MERCER UNIVERSITY INFORMATION SESSION IN LONDON

September 1st, 2010 posted by Ian Maull

Mercer University will be holding an information session at the Courtyard by Marriott, London Gatwick Airport. The session will be taking place in the Sienna room on Wednesday 8th September from 2.00-4.00pm and again from 6.30-8.30pm.

Mercer University is one of America’s oldest and most distinctive institutions of higher learning, offering rigorous programs that span the undergraduate liberal arts to doctoral-level degrees. With more than 8,000 students enrolled in eleven schools and colleges on campuses in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah, and at three Regional Academic Centers around the state, Mercer is consistently ranked among the nation’s leading institutions by such publications as U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review.

The session is open to students and counsellors, where a Mercer University Representative will be answering any queries or questions you may have.

To view the Mercer University online brochure please click here.

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LATEST USA REGIONAL GUIDE IS NOW ONLINE

August 27th, 2010 posted by Ian Maull

USA Region VII MagazineWe are delighted to be able to present our latest United States magazine for Region VII featuring Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

We have aimed to provide the very latest information about studying in these states and everything else they can offer international students. In previous years we have produced one annual USA edition covering all the states but we felt that this year we needed to break it down into the eleven NAFSA (Association of International Educators) regions in order to give you the most detailed information. We will then be releasing an annual of all the regions at the end of the year.

It has been our pleasure to work with all the professionals, academics, counsellors and students across the region that have helped immeasurably by providing their knowledge and expertise to the pages of this magazine.

We hope you find reading this edition informative and interesting and, as always, we welcome any feedback you may have. You can email us at editorial@i-studentadvisor.com.

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NEW ZEALAND’S LINCOLN UNIVERSITY AND TELFORD RURAL POLYTECHNIC IN MERGER PROPOSAL

August 26th, 2010 posted by Ian Maull

Public feedback is being sought on a proposal by Lincoln University and Telford Rural Polytechnic to merge. The New Zealand Minister for Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, has put the proposal out today, with submissions invited until September 17.

The merger proposal supports directions signalled by the Councils of Lincoln University and Telford Rural Polytechnic to develop a model of strong collaboration in education to support land based industries. The Councils believe the merger is in line with two governmental intentions; to drive productivity growth and investment in the export sector and to give young people wider choices in education.

The model is one of vertical integration to encompass all aspects of the agricultural and land-based sector provision and supply chain, from secondary school, sub-degree teaching to post-doctoral research, commercialisation and extension activities with industry.

The merger between Lincoln University and Telford Rural Polytechnic will complement existing partnerships the University already has in place. Lincoln University will continue to enhance its Partnership for Excellence relationship with Massey University and relevant industry partners, develop its partnership with AgResearch Ltd and develop its relationship with Ngai Tahu.

Telford Rural Polytechnic will also continue to enhance its relationships with other providers and industry partners.

A merger of Lincoln University and Telford Rural Polytechnic will support the intent of the Tertiary Education Strategy 2010-15 and build on the Review of Land-based Provision conducted by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).

The overall focus is on national needs and ensuring ongoing support for land-based industries, from working on the land to internationally accredited research. The major drivers for these initiatives are the development of enhanced technology transfer and innovation through formal qualifications, professional development opportunities and improved industry access to current research.

A consultation document has been prepared summarising the key features and benefits of the proposed merger. Copies may be obtained from either institution at their websites.

For more information on studying in New Zealand be sure to subscribe for free to i-studentadvisor; you’ll be informed when the 2010 edition of our New Zealand guide is released.

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US COLLEGES AIM TO MAKE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FEEL MORE AT HOME

August 25th, 2010 posted by Sarah Pont

For colleges that are focusing on creating a more diverse student body, getting international students enrolled is only half the battle.

For many international students, the thought of starting university in a foreign country is very daunting, so they often end up socialising with people from similar backgrounds. This means that the institution and the native students don’t benefit from their presence.

This is where the importance of the international student offices comes into play. It’s not just the homesickness that can impact a student; it can also be a complete culture shock to them. Allan E. Goodman, President of the Institute of International Education says “It really is a continuous process of checking in with international students and making sure they’re not in over their heads.”

