TESOL, US government link up on ELT

TESOL International Associates the largest association for English language educators in the USA, and the US Department of State are to work together to increase America’s role in meeting the growing demand for English language teaching worldwide.

Heriot-Watt Has Plans For New Campus in Malaysia

Scottish tertiary institution, Heriot-Watt University, has secured a UK£20 million deal to launch a new campus in Malaysia. Malaysian city development company, Putrajaya Holdings, selected the institution from several that applied to win the international tender, as part of government plans to transform Malaysia into a high-income earning nation.

UK Visa Changes Is Killing Its reputation.

The UK has become a less welcoming study destination due to its tough new visa rules and problematic visa application process, a survey of international students confirms today. A total of 5,000 overseas students on UK university and college courses were polled, with one in five saying they no longer felt welcome in the country and a further one in five were undecided.


Meanwhile, 70% thought the cost of a student visa was now unreasonable (having increased by more than 50% since 2009) and 8% said they had applied as many as three times for their visa, having initially being refused.

Celebrities And Their Surprising Degree Choices.

Jules O'Riordan's stage name Judge Jules is a nod to his previous life as an LSE student of law and organiser of illegal warehouse parties. Whenever the police turned up it was he who was expected to deal with them and put his legal knowledge to the test. Newspaper reports earlier this year claimed he had passed exams that would enable him to now practise as a solicitor more than 20 years after finishing his degree.

Study Abroad Could Be A Solution for UK Students.

The rising tuition are forcing many to look for Universities overseas, as shown by the thousands attending the first Student World Fair.
Inside Arsenal’s football ground, the mood is ugly. Not because of a controversial refereeing decision, or even the team’s failure to win a trophy since 2005. But because of the increase in UK university tuition fees.

Parents Tells Students to Study Abroad For Cheaper Degrees.

Parents are encouraging their children to enrol in foreign universities to avoid soaring tuition fees in England. 

Universities across the world report unprecedented levels of interest from UK sixth formers in the run up to the introduction of £9,000 a year tuition fees in England.

Applications are being driven by parents who want to avoid paying £27,000 for a three year degree or having their teenagers saddled with years of debt.

Rise In Tuition Fees Put Off Students

UK Universities are facing a massive slump in entrants with overall applications down 12.9 percent official figures shows. 

Many students no longer feel they can afford to go to university 

These Universities sees 20,000 fewer applications fro 2012 registration.

With fees set to treble to a maximum of £9,000 in 2012, applications from UK students alone are down by 15.1 per cent, according to statistics published by Ucas.

FREE EDUCATION IN GERMANY.

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A German based company is providing admission for Engineering and Pharmacy students for

summer and winter intake. Education is free in Germany. This company is supporting South

Asian students into high level Universities for Engineering, Pharmacy and Management. For

details contact blog email.  

Singapore Qualificat​ion with a Work Permit Visa in New Zealands (Max 3 years)

We are pleased to announce the launch of the our new programmes that leads to career pathways toNew Zealand !

Attain a Singapore qualification Travel and Tourism Managment in just 3 months, get attached for 6 months of top class internship training in Singapore with the most reputable organisations in Singapore and a Work Permit Visa in New Zealand for 3 years.

Registration Fee: SGD $500
Course Fee: SGD $6000
NZ Work Permit: NZ$4000

This is the only window of opportunity for students to enter Singapore and gain access into New Zealand.

We have opened admissions for January 2012. Admissions closing on 30 November 2011.

Please email me on blog, for more information.

Peer-Driven Learning.

This process actually started with an activity we did in class after reading the first few chapters. I asked the students to list their major (or intended major, as these are almost all first-year students), their hobbies, and their passion. We then discussed how these three things were related to one another, and what skills they learned from one area helped them in the other areas. Basically, we were looking at "soft skills" but also began talking about why some of their chosen majors different so widely from their passions or hobbies. Of course, money came into it, which lead, once again, to a conversation about motivation. I also wanted students to start thinking about their educations more holistically, seeing the connections and relationship between what they do inside and outside of the classroom.  

