowa's Sarah Brown Wessling, the

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2010 US National Teacher of the Year uses education technology to engage students and to teach them 21st-century skills. Facebook and digital video are among the many technology-based tools that Wessling uses to engage her students. She believes instruction should be learner-centered. The Council of Chief School State officers that selects the recipient of the annual honor cited Wessling's passion and innovative approaches, such as incorporating school technology in her classes. She is passionate about learning in the 21st century, believing that teachers must 'recognize the importance of teaching that marries content to skill,' that problem solving and critical thinking are useless without the facts, but the reverse is also true, the council said. The UAE ranked the 1st of all the Arab states in the 2009-2010 Networked Readiness Index (NRI) study issued by the World Economic Forum and 23rd among all 133 countries assessed. The NRI measures the capacity of an economy to fully leverage ICT for increased competitiveness and development. The NRI study was published in The Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010 and is based on data collected by organizations such as the ITU, the World Bank, and the United Nations. (www.tra.gov.ae). According to UAE ICT survey report 2008, every higher educational establishment surveyed has some form of Internet connection, with DSL being the most popular type of connection. 98% have a computer laboratory. The average number of computers in laboratories in each establishment is 280. 97% of higher

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As per the ICT landscape in the UAE website, to support the country's human capital development in ICT, the IT Education Project (ITEP) project was created. Begun in 2000 the ITEP is part of a government lead strategy to create the UAE Knowledge Economy.
education students use the Internet at the establishment, and 98% of the teachers have been trained to use ICT for instructional purposes. We need to use these strengths to enhance our schools and make our students university-ready.. Furthermore, as per the ICT landscape in the UAE website, to support the country's human capital development in ICT, the IT Education Project (ITEP) project was created. Begun in 2000 the ITEP is part of a government lead strategy to create the UAE Knowledge Economy. The program provides courses in 40 high schools in the UAE (20 in Dubai, and 20 in Abu Dhabi) and over 13,000 students pass through the program every year. Providing a high quality, industry-relevant IT education, ITEP complements the Ministry of Education's aim of introducing new means of teaching. The IT academies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the vital administrative heart of the project. They are responsible for teacher training and courseware development, Internet-based anytime, anywhere, adaptive learning, project management and quality assurance for all ITEP initiatives. Teaching in private schools in UAE is being complemented with smartboards, content creation and resource finding via Internet tools and better connectivity with students, parents and peers through collaborative learning platforms. In public schools however, teaching still remains more textbook driven. The Ministry of Education's educational reforms need to trickle down to every classroom as we are entrusted the task of equipping our students with the right skills for tomorrow. Workshops that empower teachers to use ICT tools to adopt innovative pedagogical practices to create an improved teaching learning environment, to encourage students' active participation in academic activities and acquire appropriate skills is the need of the hour. Teachers need to make use of cutting edge technology to enhance teaching and to reach out today's techno savvy youth. To help teachers become more comfortable with collaborative learning, all teacher professional development programs must incorporate information on 21st century tools as well as collaborative work groups. 'Talk and chalk' no longer suffice, ICT is here to stay and with it we all become lifelong learnersboth the teacher and the taught. I

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SAYYOUR YES TO
CHILDS DREAMS.
There is no doubt that a college education is today one of the most important gifts you can give your child. College education can provide your child with many new and exciting opportunities that can help them in their careers. A degree from a reputed institute often provides children the opportunity to excel in their chosen field be it becoming a doctor and helping the sick or becoming an engineer and building the worlds tallest tower. College stimulates them to think, ask questions, and explore new ideas, which allows for additional growth and development and provides them with an edge in the job market.

The cost of college depends on where your child chooses to attend college, the institute, the stream chosen and several other factors. A college degree in the UAE at todays cost can range from AED 30,000 a year to over AED 120,000 a year. As you can estimate, the cost for a 4 year college degree can seem quite daunting, which only goes to underscore the importance of having a plan in place to achieve your education savings goals. Fortunately there is good news for parents, there are several key strategies you can adopt to ensure that you save enough money for your childs education.

Here are the strategies:

PROJECT

YOUR COSTS Formulating an effective college-funding plan begins with projecting the cost of higher education for your child. It's important to be realistic about what those costs may be. You can use an online calculator, such as the one available on www.yes216.com to get started.

KNOW

YOUR OPTIONS You'll want to explore the many ways to save for a child's education and be aware that you will probably

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have to bring into play several resources to assemble a successful plan. Talk to a qualified financial advisor and they will guide you through the entire process and be there to address your queries.

START

EARLY Time really is money. Establish a target amount and a time frame, then figure out a payment schedule designed to help you reach your goaland stick to it! Remember, the earlier you start to save, the more time you should have for your college savings to grow.

Making a habit of investing regularly can really pay off in the long run. That's why it's important to determine how you want to save to meet your college savings goal.

SEPARATE YOUR COLLEGE SAVINGS Establishing a separate plan for college savings, doing this will make it harder to use the money for another purpose, and will enable you to watch your money grow to approach your target goal. Be disciplined with this account.

SAVE

REGULARLY Making a habit of investing regularly can really pay off in the long run.
That's why it's important to determine how you want to save to meet your college savings goal. You can contribute a monthly or annual amount, or you can set up the account with a lump-sum investment.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDS FUTURE Protecting yourself in the case of Death, Disability or Critical Illness can be one of the smartest things you can do. Cover the required amount for your childs college education through an insurance plan that provides financial security in the event of Death, Critical Illness or Disability. This will help ensure that your child will receive the education you planned for.
There you go listed above are some basic but important steps that can get you started on the right track to achieving your college savings goals. I

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ADVERTORIAL

S T U D Y

D E S T I N A T I O N S

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The UAE is now a higher education hub with three federal universities and more than 70 ministry-accredited institutions in the country. There are about 120,000 students enrolled at various institutions in the country. The UAE has provided for Emiratis by making federal university education free of charge. After the UAEU was established in 1976, the more technically oriented Higher Colleges of Technology was established in 1988 and is the largest higher education institution in the country. There are more than 19,000 students at 17 men's and women's colleges across the Emirates with more than 90 English-taught programmes. In 1998 Zayed University was established by the federal government primarily to educate Emirati women with campuses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Today, the university is educating more than 6,000 male and female students from 19 countries to compete in a global environment at various campuses. The private sector addresses the needs of the large expatriate population in the UAE, enrolling primarily South Asians and other Arab nationals.

Not very long ago, most expatriate students in the UAE used to head to their home countries or west-ward to pursue higher education. The scenario has changed significantly over the last decade with the establishment of Knowledge Village, Academic City and various educational institutions across UAE. We pride ourselves as an Educational hub in the region and students from various parts of the world now come here to realize their academic aspirations. In 2003, when Knowledge Village was established, there were eight higher education institutions. According to KHDAs 2010 figures, there has been a 77% increase in the number of higher education institutions offering international programmes. According to a recent report titled, Rapid growth for higher education sector in Gulf News, more than 40,000 students enrolled in the various educational institutions based in the free zones. In addition to the higher level institutions outlined above, the UAE also has several vocational and technical educational centers for those seeking practical training in their chosen careers. These include the Emirates Institute for Banking and Finance, the Petroleum Institute, the Dubai School of Government, and The Emirates Aviation College.

Admission
Admissions open in April and offers are made through

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September. Admissions get finalised after the schools final exam results are announced between May and July. International students applying from overseas are advised to secure their residence visa in time for the commencement of the programme. Once a student has determined that UAE will be his/her education destination, it is better to visit the institutions and their websites to understand the admission criteria and pre-requisites. As UAE is home to people from more than 152 nationalities, students come from varying curricula and levels of English competency. Most institutions therefore ask for a TOEFL or an IELTS score. Some institutions administer their own placement tests. Institutions that follow the American system may also require a SAT score. Math placement test may also be a requirement with some institutions. Adequate research about the institution and the programmes on offer prior to enrolment will ensure that students make informed choices. Many students in the UAE may have lived in a multi cultural environment but have studied in schools in which most students and teachers were from the same ethnic background. Segregation of the sexes too may have been mandatory at school level. The scenario is quite different at university and students learn to integrate with a diverse group of people. This prepares them for their life ahead in the work place and makes them more tolerant and accepting. At University, students would need to work both individually and in groups on projects and presentations. Honing skills in public speaking, power point presentations and reading can give the student

an edge over others. Reading and research whether on the internet or at libraries can enhance general knowledge and prepare students for all those projects and assignments they will be expected to turn in as part of the programme. In most school, teachers spoon-feed students by preparing notes, hand outs and power point presentation to aid in assimilation of the topics taught in class. At University, one is expected to do quite a bit of independent work. Furthermore, most institutions have strict policies on plagiarism. Wikipedia or a seniors assignment may not suffice so it is imperative that one cultivate the reading habit and use the library. Students from large schools often complain that they never had the opportunity to take part in extra-curricular activities because there were limited options and the same students get chosen to represent the school for all inter school events. As you begin a new chapter in your life, explore the possibility of playing a more active role in student life. The more you participate, be it in community service projects, debate, dance or drama, the more engaged you will be. This will also help you recognize your skills, inherent potential, enhance your confidence levels and help you interact with people from various backgrounds.

Costs
Costs vary greatly between institutions and can range from AED2000 to AED5000 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.

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student voice
Amritha Krishnakumar
Amritha Krishnakumar, currently pursuing her BBA at Manipal University shares her views:
What would you say students here need to do to prepare for University? The main preparation comes in the mindset of the students the change from the hectic life of a school student to the much more relaxed life of a college student. University doesnt actually require any preparation unless your college has asked you for an IELTS/TOEFL score. Another thing to look into is whether you have chosen the right university which offers the best opportunity for your sphere of interest (facilities, exemptions to professional courses, etc), and value for money. What were some of the things you wished you knew before you enrolled at university? Well for one I wish I had done more research on the other universities around because a course which offered me ACCA exemptions would have been ideal for my requirements. Is it very difficult to secure a scholarship? I wouldnt say it was an easy task but with the right amount of hard work it certainly isnt impossible. Tips for the freshers College life, as the stereotype suggests, is fun filled and much more relaxed than your previous years. But in this process, academics shouldnt be given the last priority as that would put you in trouble. Make the most of the facilities your college provides you with and enjoy this phase of your life.

Visas
For all male students above the age of 18 and international students who are not on a residence visa, 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 applicants 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 institutions rules. I

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student voice
Kavitha Premchand
Kavitha Premchand a final year student at UOWD gives her input:
What would you say students need to do to prepare for University? When preparing for university consider different types of degrees and options in terms of institutions. Find out all about your post secondary study options and decide on which one is the best for you depending on your career interests and personal references. Become academically prepared for university. Find out about college entrance examinations, write them well and earn good grades, which could in turn help in securing a scholarship for yourself. Most universities will send you a prospectus or a guidebook that basically explains all that you need to know. So students must make sure that they get these self-explanatory manuals well in advance. A thorough reading of these will clarify all your doubts about university life, the various courses offered and any pre-course reading or preparation that needs to be done on the students behalf before they officially start university. If youre an international student, you need to most definitely check with the accommodation office about what sort of living space you will have, cooking facilities, parking space etc. Make sure that you have completed all the necessary forms. Use technology to maximize your participation, productivity, and independence in learning. Make sure you go through the universitys website to gain any additional information. Getting in touch with current students is also of big help as they can give you information based on first hand experience. Is it very difficult to secure a scholarship? Securing a scholarship varies from university to university. Every college has their own rules to determine whether one is worthy of a scholarship or not. Most definitely it is important that you have achieved good grades in your previous school exams. Also there are other factors such as sports achievements and other extracurricular activities that also help you in getting a scholarship. Is it difficult to maintain the scholarship? It isnt very difficult to maintain a scholarship as long as you work hard and make sure that you achieve the required grade in all your subjects every semester. Studying well is an integral part of every university going students life and of course in order to maintain a healthy GPA one must work hard to get the grades that are required to achieve this.