Many institutions in the US have been putting a lot more emphasis on ensuring that international students are integrating well into campus life. They’re putting more effort into arranging orientations as well as social and academic programmes that engage all students on campus.

Binghamton University has recently won an award for its internationalisation efforts, and the Director of International Student and Scholar Services, Ellen Badger says that the challenge is to “encourage those students to break out of their comfort level and explore the university dynamic… But integration doesn’t need to be forced—it’s happening throughout campus every day.”

All institutions face the challenge of encouraging international students through their doors, but this can be increasingly difficult for community colleges.  How can you ensure international students are fully integrating with their fellow student body if they’re not physically on a campus?

Some institutions are trying to combat this issue by focusing on more off-campus activities. Northcentral Technical College in Wisconsin has developed a programme in which 41 families agree to act as mentors for international students with an additional 19 hosting students in their homes.

Bonnie Bissonette, the Associate Dean of Business and International Education at Northcentral says that they also try and encourage the students to get involved in volunteer work within their community to help increase their confidence.

J. Michael Adams, President of Fairleigh Dickinson University, has frequently spoken up about the US needing to do a better job at integrating their foreign students into campus life saying that “too many institutions have looked at foreign students as sources of revenue”. The Office of Global Learning has recently developed the Global Enterprise Network to address the problem.  The program provides training and internships for international graduate students who wish to learn about business development.

Fairleigh Dickinson isn’t alone in developing new ways in which to help international and native students better understand each other. The University of California has now introduced a course called “The United States: An American Culture Series,” which teaches foreign students about food, customs, and lingo.

Are you an international student studying in America? What methods were put in place by your International Student Office to ensure you integrated into campus life easier?

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AUSTRALIA’S EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS FROM LATIN AMERICA PAYS OFF

August 24th, 2010 posted by Sarah Pont

Over the past six years Australia has had rapid success in recruiting students from Latin America, with enrolment increasing from 7,000 to 34,000 since 2004.

Academics and recruiters have attributed this success to the reduced visa constraints and aggressive outreach. Others have suggested that the unpopularity of the previous Bush administration has encouraged students to look outside of the US for their higher education.

The majority of the students studying are enrolled on English language courses at private vocational colleges. However Australian universities are now working on recruiting those students into their undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses.

Sandra Meiras, director of the office of the deputy vice chancellor for international services at the University of Sydney says that “Latin American students provide good classroom diversity and are good-quality students who make an easy transition to Australian life.”

The first major step in recruitment in Latin America began when Australia Education International, a government body that promoted higher education overseas at the time, opened its first ever office in that region.  (Responsibility for recruiting international students has since been taken over by The Australian Trade Commission).

Ms Meiras said that to expand the flow of Latin American students into the country, many Australian institutions rely on fairs, agents and academic partnerships.

Former counselor for Australia Education International in South America, Tony Crooks says that they are turning things around “by holding massive exhibitions inviting students to take a look at what we (have to) offer and also to make it easier to get visas to travel to Australia to study.” A good example of the success of these campaigns was in 2005 when an exhibition in Chile was hosted for an expected 1,000 students, and over 10,000 attended.

With fierce competition from other countries, that are able to offer more scholarships and assistantships to students, Australian institutions are encouraging students to enter “Pathway Programs”.  These programmes allow students to work on their language skills whilst studying a university course.

For more information on studying in Australia, keep a lookout for the upcoming i-studentadvisor Australia magazine, due for publication in early September.

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OVER 150,000 UK STUDENTS COULD MISS OUT ON UNIVERSITY PLACE

August 23rd, 2010 posted by Paul McWilliams

Up to 150,000 students could miss out on a place at university in the UK this year according to the head of the university admissions service UCAS.

Mary Curnock Cook, chief executive of UCAS, also said that up to 70,000 students were opting out of the system this year as they felt they did not have the right offer and will re-apply next year.

Figures show that up to 190,000 students are currently fighting for an ever decreasing number of clearing places, up on 142,000 from this time last year. UCAS estimate that this could leave at least 150,000 students without a place and considering their futures with some uncertainty

Nearly 5,000 clearing places have been filled so far after an inauspicious start which saw phone lines jammed due to the huge numbers of calls from students eager to secure a place. UCAS counted 1.5 million hits to its website and answered many thousands more phone calls from concerned students. But with only 18,000 clearing places available in total, some simple arithmetic shows the numbers of students that may have to miss out.