Voting Grades for Student Mother.

The chancellor of the University of California at Davis is pledging an investigation and "swift and appropriate action" over an e-mail in which a class was polled on the grade that should be given to a student who had to miss some quizzes because she had given birth.

"I take very seriously any allegations that a student’s welfare, dignity or academic rights have in any way been compromised. And as a woman, who has experienced firsthand the challenges of melding academic and family life and has experienced discrimination, I am especially sensitive to this issue," said an e-mail message that Linda P.B. Katehi, chancellor at Davis, and that she planned to send to all the students who complained on her.

The ‘Myth of the Digital Native’

The most alarming finding in the ERIAL (Ethnographic Research in Illinois Academic Libraries) studies was perhaps the most predictable: when it comes to finding and evaluating sources in the Internet age, students are downright lousy.

Only seven out of 30 students whom anthropologists observed at Illinois Wesleyan “conducted what a librarian might consider a reasonably well-executed search,” wrote Duke and Andrew Asher, an anthropology professor at Bucknell University, whom the Illinois consortium called in to lead the project.

Bookless Library

Ten years ago, Abigail Sellen and Richard Harper published a nifty book about how and why people use paper in their workplaces. The Myth of the Paperless Office reported ethnographic observations of people struggling to do things with computers that they were used to doing on paper; sometimes there were good reasons why paper was so persistent. The title reminded us that the “paperless office” we were promised decades ago is a joke - on us. We use more paper than ever and manage to have disorderly desktops both literally and digitally. That's a funny kind of progress.

Melbourne City Institute of Education (MCIE)

It is a well established Institute in the international education space from Melbourne.
Melbourne City Institute of Education is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 221721 CRICOS 03024A) located in West Melbourne. It offers a range of nationally accredited qualifications and short courses. The following diploma and certificate courses on our scope with more to come:
• Certificate IV in Small Business Management
• Diploma of Management
• Certificate III in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery)
• Certificate IV in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery)
• Diploma of Hospitality
• Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical Technology

More information contact blog email.

The ‘American Nightmare’.

A recent story published in Forbes online, “The American Nightmare: Student Debt Will Be A Long-term Drag On The Economy”, examines how student debt burdens in the US have skyrocketed in recent years, causing many to default on their loans and contributing to the stagnation of the economy.  Universities in the U.S. have for many years charged students tuition fees, and the total cost of studying at a U.S. institution (tuition plus food/housing/other fees) can range anywhere from $15,000 to $60,000 per year, depending on the institution (public or private, in-state or out-of-state).

Study In New Zealand

Interested in studying in New Zealand in 2012. We would recommend students with several programs that may interest them, such as, Hospitality and management & Chef, Nursing, Business etc, email us at blog email.

Will Microsoft Take over Teaching?

At first blush, many listening to Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s speech at the Microsoft Partners in Learning Global Forum may have thought they had accidentally stumbled into an economic forum. Duncan’s speech was liberally sprinkled with many terms from the current economic rhetoric: “zero-sum game,” “international competition,” and “protectionism.” Words often used in debates over economic reforms and free trade agreements were instead used to highlight the attitudes that many have towards international collaboration in the public education sphere. 

Teachers On Professional Learning Networks

In the new era where teachers have little time for face-to-face interaction with colleagues, these educators are increasingly turning to online communities (or professional learning networks, PLNs) that allow them to share lesson plans, teaching strategies, and student work, as well as collaborate across grade levels and departments.  Many teachers and administrators feel that PLNs “reduce isolation, promote autonomy, and provide inspiration” through access to teachers across the world.  

Overcompensated Public School Teachers in USA

The American Enterprise Institute released a paper earlier this week that seeks to prove public school teachers are overcompensated by “52% more than their skills would garner in the private sector.”  Traditional estimates of teacher compensation generally compare teacher salaries to the salaries of workers with similar education and experience in the private sector, then adding the value of employer contributions toward fringe benefits—leading to the general conclusion that teachers are underpaid.  The authors of the study, Andrew Biggs and Jason Richwine, argue that this type of analysis is incomplete and based on faulty methods.

