3

Dear Reader,

I feel both delighted and humbled by theresounding success of my maiden effort atwriting a book – “Head Start for HigherStudies”, which was published last year. Wellwishers gave me positive feedback andconstructive suggestions and this has helpedme conceptualize the second edition.

Several families wanted more information oncareers so as to plan for their children’s futurein the current turbulent economic times. I havetherefore focused on this segment and haveincluded a section on ‘Careers of tomorrow’and ‘Career perspectives’. One of the specialadditions this year is a detailed synopsis ofUAE’s ‘Technical and Engineering SectoralDemands and Expectations’ by Dr. Ayoub KazimManaging Director, Education Cluster, TECOMInvestments based on UAE’s vision and goals. Ihave also included a section on learningdifficulties as this sector seems to be an areaof concern and the government of Dubai istrying to encourage inclusivity in schools.

Students, please continue to do wellacademically, also remember to volunteer incommunity development initiatives and getinvolved in extra-curricular pursuits. Universitiesare looking for all-rounders, not just highacademic achievers. In response to requests

from a few Asian families, I have addedSingapore as a study destination in this edition.

Thank you very much for keeping me a focused,life-long learner. To provide you with the mostup to date information, I need to continuouslyupgrade my skills and refine my research. TheChinese proverb – “Learning is a treasure thatfollows its owner everywhere” is so true.Knowledge becomes even more meaningfulwhen it is shared. So if you come across usefulinformation, do not just hang on to it, Tweet it,FB it, BB it, in short, share it! In collaboration liesstrength. Each one of us needs to preserve thepast, celebrate the present and shape the future.

If you are at that stage in life where you feeloverwhelmed by all that you need to do whetheryou are a student, parent or counsellor, breakeverything into bite-sized chunks, prioritize andhave a plan. Your tasks will then be easier tohandle. Be mindful of your deadlines and remaincommitted to tasks at hand.

Before I sign off, I would like to thank mymother, husband, brother, the creative designerMerwyn and my sales team: Deepak, Jason &Girish for their unstinting support, andpatience, Dr. Ayoub, Mr. Premchand, Dr. Nayakand Ms. V. Iyer, for sharing their perspectiveand support. I could not have brought out thisbook but for their belief in me and the project.

A world of opportunities awaits you! All thevery BEST!

Rema Menon V

EDITORIAL

5

CONTENTS

Published in association withExpat Media International Distribution LLCPeter Souri RajP.O.Box 181681Tel: 04 2973932Email: psr@expat-group.com

Exclusive Sales AgentSignature Media LLCP.O. Box 49784. Dubai, UAE

Deepak ChandiramaniEmail: Deepak@signaturemediame.comJason VerhovenEmail: jason@signaturemediame.comGirish PillaiEmail: girish@signaturemediame.com

Design and Layout byDesign BucketEmail: merw@designbucket.me

EditorialCounselling Point: Rema MenonP. O. Box 103926. Dubai, UAETel: 04 3978846Email: counsel@eim.ae

Printed by United Printing Press (UPP) – Abu Dhabi

Contributor’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of thepublisher or editor and while every precaution has been taken toensure that the information contained in this handbook is accurateand timely, no liability is accepted by them for errors or omissions,however caused. Articles and information contained in thispublication are the copyright of Expat Int’l and Counselling Pointand cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission.

CAREERS OF THE FUTURE 06

UAE’S TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING SECTORAL DEMANDS AND EXPECTATIONS 14

BIO RELATED COURSES AFTERHIGH SCHOOL 18

ENTRY LEVEL OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES IN THE UAE 22

ARE YOU A TRUE ARTIST? 24

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS 26

ACCREDITATION 38

EDUCATIONAL DESTINATIONSUNITED ARAB EMIRATES 42UNITED KINGDOM 50UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 58CANADA 64AUSTRALIA 70MALAYSIA 76GERMANY 82SWITZERLAND 88INDIA 94NEW ZEALAND 98SINGAPORE 104

U.A.E SCHOOLS 108

FUN AND INTERACTIVE - THAT IS TODAY’S CLASSROOM 116

LEARNING DISABILITIES IN CHILDREN 122

PARENTING A CHILD WITH LEARNINGDIFFICULTIES 128

6

careers Selection of a suitable career isone of the most difficult tasks fora teenager of today - spoilt forchoice with innumerable careeroptions, subject to peer pressure,parental demands, expectationsfrom society, worry about ownstability, fears about careergrowth/potential for selfdevelopment and most of all thefeeling of trepidation at theunknown. Although this piecedoes not aim to address all thoseissues, there is one thing it doesattempt to do - and that is lookinto the future and decipher whatis likely to be ‘hot and happening’twenty years down the line - justthe time when the presentgeneration: YOU will be peakingin your careers. As things liketechnology, medicine, science andenvironmentalism continue toadvance in the coming years,several occupations are bound toemerge. By understanding thesetrends, job seekers can play amore active role in planning fortheir careers.

of the future

CAREERS

7

• C y b e r S e c u r i t y S p e c i a l i s tCyber security is a growing industry. Knowledgeableprofessionals who can protect websites and exposehackers will be a hot commodity in the coming years.

• G e n e t i c C o u n s e l o rGenetics is advancing at a rapid rate. Doctors can nowrun tests that will predict genetic conditions, and beable to identify genetic challenges and prepare parentsfor the same. With the help of genetic counselors,families can educate themselves on available genetictechnologies and options.

• F o o dThe demand for organic, healthy, locally sourced foodwill continue to increase. But since sustainableagriculture is all about small-scale methods ratherthan big machines and fertilisers, the world will needmore, not fewer agricultural workers – up to tens ofmillions of them, according to journalist and food guruMichael Pollan.l Farmer Agricultural entrepreneur as skilled ingenetics as in marketing.l Personal food shopper Enables clients to hit theirrecommended daily allowance targets for nutritionalbalance, food-miles and organic sourcing.

• O r g a n i c F o o d F a r m e rOrganic food currently occupies about 10 percent ofthe food and beverage market -- and it's only going toincrease. As a result, more organic farmers andproducers will need to improve organic farmingtechniques to grow food.

• S p e c i a l i t y c h e f sCooking is considered an art, and a craft that has givengood chefs, celebrity status. While some people takeup cooking as a leisure pastime, many with a penchantfor cooking and the creative ability to excel areflambéing their way to stardom and success. As foodgoes global, specialty chefs are in great demand.

• M e d i c a l R e c o r d s A d m i n i s t r at o rMedical records are at the forefront of innovativetechnology, with a strong push to digitize medicalrecords. An increased number of medical researcherswill be needed to help move records from paper todigital, and to be able to navigate records quickly forpatients.

• M o b i l e A p p l i c at i o n D e v e l o p e rWith the development of phones like the BlackBerry,Android and iPhone, the mobile media industry is

C o l . V . K . M e n o n & V . R . M e n o n

If you want to ride a crest of increasing employment over the next 10 years, get into health care, personal care,social assistance, or construction. That’s the advice you can glean from a report issued by the U.S. Bureau ofLabor Statistics today. The BLS reports that a projected 20.5 million new jobs will be added upto 2020, a growthin employment of 14.3%. The industries and occupations mentioned above will have the fastest growth of all.Manufacturing and the federal government will see the biggest losses. The health care and social assistancesector is expected to add 5.6 million workers. Professional and business services trails with an anticipated additionof 3.8 million workers. Construction should also see a significant gain (1.8 million)—but the rapid growth stillwon’t bring the industry back to pre-recessionary numbers.

As for specific occupations, registered nurses will see the biggest increase (711,900), closely followed by retailsalespeople (706,800). Home health aides are expected to add 706,300 workers, while personal care aides willgrow by 607,000. Rounding out the top five, office clerks will see 489,500 new workers by 2020.

As per Rachel Farrell, who researches and writes about job search strategy and Ian Wylie who writes for TheGuardian, here are some potential jobs of the near or distant future, based on current trends:

8

continually progressing. An increased number ofdevelopers will be needed to help develop applications,in addition to combating security and compatibilityissues. Knowledge of interface design, networkcommunications, web services, SQLite databases, GSPframework and location based services is highlyrecommended for such professionals

• S o c i a l m e d i a m a n a g e rSocial media is the new buzz of the day. Facebook,Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr and YouTube haverevolutionised the way we work and live. More andmore marketing and advertising companies areincorporating social media into their strategies andusing these services to reach out to customers andbuild social networks within companies and outside.