The number of students opting out of the system this year may provide some relief as many with good qualifications but not necessarily the right offer postpone their applications for another year in order to get on the course they want at the right institution. Although the effect this will have on next year’s rush for places is easy to imagine.

There are also concerns that the high numbers of students opting out is due to the belief that many courses are not worth the effort or the cost. With the average student debt after graduation now standing at £25,000 many students have to seriously consider whether any place is better than none at all.

National Union of Students president Aaron Porter warned that those who have opted to defer application have no guarantee that the situation will be any better next year. Porter said: “They are being encouraged by ministers to re-apply next year but can be offered no assurance in return that there will be a resolution to the annual places crisis.”

Many, such as Professor Les Ebdon, chair of university think-tank Million+, feel the situation is compounded by the fact that many universities may not even be full. With government restrictions on the number of places they can offer and fines for universities over-recruiting, many aspiring students may be left without a place despite there being places technically available.

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IELTS vs TOEFL: WHICH IS BETTER?

August 20th, 2010 posted by Paul McWilliams

If you are applying to university in an English speaking country and English is not your first language, you may need to meet certain language requirements dictated by the institution. In the majority of cases this involves taking a standardised test. There are two main English language tests accepted by universities around the world, IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). But the big question that faces students is; which one is better?

The similarities

Both are English language tests aimed at pre-university students planning to make the step to higher education. Both evaluate how well you can combine your listening, reading, writing and speaking skills. You have to pay a fee to take both tests, for both it can vary depending on where exactly you take the test but expect to pay between $150 to $250.

The differences

Although both tests ostensibly focus on the same thing, they do so in different ways, which is why so many students want to know which is better (and even more commonly, which is easier). One of the main differences is the speaking part of the test. For IELTS you are required to take this with an IELTS examiner face to face. For TOEFL the speaking test consists of six questions which you answer into a microphone. These are recorded and sent to an examiner to mark.

The scoring system is also different, with IELTS rating between 0 and 9, with halfway points in between. TOEFL gives a more numerical SAT-type grade, totalling your scores from all the areas. This gives an insight into another key difference. TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service, a non-profit US based organisation, and conducts its test according to US English. IELTS is administered jointly by the British Council, the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations and IDP Education Australia, and conducts its test in UK English. While the differences are not as great as some assume, accents and spelling variations can cause a problem for some students.

So which is better?

The answer really depends on you; what kind of learner you are and where you want to study. The question of which is easier is largely irrelevant as both tests will grade you accurately according to your level of English. TOEFL may tend to favour more abstract learners as many of the questions are multiple choice whereas IELTS may be more suited to concrete learners as it involves memory recall. The face to face speaking section of the IELTS may be daunting to some candidates who would be more comfortable speaking into a microphone

Finally, it may be necessary to check that your chosen institution accepts the test. Although both are accepted at more than 6,000 institutions and organisations worldwide, so there is a fairly good chance you will be able to use either, it is always necessary to check beforehand.

Have you taken either or perhaps both of these tests? Let us know your impressions, what you thought was good and bad about each test and most importantly which you would recommend. Your experiences can help fellow learners.

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UK A LEVEL RESULTS: ADVICE FOR CLEARING

August 19th, 2010 posted by Ian Maull

Hundreds of thousands of students across the UK  are collecting their A Level exam results today, with many hoping they have achieved high enough grades to gain entry into the university of their choice. However, students have been warned that competition is tougher than ever this year due to unprecedented demand and a cap on the number of places.

Over 660,000 students have applied to universities in the UK this year. UCAS have predicted that more than 170,000 of these applicants may be left without a university place.

If you’re a student who has been disappointed by your results today, and haven’t achieved the grades you needed, don’t panic yet. There is another option – Clearing.