Bachelors Degree - For Jobs And Earnings

Earning a bachelor's degree is still the best path to middle-class employment and wages. While those with only a high-school diploma can achieve the same status, it will become harder for them to find and secure such jobs, says a new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.

The report, "Career Clusters: Forecasting Demand for High School Through College Jobs, 2008-18" outlines the different industry clusters expected to offer the best prospects for employment and wages for those with a high-school diploma, an associate degree, and a bachelor's degree.

Business Academics Role Is To Challenge Status quo.

In a tough environment globally, business schools seem to have adopted a supine and apologetic stance. There seems to be a general tendency to a “placate the aggressor” strategy of trying to be everyone’s best friend. However, showing a feisty attitude is actually where academics excel, so perhaps it is time we did just that?

Now would seem a good time to get back to basics, and correct some basic misunderstandings about business school teaching and research. When did we allow ourselves to be cast as training colleges or trade schools? It is not the role of faculty to ape the behaviour and values of managers. It is our role to analyse, criticise and challenge management practice. That’s how we add value and new and better ideas take root in practice.

NO COMPUTERS IN SILICON VALLEY SCHOOL.

The chief technology officer of eBay sends his children to a nine-classroom school here. So do employees of Silicon Valley giants like Google, Apple, Yahoo and Hewlett-Packard.

But the school’s chief teaching tools are anything but high-tech: pens and paper, knitting needles and, occasionally, mud. Not a computer to be found. No screens at all. They are not allowed in the classroom, and the school even frowns on their use at home.

Schools nationwide have rushed to supply their classrooms with computers, and many policy makers say it is foolish to do otherwise. But the contrarian point of view can be found at the epicenter of the tech economy, where some parents and educators have a message: computers and schools don’t mix.

Australia Student Visa Offering E-Visa Facility Promotion.

Melbourne has been successful in providing the best of services for UK, Australia, and NewZealand colleges. In order to improve the service provided, it is offering electronic visa application lodgement service for students wishing to study in Australia. Australian government has approved e-visa facility which can launch electronic applications from around the world, including India. 

For details contact blog email.

Minority Group Writers Are Marginalised

The roots of marginalisation of the writers of minority group are found in the long-established socio-economc and cultural conventions. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that all weaker sections of the society, including women, Dalits, Negroes and other minorities have been deliberately neglected by the so-called scholars of mainstream literature. The reasons behind such a negligence are more political than literary. The history of human society shows that it has been a place of inequalities at all levels. The dominant groups all over the world are seen exploiting the weaker groups on various pretexts. These pretentions of the ruling class are nothing else but the well-planned strategies to secure their own future by depriving the others. This same strategy is being followed by them for thousands of years. As the minority groups have started to voice their ideas in the form of literature, it would certainly defeat the very purpose of the dominant groups. The only need is to pursue the literary field with renewed vigor and while doing so, giving a helping hand to others who endeavour to tread on this path.

Disruptive Online Education And Autonomy

Clayton Christensen’s theory of disruptive innovation includes as one of its tenets that it is rare for incumbents in an industry to maintain their dominant position once a disruptive innovation has run its course. In industries as different as software, steel manufacturing and online book retailing, incumbents have been pushed aside by new organizations by employing technologies in new ways. Although large, well-run organizations often have the resources to generate innovations, their commitment to existing customers, focusing on improving existing systems, and unwillingness to pursue niche markets, stops them from investing sufficiently in new products and new markets.

NO FOOD NO TEACHING

Students in George Parrott's psychology courses have an unusual requirement: they must bring homemade snacks each week to the laboratory section, and they need to work out a schedule such that groups of students make sure each session is covered, and that snacks aren't repeated from week to week. If there are no snacks, Parrott walks out of his class at California State University at Sacramento, and the students lose that week's instruction.