Young people recruited for the purpose are quite happyto be working while tweeting, re-tweeting and beingup to date with what others are saying online. On amore professional level, this also means reviewingtraffic volume, bounce rates and other relevantmetrics, developing social media components for newcampaigns, helping with blogger outreach, creatinglong-term solutions for clients, lots of brainstorming,coming up with new ideas for reaching larger numbers.

• H R M a n a g e rWith more MNC’s setting up offices and centres, the

demand for HR professionals has risen manifold.However, now a HR manager role has evolved. Hemight oversee new employee training, negotiate withinsurance companies for the group health policies orconduct testing on applicants to ensure they’re capableof doing any job for the employer.

• R o b o t i c s T e c h n i c i a nRobots are becoming more commonplace and theydon't run on their own. Technicians will be needed tobuild robots, maintain them and keep them frommalfunctioning.

• S i m u l at i o n E n g i n e e rThere's a simulator for nearly everything these days,from surgeries to flying to drinking and driving. Asmore simulation-based technologies follow suit,engineers will be required to help out.

• S t e m C e l l R e s e a r c h e rAlthough it's a controversial topic, stem cell researchis gaining ground. If this continues, more researcherswill be needed to develop cures for diseases, geneticenhancements, and the other information these cellsmay potentially hold.

• S u s ta i n a b i l i t y O f f i c e rSustainability has become a concern around the world

CAREERS

10

and also among businesses. Since the executive suitemay not have time to learn all there is to know,organizations are hiring eco-savvy individuals as"sustainability officers." These folks will find, research,and implement eco-friendly policies to benefit theorganization.

• R e n e wa b l e e n e r g yAlternative fuels – solar, wind, tidal, hydrogen – aregoing to be huge, although renewables might also seean influx of workers from the disappearing oil and gasindustries. Nuclear too, will return, though a shortageof uranium might spoil that particular party.l Hydrogen fuel station manager: Produceshydrogen on site so will need science as well as retailskills.l Uranium recycler: Converts bomb-grade uraniumfrom warheads into low-enriched uranium for use innuclear power plants.

• N at u r a l r e s o u r c e m a n a g e r sContributing to the maintenance and conservation ofthe ecosystem that we rely on for our survival isextremely rewarding. These professionals are in highdemand, to advise and help manage development anduse of cities and rural areas with minimal impact tothe environment.

Professionals in this field are often employed to advise,

inform and maintain valued natural resource assets,and job opportunities are available in diverse roles. Attractive features in this industry include workingindependently and as part of a team, thriving indifferent environments, such as outdoors or an office,running community education programmes, doingresearch etc.

• A d va n c e d m a n u f a c t u r i n gl Mechatronical engineer: Combines mechanicalengineering, electronics, controls engineering andcomputers into the product design process.l Metal skin consultant: Manufactures self-healingcomposite materials for use on aircraft, ships andspacecraft.

• A u g m e n t e d r e a l i t yWhen the internet, video gaming and 3D TV collidewith the real world. "In just a few years' time, videovisor extensions to your Bluetooth earpiece will giveyou a full 3D overlay of the high street you're walkingdown," says an expert. "It will merge everything youcan find on the web and all you can do on a computergame with everything you can do in the real world."l Digital architect: Designs a range of virtualbuildings for advertisers to market their products andservices.l Avatar design-security consultant: Designs,creates and protects the virtual you.

CAREERS

12

• R o b o t s a n d a r t i f i c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c eWith search engines already guessing what we wantalmost before we ask, artificial intelligence willeliminate and transform many jobs by 2020. Robots mayeven take over the high-precision, high-value surgery.l Personal bot mechanic Domestic assistants willwork 24/7, but will still need the occasional tune-up.l Powered exoskeleton engineer Designs wearablerobots that assist and protect soldiers, constructionand rescue workers or other people working indangerous environments.

• F i n a n c i a l a d v i s o r s / a n a ly s t sDue to the unpredictable nature of financial markets,the demand for financial advisors and analysts isgrowing slowly and steadily. Financial analysts andpersonal financial advisors held 397,000 jobs in 2006.This number will grow to 543,000 in 2016, an increaseof 38.8 percent for both, says a media report. The peakyears of retirement savings and personal investmentsof a large baby-boom generation are creating a needfor more people to seek their guidance.

• B u s i n e s sIn the wake of the financial crisis, business will seekto build on more solid foundations, Some of thefollowing jobs are possible: l Simplicity consultant - Simplifies and streamlinesprocesses, technologies and branding in an organisation.l LocaPreneur - Starts up a local bank, makes localcosmetics or soft drinks that are able to competehead-to-head with the big corporations that no onetrusts any more.

• N a n o t e c h a n d b i o t e c hThis could be the decade we witness an explosion oftechnological advances in nanotechnology, biotechnology,information technology and cognitive science, collectivelyknown as NBIC. As these fields expand and converge,opportunities will arise to reprogram our bodies' "software",extending life, reducing deaths and alleviating poverty.l Bioinformationist - Scientist who marries geneticinformation with drug development and clinicaltechniques.

l Geomicrobiologist - Pieces together bits ofgeology, environmental science and microbiology tofigure how micro-organisms might help make newmedicine or clean up pollution.

• S o c i a l s e r v i c e sOur ageing populations are already generating boomsin home healthcare and nursing homes. But expect thegrowth to come at the sharp end of social services –nurses and carers – rather than in admin roles.l Experimental therapist - Connects patients withnew and emerging treatments and navigates themthrough the maze of patient services.l Home companion caretaker - Enables people tostay in their homes and live with dignity.

• E d u c at i o nAs future-proof a sector as exists, with schools,universities and private providers expanding to keeppace with the accelerating need to train and retrain.l Online education broker - Tailors a bespokelearning package for the client, dovetailing relevantmodules from courses and syllabuses around the world.l Space tour guide - With Virgin Galactic planningcommercial flights from 2011, space tourists will needcosmic enthusiasts to shed light on all that darkness.l Teachers - This is one profession where thedemand never goes down. There is always a need ofbrilliant educators at every level- from elementaryschools to colleges. Demand for qualified teachershas been growing every year.

P s y c h o l o g i s t s & C o u n s e l l o r sl The stress and competition take a toll on people’shealth, increasing the tension and stress-relatedailments. Also, with so many concerns over joblosses, foreclosures and other live events, many areturning to psychologists for insight and even careeradvice. Students go for career counselling, addictstoo need their aid, and so do couples to resolveconflicts. n

Source: The Guardian’s “Jobs of the Future 9th Jan 2010

Rachel Farrell in www.careerbuilder.com and www.bls.gov

(Bureau of Labor Statistics)

CAREERS

14

In a recent panel discussion organized by DubaiInternational Academic City (DIAC), Prof. Badr Aboul-Ela, head of CAA at the Ministry of Higher Educationstated that students enrollment patterns into highereducation institutions in the UAE reveals a chronictrend with the highest registration in Business studies,significantly lower admissions in engineering andtechnology related programs and almost negligibleenrollment in basic science programs. This would

definitely result in a serious imbalance betweentechnical sectors demand and number of graduateswith technical and engineering backgrounds in theshort and medium terms, resulting in a semi-completedependence on a workforce outside the country’sborders.

The sectors that are playing key roles in the UAE’seconomy are Transport and Logistics, Construction,

With the country’s GDP reaching 1.25 trillion AED in 2011 and having one of the highest GDP percapita in the world, the UAE has taken major steps in growing its economy as well as diversifying itsince its establishment 40 years ago. The fact that no one can deny is that the country’s GDP has

increased by 192 times over the last 4 decades as a main result of focusing the economy on technicalsectors such as Transport, Energy, Manufacturing, Constructions, telecommunication and non technicalsuch as Trade, Tourism and Hospitality. However, it is the technical, scientific and engineering related

sectors that will truly drive country’s future economy and academic institutions should be able toprepare the next generation for their contribution towards achieving sustainable development

CAREER PERSPECTIVE

UAE’s Technical SECTORAL DEMANDS AND

15

Facilities Management, Oil and Gas, Energy andManufacturing including building materials. Moreover,Information and Communication Technology andMedia play a major role in the country’s economy aswell. Therefore, the nearly 25 local and internationaluniversities existing in the country and offeringtechnical and engineering programs could definitelyfulfill industries’ demands by producing qualifiedgraduates. These graduates from well diversifiedengineering disciplines such as Mechanical, Electricaland Electronic, Civil, Chemical, Petroleum, Transport,Environmental, Aerospace, Materials, Marine,Biomedical and Agricultural Engineering, wouldcontribute to the above sectoral demands and sustaintheir growth and hence overall contribution tocountry’s GDP.