Web sites of use:

www.toefl.org (TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE) www.ielts.org (INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING SYSTEM) www.collegeboard.com (INFORMATION ON SAT) www.caa.ae (LIST OF ACCREDITED PROGRAMMES OF UAE) www.kv.ae (KNOWLEDGE VILLAGE) www.diacedu.ae (DUBAI INTL ACADEMIC CITY)

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ADVERTORIAL

ADVANTAGES OF

ACCREDI

Accreditation is a voluntary, independent review of educational programs to determine that the education provided is of uniform and sound quality. Being granted an accreditation ensures that the institution has met the set standards of quality determined by the accrediting organization. A college or university's accreditation is maintained by continued adherence to the set criteria. In UAE, it is the Commission of Academic Accreditation (CAA), Ministry of Higher education and scientific research that has been entrusted this task. As per the CAA website, U.A.E currently has seventy licensed

Institutions and five hundred and thirty three accredited programmes. As per the CAA website, Licensure signifies that the institution has a mission appropriate to higher education and possesses the governance structure, by-laws, regulations, policies and procedures, physical and financial resources, academic programs, faculty and other personnel, and quality assurance measures sufficient to accomplish its mission. Licensure applies to the entire institution and all its activities. In order to be licensed, the institution must meet ten

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OVERVIEW

TATION
To ensure that the colleges and universities of the United Arab Emirates operate at international standards of quality, the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research conducts a program of licensure of institutions of higher education and accreditation of each of their academic programs. This edition of the Standards for Licensure and Accreditation continues the effort of the Commission for Academic Accreditation to refine the existing standards and procedures to ensure that newly established institutions and programs, as well as existing ones, meet high standards of quality. states His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the CAA website.
standards and their criteria that cover all major institutional activities. In UAE, licensure is initially granted for up to five years, after which the institution applies to renew its license, which must be done every five years. A licensed institution is required to identify its status as licensed by the Ministry in all documents and advertising and to comply with the Commissions requirement for reporting data annually. For both prospective students and their families, accreditation provides assurance that the program in which you are enrolled or are considering enrolling is engaged in continuous review and improvement of quality and that it meets nationally endorsed standards in the profession. Involvement in an ongoing accreditation protocol fosters excellence and ongoing improvement in an institution. Departments not only need to establish a vision of the future but also needs to determine specific objectives for reaching that vision. It is a systematic process and everyone in the system is accountable. Apart from the Ministrys accreditation, some of the courses offered at local institutions are accredited by international bodies. ABET, Inc., for example is the recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. Among the most respected accreditation organizations in the U.S., ABET has provided leadership and quality assurance in higher education for over 75 years. ABET accredits over 3,100 programs at more than 600 colleges and universities worldwide.(Source ABET website) Similarly, The Assn. to advance collegiate schools of business, AACSB provides internationally recognized, specialized accreditation for business and accounting programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral level. The AACSB Accreditation Standards challenge postsecondary educators to pursue excellence and continuous improvement throughout their business programs. Accreditation reviews include selfevaluations, peer-reviews, committee-reviews, and

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also helpful while applying for a scholarship. Securing a place at the Masters level or for a Doctoral programme, can be facilitated when the degree is from a recognized institution. The CAA web site, www.caa.ae has the complete list of institutions that have been granted licensure under the Ministry of Higher education and scientific research. Information on the accredited programmes and links to the institutions are also available so that you can do your research before enrolling in a local institution. The FAQ section throws light on the questions most students and families have regarding accreditation and its impact on a students future. Unlike in the past, there are quite a few options for students to choose from.

According to a report published in Gulf News on 31st October 2010, a Decree 21 has been issued by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, in June this year. The law states that the KHDA can now attest degrees issued by universities in Dubai's free zones
the development of in-depth strategic plans. They also include reviews of a schools mission, faculty qualifications, and curricula. Should a student wish to transfer into an institution abroad or migrate to another country in the future, proper transfer of credits is made possible when they are enrolled in or have graduated from a recognized institution. UAE national students have to pursue courses at Ministry approved institutions should they seek to secure a government job in the future. Recognition of the qualification attained is According to a report published in Gulf News on 31st October 2010, a Decree 21 has been issued by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, in June this year. The law states that the KHDA can now attest degrees (instead of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research) issued by universities in Dubai's free zones, which alleviates problems for graduates when they apply to private and public sector companies for jobs. It is reported that the law also makes it easier for Emiratis with degrees from free zone institutions when applying for jobs in the public sector. I

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USA
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According to EducationUSA, there are over 4900 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, prerequisite tests or GPA be an issue, students can also consider enrolling at a community college. On successful completion of the two year programme, they could transfer to a four year institution.

Application process
While applying to institutions in America, you can apply either through the common application website www.commonapp.org or the universal college application www.universalcollegeapp.com or directly through the institution's website as per the policies of the institution. Use the www.applytexas.org website for schools in the Texas system and the UC common application for the 10 schools in the California system. Their web site is www.universityof california.edu

years, one or more essay, information on extracurricular activities including sports, 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 scores directly from the Education Testing Service and College Board. An IELTS or PET score can be submitted instead of the TOEFL. Some schools would need SAT II subject tests as well. Some schools may not require SAT scores from international students. Supplementary forms may be

Supporting documents
You would need to submit transcripts of the last three

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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.

before they apply for a visa. Upon receiving the I-20 form, students are required to pay a SEVIS fee online at www.fmjfee.com and take a printed copy of this receipt to the visa interview.

If the applicant wishes to apply for an early decision US immigration policy requires that all foreign or early action, the deadline is usually in October. You students submit proof of financial support for their can visit individual websites for the specific dates. studies. The financial guarantee may take the form of Students wishing to apply for a bank statement or letter from a admission to University of California sponsoring agency. For further Following for the fall term must submit an information on documents needed, admission, the visit: www.abudhabi.usembassy.gov application by November 30th of the year prior to enrolment. Most other educational Documents needed institutions have a January 1 deadline institution in during the Visa for the autumn intake. For the interview: January intake applications must be the United sent in by October. States will Form I-20A-B, Certificate of issue a Scholarships Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Certificate of Merit based scholarships are granted Language Students or Form I-20M-N, Eligibility for on academic merit. There are also Certificate of Eligibility for grants awarded to students who have Non-Immigrant Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status demonstrated financial need. for Vocational Students.You will need Student Status to submit a SEVIS generated Form, ISome universities need additional (I-20 form) and 20, which was provided to you by forms and essays for scholarship provide that to your school.You and your school See consideration while at others, every official must sign the I-20 form. applicant is automatically considered the previous section for SEVIS the student. for scholarship at entry. information. Online Nonimmigrant Visa Visa process Electronic Application, Form DS-160. Visit the DS-160 webpage to learn more about the The process of applying for an F-1 student visa begins DS-160 online process. with acceptance to an American college or university. A passport valid for travel to the United States Following admission, the educational institution in and with a validity date at least six months beyond the United States will issue a Certificate of Eligibility the applicant's intended period of stay in the United for Non-Immigrant Student Status (I-20 form) and States (unless country-specific agreements provide provide that to the student. exemptions). If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must Sponsoring academic institutions are required to complete an application. enter accepted foreign students' names into SEVIS, One (1) 2x2 photograph. See the required photo the Student and Exchange Visitors Information format explained in nonimmigrant photograph System. requirements; A MRV fee receipt to show payment of the visa Students should verify with their sponsoring application fee. academic institution that they are entered into SEVIS The SEVIS I-901 fee receipt.

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student voice
Nithya S.
I graduated from a liberal arts college in Maine, USA in 2008 and proceeded to work at a privately held economic consulting firm in North America. As economic consultants, we support a variety of companies in ongoing litigations through both developing economic and financial models for preparation of testimony and critiquing the opposing experts analyses. We also offer strategic counsel to businesses including advice on financial planning, market analyses, and strategies for growth through identifying opportunities and areas for innovation. As an analyst, I have had the opportunity to explore different practice areas ranging from antitrust litigation in the automotive, and airplane industry to working with complex financial issues that arose during the financial crisis of 2008. On my first case, I collaborated with 25 colleagues on an antitrust case involving the semiconductor industry. One of my primary roles was to coordinate the flow of information within the team, which required significant communication and organization. I also quantified damages using a complex model incorporating millions of transactions. In order to estimate the model accurately, I researched the infrastructure of the microprocessor industry to understand important features such as products and product characteristics and the nature of competition amongst the manufacturers in the industry. While working on this case, I learned to think on my feet, approach problems creatively and communicate under pressure. Eager for a new challenge, I also sought a finance case as I wanted to improve my knowledge of this field. To that end, I joined a case involving the bankruptcy of a large financial institution. Since I did not have a prior finance background, I spent time reading finance textbooks and learning key concepts related to banking policies and trading strategies. I assumed responsibility for a large security trading database where I examined trades related to a variety of assets ranging from asset backed securities to US Treasuries. I worked with a team of senior management, clients and academic experts to develop ideas for analyses and next steps to understand the liquidation conditions surrounding the financial crises. I learned to grow from simply executing analyses to proposing new ideas and influencing the overall case strategy. Overall, I have truly enjoyed working in economic consulting as it is constantly challenging my mind and showing me new ways to think about a variety of problems. I look forward to continuing on this path and working within a field that satisfies my intellectual curiosity.

Jassim Arif
Bloomington, Indiana in the United States is a small college town just an hour outside the metropolis, Indianapolis. Having studied for over four years of my life in Indiana University, Bloomington, I miss the towns energy, people and vibe. I entered college full of energy, ideas, ambitions and opinions and wanted to experience things that I could never do in Dubai. While my academic experience provided me the tool kit to take on my career, my extracurricular activities and leadership roles shaped me into the person I am today. I joined one of the countrys largest Dance Marathons and helped raise 1.3 million dollars for a Childrens hospital. I enrolled in Tango and Cha-cha and was placed in the top five in an inter-university competition. Lastly, I was the Assistant Vice President in my fraternity for a whole year. Through these experiences, I not only learnt and understood people but also made connections that I will cherish forever

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Applicants should also provide the following documents:

Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended; Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.; 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 income tax documents and original bank books and/or statements. If you or your sponsor own a business, please take business registration, licenses, etc., and tax documents, as well as original bank books and/or statements.
Source: EducationUSA Website and American Embassy website

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 www.thecollegenavigator.com www.princetonreview.com www.collegeview.com ACCREDITATION: COUNCIL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION (US): www.chea.org/about/chea-member-directory.asp US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation POST GRADUATE ADMISSIONS: www.gre.org (Graduate Record Examination www.gmat.org /www.mba.com: GRADUATE MANAGEMENT ADMISSION TEST www.aamc.org/students/mcat Medicine College Admission Test www.last.org LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION TEST US EMBASSY CONTACT INFORMATION: EducationUSAAD@state.gov US CONSULATE GENERAL EducationUSSdubai@state.gov

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student voice
Divya Sabanayagam
As a commerce student in high school in India, I was extremely interested in broadening my horizons and exploring other courses. A liberal arts school seemed like the ideal option and I applied to be a freshman at Carleton College in Minnesota, USA. The opportunities to learn and develop as an individual were countless and I slowly and cautiously explored a variety of possibilities. I took some interesting courses like Chinese, Religion, Psychology, and Music and became a part of the lacrosse team in college. I enjoyed every aspect of these new intriguing opportunities and decided to take it a step further and travel to China on a language program. A group of 25 students from Carleton travelled to Tianjin with the Chinese language professor from Carleton. We spent four weeks in Tianjin at Nankai University and had intense mandarin sessions taught by the local professors. In addition to language classes, we had Chinese cultural classes like taichi, Beijing opera, martial arts, calligraphy, and a class on the history of china. We spent the rest of the 6 weeks in Beijing and Shanghai visiting cultural locations as well as immersing ourselves in Chinese culture. It was a truly eye-opening experience and helped improve my language skills immensely. The amazing experience that I had on my study abroad program in China led to me to go on a second study abroad program to England for an Economics program. I spent 10 weeks at Cambridge University learning about multinational finance, and the industrial revolution. We visited historical sites and travelled across Europe to places like Brussels to visit the European Union headquarters and Shrewsbury, an industrial revolution focal point. On my own time, I took the opportunity to travel to places such as France, Spain, and Netherlands. The study abroad programs broadened my perspectives on other cultures, helped me develop as an individual, and learn what I want out of a career as I pursue a path that is challenging and intellectually stimulating.