Danish online network to recruit Chinese talent

Denmark had launched its first-ever website which would enable talented Chinese students and professionals to connectdirectly with Danish universities and firms.

Backed by top Danish companies and universities, the Sino Danish Network (www. sino danishnetwork.com) aims to become a platform for Danish companies to recruit from the pool of future Chinese talents, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The website's partners include leading Danish companies such as Arla Foods, Carlsberg, Chr. Hansen, Danfoss, Grundfos and Maersk, which will provide the network with open vacancies for Chinese students and professionals.

To promote itself, the Sino-Danish Network is also opening accounts in two of China's most popular social media sites, Sina Weibo and Renren, according to the statement.

For Chinese students and professionals, the website would offer an opportunity to make themselves directly visible to Danish universities and companies, it said.

Furthermore, the website will act as a kind of forum for Sino-Danish Alumni and connect experienced people around China with those from Denmark or Danish companies.

"Many Chinese already have relationships with Denmark either from working in a Danish company or simply by interest. Others are studying in Denmark or are alumni from Danish educational institutions," Danish Ambassador to China Friis Arne Petersen said Tuesday.

"We want to better connect with these 'Sino-Danes' in order to get a mutually inspiring network and community with exchanges in a range of fields, including professionally, culturally and socially. With the Sino-Danish Network, we now have a forum for gathering and developing this network," Petersen said.

The network is the first initiative of a Top Talent Program run by the Shanghai-based Innovation Center Denmark, a Danish diplomatic mission in China aimed at attracting Chinese talent to study at Danish universities or pursue a career with Danish companies.

The initiative will be followed by a campaign at several Chinese universities to promote Danish study programs and universities in October, and a Career Caravan event with Danish universities and companies in 2012. 

Impacts of Global University Rankings, EUA report.

EUA commissioned this report in response to the growth in international and national rankings, as a result of increasing questions from member institutions requesting information and advice on the nature of these rankings, because of the interest shown by national governments in ranking exercises, and finally in light of the European Commission’s decision to develop a ‘European ranking’.

The report focuses on international rankings and also refers to a number of other ongoing projects seeking to measure university performance. It describes and analyses the methodologies used by the main international rankings using only publically available and freely accessible information.

It is clear that despite their shortcomings, evident biases and flaws, rankings are here to stay. They ‘enjoy a high level of acceptance among stakeholders and the wider public because of their simplicity and consumer type information’ (AUBR Expert Group, 2009). For this reason it is important that universities are aware of the degree to which they are transparent, from a user’s perspective, of the relationship between what it is stated is being measured and what is in fact being measured, how the scores are calculated and what they mean.

However, it is important to underline that international rankings in their present form only cover a very small percentage of the world’s 17,000 universities, between 1% and 3% (200-500 universities),completely ignoring the rest.

The report confirms that most international rankings focus predominantly on indicators related to the research function of universities. Attempts to measure the quality of teaching and learning generally involve the use of proxies, often with a very indirect link to the teaching process, and are rarely effective.

The importance of links to external stakeholders and environments are largely ignored. Where existing data is used, it is often not used consistently, and reputational factors have in many cases disproportional importance. Taken together, this leads to an oversimplified picture of institutional mission, quality and performance, and one that lacks relevance for the large majority of institutions, especially at a time when diversification and individual institutional profiling are high on agendas across Europe.

TO BE AHEAD OF COLLEGE GAME.

This is a partial checklist of what colleges should to be doing to be ahead of the game:

1. Articulation — Is your college negotiating agreements with community colleges, other institutions with similar missions and programs as yours, and some for-profit providers? If not, it’s time to start.

2. Course availability — Are courses available from multiple entry points, such as online and in-person, at remote sites, and on e-devices such as cellphones and iPads? You can’t be afraid to experiment with this.

3. Part-time students — Are all of your services and people devoted to the needs of your full-time students? Or, are you offering special services, accommodation, and attention to part-timers? They will make up the fastest-growing percentage of new students. Show them you care.