U A E T r a n s p o r t & L o g i s t i c s M a r k e tMany factors contribute to the economic and socialprogress. Mobility is an essential ingredient to have awell developed and a prosperous country and the UAEgovernment has extended all the necessary efforts tobuild a strong transport network whether it’s on theground, on the sea or in air. For instance, Dubai PortsWorld is among the leading hubs in the world, servingmore than 100 shipping lines achieved a throughputof 13 Million TEUs in 2011. Jabel Ali Free zone, whichis the oldest and largest free zone in the country trulysupport the port by having over 6,000 companiesoperating in the zone. In Abu Dhabi, Khalifa IndustrialZone (KIZAD), Khalifa Port and Mina Zayed arestrategic and vital industrial zones and ports forimporting and exporting goods. Other Emirates have

also established Freezones and logistic hubs such asHamriyah Free Zone in Sharjah, Ras Al KhaimahFreezone supporting Saqr Port, as well as the 360 kmHabshan pipline starting at 'Habshan' onshore oilfieldof Abu Dhabi and extending to Fujairah port, hasgained a prominent position of being a major oil carrierto the Eastern shore of the UAE without going throughthe Strait of Hurmoz and with a pipeline capacity of1.8 million barrel per day.

In aviation, the UAE has achieved world recognitionthrough its carriers Emirates Airline and EtihadAirways. Awarded the World's Leading Airline in 2009and 2010 by the World Travel Awards Etihad Airwayshas made enormous steps since its establishment in2003, while Emirates Airline is now flying to over 100destinations worldwide. Currently, Dubai and AbuDhabi Arports considered Air hubs in the region and AlMaktoum Airport, which is planned to be anInternational air and logistic hub in the near future.Over the next few years, thousands of Engineers andtechnicians would be required to support this boomingaviation industry in the country.

On the land front, Dubai’s Road and TransportAuthority have taken major steps in building state ofthe art transport network including Dubai Metro. On anational front, the UAE government acknowledged theimportance of the railroads, which led to establishmentof the National Railroad Authority and embarking onEtihad Rail network, as one of the most significantnational projects in the development of the UAE. On aGCC level, a $30 Billion Dollars railway network project

Dr. Ayoub KazimManaging Director

Education Cluster - TECOM Investments

and Engineering EXPECTATIONS

16

is planned to connect al the GCC members andexpected to be completed within 5 years.

O i l & G a s UAE possesses roughly 8% of theglobal resources of oil and has 5%world’s Natural Gas reserves. Giventhe high global demand for energyand supply and the increased relianceof energy and transportation sectorson oil, UAE’s economic growth willcontinue to be strong due to revenuesgenerated from oil and natural gasrevenues and still oil and gas remainone of the major sectors contributingto country’s economy with almost onethird of UAE’s GDP.

R e n e wa b l e a n d C l e a n E n e r g yT e c h n o l o g yDecision makers in UAE’s Energy sectorare fully aware of the importance ofproducing Clean Energy for the futureof the country and the future of thecoming generations. According to Sun-Herald newspaper, UAE is investing 367Billion Dirham in Clean Energytechnology in the coming 5 years. Thiswill be mostly in the form of Clean Coalpower generation, solar, Wind andNuclear Energy utilization as well asbiomass energy. For instance, Dubai’s newly launchedSolar Energy project of AED 12 Billion is planned toproduce 1000 MW of power. Moreover, Abu Dhabi’sinitiative of having the first nuclear power plant willdefinitely diversify their energy resource. In addition,Abu Dhabi’s ambitious and world class Masdarinitiative operating through five integrated units, andmoving in the right direction of becoming world leaderin making renewable energy. This has definitelyattributed to Abu Dhabi hosting the World RenewableEnergy Agency, ARENA and establishment of MasdarInstitute of Technology and Petroleum Institute thatwill support the overall energy sector of the country.

C o n s t r u c t i o n S e c t o rThe UAE is ranked top among GCC countriesconstruction projects. According to a new research the

current UAE construction projects withcommercial and residential buildings,energy projects, and infrastructureprojects is amounting to $1.249Trillion. The total contracts expected tobe awarded in this year will see anincrease of 26.57% compared to lastyear. UAEs reputation of being a safeand stable country, calm politicalenvironment and excellentinfrastructure are key factors to attractcorporate and residential propertyinvestors to invest in commercial andresidential construction market.

F a c i l i t i e s M a n a g e m e n t The demand for facilities managementis expected to increase enormouslyover the next few years. According tomarket reports, the global market forfacilities management is projected totouch USD394.7 billion by 2017.Europe and United States hold a majorshare of the global facilitiesmanagement market revenues. In theMiddle East, the facilities managementindustry is expected to grow at anannual rate of 20% over the next five

years. Moreover, sustainable FM is the biggest growtharea of FM in the region and many organizationsadopting a well planned FM services to enhancebuilding and facilities life cycle.

M a n u f a c t u r i n g – A l u m i n i u m a n d C e m e n t UAEs Aluminium drive is in full swing and controlsnearly 48 per cent of the total aluminum investmentsof more than$22 billion in GCC. DUBAL and EMALproduce world-class primary aluminium in the UAE andship them across the globe. DUBAL, which startedproducing aluminium in 1979, is one of the world'slargest and leading suppliers of foundry alloys to

CAREER PERSPECTIVE

Dubai’sreputation inthe media and

innovationindustry has

attracted giantmedia names

like CNN, OSN,etc. to operateits business &

productionfrom Dubai.

17

automotive parts manufacturers and manufacturesmore than 10 million tonnes of finished products eachyear. Emirates Aluminum ("EMAL"), is a green-fieldsmelter complex at Al Taweelah in Abu Dhabisupplying the world with high quality metal with800,000 metric tonnes the end of 2012. EMAL’s 4.5bnUSD second phase expansion includes the addition ofa third potline to increase the smelter’s capacity to1.3million tonnes a year is expected to be completedby 2014. The growing need for skilled workforce hasnever been greater in the aluminum industry and thedemand is anticipated to sustain for a medium term.

The primary driver of UAE cement sector is the growthof the construction industry as the UAE is the secondlargest cement producer in the GCC There are 22cement production facilities in UAE, including two10,000tpd lines, at Union Cement Company and Arkan,plus 11 grinding plants and one dedicated clinker plant.UAE has a strong economy backed by higher oil pricesand strong development plans, the cement industry isbound to grow as the real estate activity picks up andmore liquidity starts flowing into the economy.

M e d i a S e c t o rMedia industry in UAE is on the rise with Dubai beinga vital provider in media and entertainment. The WorldEconomic Forum ranked UAE among top 10 countries in18 indicators of competitiveness in its GlobalCompetitiveness Report 2010-11. Moreover, Dubai’sreputation in the media and innovation industry hasattracted giant media names like CNN, OSN, etc. to operateits business & production from Dubai. Universities in UAEstarted to acknowledge the importance of media programsand have rolled out various programs intended to servethis growing segment such as American University inDubai, Murdock University, SAE Institute Dubai and NewYork Film Academy, to name a few. Offering a wide rangeof prgrammes varied from Media & Design, Media & MassCommunication, Media Sales, Digital Animation, andAudio Production and engineering.

I C T I n d u s t r yThe UAE ICT sector is the second largest market in the

Arab World after Saudi Arabia. The ICT industry is oneof the major non-oil-and-gas-based industries in theUAE. In 2010, it contributed 3.2 percent of UAE’s GDP.The UAE Government has invested in the developmentof ICT infrastructure with free zones such as DubaiInternet City, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai OutsourceZone to attract major ICT players namely Microsoft,Google, Dell, HP and Oracle.

