So a new study that says staying longer in education benefits blood pressure is surely a piece of much needed good news for those considering their higher education options.

A study by BMC Public Health has shown that despite some of the associated stresses of being a student, such as passing exams and affording tuition and accommodation, staying longer in education is good for your health. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is also linked to heart attacks, kidney failure and strokes.

The study was carried out over 30 years using data from nearly four thousand people being followed as part of the Framingham Offspring Survey. By dividing the people into three groups depending on their education, the study was able to show that longer education was reflected by lower blood pressure. With the links being especially strong in women.

These results may explain the already recorded link between higher levels of education and lower levels of heart disease.

Natasha Stewart, senior cardiac nurse for the British Heart Foundation, said: “These findings support existing evidence about the link between socio-economic deprivation and heart disease risk.”

So, despite all the anxiety the higher education process can cause, it will be good for your health in the long run.

The University of Canterbury Students Association has once again stepped into action inviting students to join the volunteer army via its Facebook site.  Volunteers from the age of 16 onwards are able to put themselves forward to help. They are encouraged to bring along shovels, wheelbarrows, gloves, raincoats, sunblock and drink bottles. The Facebook page also includes information on how to donate to their cause.

The Auckland University Students Association (AUSA) has launched an immediate appeal to help raise money for those affected by the earthquake. President of the AUSA Joe McCory said “no words can express the horror of the scenes we have seen coming in from Christchurch.” Any students at the University of Auckland who wish to volunteer to help raise money for the cause are encouraged to contact the AUSA.

The people of Dunedin and Wellington have also reached out to those in need – offering packed lunches to volunteer workers and housing for displaced Cantabrians.

If you wish to make a donation please visit any one of these websites (the Red Cross website has been crashing due to extensive traffic so please be patient):

Red Cross online

GrabOne website

fundraiseonline.co.nz

Britons can donate to the New Zealand Red Cross online here.

Alternatively UK Vodafone customers can give £5 by texting “NZQUAKE” to 70801. UK Vodafone will donate an extra £1 for each text.

Last night over 800 business school alumni and a number of press gathered in London to see PR legend Max Clifford speak about his success at an event organised by the Association of Business Schools (ABS).

Max Clifford has been in the business of public relations for over 40 years, with his company Max Clifford Associates Limited representing a wide range of clients and celebrities such as Jade Goody and Robert Murat. These days he is often as recognisable as the stars he promotes and frequently appears on TV and radio to give his views on a wide range of subjects. He not only promotes his clients, but also protects them and has saved many a famous career from damage.

The audience was made up of over 800 alumni from the members of ABS Alumni Group – a network set up to encourage events and career enhancing activities to promote and add value to the higher education business school experience. Elly Sample, Director of Marketing, Communications and Development for the University of Lincoln, introduced Clifford, saying: “Its not often you get to introduce one of your heroes”.

Clifford said he thought that the network was good and ‘common sense’. He said: “Business students are going to play an important role in our future so it can only be good” and also that he thought it was positive that universities were working together.

We asked Clifford whether he thought the UK was the best place to study and practice in public relations and he told us: “This is the centre of the world, for media. I think it’s the centre of the universe. If you can’t do it here, you can’t do it anywhere”. He also later said that he thought the UK was one of the best countries in the world, stating: “I love it here, I’m proud to be British”.

Those who are wondering if a degree in PR will be of use will be pleased to hear that Max thinks they are of value and says that everyone in his company, apart from him, has a degree in PR because it shows “an interest and a dedication”. He thinks the increase in universities and PR courses is a good thing, though there should be more practical elements to go with the theory: “There’s no substitution for experience”. He also told the audience: “I think it’s wonderful that there are universities giving young people a better chance. Sharing knowledge and sharing ability is wonderful.”

Clifford often gives talks at universities to students and said he helps students with dissertations ‘daily’. “I love going to universities and talking to students” he says, “The standard all over Britain is as high as it has been and as high as in any other country I’ve been to”.

Clifford also entertained the audience with stories from his varied career – from working at EMI promoting The Beatles, to his work with Simon Cowell. He also branded Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ as a PR stunt, and talked about the work he does for charity – he is patron of both CHASE and the Royal Marsden Hospital – and helping children meet their idols. He said: “One of the wonderful things about being Max Clifford is that you can make those things happen”. Vicky Robinson, Head of Marketing and Communications for the ABS says she is pleased with the success of the event.

Clifford’s parting advice to those wanting to follow in his footsteps is: “Back your own judgment, back your own instinct” and to get experience whilst you are studying and “learn by your mistakes”.

Clifford was not paid for speaking at the ABS event, instead requesting a donation to CHASE. Chase is a children’s charity dedicated to giving support to families with children who are not expected to live past the age of 19.  To find out more, please visit – www.chasecare.org.uk

ABS is the authoritative voice of business and management education, representing all the leading university business schools in the UK, who collectively provide business and management education to over 250,000 students each year. Please visit – www.the-abs.org.uk

Mr. Clifford is widely regarded as one of the leading exponents of public relations in the UK, representing some of the biggest names in UK politics, sport and popular culture. One of his first ever roles in the industry was representing a little-known band from Liverpool called The Beatles. Perhaps less well known is his commitment and support for charities, including Children’s Hospices UK.