Sushanth Shyamsundar
I am primarily a Media Management major, with a double major in Creative Writing (focus in poetry). I am a senior at the University of Miami, with an expected graduation date in May 2012. As far as UM goes, it is an amazing institution, where the professors care about each individual student, even if you are in a large (100+ student) lecture hall. The atmosphere on campus is phenomenal, I feel, due to the multicultural environment that the university and the community around here has fostered for a while. I think that the university has brought some of the best intellectual minds to teach. While Miami is an expensive city to live in, and not the greatest of college cities, UM makes up for it a lot, and I am always surprised by how close the university community is here. In my 2nd semester of freshman year I joined a music fraternity called Phi Mu Alpha, and that was one of the best decisions I made in college. The people Ive met and become really good friends with through this fraternity make college feel like home, and offer me something to look back upon. One thing to look out for is getting caught up with freshman year, and the feeling of independence, because Miami is a party city, so it takes a lot of personal commitment and hard work to keep a grounded and successful work ethic. However, the university has worked hard to move away from its party image over the last few years, and being ranked one of the top 50 colleges in the U.S. is something that each student, faculty member and administrator is responsible for. I am proud to be a Miami Hurricane, and I am so thankful that I was able to find myself challenged on a daily basis by life encountered at UM.

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CANADA
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At the 95 public and not-for-profit Universities who are members of the Assn. of Universities and Colleges of Canada, (www.aucc.ca) there are a range of undergraduate, post graduate and doctoral qualifications on offer along with certificate, Diploma and professional qualifications. Apart from this, there are over 150 members of the Assn. Of Canadian Community Colleges (www.accc.ca) these are public institutions offering credentials sanctioned by provincial and the territorial government. Programs vary in length from a few months to four years. The courses are mostly practical and offer work placements. Historically, these institutions offered diplomas and certificates, not degrees. However, these days, some of them award degrees as well.

According to the Assn. of Universities and Colleges of management and public administration (23 percent), Canada, (AUCC) Report on Trends in Higher Education architecture, engineering and related technologies on Enrolment, in 2010, there were almost 1.2 million (16 percent) and social and behavioural sciences, and students in degree programs on law (13 percent). According to Erica Canadian campuses: 755,000 Alinis article Canada Calling the According to undergraduates, 143,400 graduate World in Macleans 2011 Guide to Erica Alinis students studying full-time, and an article Canada Canadian universities, nearly 88,000 additional 275,800 students studying international students were enrolled Calling the part-time. The number of full-time in university in Canada; on an World in university students has more than average, undergraduate foreign Macleans 2011 doubled since 1980, and part-time students paid an estimated $16,773 Guide to enrolment is up 16 percent. In 1980, in tuition in 2010-2011, according to Canadian there were 550,000 full-time and Statistics Canada. universities, 218,000 part-time university students nearly 88,000 on Canadian campuses. Clearly, international Application Process universities have experienced students were tremendous growth over the last 30 enrolled in The University year is usually years. In 2010, international students university in September to April, intakes being represented approximately eight Canada; on an September and January. As the percent of full-time undergraduate application process is competitive students in Canada, approximately 18 average, and the deadlines vary, it is best if percent of full-time masters students undergraduate and 23 percent of full-time PhD foreign students you apply six to eight months before the start date of your program. Most students. paid an students apply to multiple estimated The number of international students $16,773 in tuition institutions. American curriculum students will need to send a SAT has doubled in education, and there in 2010-2011, score. For students from other were four-fold increases in visual and according to curricula, although SAT is not performing arts, and business, Statistics mandatory, some institutions may management and public adminCanada. require it for scholarship istration. In 2008, the most popular consideration. It is best to check fields of study were: business,

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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. Students who wish to take up commerce related subjects should take up Math. Prospective international students should demonstrate proficiency in English or French as per the language of instruction in the institution/s being considered. Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL) the International Language Testing System (IELTS) 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. The province of Ontario, Alberta and that of British Columbia have a centralized application system for admission. The Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC), Ontarios application hub started in

1971 and can be accessed by visiting: www.ouac.on.ca. Some Universities want you to include ID slips that they will mail you once you have done the initial application. British Columbias centralized application system can be accessed through myBCcampus. To apply to Alberta, visit its new 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.

Study Permit
Once accepted at a college or university, in order to study in Canada for a period of six months or more, you need to apply for a study permit from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).To study in Quebec; you must also secure a Certificate of

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Acceptance from the Province of Quebec. For the study permit, apart from your acceptance letter, you would need to show adequate funds to support you during your period of stay in Canada. In some cases, medical and security checks may also be required. The student permit may take six

to eight weeks to be processed. Applicants below eighteen years of age also need to submit an undertaking of guardianship from a citizen of Canada. Visit www.cic.gc.ca for detailed information.

Employment
Students can work anywhere on campus for 20 hours a week without a work permit. After one year of study, full time students can work off campus for up to 20 hours a week when school is in session and full time when school is out. After graduation, students can apply for a work permit of up to three years the duration of the visa will depend on the length of their post secondary studies in Canada. I

Web sites of use:

ENGLISH TESTS: www.toefl.org or www.ielts.org CAREER & APPLICATIONS: www.careercruising.com APPLICATION: www.electronicinfo.ca CANADIAN EMBASSY ABU DHABI: www.abudhabi.gc.ca SCHOLARSHIPS: www.canlearn.ca, www.studentawards.com STUDY PERMITS: www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study.asp

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student voice
Ibrahim Fahmy
It has been 7 years since I first set foot in Canada. Before I briefly share my experiences thus far, I have to be thankful to my family who first supported me in coming here at age 16. In addition to my familys support, words cannot describe my gratefulness to Rema Menon who informed me about the great opportunity in enrolling in a pre-university program in Hamilton, Canada before joining university here. Her support, sincerity and value added service simplified this great transition process. My first year in Canada was spent in Columbia International College where I successfully completed all the required courses to enroll in undergraduate studies. University of Ontario of Institute of Technology (UOIT) was my first choice of university. There I fast tracked a 4 year Bachelor of Commerce program in 3 years and graduated with a distinction in terms of my Grade Point Average (GPA). After graduation, I was recruited by Wells Fargo Financial to become a Credit Manager. I worked there for a year and then decided to join the U.S. Consulates trade division in the multicultural hub of Canada, Toronto, to become a Trade Assistant. Six months into the role, my great appetite for learning and education made me consider undertaking a Master of Business Administration (MBA). I decided to join Queens School of Business (Queens University) to undertake their 1 year Accelerated MBA in January 2011. I am now one month away from completing the program and currently employed at Mercedes-Benz Canada, specifically at the head offices Procurement Department. Looking into the future, I will continue to leverage my strong passion in taking advantage of the opportunities this country provides and give back to this welcoming nation.

Nishant Lawrence
When I left Dubai, I hated Canada but when I left Canada, I couldnt get myself to leave. My Canadian experience was a phenomenal one with both an enriching personal and academic experience. My life for the first 3 years at Seneca College was unique; particularly, the environment, the people and the learning culture. It takes your average expat kid a little while to get accustomed to. That being said, the people of Canada make the country a welcoming place with its multicultural diaspora, its festivals and the food. The learning experience at Seneca College was a trying one, with a heavy assignment workload and strong testing. But at the end, I succeeded with a strong GPA and 2 consecutive semesters of a Perfect 4.0 GPA, earning me President's Honours. Then came my transition from the Suburbs to Downtown and my move to Ryerson University. There was a world of difference, with the assignment work increasing exponentially and my first semester becoming the hardest. I took 7 courses in the first semester, thinking Hey, I can do it. That was a fatal mistake, leading to me dropping one course but still maintaining a 3.5 GPA. As the years went, I decided to balance my academics with my recreational activities and took up a job as a Teaching Assistant with Entrepreneurship as my first course and eventually, I was Lead Teaching Assistant with 3 Junior TAs reporting to me and handling 600 students across two courses. To sum up, I went to Canada, had an amazing experience, loved it, didnt want to leave, graduated in the Top 1% of Ryerson University being the only student with a Triage of Presidents Honours, Deans Honours and Double Majors in Management and Marketing, came back, got a job in a bank and the story continues. Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, I did my part by telling you my experience. Now I hope this might sway you to consider Canada as your studying destination. Writing this just makes me want to go back!

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AUSTRALIA
In Australia, you have the freedom to choose the study option to suit your goals. You can study at Universities, vocational institutions, schools or English language training centers. These sectors are linked so you can move easily from one qualification level to the next and from one institution to another. Studying in Australia promotes innovative, creative and independent thinking. You'll learn to work as part of a team, to communicate effectively with others and to develop the practical skills and intellectual abilities you need for global success. The Australian education system has a strong international reputation and is known for its effective structure and innovative policy developments.
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The Australian Government wants a targeted, highvalue, demand-driven, skilled migration program that is responsive to the needs of the Australian labour market. As these needs change rapidly, the skilled migration program will be adjusted accordingly. As per the Australian Government statistics, on 30 September 2011 there were 361,368 international student visa holders in Australia. In September 2011 Australian Education International published the results of a survey they conducted in six of Australia's largest source countries for international students. The survey examined student perceptions about studying in Australia. Results concluded that the three most important factors in deciding where to study were the quality of education, the cost of tuition and the cost of living. It also concluded that about 90% of prospective students thought that Australia's visa system was not difficult or complex. Studying in Australia: Views from six key countries' is available at: www.aei.gov.au/research/Publications All courses offered to international students must be approved and listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Qualifications offered to students must fit the Australian Qualifications Framework. Periodic monitoring of teaching, learning, administration and research of all institutions is conducted by government bodies. Universities are audited every five years by the Australian University Quality Agency. Vocational education and training institutions are audited by the Australian National Training Authority. Australian institutions develop the creative, analytical and lateral thinking skills of students, and encourage individuality. 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, 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.

Entry requirements
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. A TOEFL or IELTS may be required.

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

VOCATIONAL

EDUCATION AND TRAINING Generally there are no other entrance exams for VET institutions. However some courses may have specific pre-requisite subjects or work experience requirements.

SCHOOLS -

Entry requirements can vary between schools in Australia, depending on the state or territory you will be studying in. Academic performance and ability is considered during the selection process.

Application Process
The academic year commences in February/March and ends in October/November. There are usually two student intakes per year; one at the beginning of the academic year, February and the second in June/July. 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. Students would need to start the application process at least 3 months in advance of the start date of the programme. Individual institution would have varying

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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
Tuition fees vary from AUD 6000 to AUD 16000 for a six-month graduate certificate/diploma course to over AUD 30,000 per annum for a medical degree. Foundation or bridging programmes can cost between AUD 9000 to 14,000 per annum based on programme location and duration of study. Most full time degree and post graduate degree cost between AUD 10,000 to 20,000 per annum. Vocational education and training, costs vary from AUD 3000 to 4000 for a 20-week certificate course to over AUD 18,000 per annum for laboratory or computer intensive advanced courses. The Australian government requires that international students and their families pay for health insurance in Australia through the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Scheme. Health care costs in Australia can be quite expensive. The cost of health insurance may be around $300 per annum for a single person. While most international students pay full fees, some scholarships are offered by the Australian Government, education institutions and a number of other organizations for academic merit. They cover various educational sectors, including vocational education and training, student exchanges, undergraduate and postgraduate study and research. The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) administer and manage government scholarships. Further information can be found at www.australianscholarships.gov.au An average international student in Australia will spend about A$360 a week on accommodation, food, clothing, entertainment, transport and telephone. Remember, though, that this figure depends on your location, lifestyle and even your course. You should seek further information on living costs from your institution.