Telecommunication services are currently under intensedevelopment in the Middle East, Broadband householdpenetration levels in the MENA region is due to increasefrom 18.5% in 2010 to 38.5% in 2014 and Internethousehold penetration levels in the region is expected toincrease from 39.7% in 2010 to 64.3% in 2014.Investment opportunities are envisaged in the fixed-line,mobile-phone, hardware, software, and IT-servicessectors.

The UAE has a sophisticated telecommunications sector,providing its citizens with a highly efficient and cost-effective communications network. The goal of the UAEgovernment, among other things, is to encouragecompetition between operating companies, currentlyEtisalat and DU, foster innovation through research anddevelopment, develop state-of-the-arttelecommunications infrastructure, and contribute toeconomic diversification by promoting the UAE as anICT hub.

Q u a l i f i c at i o n s a n d s k i l l s p r e f e r r e d b yU A E C o m p a n i e sA recent Study by Bayt.com in collaboration withYougov, has revealed that 25% of the job demandswere for engineering disciplines, while Business andcommerce were placed 2nd and 3rd with 22% and19%, respectively. The Study indicated that majority ofUAE companies prefer candidates with bilingualcommunication skills along with team work andpossessing strong leadership. Therefore, academicinstitutions should be urged to focus on these skills inorder to produce right workforce that will supportindustries that are significantly contributing tocountry’s economy and development. n

18

In the race of career and life, the college degree to pursue after higher school is abig challenge. It is a collective decision of parents and their children. Many times,the young person wants to pursue a program in one stream, but, the guidance fromthe family and friends differs from the individual’s wishes. It is imperative therefore,to understand all the different options available, the destinations, entry levelrequirements, the pros and cons and the financial implications. Always have a 2ndoption if the first does not work out.

CAREER PERSPECTIVE

Dr. Devdutt Nayak Kotekar, MBBS,FRCP (GLASG)& DTM&H (UK)

Consultant Neuro Physician Kuwait Hosp. SharjahClinical assistant(adjunct) Professor Univ. of Sharjah, Medical and

Health Sciences Colleges

Bio RelatedCourses After High School

20

It is important to note that if you are planning to join amedical school in Canada or USA, you have to firstcomplete a degree program, take some entry level tests,and attend an interview before being selected. I amdiscussing here options other than MBBS.

Bachelor of Dental Hygiene -BDH, Bachelor of Dental Mechanic -BDM, Bachelor of Dental Surgery BDS -Dental programmes are excellent courseswith good demand in most countries.Once you graduate, there are postgraduate options available to specializein, based on your interest. You also havethe option of joining as the teachingstaff in the medical colleges offeringthese courses or you could start apractice on your own. Make sure that youare comfortable handling other’s teethwith instruments. Entrance to thesecourses are competitive but not difficult.

Bachelor of Pharmacy – Bpharma,Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine –BAM, Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery(Homeopathy) BAMS are other optionsavailable to you if are interested in amedical related field. You can get alicense to practice with these degrees inUAE or you can own a pharmacy businessif you are more business oriented.

Bachelor of Physiotherapy - BPT/BPhyso, Bachelorof Occupational Therapy – BOT, Bachelor of RespiratoryTherapy Technology- BRTT: These three year courses arein demand all over the world. It is easy to get a Job andmigrate West. In Europe you can even practiceindependently after securing the necessary permissions.

Bachelor of Speech Language & Hearing - BSLHBachelor of Clinical optometry – BCOpto, Bachelor ofmedical Laboratory BALT are other courses available ifyou want an office type eight hour shift job withreasonable remuneration

Bachelor of Fishery Science – BFSc, Bachelor ofScience in Agriculture & Animal Husbandry - BSCAg&H, Bachelor of Science Veterinary BSc (Vet) areother interesting fields available if you are an animal

lover. You really need to be interestedin these fields before you decide topursue it as a career.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing,Bachelor of Technology (Food Science)various Technician Diploma courses oftwo to three years in Radiology,Oncology, laboratory, nuclear medicine,anesthesia, kinesiology, sports medicineand many other allied branches areavailable. You should have the rightpersonality to join these.

Bachelor in Biotechnology –BScBiotech: this course may differslightly in course content but, the mainsubjects remain same. The subjectsinclude Biochemistry, MolecularBiology, Genetics, Analytical Chemistry,Chemical Engineering, Microbiology,Bioprocess Technology, Immunology,Bioinformatics, Computerapplication/programming. It is a goodcourse if you want to combine medicaland engineering fields. You can joinpharmaceutical multinationalcompanies or research institutions.

A special request to parents: Always expose yourchild to many options and choices available in the fieldof their interest. Let them talk to their seniors/ yourfamily friends who have taken these courses and ifpossible show them actual places they may be workingin later. As a Physician and a parent I know what it islike. My children have opted not to pursue myprofession primarily due to the long years you need toput in to specialize. Students, do not miss out onopportunities to work as a volunteer or as an intern overthe summer. The more aware you are, the more preparedyou will be to take the plunge. All the very best! n

CAREER PERSPECTIVE

Always expose your

child to many options

and choices available

in the field of their

interest. Let them talk

to their seniors/ your

family friends who

have taken these

courses and if possible

show them actual

places they may be

working in later.

22

CAREER PERSPECTIVE

Commerce: It is expedient for all BCom graduates tocomplete certification on Tally and know how toquickly learn any other Financial Accounting System likeSage ; Microsoft ; Accpac ; Oracle while they graduate.This will make them ready for employment asAccountants in Trading Companies and all other sectorsof the economy. Typical starting compensation will bein the AED3000-4000/ per month range. Growth willdepend on performance and other certificationsobtained during the initial years. The key is to rememberthat learning does not end at the boundaries of anInstitution. Learning is a lifelong experience.

There is a need to have a well defined learning andcertification agenda to enable contribution toorganizational growth. CIMA can be considered duringthe initial 3 years of life as an Accountant. Studentsintending to enter the Audit field post BCom can enrollfor ACA / ACCA/ CPA and also do Articles withauthorized Audit firms. Salary ranges from AED2000 –5000 per month depending on whether you get anopportunity with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 Audit firm. This is afield with tremendous future. People can move fromAudit to Consulting, Risk management , BusinessContinuity and even Strategy Consulting with theright certifications. It is worthwhile to compromise onthe starting salary to build a solid future.

Engineering: For Electrical/Electronics /ComputerScience graduates it is expedient to complete MCSE &CCNA certifications before graduation. This will makeyou immediately employable in the ICT sector as entrylevel programmers / technical support engineers.

Starting compensation is in the 4k-6k range permonth. Future growth will depend on the learnabilityfactor and the certifications gained along the way.This is an area where there are several employmentopportunities with SMEs in the Trade Zones andtremendous opportunities for growth. At the end of3 years the compensation could be in the 12k-15Krange for the top performers. Engineers could alsochose to commence working life in the TechnicalSales function. Entry level salaries are in the samerange; higher earning potential exists asperformance incentives & bonus is offered by mostcompanies.

For Mechanical & Electrical Engineering graduates it isimportant to complete AutoCAD certification whilegraduating. Opportunities exist in the manufacturingsector - aluminium; steel; cement and in theconstruction sector as Design Engineers or ProductionEngineers. Entry salaries would be in the 4k-6k permonth range.

There is ample opportunities for growth. There is stilla need for greater Industry - Educational Institutionpartnerships; internships for students; and changesin curriculum in the local market. We need toencourage industry to open up more opportunities forbright youngsters. At the same time young graduatesneed to bear in mind that it is not where they startthat matters; but it is where they end up in the longterm. n

Premchand KurupCEO Paramount Computer Systems

Entry Level

opportunitiesfor Graduates in the UAE

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So I don’t intend to present a sales pitch for the arts.In fact, I urge every one of those aspiring artists,journalists, writers, actors, musicians, performers, film-makers, designers to take a long, hard and honest lookat themselves and ask if they’ve got what it takes togive to their field of choice.

Do you really care?The arts should not be treated as an alternative. They arenot a substitute for rigorous work in the sciences,because you can’t be bothered to practise mathematicsor try harder at organic chemistry. The arts are a struggle.

