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.

Higher Education: once one of America’s most reliable export markets is suffering due to the post September 11th visa restrictions and high tuition costs. Therefore the growth in international students has slowed allowing other countries to step in and reap the benefits.

American institutions are now fighting back having finally shaken off their prior contentment that the prestige of US academies was enough to keep the international students coming in. Universities are now targeting international students, offering scholarships as incentives, forming partnerships with institutions in growth areas such as China, and for the first time offering commission to private recruiters.

The desire to increase the international recruitment is said to be driven by the wish for universities to be more diverse, which has become a unique selling point to American students.

A survey by the Institute of International Education states that 57% of the universities that responded stated that they are taking steps to improve their international recruitment. An example of this is the University of Rochester, which has increased their international student population by 53% this year and overseas students make up 10% of its overall enrolment.

Some universities have even begun offering scholarships to international students to offset the high- cost of tuition fees- something that has never been done before.

Controversially, some universities have begun paying private recruiters commission in an attempt to compete with international rivals. An action frowned upon by the National Association of College Admissions Counseling as US universities are prohibited, by law, to do this domestically.

Another strategy has seen some universities partnering with other institutions overseas, agreements that will see students spending two years in the US.

The assertive approach is already showing improvements, with the number of the international students on the rise again: up 10 percent in 2008 and 16 percent in 2009.

This drive to attract more international students has encouraged universities in various states to join forces to promote themselves i.e. Discover Indiana and One Big Campus in Philadelphia. This is something very new to Higher Education as in the past, many institutions saw every other institution as a competitor for international students.

Liberal Democrat business secretary, Vince Cable, whose department is responsible for universities, set out the advantages of a graduate tax plan as a fairer repayment system. Under this system the government would pay a student’s tuition fees, and graduates would then be taxed according to the amount they earned. Therefore ensuring that a low-paid teaching assistant would pay far less than a city banker for their degree.

The BBC has reported that a Conservative source has said that this plan has been dismissed by the government as it could damage the ties between the student and the university, with the tax money going to the Treasury instead of the institution. The report said that ministers are instead “exploring the options for a scheme that allows graduates to contribute towards their university education in a way that maintains the direct payment from the individual to the university.”

This autumn, Lord Browne, the former chief executive of BP, will be leading an independent review into whether tuition fees should be raised or replaced. The decision could cause serious divides within the coalitions government, as a key part in the Lib Dem manifesto was to abolish tuition fees.

So what are the implications?

Short term- due to the current economic climate, universities are going to be stretched further and face more challenging times ahead. If the fees increase or graduate contributions increase, it will be a number of years before students start paying back their fees to the government, meanwhile the government are going to have to find extra funds in order to pay the raised fees.

Long term – any policy choices made now could have far-reaching implications on the number and shape of universities. It could affect the type of work they do, the number of people who study and how they will study, as well as the accessibility of university for low-income students.

Are you planning on studying in the UK? What are your views on the matter? Please comment below.

The first such summer school was held in Beijing last year, and CUPL students will be attending Exeter’s first summer school at the same time in order to follow a bespoke programme in Law.

CUPL is generally regarded as the top-ranked university for Law in China, and as in 2009 Exeter students studying Law and the Social Sciences and going to CUPL will be accompanied by members of academic staff keen to develop research links.

Dr Greta Bosch, lecturer in Law at the University of Exeter said, ‘Our students are very excited about visiting Beijing in July.  At Exeter we are committed to fostering an academic experience that is international in outlook. This programme represents a unique opportunity for our students to visit partner university CUPL, and to participate in an academically and culturally enriching experience. At Exeter we recognise the importance of Study Abroad as a means of enhancing life and employability skills already developed at the University, and I am delighted that financial assistance has been provided by Exeter under its Internationalisation Strategy to help students achieve this dream’.