According to an article in University World News titled Australia: Doors open to foreign students by Geoff Maslen, 'In 2009, the estimated economic benefit to Australia of having nearly 500,000 feepaying foreign students enrolled in schools, colleges and universities was AUD18 billion (US$18 billion); two years later this had fallen by AUD2 billion. From mid-2012, students will only need to declare they can afford to pay tuition and living costs. As well, those who graduate with at least a bachelor degree from a university will be able to stay on and work for up to four years and will not be tied to any particular occupation, unlike in the past. Universities will be accountable for the visa outcomes of their students. If these outcomes are consistently poor, the university will be removed from the streamlined processing arrangements and prospective students will be processed under the existing rules'.

Student visa requirements

To be granted a student visa you must satisfy the visa requirements and comply with a number of visa conditions for attendance and academic performance which come into effect after you have entered Australia. Your student visa will list the conditions that apply specifically to you. It is important to comply with your visa conditions to avoid visa cancellation. Updated student visa information is available on this website: www.immi.gov.au Scholarships: Three main programmes available under Australian Scholarships are: Endeavour Awards - www.endeavour.deewr.gov.au Australian Leadership Awards (ALA): www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar Australian Development Scholarships (ADS): www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar Apart from these scholarships, individual institutions have on offer various scholarships. All candidates are automatically considered in some institutions but for others, individual applications need to be made. I

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student voice
Ayesha Nazar
Studying in Australia was one of the most interesting experiences I have had because of my exposure to international academia, volunteering opportunities, people, the culture and the country's varied landscape. I chose to pursue the Masters of Human Rights at The University of Sydney, New South Wales, because of its highly reputed humanities programme. The one-year coursework gave me a firm grounding in the human rights field and an understanding of international mechanisms and laws. I had the chance to intern with reputed NGOs including Amnesty Australia, Oxfam International and Refugee Council of Australia, that helped translate my theoretical learning into practice. During my stint with these organisations, I worked alongside committed activists to raise awareness on refugee rights, indigenous rights and about climate change in the community. The programme also provided a platform to interact and engage with students from different backgrounds, notably Asia, Australia and Europe. This enhanced my learning experience. I was also able to access some of the best libraries at the university and outside during my course, widening my knowledge on several subjects. Sydneys multi-cultural environment provided the perfect window to different cultures and helped forge some lasting friendships. I had arrived in Australia to pursue higher education at a time when fears of racism and discrimination against international - particularly Indian - students were quite strong. However, I did not personally experience any antagonism during my time as a student. Nevertheless, I took part in student rallies to push for a safer environment and pressure authorities into giving travel concessions and reducing education costs for international students since Australia can be an expensive place to study in. Besides paying for tuition, living expenses including food and accommodation, can be fairly high. Several students opt to work part time but it can be quite difficult to juggle work and study and is advisable to make prior arrangements to meet these expenses. However, studying in Australia is quite exciting and an experience of a lifetime. Most importantly, I was able to get a taste of the Australian way of life.

Web sites of use:

THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT: www.australia.gov.au START DATES: www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au STUDY IN AUSTRALIA: www.studyinaustralia.gov.au EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA: www.education.gov.au THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE (for contact details of your country's embassy) www.dfat.gov.au THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP (for immigration and visa information) www.immi.gov.au THE AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMS SERVICE (for information about what you can bring into Australia) www.customs.gov.au THE AUSTRALIAN QUARANTINE AND INSPECTION SERVICE www.aqis.gov.au THE AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE www.ato.gov.au TOURISM AUSTRALIA www.australia.com WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS: www.fairwork.gov.au

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UK
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UK offers a wide variety in course offerings at various levels and some UK universities are among the oldest in the world while others are among the newest. Many provide degrees with a strong vocational foundation and enjoy good links with businesses and professional organisations. Another important advantage is the opportunity to hone your English language skills or learn English as part of the university preparation or foundation programme.

As per statistics released by Higher Education Statistics Agency, (HESA) Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10 shows that there were 2,493,415 students in higher education in the UK in 2009/10. Of these 2,087,615 (83.7%) were UK domicile students, 125,045 (5.0%) were from other EU member countries and 280,760 (11.3%) were from non-EU countries. Students from China and India accounted for over a third of all non-EU domicile students at UK HE institutions in 2009/10. Students who wish to pursue an academic education may select a three 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. FE institutions also offer courses that improve a students basic literacy and numeracy abilities. 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. The UK higher education system is internationally recognized. The standard and quality is guaranteed by official bodies like the Qualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA) which recognises the quality of the universitys teaching and general facilities, RAE that 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. Students enrolled in a course six months and above

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are eligible for free health care from the National not meet the required level of English, you could Health Service (NHS). Furthermore, unlike the enroll in an English language preparation course. equivalent programmes in other countries, most UK Entry Requirement may vary for each type of course Bachelors degrees are intensive and three years in and subject. College prospectuses will list them under duration while Masters programmes Minimum Entry Requirements. can be completed in one year. The For those degrees enable you to join the work As part of the UCAS form, you are students who force sooner so it becomes financially asked to write a personal statement. wish to apply for This descriptive account gives you the affordable. www.educationuk.org a programme in opportunity to speak about your provides comprehensive information for anyone considering studies in the academic and personal goals and tell Medicine, you UK along with links to local British the institutions not just about your would need to Council offices. academic capability but also the kind apply before of activities you have undertaken 15th of October. both within school and outside. Application Process UCAS Universities and Colleges Admissions Service co-ordinates applications to full time first degrees, foundation degrees, Higher National Diplomas etc. Apply is the online application system. One can apply to five institutions through the UCAS. You can only apply one application in the application cycle. You would need to provide an email for an academic referee who will then be invited by UCAS to send an academic reference. You would need to pay an application fee on line by credit card.

The same is true of those who want to apply to Oxford or Cambridge.

Deadlines
15th of October is the deadline for Oxbridge applications and for medical programmes. International students can apply up until end June for all courses but the earlier you apply, the better your chances. Most institutions will give you conditional acceptance 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.

For those students who wish to apply for a programme in Medicine, you would need to apply before 15th of October. The same is true of those who want to apply to Oxford or Cambridge. Some of these competitive institutions also invite prospective students for interviews either on their campus or by telephone. 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

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.

Fees, Finances & Scholarships

UK course fees vary depending on what you are going

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to study and for how long. Cost of foundation courses may range from 4000 to 12000 pounds, Arts courses range between 7000 to 9000 pounds a year, Science courses range from 7500 to 12000 pounds per year. The cost of living varies between different

What kind of visa do I need?

There are a number of different types of visa available: Tier 4 (Child) student: You can apply as a child

regions of the UK. It is safest to allocate 650 to 800 pounds per month towards the same. You will need to contact the universities and colleges that you are considering for precise information on course fees and financial help available to you. Most universities and colleges will also display this information on their websites. 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 one year before commencement of the course. Some institutions offer bursaries or fee waivers toward your room and board. The British Council nearest to you will be able to provide information on scholarships. UNIAID provides a useful finance calculator for international students, which will help you to manage your money whilst studying in the UK.

Do I need a visa?
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 when you intend to travel. You can find out about visa processing times in your country on UKBA's visa service pages.

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 coming to the UK to be educated at an independent fee-paying school. Child visitor: You can apply as a child visitor if you are 17 years old or under and you want to come and study in the UK for up to 6 months. You cannot switch and apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa while you are in the UK as a child visitor. If you want to apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa, you must apply from the country you live in. Tier 4 (General) student: You can apply as an adult student under Tier 4 (General) of the points-based system if you are coming to the UK for your post-16 education. Student visitor: You can apply as a student visitor if you are 18 years old or over, you want to come and study in the UK for up to 6 months, and you do not want to work while you are here. You cannot switch and apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa while you are in the UK as a student visitor. If you want to apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa, you must apply from the country you live in. English language students wishing to attend exclusively English language courses can apply for a student visitor visa allowing them to stay for up to 11 months. You can only apply for the extended student visitor visa from outside the UK. Prospective student: You can apply as a

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prospective student if you want to go to the UK to help you decide which course to study, or if you plan to start a course of study within 6 months. You will be able to switch and apply for a Tier 4 (General) or Tier 4 (Child) student visa while you are in the UK. You can find out more in the UKBA's Studying in the UK pages.

Student visitor
This visa is for people who want to undertake a short course of study while visiting the UK for example, a beginners English language course or a work-related training course. A student visitor may stay for up to six months, or up to 11 months if you wish to attend exclusively English language courses. It's important to note that, as a student visitor you will not be allowed to: extend your stay either into full-time study or to do a new course while you are in the UK work (part-time or full-time) undertake work experience or a work placement. If you intend to undertake a course that lasts longer than six months or you want to have full student visa entitlements in the UK (including the ability to work part-time or extend your visa), you will need to apply under Tier 4 (General) of the points-based system. As a student visitor you will need to show that you meet the main requirements of the general visitor rules. You must also be able to show that you have been accepted on a course of study at an educational establishment recognised by the UK Border Agency. For further details, check UK Visas Student visitor information. I

Tier 4
In July 2011 the UK Government announced some changes to Tier 4 student visas. 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 pointsbased 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 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 give you peace of mind that you are applying to join a genuine institution. The remaining 10 points comes from demonstrating that you can afford to cover all or part of 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.

Web sites of use:

ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES IN UK AND WALES www.aoc.co.uk ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES IN SCOTLAND www.ascol.org.uk CENTRAL ADMISSIONS SERVICE: www.ucas.ac.uk UK ACCREDITATION COUNCIL www.the-bac.org INFORMATION ON UK EDUCATION: www.britishcouncil.org/me SEARCH ENGINE FOR COURSES: www.educationuk.org/me, www.hotcourses.com INFORMATION ON SCHOLARSHIPS: www.educationuk.org/scholarships INFORMATION ON STUDENT LIFE IN UK: www.studentuk.com QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY: www.qaa.ac.uk ENGLISH TEST: INTL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING SYSTEM: www.ielts.org UK VISA INFORMATION: www.ukvisas.gov.uk

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student voice
Arushi Kakkar
Studying in the UK in opened the doors to a plethora of opportunities. The transition from high school to University may well be the hardest challenge I have had to overcome but every obstacle I have had to face has been worth it. Not only has my university kept me busy but living in central London entails a world to be discovered. From riding on the tube to watching the change of guards at the Buckingham palace, every journey turns into an adventure. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is unique in the United Kingdom in its concentration on teaching and research across the full range of the social, political and economic sciences. Even though it doesnt have a very large campus, every building with its huge history and expensive grooming draws you in. The hours spent during lecture and classes are very few as in the UK they take a more self-study approach towards students. You have to be assertive and seek out help from professors and teachers - they will rarely come to you, but they're generally very responsive to students who take the initiative to speak with them first. When it comes to people, the students at the LSE are a very cosmopolitan bunch, they are diverse not only in terms of ethnicity and culture but in their personality, ideology and approach to life in general. The place is heaving with a new event, activity or demonstration every day! Only after my first year in London did I realize that the struggle and stress I went through, my days and nights blurring due to long hours studying and filling out applications that it was all worth it. Studying in the UK has definitely broadened my horizon and brought me to a new way of thinking.