It’s true that you might be happier rehearsing for a playthan working at physics. However, bear in mind, thestruggle to earn that first break at anything is a toughroad that requires determination, tremendous self-beliefand passion for what you do. Real passion, wherein youbreathe, live and dream your art. While you struggle,there will be bills to pay and relationships to manage. Somake sure the art you’re committing to, deserves you.

Why are you in this?Let’s say you’re attracted to the media as a career. Why?Is it to inform and report accurately for your readershipand write with purpose? Or is it for the glamour?

I have to say that having interacted with a number ofaspiring young hacks, I am deeply concerned about thefuture of journalism and reporting. Now, it doesn’t help

that most media outlets and institutions feed uscontent of appallingly low standards. After all, whybother raise your individual bar, when you’re probablygoing to end up working for just another newspaperor TV broadcaster.

The fact remains, you might end up with a job, but to growand be proud of your work, you have to persevere at whatyou do. Constantly reinvent yourself, your writing, yourideas. Sounds like hard work? Well, guess what? It is.

Career v/s TalentSome of us are talented. Some of us are hard-working.Some of us are lucky. Very few of us are all of theabove. That’s life. The arts are not a stepping stone tocelebrity. So you think you’re a fabulous singer? You’vegot talent? There are plenty of avenues to exercise andpursue your talent. Your talent will decide your success,just as your success will determine your talent.

A career in the arts on the other hand is a wholedifferent ball game. It takes guts, extraordinary will-power, persistence, hard work, honesty, integrity andan incredible support system to embark on it.

So be honest. Introspect deeply on whether you’vereally got what it takes and why you want to be whatyou want to be. If you’re not sure, do the world afavour and become a doctor or a teacher. n

V. Iyer

Are you a trueartist?When I was asked to write this piece about ‘selling’ a career in the arts, my first reaction was:does it really need a salesperson? We’re not exactly in the ‘90s, when a choice of studying non-science subjects was perceived as a sign of academic weakness. Au contraire, the arts now havean edge. They’re cool. They’re the gateway to celebrity. And in case you haven’t noticed, we’repretty much stuck in the age of celebrity.

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Emirates Institute of Banking andFinancial Studies

Islamic Banking Diploma OverviewOver the past three decades the Islamic banking andfinance industry has emerged from nothing to an

industry with assets of hundreds of billions of dollarsunder its management. The industry has witnessedsubstantial growth during last few years in all parts ofthe world especially in the Middle East Region.

Right at the very heart of the global Islamic bankingand financial services is the United Arab Emirates. The

PROFESSIONALQUALIFICATIONS

UAE provides a plethora of professional courses both on line andthrough taught contact programs. As it is an exhaustive list, a feware outlined here for your consideration.

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Islamic banking and finance industry in the countryincludes Islamic banks, Islamic windows, subsidiariesof conventional banks, real estate finance companies,takaful operators, sukuk, Islamic funds and otherfinancial services providers.

Career Benefits The boom in the Islamic Finance industry witnessed inthe region has opened the door to hundreds ofthousand of jobs. There is tremendous demand forcompetent manpower in Islamic finance and it isexpected that as the industry expands there will behuge demand for talented and skilled manpower inyears to come.

Islamic Banking Diploma (IBD) The Islamic Banking Diploma Program introduced in2003 is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education& Scientific Research, UAE. The program, first of its kindin the country was started to disseminate knowledgeand information about Islamic banking and finance andproduce high caliber professionals with the necessarytechnical skills and knowledge in Islamic finance.

IBD Objectivesl To provide students with the fundamental

knowledge of Islamic banking.l To introduce students to instruments and

techniques used in the Islamic banking.l To train students in Islamic law and finance.l To train students in Islamic funds and capital

market operations.l To provide students with the fundamental

requirements of business education.l To equip students with the basic requirements of

professional certifications. Source: www.eibfs.ae

The ACCA Qualification

The ACCA Qualification develops accountingknowledge and skills as well as professional values. Thismeans you can build a successful career as a financeprofessional in any sector.

There is a strong focus on professional values, ethicsand governance. This is essential because theprofession is moving towards strengthened codes ofconduct, regulation and legislation. And there is anincreased focus on professionalism and ethics inaccounting.

Professionalism and ethics is examined at the highestlevel in the ACCA Qualification. It is also a main partof the practical experience you must complete toqualify.

To qualify as an ACCA member, you will need tocomplete:l a minimum of five of 14 exams l the practical experience requirementl the Professional Ethics module.

On your way to ACCA membership you can achieve:l a Diploma in Accounting and Businessl an Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Businessl a BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Accounting from

Oxford Brookes University.Source: www.accaglobal.com

Chartered Institute of ManagementAccountants (CIMA)

Most accounting qualifications train people for privatepractice, working on external audit and tax issues.CIMA prepares people for a career in business. Itteaches skills for strategic advice, managing risk andmaking key decisions..

The syllabus is designed to deliver a strongunderstanding of all aspects of business so that, itsmembers can contribute in many areas of anorganisation. CIMA trained people work in industry,commerce, management consultancies, banks and notfor profit and public sector organisations.

Management accounting combines accounting,finance and management with the leading edgetechniques needed to drive successful businesses.

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Chartered management accountants:

l advise managers about the financial implications of projects

l explain the financial consequences of business decisions

l formulate business strategy l monitor spending and financial control l conduct internal business audits l explain the impact of the competitive landscape.

With the management accounting skillset, its membersare qualified to work across an organisation, not justin finance, because in addition to strong accountingfundamentals, CIMA teaches strategic business andmanagement skills: l Analysis - they analyse information and using it to

make business decisions.l Strategy - they formulate business strategy to

create wealth and shareholder value.l Risk - they identify and manage risk l Planning - they apply accounting techniques to

plan and budget.l Communication - they determine what information

management needs and explain the numbers tonon-financial managers.

Source: www.cimaglobal.com

Chartered Institute of Personnel andDevelopment (CIPD).

CIPD is an awarding body for HR qualifications. Over13,000 students join their programmes each year toenhance their knowledge on the latest theory, casestudies and insights into best practices in HR. CIPDapproved and awarded qualifications are available atAdvanced, Intermediate and Foundation level, and youcan choose to study awards, certificates or diplomasat any of these levels.

Benefits of studying a CIPD qualificationl Valued by employersYou can be sure CIPD qualifications will equip you withthe knowledge and skills that employers are lookingfor. l HR in a business contextAll the qualifications focus on the role of HR inbuilding sustainable business success.l Flexible to meet your needsLearn at your own pace and gain credit for yourachievements. It’s certificates and diplomas have arange of optional units to meet your particulardevelopment needs. l HR and L&D study pathsThe opportunity to branch out into HR, Learning and

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Development and other specialisms at Foundation,Intermediate and Advanced level. l Boosting your earning potentialIndependent research reveals that individuals withprofessional qualifications stand to earn £81,000 inadditional earning over a lifetime (CCPMO EconomicImpact Report, December 2008). l The knowledge for professional membership Many of their qualifications cover the knowledgerequired to work towards CIPD professionalmembership i.e. Associate, Chartered Member orChartered Fellow.

Source: www.cipd.co.uk

Courses in Logistics& Supply ChainManagement

LSCM (Logistics and SupplyChain Management) isaimed at people who notonly have a demandingoperational role in logistics(with a good workingunderstanding ofwarehousing, fleetmanagement, transport, procurement, import andexport) but also have an involvement in planningissues.

Typically candidates will hold positions such asLogistics Co-coordinator, Logistics Manager or Head ofLogistics Centre and will be comfortable with: l Planning and resourcing the supply chain to meettheir organizations supply chain strategy and to meetthe needs of the aid programmes in theircountry/region. l The creation and co-ordination of the operation ofthe complex supply chain network. l Monitoring the performance of the supply chainensuring that any problems are resolved. l Supporting and advising others on all aspects ofthe supply chain.

l Managing the different relationships needed forthe supply chain to operate effectively and efficiently. l Continuously improving the performance of thesupply chain.