4. Adult Students — Related to the last point. The greatest growth in your students is not going to be in 18-22 year-olds but in students in their 30s and older. What are you doing that makes them feel more welcome and comfortable?

5. Enrollment base —  Is your budget based on tuition from full-time students? Realize that they will become fewer in number, and the budget is going to have to work in course-by-course students, drop-in students, etc.

6. Degrees — Are you trying to offer every degree program yourself? Are you going to focus on what you do better than anyone else, and then find partnerships that cover other programs?

7. The finish line — It isn’t enough to get students in the door. Your college needs to figure out how to get them to finish their degrees. An estimated 37 million Americans have some college credit for no college degree. They need you to get better opportunities for themselves. Find them, and show them how you can help.

8. Blended studies — Higher education has been defined for too long by studies in specific disciplines when research, culture and particularly the working world are looking for connections between the disciplines. Look for ways to blend your curriculums and come up with new programs of study that combine them.

9. Give credit where credit is due. A growing trend in higher education is to give credit for life experience. Witness the growth of Western Governors University, where this concept is key. Is your college developing tests to measure the aptitudes and skills of your students? You’ll burn them out if you force them to relearn things they already know.

10. Culture – This is the foundation of your institution and your greatest asset. Make sure to develop programs and create opportunities that cultivate a distinct culture. It is your brand. It’s what sets you apart. How you help it grow and strengthen will make a difference.

TECHNOLOGY CHANGES HIGHER EDUCATION

 Western Governors University has been somewhat of a sensational success story in higher education. The no-frills provider of online education offers degrees in only four areas — Education, Business, Information Technology, and Health Professions — is growing its enrollment by about 30 percent per year, and has kept its tuition — $6,000 — the same for four consecutive years.

How? By emphasizing productivity, and utilizing technology in classes. “If we can increase productivity, there is more learning for less money. It’s a very simple equation,” said Robert Mendenhall, the university president at a forum called Charting the Future of Higher Education. Western Governors is very disciplined about matching each prospective student with an admission counselor, and they create an online relationship. Ongoing students have online relationships with mentors. And much of the learning takes place in student online communities.

Mendenhall said his university is just scratching the surface of the potential of technology in higher education. “We’re only going to have a meaningful impact if we inspire others to try new methods in higher education. Others will find better ways to use technology than we have.”

Speaking of technology, A. Craig Powell, CEO of ConnectEDU, spoke about his growing database of high school and middle-school students, and their talents, desires, and accomplishments. Kevin Carey, policy director of Education Sector, also a panelist at the event,  believes ConnectEDU willprofoundly change college admission in coming years by directly matching students to colleges that are the best fits for them.

Contributions of business educators

As business educators we must challenge the underlying assumptions of economic and business development, like the need for economic growth, unlimited consumerism, shareholder value. It is up to us to ensure that we create leaders who will focus on creating value for the world rather than only for a few shareholders. Leaders who act as servants for the common good operate a conscious business, they are engaged with society and the planet and they are asking for their real needs concerning economic innovation.

This is the contract we as management educators have with the world and with society. No more silos, no more tenure, no more clear-cut divisions between institutions, nor between business and other active players in the world (formally known as NGOs) , nor more citation indices to evaluate scholars.  This is what we must measure ourselves by and this is what we should strive to achieve. And we shouldn’t leave a stone unturned in order to get there, even if it means undoing some brick and mortar and doing away with some ivory towers.

Business executives – more than any other profession – have developed the capacity to deal with complexity and to adapt their strategy to an evolving environment. Businesses have evolved beyond national boundaries into global enterprises, uniquely able to address and act on global issues. As such, they do have an important contribution to make as co-trustees and co-actors, working with all stakeholders towards a larger vision for the world. 

Australia accepts Alternative English Language Tests for Student Visas

Australia will be able to accept test scores from the alternative English language tests for 

Student visa applications for all countries lodged on or after 5 November 2011. In addition to 

IELTS test, the acceptable alternative tests are:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL),

The Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic and

Academic and Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) from Cambridge ESOL for Student visa purposes.