Remya KP
Studying in the UK was something that I had foreseen the moment I made my decision to become a journalist. I was an avid viewer of the BBC World news and I admired the stoic frankness and crisp reporting that is characteristic of British broadcasting. After careful consideration, I decided on the University of Westminster in London. To say that I got everything that I had visualised out of the course would be stretching the truth by a mile. But I did have a fantastic experience and got a lot of insight and experience which I had frankly not anticipated. The most difficult thing to adjust to for me was the lack of a proper curriculum. Courses in the UK are designed to make the student find their areas of interest and put in a lot of individual research. This is very different from the structured education that I was used to in India. So it took a while to get used to finding some structure in the vast scope of subjects that we could explore. In India and the ME, classes are from 9 AM to 3-5 PM. But in the university we had proper taught classes for two days in the week. And the teaching is very different from that in India. It is more of a discussion with no clear right or wrong. This can get frustrating at times because we are used to our teachers providing us definitive answers. Despite the lack of classroom training, the course definitely equips you with the tools to step into the industry of communication and creative writing. Everything is approached with a practical purview and prepares you for your job. If it is comprehensive grass root level training that one is hoping for, then the UK is not the perfect destination for a course in the communicative spheres. But if it is hands on experiences and practical knowledge that you want, this is definitely the right place for you.

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GERMANY
Germanys higher education institutions enjoy an excellent reputation. Teaching and research are geared towards promoting innovation and progress. Institutions have state-of-the-art equipment and labs to provide students with the very best conditions for successful studies. Germanys higher education system is very diverse and varied. It offers thousands of degree programmes, more than 300 institutions, and many different degrees. This means a student can choose a programme that best fits his/her needs. They can join a research oriented programme at a Universitt (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). Many programmes are offered by all three types of institutions, which widens a students choices even further. If you already hold a degree, you can also choose to enter a postgraduate or doctoral programme for advanced qualifications.
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There are different ways to apply for admission to a German university. For you, the form of application depends on which subject you wish to study.

When do I apply?
Two dates you should mark red in your calendar: January 15th and July 15th. If you wish to begin your studies in the winter semester (October) the submission period is from the beginning of June to 15th July. If you rather prefer to start your studies in the Summer semester (April) the submission period is from the beginning of December to 15th January.

NC or no NC?
There are two categories of subjects in Germany: 1. Subjects with a centrally restricted admission policy (nationwide numerus clausus). These subjects are so popular that there are far more applicants than available places at the university. At present, these subjects include Medicine, Pharmacology, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry. 2. Subjects with no or a locally restricted admission policy(numerus clausus implemented by the university). To be on the safe side, enquire about the application procedures pertaining to your degree programme at the International Office at your German university.

Cost Involved
Fees for notarising copies and translations Examination fee for the TestDaF or DSH (the cost of which depends on where you take the test) Processing fee for the application (The cost of the processing fee depends on where you apply.) Through uni-assist: Maximum of 68 euro for the first application. Each additional application costs 15 Euro. No fee is charged at the moment for taking the TestAS examination.

How do I apply for a subject with a centrally restricted admission policy?

A nationwide numerus clausus (NC) applies to those subjects for which there are more applicants in Germany than the university system can absorb. If you wish to study one of these subjects, there are special conditions that pertain to your application. Where you submit your application depends on the country you come from and whether you have a German higher education entrance qualification. For more information visit the website of the Foundation for Higher Education Admission All other applicants should submit their applications directly to the university of their choice, or apply through uni-assist. Please enquire about the application procedures at the International Office at the University of your Choice.

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Education System
Students wishing to study in Germany can choose from more than 12,000 degree programmes and subjects offered at 340 state (public) and staterecognized higher education institutions. Each of the 16 states in Germany has its own higher education laws and guidelines. 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. The German higher education system generally has three distinct types of institutions, Universitten: 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. 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. 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. 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.

Application Process
Most foreign students must apply directly to the International Office at the Higher education institution at which they would like to study. Documents required include an officially-certified copy of the school leaving certificate plus language certificates. Students will also need to provide personal details in a C.V or a resume, as well as information on how they plan to finance their studies (i.e. proof of sufficient financial resources). Institutions will process your admission application only if all the required documents and papers are provided. More than 90 German higher education institutions only process international study applications once these have been formally pre-checked by uni-assist (a certification service for international students). The advantage of this is that international students only need to contact one central office to apply for a place at several higher education institutions at once with just one set of application papers. Uni-assist contacts a student without delay in case any document is missing from their application. Students excluding students from China or the E.U. countries, are required to pay a fee of 55 euros for this service and each application for an additional institution costs 15 euros. More details can be found on the website www.uni-assist.de

Admission Requirements
Students must present educational qualifications that are recognized as equivalent to a German higher education entrance qualification. Often a school leaving certificate (transfer certificate) that qualifies you for entry into colleges or universities in your home country will be accepted as an equivalent qualification for admission. Since 2007, there has also been a test with which foreign students can assess whether or not they possess the knowledge to start academic studies in Germany. The test for Academic

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Studies (TestAS) can be taken in the spring at any of the 350 TestDaF centers worldwide. These test scores will help you realize if you are prepared for higher education in Germany and a good test score can help improve your chances of getting the course that you want. As German is the medium of instruction in most of the colleges and universities, foreign students wishing to enroll in courses in these institutions will need to provide proof of their proficiency in the language or will need to sit for an exam called German as Foreign Language Test (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache TestDaF) or a comparable test such as German Language Test for the Admission of Foreign Study Applicants (Deutsche Sprachprfung fr den Hochschulzugang DSH). The TestDaF can be taken from licensed test centers for a fee of 80, 110 or 150 Euro depending on the country. The test is conducted 6 times a year, and the deadline for registration for the test is always 4 weeks before the next test date. The DSH test can only be taken in Germany, it does not have a set test date, the institutions conducting the DSH test, set the date themselves, and sometimes charge up to 150 Euro for the test.

can also attend cultural events, visit cinemas, or libraries and use cultural facilities at discounted prices. The maximum tuition fee that can be charged is 500 Euro for undergraduate studies; doctoral candidates have been exempted from having to pay tuition. 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). DAAD has an office in Abu Dhabi which can provide all the support you will need to study in Germany.

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 A student visa is generally issued for a period of 3 months. If the study period is longer, you must contact the foreigners authority (Auslanderbehorde) 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 website

Deadlines
There is no one set deadline for all the institutions, they vary from College to college. Students should contact the colleges they are interested in attending in order to find out the deadlines applicable to them.

Finances
On an average, the cost of living is 600-770 Euro per month. Students can avail of special concessions and can use local transport at a nominal rate. They

Web sites of use:

INFORMATION ON GERMAN INSTITUTIONS www.daad.de/zulassung LIST OF ALL RECOGNIZED GERMAN LANGUAGE TESTS www.learn-german.net INFORMATION ABOUT TESTS FOR ACADEMIC STUDIES www.testas.de INTERACTIVE LEARNING PLATFORM ON GERMAN LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND EVERYDAY www.dutsch-uni.com

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MALAYSIA
Malaysia is gaining acceptance as a reputable study destination in the region. The education sector offers a variety of higher educational programmes as well as professional and specialized skill courses that are competitively priced and of excellent quality. 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 twinnings, franchised and external degree programmes in partnership with Malaysian institution.
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Malaysia has 22 state universities, more than 500 private institutions, many of which are branch campuses of international institutions such as Monash University from Australia. As per Malaysian Consulates Education promotion Council, some 200 Emiratis are currently enrolled at Malaysian universities, compared with just eight in 2007. Apart from that, about 4,000 UAE-based Arab expatriates are studying there, as are 1,000 or so UAEbased Indians and Pakistanis.

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.

Enrolling at a 'Licensed' Private Educational Institution

It is advisable that international students ascertain whether the institution of their choice has been 'licensed' and 'approved' before they enrol. To safeguard the interest 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 include approvals for:

Almost 200 Emiratis are currently enrolled at Malaysian universities, compared with just eight in 2007.

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.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION Private schools and international schools which offer primary and secondary education - these institutions must be licensed by the Ministry of Education Malaysia and the Ministry of Home Affairs (Malaysian Immigration Department) www.imi.gov.my in order to accept international students. TERTIARY EDUCATION Private higher educational institutions which offer tertiary education - besides obtaining approval from the Ministry of Higher Education, these institutions

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

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translated in English if documents are in another language) A completed accommodation form (if accommodation is required) 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 the intake date.

Costs
The tution costs can vary from 3,000-5,000 USD per annum. The living costs is approximately 2,600 USD per annum.

of fees and you should request the institution to issue a receipt to you upon confirmation of payment.

Application of Student Pass

The next step will be the application of a Student Pass. The institution will apply for an approval for a student pass from the Malaysian Immigration Department in Malaysia on your behalf. This will take from 7 to 14 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.
Source: www.studymalaysia.com

Getting an Offer from the Institution

Upon receiving your application, the institution will usually take 5 to 7 days to process your application. If you are accepted, the institution will issue an 'Offer of Place' letter and deliver/send this offer letter to you. This letter will confirm the full-time course details, commencement dates, and an invoice for the tuition fee, miscellaneous fees and accommodation fees. You then need to make arrangements for the payment

Web sites of use:

MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION MALAYSIA www.mohe.gov.my, www.educationmalaysia.gov.my MALAYSIAN QUALIFICATIONS AGENCY www.mqa.gov.my MINISTRY OF EDUCATION MALAYSIA www.moe.gov.my, www.moe.gov.my STUDYMALAYSIA ONLINE COURSE SEARCH: www.studymalaysia.com

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INDIA
Studying in India is an enriching experience that opens the gates to professional growth. India offers many graduate, post graduate and doctoral level courses. Most state and central level colleges have excellent faculty, course curriculum and accommodation facilities. Cited below is a list of the major undergraduate and postgraduate courses in India. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs provides detailed information on the colleges and institutes offering these courses:
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Engineering and Technical Education

With 36 universities and 1195 colleges offering undergraduate and postgraduate engineering courses in various branches, India is rightly referred as a Mecca for finding engineers suited to cutting edge technology jobs. Over 200,000 students take admission in Indian engineering institutes and colleges every year. All the engineering colleges / institutions in India are recognised and regulated by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE).

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.

Medical Education
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.

Natural/Applied Sciences/Liberal Arts and Humanities

Students from all over the world come to the Indian shores for study of Natural and Applies 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 and Commerce. Undergraduate Programmes are offered in more than 150 disciplines and post graduate in more than 50 specialisations.

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. The universities offering agricultural educations in India are under the control of an apex national body, Indian Council for Agricultural research (IICAR),

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)

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market. The institutes are equipped with latest technologies, laboratories, workshops, design and research centres, libraries, and computers.
Source: National Portal Content Management Team, Reviewed on:10-01-2011

Undergraduate Courses:Undergraduate courses, in general, are of three years leading to Bachelor degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, etc. However, 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 for a duration of about five and a half years.

Postgraduate Courses:Postgraduate Courses in Arts, Science, Engineering and Medicine are usually for two years ending with the award of a Masters 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:-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 July/August. 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 pre requisite 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 self-financing sections. Minority groups get

offers short term courses designed for travel and tourism studies.

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

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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 students eligibility for admission. International students and non-resident students can secure admission through a scheme called Direct Admission for Students Abroad (DASA). To be eligible, the student must have studied in a foreign institution for the last three years. For more information on this, visit Education Consultants of India. The site also lists institutions they work with. www.educationindia 4u.nic.in Foreign Nationals/Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)/Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who wish to secure a place under Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) Scheme to Undergraduate Courses in Engineering in National Institutes of Technology (NITs), IIITs and other premier Technical Institutions in India can visit dasanit.org for detailed information. The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India has entrusted the coordination of the admission process under DASA scheme to NITK, Surathkal from academic year 2010-11.