Shipping and Freight ForwardingFreight forwarding is a service used by companies thatdeal in international or multi-national import andexport. While the freight forwarder doesn't actuallymove the freight itself, it acts as an intermediarybetween the client and various transportation services.Sending products from one international destinationto another can involve a multitude of carriers.

Why Shipping and Freight Forwarding?l Certified Shippingand Freight ForwardingProfessionals earn moresalary than those whoare non- certifiedl Education: Mostimportant factor forupward mobility ofFreight Forwardingprofessionalsl Better Educated =High ranking

Professionalsl Very few qualified Professionals in Freight Industryl Most of the professionals grow in career due toexperiencel Certification is one of the most importantqualifications in Shipping and Freight ForwardingIndustryl Certified Professionals can expect exponentialgrowth in their careers

Chartered Institute of Marketing

CIM is a professional marketing body based in UK withover 42,000 members worldwide. CIM offersprofessional development to marketing practitionersacross the world with the objective of raising thestatus of marketing onto a more professional and

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strategic level around the world. As a result of thisaccreditation, participants who fully attend CIMaccredited programs will automatically earn a numberof Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours.Upon completing a certain number of CPD hours, theseparticipants will have the opportunity to be recognizedby CIM as Chartered Marketers which is the ultimatesign of being an up-to-date, experienced and qualifiedmarketing professional. This designation, awardedexclusively by the CIM, is marketing’s highest gradeand recognizes outstanding practical experience andexpertise. Choose from a range of options. There areover 120 training courses to help you develop or topup your skills

Source: www.cim.co.uk

Travel & Tourism Courses

The Tourism Training Programme is the aviationindustry's most extensive, industry-responsive and

career-oriented training programme, providingstudents with the best industry-wide knowledge andglobally recognised qualifications. The IATA/UFTAATravel and Tourism Training Programme is designed forthose wishing to start a career in the travel industryor upgrade their professional competence.

The IATA/UFTAA diplomas and certificates denote aqualification recognised under the terms of the IATAResolutions applicable to IATA's accreditation of travelagents.

IATA - The International Air Transport AssociationIs the trade association of one of the most dynamicand fast paced industries in the world. Originallyfounded in 1919, it brings together approximately 280airlines, including the worlds largest.

Flights by these airlines comprise more than 95% ofall international scheduled air traffic.

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UFTAA - United Federation of Travel AgentsAssociationThe highest and largest world body representing thetravel industry. UFTAA represents 114 NationalAssociations and additional Affiliate members in atotal of 121 countries.

The Institute of Chartered Accountantsin England and Wales

It is a professional membership organisation,supporting over 136,000 chartered accountants around

the world. Through our technical knowledge, skills andexpertise, they provide insight and leadership to theglobal accountancy and finance profession. Itsmembers provide financial knowledge and guidancebased on the highest professional, technical andethical standards. By joining ICAEW, you can become

part of a community of leading global accountancyprofessionals. When you become a member, you will beawarded the highly-respected ACA designation, whichis recognised globally. You will also gain access toworld-leading information resources, technicalguidance, advisory services and local member networks.• ICAEW Chartered Accountants work at the highestlevels as finance directors, CEO’s and partners of someof the world’s largest organisations. •Open doors to a successful, highly rewarding careerin all areas of accountancy, business and financeanywhere in the world.

•Your skills, capabilities and influence will be recognisedand valued in any industry sector you choose.•Receive on-going support and resources throughoutyour career to keep you at the forefront of theprofession. n

Source: www.icaew.com

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

Examination Conducted by American Institute of Certified Public Accountant(AICPA)Certification Issued by State Board of Accountancy from applicable State International RecognitionUS CPA is mutually recognized by CA – Canada, CPA– Australia, CA- New Zealand and othersEligibility Students with M.Com / M.B.A. / ICWA / CA areeligible. The Uniform CPA Examination protects the publicinterest by helping to ensure that only qualifiedindividuals become licensed as U.S. Certified PublicAccountants (CPAs). Individuals seeking to qualifyas CPAs are required to pass the CPA Examination.

Candidates wishing to sit for the Uniform CPAExamination in Japan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon,and the United Arab Emirates from August 2011 maynow apply through one of the participating state

boards of accountancy. Please visit the NASBAwebsite to download the Candidate Bulletin andview the up-to-date list of participating stateboards of accountancy. On October 1, 2011 the AICPA Board of Examiners(BOE) approved changes to the CPA Exam ContentSpecification Outline (CSO) that will be effective onJanuary 1, 2013.

Source : www.aicpa.org

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As per the CAA website, Licensure signifies that theinstitution has a mission appropriate to highereducation and possesses the governance structure, by-laws, regulations, policies and procedures, physical andfinancial resources, academic programs, faculty andother personnel, and quality assurance measuressufficient to accomplish its mission. Licensure appliesto the entire institution and all its activities. In orderto be licensed, the institution must meet ten standardsand their criteria that cover all major institutional

activities. In UAE, licensure is initially granted for upto five years, after which the institution applies torenew its license, which must be done every five years.A licensed institution is required to identify its statusas licensed by the Ministry in all documents andadvertising and to comply with the Commission’srequirement for reporting data annually.

Apart from this, “in accordance with the decree issuedby His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al

ACCREDITATION

Accreditation is a voluntary, independent review of educational programs todetermine that the education provided is of uniform and sound quality. Beinggranted an accreditation ensures that the institution has met the set standardsof quality determined by the accrediting organization. A college or university'saccreditation is maintained by continued adherence to the set criteria. In UAE,it is the Commission of Academic Accreditation (CAA), Ministry of Highereducation and scientific research that has been entrusted this task. As per theCAA website, U.A.E currently has seventy five licensed Institutions and sixhundred and thirty three accredited programmes.

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Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of theUAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Higher EducationInstitutions affiliated to the Government of Dubai willhave their academic, or professional or appliedprogrammes subjected to the Dubai Executive Councilresolution No. 21 for year 2011, on the highereducation, The first article of the decree issued byShaikh Mohammed in his capacity as the Ruler of theEmirate of Dubai, has delegated powers to theKnowledge and Human Development Authority inDubai (KHDA), to subject any of the academic, orprofessional or applied programmes of any educationalinstitution affiliated to the Dubai government to theresolution of the Dubai Executive Council No. 21 forthe year 2011, on the higher education institutions inthe Dubai free zones. While the second article of thedecree, states that the certificates issued byeducational institutions referred to in the first article,which are ratified by the KHDA are recongised andbinding by all public and private entities in the Emirateof Dubai for all purposes”. States a Khaleej TimesReport, dated June 12, 2012..

For both prospective students and their families,accreditation provides assurance that the program inwhich you are enrolled or are considering enrolling isengaged in continuous review and improvement ofquality and that it meets nationally endorsedstandards. Involvement in an ongoing accreditationprotocol fosters excellence and ongoing improvementin an institution. Departments not only need toestablish a vision of the future but also needs todetermine specific objectives for reaching that vision.It a systematic process and everyone in the system isaccountable.

Some of the courses offered at local institutions areaccredited by international bodies. ABET, Inc., forexample is the recognized accreditor for college anduniversity programs in applied science, computing,engineering, and technology. Among the mostrespected accreditation organizations in the U.S., ABEThas provided leadership and quality assurance in highereducation for over 75 years. ABET accredits over 3,100

programs at more than 600 colleges and universitiesworldwide.

Source – ABET website

Similarly, The Assn. to advance collegiate schools ofbusiness, AACSB provides internationally recognized,specialized accreditation for Business and Accountingprogrammes at the Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorallevels. The AACSB Accreditation Standards challengepost-secondary educators to pursue excellence andcontinuous improvement throughout their businessprograms. Accreditation reviews include self-evaluations,peer-reviews, committee-reviews, and the developmentof in-depth strategic plans. They also include reviews ofa school’s mission, faculty qualifications, and curricula.

Should a student wish to transfer into an institutionabroad or migrate to another country in the future,proper transfer of credits is made possible when he/shehas enrolled in or has graduated from a recognizedinstitution. Recognition of the qualification attained isalso helpful while applying for a scholarship. Securing aplace at the Masters level or for a Doctoral programme,can be facilitated when the degree is from a recognizedinstitution. The CAA web site, has the complete list of allthe institutions that have been granted licensure underthe Ministry of Higher education and scientific research.Information on the accredited programmes and links tothe institutions are also available so that you can do yourresearch before enrolling in a local institution. The FAQsection throws light on the questions most students andfamilies have regarding accreditation and its impact ona student’s future. Unlike in the past, there are quite afew options for students to choose from.