The three week Summer School will run from 11 to 31 July and is built around daily lectures – including comparative study of e.g. Chinese and UK law, Chinese policy affecting the European Union, Human Rights Law – and various cultural excursions. CUPL is also organising visits to various non-Governmental organisations and talks by law companies.

Prof Zhu Yong, the Vice President of CUPL, said ‘Following the success and enthusiastic response to last year’s programme we welcome this year’s students and staff from the University of Exeter. This is an excellent opportunity to build upon the already strong ties between our two institutions, and to develop further both research linkages as well as the interchange of students.’
Prior to the summer school the University of Exeter provides Mandarin language and Chinese culture training. A ‘buddy system’, whereby CUPL designates students to help team up with Exeter students on arrival, helps Exeter students and staff to settle in.

Article courtesy of the Press Office at the University of Exeter.

Amongst Jeetah’s plans to transform Mauritius into a “knowledge hub” is the goal of increasing the number of Mauritians enrolling in higher education to 70%, a rate more than four times higher than many of their African neighbours.

Mauritius has already seen an impressive rise in their student enrolment figures; in 2000 15% of 20-24 year olds were pursuing higher education, whilst in 2009 that figure had shot up to 45%.

Jeetah hopes to achieve the 70% target by 2015 and to have attracted 100,000 international students to Mauritius by 2020. To achieve these goals the Mauritian government will be investing 600 million rupees (US$19 million) on the construction of a new university campus at Réduit to serve 8,000 new students.

Further plans under consideration include the establishment of a new university, possibly at Montagne-Blanche, as well as loosening the restrictions on international student visas and work permits. The Mauritian government will also be working with foreign institutions wishing to open branches on the island and promoting the nation at international education fairs.

The Mauritian government now spends 4.5 billion rupees on the infrastructure of public and private education institutions.

i-studentgroup will be attending the 17th annual OACAC Summer Conference. This year the Conference is being hosted by Northeastern University, situated in the thriving city of Boston, Massachusetts.

A total of nearly 900 counsellors, advisors, university admission staff, and other professionals in the higher education sector are set to attend the 3-day conference, which begins on Thursday the 15th of July.

The Conference will include the usual blend of educational workshops, hospitality and networking sessions and the high school/ college fair – which i-studentgroup are sponsoring.

Special events this year also include a New England dinner at Babson College, the annual OACAC dodgeball tournament and a closing gala set in the New England Aquarium, which lines Boston harbour.

For further information on the OACAC conference, visit: www.northeastern.edu/oacac

Alternately an OACAC app for Smartphone’s can be downloaded from the Apple Store or the Blackberry App World. Just search for OACAC Bos10. The app includes a conference schedule, campus map and details of the educational sessions.

See you in Boston.

The Canadian Government and provincial authorities began work on this campaign several years ago, incorporating a number of colleges and universities to develop a strategy. The consortium members include the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the Canadian Association of Public Schools – International, the Canadian Bureau for International Education and Languages Canada.

Faced with huge competition from countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, collective action was required. This new consortium hopes to improve the results of marketing efforts promoting Canada as a destination of choice for international students by drawing on the strengths of individual members.

They have wasted no time in getting started- with their focus set on India. Last week the Canadian and Indian prime ministers signed an agreement to increase the higher education ties between the two countries.  Also a two-day workshop sponsored by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada was hosted last month aimed at making India their top priority, with over a third of Canadian universities in attendance.

The reasoning behind the increased interest in Indian students is simple, reports The Globe and Mail. India is home to a very large population of under 25 year olds, and the Canadian universities that are short of students (and funds) need to take advantage of this. Pawan Agarwal, author of a book on Higher Education in India, explains to The Globe and Mail that it is not a secret that with little knowledge of higher education opportunities in Canada, most international students have their sights set on the USA. And if Canadian schools are hoping to draw in more Indian students, they need to make themselves “more visible”.

Are you a prospective international student living in India? Are you aware of the opportunities to study in Canada? If so, please leave your comments below.