Copy of candidates Passport (In case of Napalese candidates not having passport, copy of citizenship card has to be submitted) Copy of Mark Sheet of 10th and 12th (or) Equivalent examination Proof of 3 Years Study Abroad (for NRI students) Documentary evidences for residential requirements Proof of fee payment / DD The above documents should be sent to Coordinator DASA DASA Office National Institute of Technology Karnataka

Costs
Indian institutions offer quality education at affordable prices. Estimated cost for an undergraduate degree is about USD 10,000 for all three years. Living costs also are comparatively low and can range from USD 1200 to 2000 per annum. Fees under Management quota tend to be higher. Scholarships are available for academic merit, under sports quota etc..

Visas
International students desirous of studying in India would need to submit the following documents:

Documents Required
Printed application form duly signed by the candi date and parent / guardian. Recent Passport size photograph (4.5 cm x 3.5 cm) in the hard copy of the application form

A valid passport
Provisional acceptance letter for an accredited institution A health certificate It is best to contact the nearest Indian diplomatic mission for updated information and guidance. I

Web sites of use:

www.ugc.ac.in: INFORMATION ON UNIVERSITIES www.dasanit.org: DASA SCHEME www.educationindia4u.nic.in EDUCATION CONSULTANTS OF INDIA www.aicte.ernet.in: ALL INDIA COUNCIL FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION

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NEW ZEALAND
As per New Zealand Government statistics, between 2006 and 2010, there was a 182% increase in the number of Middle East students pursuing education in NZ. During this time, the increase in the number of Indian students was 346%. In 2010, there were 98,474 international students studying in New Zealand. Of these, 5953 were from Middle East. They enroll on short term courses such as English language programs, secondary schools, courses in preparation for enrolment into tertiary institutions, or vocational courses and degree programs.
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New Zealand has a reputation the world over for the quality education provided by its colleges and universities that is practical, and modern. New Zealand institutions feature modern facilities and class sizes conducive to active participation and learning. Various study opportunities and excellent support services for international students make the country a favourite destination for higher education. Moreover, the climate is temperate and almost sub-tropical, with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers, conducive to study, sightseeing and recreation.

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. Students wishing to study in New Zealand can apply by contacting the institution they wish to study in directly, by approaching the nearest New Zealand Trade Development Board Office, New Zealand Embassy, by contacting the local agent or representative of the college or university or by applying online.

System of Education
Higher education in New Zealand closely resembles the British pattern. Students pursuing higher education in New Zealand need to have self-direction as most courses are taught via lectures, labs and tutorials. The courses are flexible and studentcentered, and the lecturers and tutors are accessible. In all, there are eight universities in the country and all of them are funded by the state. A bachelors degree in the country typically takes three years, and students can get an Honors degree after another year of study. However, bachelors degrees in some special fields take much longer to complete. Candidates can pursue a Masters degree after completing their bachelors. Doctoral studies require either a Masters degree or a Bachelors degree with Honors. New Zealand also hosts 23 Polytechnics or Institutes of Technology, as well as around 860 privately owned training establishments, which offer a wide range of vocational courses in various subjects. Entry to the higher educational institutions in the country is open, as students need to attain the minimum requirement for admission. However, the emphasis is clearly on independent study. New Zealand has established a Code of Practice for the pastoral care of international students. Read more on www.minedu.govt.nz/gota/international

Admission Requirements
As entry into colleges and universities in New Zealand requires 13 years of education, a high school graduate with 12 years of education will need to enrol for a year long foundation course In order to be admitted to a degree programme in New Zealand, students are required to have a B pass grade (i.e. a Score of 75-85%) or better or three C passes (6575%), in addition to a high school certificate. A student with high school marks that are less than 75% can first be enrolled in one of the polytechnics for one year until he/she improves his/her grades and then be moved to a university for a bachelors degree. Some courses with restricted entry require better marks. Most institutions also require proof of your proficiency in the English Language in the form of an IELTs score of 6.0 or higher, or a minimum TOEFL score of 550. 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.

Finances & Scholarships

Tuition fees in NZ institutions vary between NZ$7,000 to 20,000 per annum for international students, Private institutions are more expensive than public ones that are funded by the Government. Living costs vary with the place of stay but on an average, it works out to be NZ$10,000 to 12000/ per annum. 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

Application Process
The education system in the country has been patterned on semesters. The first semester starts

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more information on other scholarships, please visit www.nzaid.govt.nz

Visas
The New Zealand Immigration Service only grants student visas for enrolment in an approved course at an institution that is accredited by NZQA or New Zealand Qualifications authority. Once you have secured admission, you will receive an Offer of Place letter confirming commencement dates, course details and an invoice for the tuition fee. You would need to apply for your student visa along with this offer of place letter and the following documents:

Documents Required
Completed and signed application form; Application fee Original passport Two recent passport-size photographs Health Report Police Clearance report Evidence of my enrolment Evidence of enrolment and evidence of previous student performance and attendance (applicants for further student visa only) length is four years. Candidates are required to study/research full-time. The Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan (CSFP) website has further information on Commonwealth Scholarships, including nominating agencies. The New Zealand Development Scholarships (NZDS) scheme offers the opportunity to people from selected developing countries to undertake development-related studies in New Zealand. For

Financial documents
Confirmation from education provider that accommodation arrangements meet the Code of Practice. For all guidelines in securing a student visa/permit, visit: Student Visa Application (INZ 1012) PDF. If your education provider is certified with Students Online you can make your application at your nearest certified educational institute. I

Web sites of use:

www.studyinnewzealand.com COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ON EDUCATION IN NZ. www.mynz.com INSTITUTIONAL PROFILES AND INFORMATION ON STUDIES IN NZ. www.immigration.govt.nz - VISA INFORMATION IMMIGRATION INFORMATION: www.immigration.govt.nz/branch/DubaiBranchHome/ www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/study/canistudyinnewzealand/

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SWITZERLAND
There are twelve official higher education establishments in Switzerland (ten cantonal Universities and two Federal institutes of technology), as well as a number of other colleges of higher education. The academic year is divided into two semesters: winter from October to March, and summer from April to July. The total length of study up to the first academic exam is usually four to five years, depending on the course, with six years for medical studies.
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The Swiss academic degrees are the Lizentiat/Licence, the diploma, and the PhD. The level of the licentiate and the diploma (the first two degrees conferred in Switzerland) correspond to the American Masters degree. Most Swiss universities ask for a licentiate as pre-requisite for a PhD. In addition to the recognised institutes of higher education, there are a number of private colleges offering courses that are not publicly recognized. Students are therefore advised to make careful investigations into such courses before they apply for study. The Swiss Education Council now has an office in Dubai. They promote some of the courses available. (www.swissec.com)

Application Process
Apply in writing to the university you have chosen, mentioning the field in which you wish to study, and enclosing a copy of your matriculation certificate, copies of

In addition to the recognised institutes of higher education, there are a number of private colleges offering courses that are not publicly recognized. Students are therefore advised to make careful investigations into such courses before they apply for study. The Swiss Education Council now has an office in Dubai.

college or university certificates (if any) and examination results with an official statement about your studies, and finally a detailed curriculum vitae. Once you have received confirmation of acceptance from a Swiss university, contact the Swiss Embassy in your home country for information on entry formalities for Switzerland. You will have to show proof of your financial means during your studies at this time. You will have to apply to the police department after your arrival in Switzerland to obtain a residence permit. You will need a valid passport, with visa if necessary, confirmation of acceptance from a Swiss university, a guarantee of sufficient financial means to support your studies (such as a bank statement), and a statement concerning your address in Switzerland. The residence permit will only be issued if your financial means are guaranteed; you will also need to renew the permit annually.

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Admission
Students should have a good knowledge of the language of instruction (either German, English, French or Italian). Candidates should also possess a state-recognized Swiss matriculation certificate or foreign equivalent. Foreign students may be asked to pay somewhat higher fees than native students when they are accepted onto a course.

Documents required for student visa

Applicants for a student visa would need to bring the following documents in triplicate: Please make three complete files with a copy of one required document in each. 1. Three completely filled in and signed application forms. You can find the application form either on the internet (www.eda.admin.ch/dubai) or in their office. The legal guardian must sign for children under 18. 2. Three recent passport-sized pictures (not older than 6 months). 3. The original and a copy of the passport of the applicant with all its valid visas and residence permits. The passport has to be valid for at least three
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months over the foreseen entry date in Switzerland. 4. Original and three copies of the acquired diplomas / certificates that have been achieved up to day. 5. Attestation from the Swiss school that the applicant is expected to follow the courses in Switzerland. 6. Proof of payment that the tuition fee was paid. 7. Proof of sufficient financial means for the cost of living in Switzerland for the duration of the schooling. If the education lasts more than one year, a full years proof of sufficient financial means must be presented. 8. A C.V. mentioning the education up to date including career intentions after the study in Switzerland. The legal guardian must provide the documents 4 to 7 and add the following documents: 9. Parental consent and insurance of undertaking all expenses signed by the legal guardian. 10. A company letter from the employer of the legal guardian on a proper letterhead duly stamped and with the name and position of the signatory. Please note that the legal guardian cannot sign his/her own letter. The letter must contain the following information: date of joining the company, position and the salary. 11. A copy of the trade license from the company of the legal guardian.
Source: Visa information from Consulate website.

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QUALIFICATIONS

UAE provides an array of professional courses both on line and through taught contact programs. As it is an exhaustive list, a few are outlined here for your consideration.
Emirates Institute of Banking and Financial Studies
ISLAMIC BANKING DIPLOMA
Over the past three decades the Islamic banking and finance industry has emerged from nothing to an industry with assets of hundreds of billions of dollars under its management. The industry has witnessed substantial growth during last few years in all parts of the world especially in the Middle East Region. Right at the very heart of the global Islamic banking and financial services is the United Arab Emirates. The Islamic banking and finance industry in the country includes Islamic banks, Islamic windows, subsidiaries of conventional banks, real estate finance companies, takaful operators, sukuk, Islamic funds and other financial service providers.

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C A R E E R B E N E F I T S The boom in the Islamic Finance industry witnessed in the region has opened the door to several jobs. There is great demand for competent manpower in Islamic finance and it is expected that as the industry expands there will be huge demand for talented and skilled manpower in years to come. I S L A M I C B A N K I N G D I P L O M A ( I B D ) The Islamic Banking Diploma Program introduced in 2003 is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, UAE. The program, first of its kind in the country was started to disseminate knowledge and information about Islamic banking and finance and produce high caliber professionals with the necessary technical skills and knowledge in Islamic finance. I B D O B J E C T I V E S To provide students with the fundamental knowl edge of Islamic banking.

To introduce students to instruments and techniques used in the Islamic banking. To train students in Islamic law and finance. To train students in Islamic funds and capital market operations. To provide students with the fundamental requirements of business education. To equip students with the basic requirements of professional certifications.
Source: www.eibfs.ae

The ACCA Qualification

The ACCA Qualification develops accounting knowledge and skills as well as professional values. This means you can build a successful career as a finance professional in any sector. There is a strong focus on professional values, ethics and governance. This is essential because the profession is moving towards strengthened codes of conduct, regulation and legislation. And there is an increased focus on professionalism and ethics in accounting.

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Professionalism and ethics is examined at the highest level in the ACCA Qualification. It is also a main part of the practical experience you must complete to qualify. To qualify as an ACCA member, you will need to complete: a minimum of five of 14 exams the practical experience requirement the Professional Ethics module. On your way to ACCA membership you can achieve: a Diploma in Accounting and Business an Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business a BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University.
Source: www.accaglobal.com

explain the impact of the competitive landscape.