Headlines such as “Bogus institutions leave studentsin the lurch” By Bassma Al Jandaly, Senior ReporterPublished in Gulf News on June 3, 2012, “Banneduniversities operating from RAK” By Joseph GeorgePublished Monday, December 13, 2010, Emirates 24/7drives home the point that accreditation is extremelyimportant. When there are systems in place, studentswill not be left to fend for themselves; moreover, theirdegrees will have some value. n

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The UAE has provided for Emiratis by making federaluniversity education free of charge. After the UAEUwas established in 1976, the more technically orientedHigher Colleges of Technology was established in 1988and is the largest higher education institution in thecountry. There are more than 19,000 students at 17men's and women's colleges across the Emirates withmore than 90 English-taught programmes. In 1998Zayed University was established by the federalgovernment primarily to educate Emirati women with

campuses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Today, theuniversity is educating more than 6,000 male andfemale students from 19 countries to compete in aglobal environment at various campuses. The privatesector addresses the needs of the large expatriatepopulation in the UAE, enrolling primarily South Asiansand other Arab nationals.

Not very long ago, most expatriate students in the UAEused to head to their home countries or west-ward to

The UAE is now a higher education hub with three federaluniversities, 70 Ministry-accredited institutions and variousbranch campuses of international Universities. In total, UAEhas 114 institutions. Of these, 21 are in Abu Dhabi, Ajmanhas 3,Al Ain 6, Dubai 67, Fujairah 1, Ras Al Kaimah 7 andSharjah 9. There are about 120,000 students enrolled atvarious institutions in the country.

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pursue higher education. Thescenario has changedsignificantly over the lastdecade with the establishmentof Knowledge Village,Academic City and variouseducational institutionsacross UAE. We prideourselves as an Educationalhub in the region andstudents from various parts ofthe world now come here torealize their academicaspirations. In 2003, whenKnowledge Village wasestablished, there were eighthigher education institutions.According to Knowledge andHuman DevelopmentAuthority, KHDA’s 2010figures, there has been a 77%increase in the number of

higher education institutions offering internationalprogrammes. As per the KHDA website, as ofOctober 2011, there are 52 higher educationinstitutions in Dubai offering a wide range ofprogrammes including vocational diplomas andassociate, bachelor, master and doctoral degrees.Many universities in Dubai are branch campuses ofinternational universities. This has created a rich andvaried learning environment. The Emirate currentlyhas more than 43,000 college students from over 60different countries.

Higher education institutions in Dubai are eitherfederal institutions, branch campuses of international

universities or privateuniversities located inside oroutside Free Zones. Federalinstitutions mainly cater toEmirati students seekingtertiary qualifications. Privateuniversities are accredited bythe Ministry of HigherEducation and ScientificResearch, while internationalbranch campuses in FreeZones, if not accreditedfederally, have their qualityassured by KHDA. Studentswho graduate from thesehigher education institutionscan have their degreescertified by KHDA foremployment and otherpurposes in Dubai as perDubai Government resolution21 of 2011.

Higher Education in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi isdelivered via 19 institutions, most of which are locatedin Abu Dhabi city, with a few in Al Ain and Al Gharbia.Institutions are currently organized into two broadcategories: 1) Federal institutions, and 2) Non-Federalinstitutions.

Government regulation is provided jointly by theMinistry of Higher Education and Scientific Research(MoHESR) at the federal level, and the Abu DhabiEducation Council (ADEC) at the Emirate level. ADECis responsible for screening all new entrants, while theMoHESR oversees institutional licensure and programaccreditation.

Many universities in Dubai are branch campuses of internationaluniversities. This has created a rich and varied learningenvironment. The Emirate currently has more than 43,000 collegestudents from over 60 different countries.

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Federal institutions (UAE University, Zayed Universityand Higher Colleges of Technology) are funded by theFederal Government through the Ministry of HigherEducation and Scientific Research (MoHESR) andoperate at the national level with branches in otherEmirates. In the academic year 2007-08, the 3 Federalinstitutions accounted for 70% of the total enrolledpool of approximately 32,000 students. Admission intothe federal system is primarily reserved for Nationals,although recent years have witnessed measures tointernationalize its student body.

Non-Federal institutions operate at the Emirate leveland are further classified on the basis of their operatorsand funding sources into public institutions (publicly

operated and funded), private institutions (privatelyoperated and funded), and private institutions withADEC partnership (privately operated with fundingfrom ADEC). Admission to non-federal universities isopen to all, and non-federal enrollment represents30% of the total enrolled student pool.The totalenrolled student cohort, therefore, primarily consistsof Nationals (88%), with limited enrollment of Non-Nationals (12%).

In addition to the higher level institutions outlinedabove, the UAE also has several vocational andtechnical educational centers for those seekingpractical training in their chosen careers. These includethe Emirates Institute for Banking and Finance, the Abu

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Dhabi National Oil Company Career DevelopmentCentre, the Dubai School of Government, and TheEmirates Aviation College for Aerospace and AcademicStudies.

Once a student has determined that the UAE will behis/her education destination, it is better to visit theinstitutions and their websites to understand theadmission criteria and pre-requisites. As the UAE is

home to people from more than a 162 nationalities,students come from varying curricula and levels ofEnglish competency. Most institutions therefore ask fora TOEFL or an IELTS score. Some institutions administertheir own placement tests. Institutions that follow theAmerican system may also require a SAT score. Mathplacement test may also be a requirement with someinstitutions.

Adequate research about the institution and theprogrammes on offer prior to enrolment will ensurethat students make informed choices. Many studentsin the UAE may have lived in a multi culturalenvironment but have studied in schools in which moststudents and teachers are from the same ethnicbackground. Segregation of the sexes too may havebeen mandatory at school level. The scenario is quitedifferent at university and students learn to integratewith a diverse group of people. This prepares them fortheir life ahead in the work place and makes themmore tolerant and accepting.

At University, students would need to work bothindividually and in groups on projects andpresentations. Honing skills in public speaking, powerpoint presentations and reading can give the studentan edge over others. Reading and research whether onthe internet or at libraries can enhance general

knowledge and prepare students for all those projectsand assignments they will be expected to turn in aspart of the programme. In school, most teachers‘spoon-feed’ students by preparing notes, hand outsand power point presentations to aid in assimilationof the topics taught in class. At University, one isexpected to do quite a bit of independent work.Furthermore, most institutions have strict policies onplagiarism. Wikipedia or a senior’s assignment may not

suffice, so it is imperative that one cultivates thereading habit and use the library.

Students from large schools often complain that theynever had the opportunity to take part in extra-curricular activities because there were limited optionsand the same students get chosen to represent theschool for all inter school events. As you begin a newchapter in your life, explore the possibility of playing amore active role in student life. The more youparticipate, be it in community service projects, debate,dance or drama, the more engaged you will be. Thiswill also help you recognize your skills, inherentpotential, enhance your confidence levels and help youinteract with people from various backgrounds.

Web sites of use:

www.toefl.org (Test of English as a Foreignlanguage)www.ielts.org (International English LanguageTesting System)www.collegeboard.com (Information on SAT)www.caa.ae (List of accredited programmes of UAE)www.kv.ae (Knowledge Village)www.diacedu.ae (Dubai Int’l Academic City)www.adec.ac.ae (Abu Dhabi Education Council)

Once a student has determined that the UAE will be his/hereducation destination, it is better to visit the institutions and theirwebsites to understand the admission criteria and pre-requisites.

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The United Kingdom offers a wide variety in course offerings atvarious levels and some UK universities are among the oldest in theworld while others are among the newest. Many provide degreeswith a strong vocational foundation and enjoy good links withbusinesses and professional organisations. Another importantadvantage is the opportunity to hone your English language skillsor learn English as part of the university preparation or foundationprogramme. As per statistics released by Higher Education StatisticsAgency, (HESA) Students in Higher Education Institutions 2010/11shows that there were 2,501,295 students in higher education in theUK in 2010/11. Of these 2,073,070 (82.9%) were UK domicilestudents, 130,120 (5.2%) were from other EU member countries and298,110 (11.9%) were from non-EU countries. Students from Chinaand India accounted for over 35% of all non-EU domicile students atUK HE institutions in 2010/11.