During the talk Mr. Clifford will talk about his thirty-year career at the forefront of the British media and will hopefully share some of the secrets of his success with the ABS members attending.

The ABS is the authoritative voice of business and management for the UK, and collectively provide business and management education for over 250,000 students a year.

Mr. Clifford was delighted to be asked to speak, saying: “I am pleased to be speaking to people who I’m reliably informed have got a tremendous amount of entrepreneurial talent. Hopefully when you start to make a fortune you’ll come to me for PR, making me even more successful. The media can and often does play a very important part in the success of any business project; hopefully I can help to give you an insight into how this works.”

Vicky Robinson, Head of Communications for the ABS said: “We are planning to put on joint events and career enhancing activities at venues around the world to engage with UK HE alumni globally and promote and add value to the UK HE Business School experience. The events will be advertised to a total of 1/2 million professionals and will provide the opportunity for them to learn from experts in the field of business as well as to network with other business men and women.”

You can learn more about the events and the ABS by visiting their website www.the-abs.org.uk

The Disaster Emergency Committee reports that, prior to the 2010 earthquake, “80% of education in Haiti was provided in often poor-quality private schools; the state system generally provided better education but provided far too few places”.

Almost 5,000 schools were affected by the earthquake, which also destroyed the Ministry of Education building, crippling the government’s ability to respond to the ensuing education crisis. Organisations such as UNICEF have been instrumental in restoring access to schools, as well as providing additional teachers.

UNICEF have worked with Haitians such as Marie Ginette Mathurin, a structural engineer with a doctorate in physics and mathematics, to construct temporary classrooms for displaced students.

“Haitians don’t have much money, but they do believe in education for their children,” said Mathurin.

These temporary structures, ranging from tents to semi-permanent constructs, have been instrumental in providing a sense of continuity for young people who have been traumatised by the events of the earthquake.

“Many of the children have been exposed to horrendous, terrifying images. Many lost friends and family,” says UNICEF Haiti Education Chief Nathalie-Fiona Hamoudi. “School, with time, can help heal some of this distress with a return to a safe and secure environment, a familiar place.”

However, many educators have reported deeper issues for youngsters returning to schools still based in traditional bricks-and-mortar buildings. Tania McBride, a UNICEF Communications Specialist, has reported that many children are suffering from psychological problems – associating certain building types with the fear of collapse.

In the year since the earthquake 57 semi-permanent schools have been established, designed to resist natural diasasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes, and providing clean water and sanitation facilities. Plans are in place for a further 60 establishments in the near future, which will be able to provide facilities for almost 25,000 children. Mohammed Malik Fall, coordinator of the inter-agency Education Cluster in Haiti, believes these new establishments will be critical to Haiti’s development by providing vital education for the country’s future leaders.

“Providing safe and secure buildings where children can resume their learning is a crucial part of the healing process. But we have to be realistic – nothing will be solved overnight,” said Fall.

For older students, more technological initatives are in place to ensure their educational development. The University of the People, a tuition-free online university, has today announced that from February they will double the number of places available to Haitian students, therefore providing an additional fifteen places on their Business Administration or Computer Science courses.

UoPeople operates through e-learning and peer-to-peer learning, with the aim of providing “universal access to college studies, despite geographic and economic restraints.” To this end, students in Haiti will be able to make use of a local computer centre complete with a satellite internet connection.

Shai Reshef, Founder of UoPeople, said:

“This is a small step to remedy a very large problem – but it is nonetheless in the right direction. As we continue to expand this program in Haiti and offer individuals the opportunity to remain and learn in their country, I am confident we will see long lasting effects for our students, their communities and the region as a whole. Education is the bright spot for the Haitian people. I’m glad UoPeople can be a resource for them as they work to rebuild after the devastation.”

It is hoped that moves such as this will go some way towards alleviating the “brain drain” affect on Haiti, as well-educated Haitians leave the country to seek greater prosperity.

Over the past year, dozens of non-profit organisations have raised more than $1 billion in aid for Haiti. You can find a full list of the organisations here, as well as the ways in which they are spending the funds. Please consider supporting one of these organisations in their efforts to support Haiti. The following video shows how one organisation, Save The Children, is supporting the redevelopment of Haiti.

We’re proud to present our latest subject-specific magazine, i-LASH, for courses in the liberal arts, social sciences and humanities.

These subjects are consistently popular with international students, providing an insight into the way we live, think and experience the world around us. This issue explores a range of subjects such as history, philosophy, psychology, geography, international studies and more, with discussions on how studying such subjects can provide a fantastic education as well as open up a wealth of rewarding and inspiring career opportunities.

As always we love to hear feedback from our readers so if you want to share your thoughts on i-LASH or any of the i-studentadvisor publications you can contact us through editorial@i-studentadvisor.com

We hope you enjoy this issue and will join us again for our next subject-specific magazine, i-MHS, for courses in medicine and health science.