The management accounting skillset

Its members are qualified to work across an organisation, not just in finance. Because in addition to strong accounting fundamentals, CIMA teaches strategic business and management skills: Analysis - they analyse information and use it to make business decisions. Strategy - they formulate business strategy to create wealth and shareholder value. Risk - they identify and manage risk Planning - they apply accounting techniques to plan and budget. Communication - they determine what information management needs and explain the numbers to non-financial managers.
Source: www.cimaglobal.com

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

Most accounting qualifications train people for private practice, working on external audit and tax issues. CIMA prepares people for a career in business. It teaches skills for strategic advice, managing risk and making key decisions.. The syllabus is designed to deliver a strong understanding of all aspects of business so our members can contribute in many areas of an organisation. CIMA trained people work in industry, commerce, management consultancies, banks and not for profit and public sector organisations. Management accounting combines accounting, finance and management with the leading edge techniques needed to drive successful businesses. Chartered management accountants: advise managers about the financial implications of projects explain the financial consequences of business decisions formulate business strategy monitor spending and financial control conduct internal business audits

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

CIPD is an awarding body for HR qualifications. Over 13,000 students join their programmes each year to enhance their knowledge on the latest theory, case studies and insights into best practice HR. CIPD approved and awarded qualifications are available at Advanced, Intermediate and Foundation level, and you can choose to study awards, certificates or diplomas at any of these levels. Benefits of studying a CIPD qualification VALUED BY EMPLOYERS You can be sure CIPD qualifications will equip you with the knowledge and skills that employers are looking for. HR IN A BUSINESS CONTEXT All qualifications focus on the role of HR in building sustainable business success. FLEXIBLE TO MEET YOUR NEEDS Learn at your own pace and gain credit for your achievements. The certificates and diplomas have a range of optional units to meet your particular development needs.

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 HR AND L&D STUDY PATHS The opportunity to branch out into HR, Learning and Development and other specialisms at Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced level.

Courses in Logistics & Supply Chain Management

LSCM (Logistics and Supply Chain Management) is aimed at people who not only have a demanding operational role in logistics (with a good working understanding of warehousing, fleet management, transport, procurement, import and export) but also have an involvement in planning issues. Typically candidates will hold positions such as Logistics Cocoordinator, Logistics Manager or Head of Logistics Centre and will be comfortable with: Planning and resourcing the supply chain to meet their organizations supply chain strategy and to meet the needs of the aid programmes in their country/region. The creation and coordination of the operation of the complex supply chain network. Monitoring the performance of the supply chain ensuring that any problems are resolved. Supporting and advising others on all aspects of the supply chain. Managing the different relationships needed for the supply chain to operate effectively and efficiently. Continuously improving the performance of the supply chain. Shipping and Freight Forwarding Freight forwarding is a service used by companies that deal in international or multi-national import and export. While the freight forwarder doesn't actually move the freight itself, it acts as an intermediary between the client and various transportation services. Sending products from one

BOOSTING YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL Independent research reveals that individuals with professional qualifications stand to earn 81,000 in additional earning over a lifetime (CCPMO Economic Impact Report, December 2008). THE KNOWLEDGE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Many of the qualifications cover the knowledge required to work towards CIPD professional membership i.e. Associate, Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow.

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international destination to another can involve a multitude of carriers, Why Shipping and Freight Forwarding? Certified Shipping and Freight Forwarding Professionals earn more salary than non certified Education: Most important factor for upward mobility of Freight Forwarding professionals Better Educated = High ranking Professionals Very few qualified Professionals in Freight Industry Most of the professionals grow in career due to experience Certification is one of the most important qualifications in Shipping and Freight Forwarding Industry Certified Professionals can expect exponential growth in their careers

Chartered Institute of Marketing

CIM is a professional marketing body based in UK with over 42,000 members worldwide. CIM offers professional development to marketing practitioners across the world with the objective of raising the status of marketing onto a more professional and strategic level around the world. As a result of this accreditation, participants who fully attend CIM accredited programs will automatically earn a number of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours. Upon completing a certain number of CPD hours these participants will have the opportunity to be recognized by CIM as Chartered Marketers which is the ultimate sign of being an up-to-date, experienced and qualified marketing professional. This designation, awarded exclusively by the CIM, is marketings highest grade and recognizes outstanding practical experience and expertise.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

It is a professional membership organisation, supporting over 136,000 chartered accountants around the world. Through technical knowledge, skills and expertise, the institute provides insight and leadership to the global accountancy and finance profession. Its members provide financial knowledge and guidance based on the highest professional, technical and ethical standards. By joining ICAEW, you can become part of a community of leading global accountancy professionals. When you become a member, you will be awarded the highly-respected ACA designation, which is recognised globally. You will also gain access to world-leading information resources, technical guidance, advisory services and local member networks. ICAEW Chartered Accountants work at the highest levels as finance directors, CEOs and partners of some of the worlds largest organisations. Open doors to a successful, highly rewarding career in all areas of accountancy, business and finance anywhere in the world. Your skills, capabilities and influence will be

recognised and valued in any industry sector you choose. Receive on-going support and resources throughout your career to keep you at the forefront of the profession.
Source: www.icaew.com

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Chartered Accountancy in India

Under the existing chartered accountancy scheme of education, training and examination, the requirements for becoming a chartered accountant are as follows: (i) Enrol with the Institute for Common Proficiency Test (CPT) after passing class 10th examination conducted by an examining body constituted by law in India or an examination recognized by the Central Government as equivalent thereto. (ii) Appear in CPT after appearing in the senior secondary examination (10+2 examination) conducted by an examining body constituted by law in India or an examination recognized by the Central Government as equivalent thereto and after completion of specified period (60 days) from the date of registration for CPT with the Board of Studies as on the first day of the month in which examination is to be held, viz., students registered on or before 1st April/1st October will be eligible to appear in June/December examination, as the case

may be. However, candidate should pass both CPT and 10+2 before registering for Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC). (iii) Enrol for Group I or Group II or for both Group I and Group II of Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC) to become Chartered Accountant. (iv) Successfully complete 9 months of study course from the date of IPCC registration. (v) Successfully complete Orientation Course of one week spanning 35 hours and covering topics, such as personality development, communication skills, office procedure, business environment, general commercial knowledge, etc., before commencement of articled training. (vi) Successfully complete 100 hours Information Technology Training (ITT) before commencement of articled training. (vii) Appear and pass Group I as well as Group II of Integrated Professional Competence Examination (IPCE). Group I is composed of four papers and Group II is composed of three papers. (viii) Register as Articled Assistant for a period of 3 years, on passing either Group I or both the Groups of IPCE. (ix) Register for CA Final Course and prepare for CA Final Examination. (x) Undergo General Management and Communication Skills (GMCS) (15 days) course while undergoing Final Course and serving the last 12 months of articled training. (xi) Complete 3 years period of articled training. (xii) Appear in the Final Examination on completion of the practical training or while serving last 6 months of articled training on or before the last day of the month preceding the month in which the examination is to be held. (xiii) Pass final examination and complete GMCS, if not completed earlier. (xiv) Enroll as a member of ICAI and designate as Chartered Accountant.

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CAREERS
While K12 education is the usual focus of attention of most parents and children through the growing years, the apprehension constantly nagging them is- what after this? Although there are a variety of options to choose from, there are oft reported cases of children choosing a particular career based on a whim or what they incorrectly identify as the industry with a future, only to find that very industry going bust in a couple of years. This often acts as a major setback for the novice and leads to multiple problems of loss of confidence, disappointment etc. Undoubtedly, aptitude and attitude should be the prime drivers of choice but it is worthwhile to study the future job market so that one can take an informed decision before taking the plunge. In the next few pages, I shall attempt to analyse the future trends in the job markets of the US and India, selected since they are typical of many markets worldwide, so that the choice, when made, is based on rational thinking and not just conformity or herd mentality. Time spent on research is never wasted - so just read and make that crucial decision from a position of wisdom.

CAREERS IN THE US
Nurses
The number of registered nurses is expected to swell to 3.2 million by 2018, accounting for approximately 581,500 new jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's up from 2.6 million today, and it represents the largest overall growth projection out of all occupations in the U.S. economy, for good reason. Americans aged 65 and older will make up 19% of the population in 2030, up from 12.4% in 2000. As the population ages and the growth of the working-age population slows down, there will be an increased demand for health care services in general, and home health care services in particular. In the

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past year, the home health care services industry has experienced sales growth of 11.2%, making it the fastest growing industry in the U.S. Along with registered nurses, home care aids, physician assistants, pharmacists, and other medical professions will be in high demand for the foreseeable future.

in high demand, and will be for the foreseeable future.

Software Engineers
What would all that planning and design by network and data analysts be worth without software? Not a whole lot, which explains why the BLS expects the cadre of software engineers and application developers to swell to 689,900 by 2018 (up from 514,800 in 2008). Whether they are building business software, constructing an operating system, developing games, or designing mobile apps, software engineers have a wide array of career avenues to consider.

Network Systems and Data Analysts

This occupation's full title is "network systems and data communication analysts." And while it's a mouthful, it is worth remembering as it's the secondfastest growing occupation in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In simpler terms, these analysts are the folks who design and build the systems that we use to connect to the web, from work or home. In many ways, these are the folks that make communication possible in our Internet-centric world. So perhaps it's not so surprising that they are

Biomedical Engineers
Biomedical engineering is expected to be the fastest growing occupation, with a whopping growth project of 72% between 2008 and 2018, according to the

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Bureau of Labor Statistics. It's not much of a surprise, given that this field lies at the nexus of technology and health care, two ballooning industries within the U.S. economy. The immense growth of biomedical engineering will be driven by the demand for new treatments for diseases and the increasingly higher expectations of aging patients to maintain an active lifestyle. From developing artificial organs, medical devices like pace makers, or refining imaging technology that allows doctors to examine patients in more precise ways than ever before, biomedical engineers will have plenty to work on in the coming decade.

companies will need an even larger cohort of auditors and accountants to go through new regulations to make sure they are in compliance. The accounting profession is poised to experience 22% growth between 2008 and 2018, with an anticipated 279,400 new jobs in the field by 2018, according to the BLS.

Veterinarians
Americans love for the dogs, cats, and fish in their lives truly knows no bounds. Pet care was one of the only sectors of the retail industry that grew during the recession. According to the 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey, 62% of U.S. households owned at least one pet in 2008, accounting for approximately 71 million households. And the American Pet Products Association estimates that pet owners will spend almost $48 billion on their pets. Just under $24 billion of that will be spent on medicine and veterinary care, as more Americans than ever before open their wallets to spend for treatments for an ailing animal family member.It's no surprise, then, that veterinarians are listed as one of the fastest growing professions in the U.S. -- the number of vets is expected to expand by 36% between 2008 and 2018.
Source: www.bls.gov

Accountants and Auditors

While number crunching and bean counting has certainly not fallen out of style in recent memory, the economic fallout of the past few years has placed renewed focus on financial regulation. And with the passage of the federal financial reform bill in June,

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CAREERS IN INDIA

According to the International Business Report, 2008, by consultancy firm Grant Thornton International, India alone will make up 30 per cent of the worldwide net increase in employment with 142 million new jobs by 2020. Some of the areas where growth is expected are given below.

Real Estate/ Infrastructure

Growth in infrastructure and real estate developments with gradual opening up of FDI in certain sub-sectors will be the main reasons for the boom. This will recreate a need for civil engineers, a tribe we forgot during the IT boom. The requirement is for 1.5 lakh engineers if the entire land bank is to be translated into construction. Infrastructure projects would need more such engineers. Other functions like residential and commercial real estate brokers, real estate appraisers, property managers and real estate consultants would also be in demand.

Retail
The vast middle class, strong income growth, favourable demographic patterns and organised retailing growth estimated at 40 per cent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next few years are some of the factors that will drive the retail boom. The need would be around 15,000-20,000 people in each of these retail chains. So, in all, the requirements would touch 80,000-85,000 every year in the next three to four years, of which frontline sales staff will be 80-85 per cent. The remaining jobs will be in retail-specific areas like visual merchandising, and supply chain management. Retail management graduates and general MBAs will be wanted.