The fellowship’s goal was to introduce American students to all aspects of Saudi culture, and Cournoyer said the experiential learning opportunity left him much wiser, inspired and globally enlightened.

Cournoyer was selected as one of nine current college students — all Model Arab League standouts at their respective universities — to participate in the 10-day fellowship. The trip, June 7 to 16, was organized by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, an American nonprofit that strives to improve Americans’ knowledge and understanding of Arab culture. It was co-sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission to the U.S.A. and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Higher Education.

In his group’s guided travels across the country, Cournoyer had some memorable experiences. He shared tea and coffee with Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Zamil, a Saudi billionaire. He met Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, longtime director of the Saudi Arabian intelligence agency, who shared his views on Saudi Arabian history and the Kingdom’s foreign affairs policies. And he heard John Sfakianakis, a leading economist and group general manager at Banque Saudi Fransi, discuss the oil industry’s place in Saudi Arabia’s economic future.

The fellowship also included visits to several universities and museums showcasing the country’s history, scientific advancements, and oil drilling and production process.

“It strengthened my interest and appreciation for society in the Middle East,” said Cournoyer, a political science and international affairs double major.

Cournoyer said he discovered there are more opportunities for women than is commonly believed in the West, and the fellowship strengthened his understanding of how closely religion is integrated into every element of Saudi life.

“What we saw was much more dynamic and had much more depth to it than the perception that the only thing going on over there is exporting oil,” he said.

Cournoyer, who said he is eager to return one day to learn more about the culture, has been selected as the secretary-general of the 2011 National Model Arab League Conference in March in Washington, D.C.

Story courtesy of Northeastern University. To view the original release, click here.

Since the system was introduced ten years ago, UCAS has rated the level of qualifications and grades achieved by students and awarded a certain amount of points; these points are then used by universities to assess the aptitude of students and offer places on degree courses.

At the time the system was created, the majority of university applicants had A-Level qualifications. Now, however, only half  of university applicants pursue A-Levels prior to university, with many students achieving alternative qualifications. In light of this greater diversity, and the limitations of the current system in showing how one particular qualification may be of more value than another, UCAS are beginning a review into the points-based system which is expected to take up to two years.

Professor Sir Robert Burgess, chair of the UCAS Board and Vice-Chancellor of Leicester University, said: “The UCAS tariff has been very valuable to the higher education sector which uses it in many different ways to support the admissions process and understanding of qualifications. A review is appropriate at a time when applicants are using an increasingly diverse range of qualifications to progress in to higher education.”

The announcement has received support from both the National Union of Students and the Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, who said: “I’m very pleased UCAS is undertaking this review, because our universities admissions system needs to recognise the full range of modern qualifications, including apprenticeships. It is important to ensure that we value both academic and vocational qualifications, provided they are rigorous. That is the way to make sure people have the best possible chance to go on to higher education.”

The chief executive of UCAS, Mary Curnock Cook, added: “Getting onto your chosen course in higher education has always been competitive. UCAS wants to make sure that everyone can understand the currency of particular qualifications for entry to particular courses and can make a realistic and successful application.”

For more information on studying in the UK, read the latest UK i-studentadvisor guide.

Cameron R. Hume, the US ambassador to Indonesia, has hailed the plans as a means of empowering the Indonesian youth: “A country without a better higher-education system won’t be successful and satisfied in the 21st century… The best thing they can do to face the future is to have an informed, educated citizenry.”

Although the Indonesian government has allocated 20% of its budget to education, the majority of those funds are directed towards primary and secondary schools, leaving a lack of effective higher education for older students. The new US scheme will seek to improve standards through educational exchanges and university partnerships, with the hope that many Indonesian students – perhaps as many as double the current amount – will be able to study in the US.

A White House statement also added that the scheme will seek to improve both the capacity and quality of Indonesian higher education institutions,  as well as expand initiatives through the Community College Initiative Program, Fulbright, and access to English language courses.

The two nations have also announced plans to hold a joint higher education summit in the summer of 2011.