World Computer Exchange is a non-profit organisation that dedicates itself to expanding access to higher education to some of the world’s poorest countries. President Timothy Anderson said:  “We’re trying to go into developing countries that [the university] might not have a lot of students in now.”

The organisation was founded in 2009 and currently has 500 students in 100 countries around the world. According to Mr. Anderson, the next targets for the organisation are Zimbabwe, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Liberia and Palestine. Quite a list and one that clearly demonstrates their aim to help some of the world’s most disadvantaged students.

The plan involves setting up communication centres with twenty internet-accessible computers at each location. They also hope to work with local universities to allow students to use their facilities.

Tied to organisations in seventy-one countries, World Computer Exchange sees the University of the People as a natural progression of what they want to achieve. “This is exactly why we’ve been working with these computers, planting them like Johnny Appleseed, all over the world,” said Mr. Anderson. Adding, “this is a great way to get to university level”.

The judges’ decision was announced at a ceremony in London hosted by the new British Council Chair and the awards handed out by TV presenter Konnie Huq. The aim of Shine! was to celebrate the contribution of international students to life in Britain, focusing on a wide range of factors other than just academic work.

The entrants were asked to describe in a letter how life in the UK has helped them to develop and how their actions have contributed to life both in the UK and in their home country.

Melissa’s winning letter described her keen interest in raising awareness of climate change and the actions of NGOs working in her home country of Burkina Faso. Melissa was able to help raise £100,000 pounds for NGOs working in the country in just over a year. Her work also took her to the climate change summit in Copenhagen where she was able to meet President Obama.

Melissa who collected the award  and a cheque for £2,000 said: “For me Shine is a celebration of the cultural diversity of the UK and being a part of the awards has taught me to seize any opportunity that comes your way – you never know how it will turn out.”

The other eleven regional finalists each received cheques for £1,000 and a commemorative award. Vernon Ellis said: “It is important to remember that British Education Institutions can offer much more than just a first class education for International Students; they also opportunities to broaden students’ life experiences.

The International Student Awards provide a unique opportunity to showcase the non-academic achievements of students who come from far and wide to study in the UK. These students’ activities have not only broadened their own experiences, but have enriched life in Britain. They are a credit to themselves, their institutions and their countries!”

You can find out more about studying in the UK by reading the latest i-studentadvisor UK guide.

Her “letter home” describing her experiences of living and studying in the UK was judged to be the best and the most inspiring by a panel made up of representatives from the British Council, the National Union of Students, the UK Council for International Student Affairs, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, and The Times Higher Education magazine.

The judges’ decision was announced at an awards ceremony in London hosted by Vernon Ellis, the British Council’s new Chair and former International Chairman of Accenture. The winners were handed their awards by TV presenter Konnie Huq at the event attended by all the finalists with representatives of their universities, further and higher education colleges, and schools.

Shine! is the only competition that celebrates international students’ unique contributions to life in Britain, taking into account a wide variety of achievements and activities rather than focussing solely on academic work. Entrants are asked to describe in a letter how their experiences in UK institutions and communities have helped them develop new life skills and influenced their interests and goals, and how they have contributed to life in Britain, and back home.

Melissa’s winning letter tells how, from the beginning of her time at University in the UK, she had a strong desire to both raise awareness of the effects of climate change and support the work of two NGOs operating in Burkina Faso. She began volunteering for Christian Aid and giving talks in churches and schools.

In February 2009 Melissa applied for a grant from the European Union to help two of the NGOs working In Burkina Faso.  Her application was successful on the condition that she raised £20,000 ‘match funding’. After organising many fundraising events and increasing awareness through the local media, she exceeded her target, raising £50,000 in just 10 months.  This incredible achievement meant that the NGOs received over £100,000 to help fund local projects in Burkina Faso.

And Melissa’s tireless work raising awareness of climate change issues led her to be invited to attend the summit in Copenhagen where she had what she called “another unforgettable experience” – meeting president Obama.

Accepting a trophy and £2,000 prize, Melissa said: “I only heard about the awards one hour from the deadline when my friend told me about them and although I was in the middle of my dissertation, I decided to go for it.  I just wrote exactly what I felt and it was rewarding to realise how much I’ve achieved since arriving in the UK.

“For me Shine is a celebration of the cultural diversity of the UK and being a part of the awards has taught me to seize any opportunity that comes your way – you never know how it will turn out!”

With its young, fresh design and simple navigation i-studentlife is the ideal starting point for students looking to find out about degree programmes, study abroad programmes and the student lifestyle in the top study destination countries. On the site you will find a variety of interesting articles that cover all aspects of studying overseas and life beyond. We work with students globally who are already studying overseas and are keen to share their experiences with other students looking to follow in their footsteps.

The i-studentlife writers are based around the world, either providing on-going blogs allowing their readers to follow their experiences or writing one-off articles on subjects such as volunteering overseas, travel, internships, entertainment, fashion and more. We also regularly feature interviews with young professionals to provide insight on the best way to pursue a particular career.

Our Community also allows students to interact with our writers, editors and other readers to get the very latest on international education and student life around the world.

i-studentlife was created to provide a voice for students, so if you’re a student yourself with something to say, email us to find out how you can get involved.