Student Slashed to Death in Indonesia

Adrian Jay Pereira a 22-year-old, Malaysian medical student was slashed to death in Indonesia.

He was slashed in the neck by a man who had earlier attempted to steal his motorcycle from his rented house at about 7pm on Monday.

Adrian was a Public Service Department scholar studying medicine at Universitas Brawijaya.

The safety of all Malaysian students there is worrying parents and the Higher Education Ministry. 

Female Teachers Required In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

This is an excellent and exciting opportunity to teach in one of Riyadh’s top schools

Required English Language, Maths and Science teachers to teach students from Kindergarten to.

 Year 7 for two of Riyadh’s biggest and well known schools (according to the Saudi government classification).  A fantastic opportunity for anyone looking for an overseas post with a good salary and generous benefits included.

 AVAILABLE POSITIONS:

• KINDERGARTEN (3-5 year olds) FEMALE APPLICANTS ONLY
• ELEMENTARY GRADES 1 & 2 (5-7 year olds) FEMALE APPLICANTS ONLY
• YEAR 7 (11-12 year olds) FEMALE APPLICANTS ONLY

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA - To apply for the following positions you MUST meet the client’s requirements:

• Native English Speaker
• 2 Years MINIMUM teaching experience
• Maximum age of applicant is 50
• National of the UK and USA Only
• Computer literate
• Educated to degree level. (If you are applying to be an EFL teacher then all degree subjects will be considered; however you must hold a formal official TEFL qualification (CELTA/TESOL) if your degree is not EFL related.  Masters level is not essential

PACKAGE:

• Initial contract for one academic year
• Salary ranges from $30,000 + (USD) depending on experience and qualifications *TAX FREE*
• Secure and furnished accommodation provided
• Comprehensive health insurance
• Return air fare

START DATE:  ASAP

 If you are interested in any of these positions then please send us an email of interest and we will send you an application form. Contact blog email.

Educational Endowments Returned 19.8 Percent in 2011, in the US

The endowments of 284 U.S. colleges and universities returned an average of 19.8 percent (net of fees) in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011, a new report from the Commonfund Institute finds.


Conducted in partnership with the National Association of College and University Business Officers, the 2011 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments found that the highest-performing endowment in FY2011 returned 31.8 percent while the lowest returned 3.7 percent. The report also found that while the effective spending rate for the entire group was 4.3 percent, the spending rate for the two largest endowment cohorts (those with assets exceeding $500 million) was 5.1 percent and 5.0 percent, respectively.


Historically, larger endowments tend to significantly outperform smaller ones, but this year the spread was much tighter. While institutions with more than $1 billion in assets saw an average return of 20.2 percent, those with assets between $101 million and $500 million reported an average return of 19.9 percent, while those with assets of less than $25 million reported an average return of 19.1 percent.


In contrast, asset allocations varied widely among the institutions surveyed. For example, institutions with more than $1 billion in assets allocated just 12 percent on average to domestic equities, while those with endowments of less than $25 million allocated 41 percent of their assets to domestic equities; the two largest cohorts by asset size reported fixed-income allocations of 10 percent or less, while the three smaller cohorts all reported fixed-income allocations in excess of 20 percent; and institutions with more than $1 billion in assets allocated 58 percent of their assets to alternative strategies, while those with less than $25 million in assets averaged 9 percent to such strategies.


"What stands out in these preliminary figures is the fact that, despite the positive returns of this year and last, endowments still have not completely recovered from the damage inflicted by the market decline that accompanied the 2008-098 credit crisis," said NACUBO president and CEO John D. Walda and Commonfund Institute executive director John S. Griswold in a joint statement. "The average endowment is still at only 86 percent of its value in FY2007, using return data from past NCSE reports and a 5 percent spending rate, and longer-term returns for five- and ten-year periods are only 5.0 and 5.5 percent respectively — not significantly higher than the spending rate for many institutions. It will take several more years of positive returns for endowments to recover fully from the crisis."