Higher Edge: Institutions: Publications: Not-So-Foreign©, Volume 8, Issue 26

Not-So-Foreign^©
A Bulletin for International Education Professionals
Volume 8, Issue 26; July 29, 2009

1) THE PLAYING FIELD – Swimming against the tide: UK universities say no thanks to increase in applications
2) ABROAD PERSPECTIVE - PAK calls its own back
3) OVER THE COUNTER - Australia can’t stop the presses. More bad news in India
4) GLOBE TIPPING – Race against time

1) THE PLAYING FIELD – Swimming against the tide: UK universities say no thanks to increase in applications

In order to cope with the 10% increase in applications to UK universities this year, the government has decided to grant an extra 10,000 students places at universities across the country. The places, however, are limited to science and business-related subjects.

The downside is that although the government will grant the students grants and loans whilst they are at university, the universities themselves will not receive extra funding to support this surplus of students. As a result, some of the larger more reknowned universities like Bristol, Cambridge, Exeter, Leeds and University College London have turned down the offered extra places. Others have reduced the offered intake, like Newcastle and Manchester.

The universities have until 5pm on Thursday 30th July to accept the extra students. This is in order to give ample time to prepare for clearing in the months leading up to the new academic years’ intake.

Source: "Top Universities Wary on Places" BBC News, July 29, 2009

2) ABROAD PERSPECTIVE - PAK calls its own back

For most Pakistanis, study abroad is seen as a one-way street. Unlike for example in India, where many students leave for foreign degrees and return for Indian jobs and careers, in Pakistan there has not been much incentive to come home. Fears about the economy, politics and safety have most who leave, not considering coming back.

Pakistan's Ministry of Youth Affairs (MoYA) plans to induct fresh graduates under its National Internship Programme may help allay these fears. The MoYA has already provided employment opportunities to 22,000 young graduates. Both graduates and post graduates under the age of 25 are eligible to apply for an internship provided they have completed 16 years of formal education from a recognized university or college.

The scheme hopes to provide enough financial relief to new graduates and may act as an incentive to Pakistani students studying abroad wishing to return home once they graduate.

"Today, multinationals and corporations in Pakistan are looking for professionals, and the best ones are those who have either studied in premier institutions locally or have gone to good schools abroad to pursue their education," says Mr. Rubeena Hoodbhoy, Director Pakistan for Higher-Edge. "Even ones who do not return, make their way to Gulf Countries, as they find that they can get best of both worlds, i.e. religion and quality of life."

Source: "Youth ministry to induct graduates under NIP" The International News, July 15, 2009

3) OVER THE COUNTER - Australia can’t stop the presses. More bad news in India

Strong and sensational criticism of studying in Australia is once again splashing about on front pages and filling up hours on India's myriad of all news tv channels.

This time the headline story is an Australian reporter of Indian decent, claiming to have been threatened and then assaulted for her investigation into student visa fraud and exploitation of Indians.

ABC-TV in Australia reports from 3 to 5,000 USD is being charged for obtaining fake work certificates and English test scores. Such documents allow Indian students to stay on in Australia and eventually become residents.

The coverage on the program "Four Corners" also calls in question an Australian aviation college, claiming Indian students are being duped for tens of thousands of dollars, and being racially abused.

A former student, Scott Alex is quoted saying, "instructors hate flying with curry eating Indian stinking yellow."

India's coverage of abuse of in Australia, whether it be student visa fraud, swindling of tuition fees, violent crime, robbery, or allegations of racial abuse - is taking its toll on Australia's big recruiting machine in India. Yet very little of the criticism and the reportage of the India media is focussed on its home front, where hundreds of education agents cooperating with thousands of Indians, are doing all they can to send people out of the country, some for studies, some for work, and many with the hope of staying on in Australia. Thus while it may be "undercover" journalism in Australia, visa fraud of this kind is commonplace and common knowledge in India.

Sources:
"Australian college dupes indian students pursuing aviation course" Times of India, July 28, 2009

"Indian journalist attacked in Australia" Times of India, July 27, 2009

"Indian journalist attacked in Australia" Express India, July 27, 2009

4) GLOBE TIPPING - Race against time

Jet setting around the world for one business meeting after another is not as glamorous as it seems on paper and travelling across time zones can be extremely disorienting, playing havoc with your sleep patterns at just the time you need to be most rested and alert.

Below are a few tips to make your stay as seamless as possible:

1. Getting bumped off a flight can be an irritant at best and deal-breaking at worst. Pre-book your seats, print off the confirmation and re-confirm your flight 48 hours before you travel.

2. Carry your important documents, toiletries and medications and one change of clothes in your hand luggage in case your luggage gets lost and you have to attend an urgent meeting.

3. Carry a couple of USB's with your vital presentation saved on them as you may often find you are unable to connect your laptop to the available projector.

4. Try to adapt to the destination time zone as soon as you arrive. Go to bed earlier than you would or get up at your normal time even if you feel jet lagged and have some time to spare. This helps you adjust much quicker.

5. Travelling across time zones can be confusing. To avoid making expensive mistakes, set your watch for your local time and your mobile phone for your destination time so you can quickly cross reference.

6. If your company isn't on a roaming deal, do some homework on roaming fees relative to each mobile network in your destination country. Some can be a lot more expensive than others and at the other end you can choose the cheaper network manually.

7. If you aren't yet a Skype subscriber then think about becoming one. In some countries, using VoIP in the hotel lobby or a wi-fi zone can save you a small fortune in mobile phone roaming charges. Don't forget to pack your headset.

For these and more useful tips, visit the following link: http://www.silicon.com/research/specialreports/travel/0,3800011481,39159685-1,00.htm