Clearing is the process by which students who have missed out on their grades, turned down their offers or applied too late through UCAS can try to be matched up with a university course. The demand for Clearing will be high this year, but if you are considering it, here are some points to bear in mind:

  • Discuss your options with a teacher or careers adviser who will be able to offer you advice.
  • If you have your heart set on a particular course and missed out by several grades, consider spending the next year taking re-sits, gaining work experience or taking a gap year before re-applying. With some courses now offering entry in January, you may not have to wait too long.
  • Visit the UCAS Track website to find out if you are eligible for Clearing. Although the deadline is September 20th, places are likely to be snapped up much sooner, so don’t delay.
  • Research courses and universities online and get ready to spend some time on the phone. Call up any universities you are interested in to find out whether they may accept you onto their course. Be prepared to talk about why you would be a good candidate for the course and ask any questions you might have about the degree programme and institution. Most calls may take 15-30 minutes, but you may well be offered a place over the phone in that time. Always ask for written confirmation.
  • If you receive an offer, consider it carefully; you can only accept one offer.
  • Try to visit the university in the next few days, if possible, before confirming your offer. Many universities will hold open days on the 21st or 22nd of August.

Above all else, don’t panic; if you haven’t made it into university this year you can always re-apply later and spend the coming year building up your qualifications and experience to make yourself a stronger candidate. Everyone at i-studentadvisor wishes UK A Level students the best of luck today!

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UK STUDENTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BIKE HIRE SCHEMES

August 18th, 2010 posted by Sarah Pont

Student cycle hire schemes are stepping up a gear on campuses across the UK, ahead of the new academic year.

Following in the footsteps of the Boris and Barclays’ scheme that was launched earlier this summer in London, fleets of bicycles have appeared on university campuses up and down the country, ready for hire. Schemes across York and Leeds are already well-established, where bicycles are available to rent for 9 month periods. And popularity continues to grow, within the next month the scheme will be rolled out across Nottingham, Lincoln and Lancaster.

Matt Easter, regional manager of Sustrans, the charity behind the schemes in Nottingham and Lincoln projects, is confident it’ll be a success due to previous schemes. A lot of motorists and commuters have expressed concerns that with more cyclists on roads, particularly in areas where there isn’t a cycle lane infrastructure, there will potentially be more accidents. So in addition to the bike hire, they’re also going to be offering free cycle training to those who are renting them as well as free maintenance for the duration of rental.

Not only is this good news for those students who can not readily afford their own means of transport to and from lectures but it’s also good news for the environment too.

Mobile-phone operated “green bike” scheme WhipBikes, is one of the major players in this movement, offering eco-friendly and affordable travel in Newcastle, set to be launched in September. Costs are kept minimal and it’s very simple to use, using SMS to retrieve a lock-code to access the bicycle.  This is the brain-child of two former civil engineering students, Robert Grisdale and Jack Payne, who thought it was about time someone did something, saying to The Guardian that “The UK’s been pretty rubbish for a long time in promoting cycling.”

So what for the future? Bike hire schemes appear to be here to stay and that can only spell good news to students, looking to reduce their carbon footprint, and increase their cash-flow.

Are you a student in an area where this scheme is available? Or would you like to see this scheme introduced to your campus? Please comment below.

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LATEST UPDATE FROM I-STUDENTENQUIRY.COM

August 17th, 2010 posted by Felicity Pont

We at i-studentadvisor understand that the search for universities, colleges and English language schools overseas can sometimes be overwhelming. And as a new school term begins, this time of year can be especially stressful for high school students around the world.

Our sister site, i-studentenquiry.com, is a simple online search service to help students find their ideal institution overseas without the stress.

By completing one simple form, listing their study level, personal details, educational background and study preferences, i-studentenquiry can help match students to a range of institutions, in the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Italy and Germany, who exactly match their search criteria.

i-studentenquiry then forward a list of matching institutions onto the student, and also forward the student details onto the institutions, who will then contact each individual student within days of them submitting their form.

Over the past month, i-studentenquiry have upgraded the design and added lots of additional features to the website, including a new links page, a help page and tool tips to help students who may not understand all the educational terms used in the forms.

To visit the i-studentenquiry website, go to: www.i-studentenquiry.com and select undergraduate, postgraduate or English language to begin completing a form.

Or if you have any further questions or queries about the i-studentenquiry search service, please contact one of our representatives on the following e-mail address: info@i-studentenquiry.com

If you are an international student currently going through the application process, then why not let us know how you are getting on in your search.

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