Healthcare/Pharma
Hospital chains are expanding all over India, even in smaller towns. An acute shortage of doctors is expected over the next few years, especially anaesthetists, radiologists, gynaecologists and surgeons, particularly neurosurgeons. The need would be for 45,000-50,000 doctors for the 50-odd

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international guests. Over the next two or three healthcare companies expected to start operations in years,1 lakh more rooms are needed. An average of India. People with a Masters in Hospital 1.5 service personnel per room will mean an overall Administration (MHA) will be in demand as they are shortage of at least 1.5 lakh people across a whole key elements to a hospital's efficiency. In pharma, range of hotel-related jobs in India, demand will be created in research especially food production, food and and development (R&D). The Professionals beverage services, housekeeping and requirement would be for 15,000who have a front office operations. The 20,000 scientists every year. Another holistic manpower growth prediction for area which would see a demand is knowledge and facilities management is 20-25 per pharma regulation and can do cent. documentation officers.

Financial services
There will be a lot of new entrants and existing players diversifying with new product lines. A lot of portfolio managers - not necessarily fund managers, but those who manage portfolios beyond a certain amount will be required. They will be working with banks and financial institutions. The requirement will be for 25,00030,000 every year. Maximum jobs growth in retail financial services is foreseen, with 80 per cent of them being in sales and distribution. The biggest employers will be the insurance and banking sector. Over 50,000 new jobs are expected to be created in the banking, financial services, and insurance sector in the current year. Banks are expected to hire 15,000-20,000 people in the next one year.

multitasking like coding, testing, designing and communicating with clients will be in demand. India will need 4.9 lakh professionals in the IT exports market, 11.1 lakh in the domestic IT industry and 20.5 lakh in the ITES-BPO sector by 2012.

Consulting services
With existing businesses growing more complex and numerous startups on the cards, there will be demand for consultants specializing in human resources (HR) and startups. Apart from recruitment specialists, another area of demand in the HR space will be 'employer brand specialists' as organisations move away from a me-too approach and actively seeking differentiation. Considering that with every 50-75 people recruited, one HR job gets created, it is estimated that 28,000 more HR jobs will be created.

Entertainment
There would be about two new TV channels every month and 20-25 new FM channels every year: about 4,0005,000 people will be directly employed by TV channels every year. In radio, the demand would be for production people, anchors, technical and distribution sales professionals: jobs for 2,500 people in the next two years.

Hospitality/facilities management
With hotel rooms being added across the country at a rapid rate to keep up with growing tourist inflow, hi-tech townships being developed and malls and multiplexes coming up at every corner, people will be needed to service and maintain them.Over 2.5 lakh rooms will be needed in the next five years to meet the demand from both the domestic and

Information Technology
"Despite stagnation in the industry, a lot of projectbased or contractual hiring and increasing domestic IT requirements would lead to organic growth.

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Professionals who have a holistic knowledge and can do multitasking like coding, testing, designing and communicating with clients will be in demand. India will need 4.9 lakh professionals in the IT exports market, 11.1 lakh in the domestic IT industry and 20.5 lakh in the ITES-BPO sector by 2012.

Customer services
Companies will put more and more stress on customer service to stay ahead of the competition. Frontline technicians who have skills required to service and manage customers will be in demand. About 1.5 lakh trained people every year would be needed.

growth rate in telecom industry is expected to increase by seven per cent to ten per cent every year. Jobs in demand would be telecom, mechanical, software and telecom test engineers, project managers, network security specialists and operation managers. According to data from FICCI, telecom will see 0.5 million new jobs by 2010 and 1.5 million by 2015.

Emerging Careers
Besides these two countries, there are a number of newer career options emerging, especially with the advent of technology. Such careers are not country specific but are available across the board in all countries where technology is being adopted on a large scale - which probably covers most countries around the world. Technology can be cruel sometimes when we see jobs that we used to know such as typist, stenographer and postman being removed from the employment landscape. So, if your ambition when you were little was to be a

Telecom
The telecom industry is growing faster in small towns and will also see a lot of organic growth. Jobs will also emerge in telecom when people employed here opt to shift to other emerging sectors. The employment

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Postmaster, you might be disappointed to learn its a declining career. But dont be too quick to conclude that technology is to be blamed for taking away employment opportunities. On the contrary, the advancement of technology has brought to us a breed of new and emerging careers beyond our imagination. Below is a list of careers that were unheard of a decade ago. 1. MOBILE PHONE APPLICATION DEVELOPER With the development of phones like the BlackBerry, Android and iPhone, the mobile media industry is booming. Developers are in demand to help develop applications, in addition to combating security and compatibility issues. Some were hired for R&D of applications for e-commerce shopping and bidding engine. 2. SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST The new thing of the day is social media. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn had revolutionized the way we

work and live now. Companies want to make their presence felt in these new platforms and are quickly hiring social media managers or strategist to oversee their online communities, interact with their customers and enhance brand awareness. 3. CONTENT WRITER The new mantra, Content is king! The content is mainly for websites, with expertise to provide writeup that centers on marketing products or services the sites are offering or selling. 4. BLOGGER They research and write blog content for news websites, corporations and governments. Their objectives are to blog stuff to promote a brand, mission and cause. Many instead of being hired on full-time basis had also made huge bucks on their own by maintaining their own blogs. Arianna Huffington launched her news and blog site,

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The Huffington Post in May 2005. The site has quickly become one of the most widely-read sites. AOL announced it would acquire the site for US$315 million. Of course, not all bloggers enjoy such lucrative outcome but many have testified making good earnings when their blogs enjoyed good traffic. 5. SEO SPECIALIST They specialize in search engine optimization (SEO), a process to improve the visibility of a website via organic search results. The optimization process may involve editing the website contents to increase its relevance to specific keywords. 6. USER EXPERIENCE ANALYST They analyze a website and make it more friendly, engaging and easier to navigate for users. 7. VIDEO JOURNALIST They capture, edit/design online videos that document information, news and events. 8. ONLINE LEARNING COORDINATOR They schedule courses and coordinate distance learning programs. 9. CYBER SECURITY SPECIALIST Cyber security is a growing industry. Knowledgeable professionals who can protect websites and expose hackers will be a hot commodity in the coming years. 10. GENETIC COUNSELOR Genetics is advancing at a rapid rate. Doctors can now run tests that will predict genetic conditions. With the help of genetic counselors, families can educate themselves on available genetic technologies and options. 11. ORGANIC FOOD FARMER Organic food currently occupies about 10 percent of the food and beverage market and its only going to increase. As a result, more organic farmers and producers will need to improve organic farming techniques to grow the food. 12. MEDICAL RECORDS ADMINISTRATOR Medical records are at the forefront of innovative technology, with a strong push to digitize medical records. An increased number of medical researchers will be needed to help transition records from paper to digital, and to be able to navigate records quickly for patients. 13. SIMULATION ENGINEER Theres a simulator for nearly everything these days, from surgeries to flying to drinking and driving. As more simulation-based technologies follow suit, engineers will be required to help out. 14. STEM CELL RESEARCHER Although its a controversial topic, stem cell research is gaining ground. If this continues, more researchers will be needed to develop cures for diseases, genetic enhancements, and the other information these cells may potentially hold. 15. ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIST They measure the benefits and potential drawbacks of renewable energy and other environmental alternatives. 16. BIOFUELS/BIODIESEL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER They plan and execute research programs that evaluate alternative biofuels/biodiesel technologies. I

These new and emerging careers are certain to grow in popularity as new technologies and new business frontiers surface and take shape in our society. Job seekers should not feel apprehensive but rather view such changes positively as opportunities for further growth. The increasing demand for people who have a blend of two functional skills, like a financial services person with business and marketing skill, also suggests that one should have a dual qualification. So, now that you are wiser and better informed, go take your pick and join the league of extraordinary professionals. Rema & V.K Menon

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SHAPE
TOMORROWS
YOU HOLD THE KEY TO YOUR FUTURE. IRRESPECTIVE OF YOUR FIELD OF STUDY AND THE EDUCATION DESTINATION, IT IS YOU WHO SHAPE YOUR TOMORROWS, OR, AS SOME WOULD SAY, THE POWER IS YOURS!

YOUR

Academic Requirements
Learn to compete with yourself. Academic potential is something Universities look for. Your focus should not just be GPA or highest marks BUT improvement in performance. Each of us is endowed with different abilities and skills. By working hard consistently, marks improve and this will propel you forward and automatically motivate you to do more. Your emphasis should be on giving the very best in all that you do. Universities/Colleges prefer to see average grades in

hard courses rather than top grades in easy ones. If you are in a system that allows you to choose your classes as well as the difficulty level, you need to have a chat with your Careers advisor or teachers at school. Choose classes that will prepare you for the career ahead, not easy peasy ones. You cannot afford to drop Math if you want to take up Commerce (common mistake students in the Indian school system make). You will waste precious years in foundation courses if you dont work on your Math and English. Along with the traditional

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three Rs of education, you need to fuse the four Cs: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. These 21st century skills are essential to ensure that you are able to compete in the global economy.

Extracurricular Activities

Many students have participated in every activity in junior and middle school but have nothing to show in High school, since academics and friends take precedence over everything else. Colleges do NOT want to see nerds but well rounded individuals (pun unintended). Participate in activities that you enjoy. If you are a sports person, take part in games, if you can write well, pen your thoughts down, have them published, if you can play an instrument, take part in the school band or in programs outside school Battle of the bands, Rock challenge, Jazz festival, FM contests, Church choir, whatever appeals to you. Some students have dabbled in various activities but have nothing concrete to show. Its better to show

Along with the traditional three Rs of education, you need to fuse the four Cs: communication , collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. These 21st century skills are essential to ensure that you are able to compete in the global economy.

active involvement in a few activities than a series of events in which you have taken part just once. Many institutions ask you how many hours a week you devoted to the activity. If you are involved in one off events, you will be forced to leave blanks in your form.

Leadership Initiatives
Academic success and extracurricular activities apart, have you ever led a team? Initiated a campaign? Been a leader in the school council, a class rep or prefect? Not every student has had the opportunity to hold a leadership position. Your initiative, drive or leadership potential will be recognized as a plus. Look for opportunities to go beyond your comfort zone. The more you get involved, the more the possibilities...

Community Service
With campaigns like Dubai Cares, Samsung Marathon Run, MSF events, Emirates Environment Group EEG initiatives, Red Crescents fund raisers, there are ample opportunities to be involved in community service endeavours in the UAE. Whether you have

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More and more institutions have Study Abroad options to help students broaden their horizons. Students in India are learning German and Mandarin while American students are attempting to learn Arabic!

helped raise awareness on Cancer and its research through the Terry Fox run, worn a white band and been a campaigner for the Stand Up initiative to Make poverty History, been a volunteer of the EEG and got involved in beach cleanup drives, took part in Al Noors charity bazaar, or been a buddy to a special needs child, every action counts. The more you learn to give of yourself, the more you will understand and appreciate your blessings. The extracurricular pursuits you follow not only enhance your personality but also impact your view of life.

they dreamt of, but never get round to doing because of the demands of High School. The experiences you gain from travel will shape you and influence your perception of people, cultures and values. Travel not only makes you more confident and self reliant but also makes you aware and sensitive to cultural issues. More and more institutions have Study Abroad options to help students broaden their horizons. Students in India are learning German and Mandarin while American students are attempting to learn Arabic! As the world transforms into a global village, multilingual skills help in strengthening bonds with people from a vibrant mix of ethnicities.

Internship Opportunities
Students are increasingly taking up summer jobs or part time jobs to gain experience and explore the world of work. The opportunity to work in an office, or any project related to your field of interest, will help you get a peek into that area of specialization. For some, this learning opportunity makes them aware of the pros and cons of that career. It may even shatter some dreams and make you seek alternatives!

Striking a balance
We all know what a challenge juggling different commitments can prove to be but if you have been able to do so in school; you would be better prepared at University. With this hand book you have a head start. What are you waiting for? Be an active participant in shaping your tomorrow, you owe it to yourself! I

Travel
Some students avail of a gap year to do all the things

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