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Students who wish to pursue an academic educationmay select a three year undergraduate degree followedby post graduate studies or research. Entrancequalification is a minimum of three A levelqualification or its equivalent. As an alternative,students can enroll in an access, foundation or bridgingcourse before enrolling in the degree programme.Students who want vocational training can combinetheir training with job-related skills. Apart fromUniversities and institutes, UK also has furthereducation colleges that offer courses to adults over 18years of age that make them more employable. FEinstitutions also offer courses that improve a student’sbasic literacy and numeracy abilities. By combiningvocational education with academic study, one can

gain skills in broad occupational areas, together withan academic content that is accepted as entry to adegree course.

The UK higher education system is internationallyrecognized. The standard and quality is guaranteed byofficial bodies like the Qualifications CurriculumAuthority (QCA) which recognises the quality of theuniversity’s teaching and general facilities, RAE thatexamines the Research Assessment Exercise andpublishes its findings every five years. The assessmentresults are freely available on the internet. The HigherEducation funding councils also provide informationon quality assurance through the UK- wide QualityAssurance Agency for Higher Education.

Students enrolled in a course of six months and aboveare eligible for free health care from the NationalHealth Service (NHS). Furthermore, unlike theequivalent programmes in other countries, most UKBachelor’s degrees are intensive and three years induration while Masters programmes can be completed

in one year. The degrees enable you to join the workforce sooner so it becomes financially affordable.www.educationuk.org - provides comprehensiveinformation for anyone considering studies in the UKalong with links to local British Council offices.

Application Process

UCAS –Universities and Colleges Admissions Serviceco-ordinates applications to full time first degrees,foundation degrees, Higher National Diplomas etc.‘Apply’ is the online application system. One can applyto five institutions through the UCAS. You can onlysubmit one application in the application cycle. You

would need to provide an email for an academicreferee who will then be invited by UCAS to send anacademic reference. You would need to pay anapplication fee on line by credit card.

For those students who wish to apply for a programmein Medicine, you would need to apply before 15th ofOctober. The same is true of those who want to applyto Oxford or Cambridge. Some of these competitiveinstitutions also invite prospective students forinterviews either on their campus or by telephone.UCAS allows you to track your application status.

Admission Requirements

Prospective international students should demonstrateproficiency in English by furnishing an IELTS or PTEPearson Test of English score. If you do not meet therequired level of English, you could enroll in an Englishlanguage preparation course. Entry Requirement mayvary for each type of course and subject. College

The UK higher education system is internationally recognized.The standard and quality is guaranteed by official bodies like theQualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA)

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prospectuses will list them under ‘Minimum EntryRequirements’.

As part of the UCAS form, you are asked to write apersonal statement. This descriptive account gives youthe opportunity to speak about your academic andpersonal goals and tell the institutions not just aboutyour academic capability but also the kind of activitiesyou have undertaken both within school and outside.

Apart from this courses like Law and Medicine mayneed entrance exams and interviews. Students hopingto pursue Art, Architecture or Film may have to submita portfolio. It is best to check the requirements onlinebefore preparing your UCAS application.

Deadlines

The deadline for Oxbridge and medical programmes isthe15th of October. For all other programmes,international students can apply up until end June butthe earlier you apply, the better your chances. Mostinstitutions will give you conditional acceptance basedon your predicted grades and previous academichistory if you apply before your Board exam results aredeclared. Some of the institutions offering Law wouldneed you to sit a national exam called LNAT – NationalAdmission test for Law. For Medical entrance youwould need BMAT (Biomedical Admission Test) orUKCAT(UK Clinical Aptitude test) and an interviewwhile Art, Film and Architecture may want to see yourportfolio.

Each institution sets its own admission criteria.Academic records of applicants are reviewed as part ofthe admissions process. The university year is usuallyfrom September to April, with intakes in September

and January. As the application process is competitiveand deadlines vary, it is best to apply six to eightmonths before the start date of the desired programmeof study. It is also advisable to apply to multipleinstitutions to avoid disappointment.

Fees, Finances & Scholarships

UK course fees vary depending on what you are goingto study and for how long. Cost of foundation coursesmay range from 4,000 to 12,000 pounds, Arts coursesrange between 7000 to 9,000 a year, while sciencecourses and clinical courses vary from 7,500 to 12,000pounds. The cost of living varies between different regionsof the UK. It is safest to allocate 650 to 800 pounds permonth towards the same.

You will need to contact the universities and collegesthat you are considering for precise information oncourse fees and financial help available to you. Mostuniversities and colleges will also display thisinformation on their websites. However, competition forstudy grants is intense and most often you would needto be nominated by the Government. If you wish toattend an institution in UK, you should apply forscholarship one year before commencement of thecourse. Some institutions offer bursaries or fee waiverstoward your room and board. The British Council nearestto you will be able to provide information onscholarships.

Visas

You can find out if you need a visa on the UK BorderAgency website. Applying can take some time, so it isimportant to apply well in advance of when you intend

Speak about your academic and personal goals and tell theinstitutions not just about your academic capability but also thekind of activities you have undertaken both within school andoutside.

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to travel. You can find out about visa processing timesin your country on UKBA's visa service pages. There area number of different types of visa available. Wediscuss the Tier 4 student applicant here:• Tier 4 (Child) student: You can apply as a childstudent under Tier 4 of the points-based system if youare between 4 and 17 years old. If you are between 4and 15 years old, you must be coming to the UK to beeducated at an independent fee-paying school.You can find out more in the UKBA's Studying in theUK pages.

Tier 4

In July 2011 the UK Government announced somechanges to Tier 4 student visas. You can find the latestinformation on the UK Border Agency website.

For adult Tier 4 (General) and child students comingon Tier 4 (Child) student visas, the UK has a points-based visa system which is designed to be objectiveand transparent. To apply, you need to gain 40 points.This includes 30 points for a “confirmation ofacceptance for studies” from the university, college orschool where you want to study.

Your chosen place of study must be on the UKBA'sofficial Register of Tier 4 Sponsors (approved educationproviders). This register is designed to give you peaceof mind that you are applying to join a genuineinstitution.

The remaining 10 points come from demonstratingthat you can afford to cover all or part of your fees andliving costs to study in the UK. This has been put inplace to help you avoid any financial difficulties thatmight affect your ability to complete your studies.

If you are 16 or 17 years old, you have the legal rightto live independently in the UK, and you may makeyour own arrangements for accommodation. However,you will need the permission of your parent(s) or legalguardian if you want to:

• live independently while you are in the UK; and• travel to the UK (if you are applying from

overseas).If you will be living independently, you must send usa letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian,confirming: • their relationship with you;• that they have given their permission for your

application; and• that they have given their permission for you to

live independently in the UK; and• that they have given their permision for your

independent travel to the UK.

If the letter is signed by only 1 parent or legal guardian,it must confirm that they have legal custody or soleresponsibility for you.

If they do not have sole custody, the letter mustconfirm that each parent or legal guardian agrees tothe contents of the letter, and must be signed by eachparent or legal guardian.

Web Sites of Use:

Association of Colleges in UK and Waleswww.aoc.co.ukAssociation of Colleges in Scotlandwww.ascol.org.ukCentral Admissions Service: www.ucas.ac.ukUK Accreditation Council www.the-bac.orgInformation on UK Education:www.britishcouncil.org/meSearch Engine for courses:www.educationuk.org/me, www.hotcourses.comInformation on scholarships:www.educationuk.org/scholarshipsInformation on student life in UK:www.studentuk.comQuality Assurance Agency: www.qaa.ac.ukEnglish Test: Int’l English Language TestingSystem: www.ielts.orgUK Visa Information: www.ukvisas.gov.uk

ADVERTORIAL

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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The U.S. education systemfeatures many different types ofinstitutions, academic andsocial environments, entryrequirements, degree programs,and subjects. There are two yearcommunity colleges as well asUniversities that offer a widearray of course options, researchopportunities and exchangeprogrammes. According toEducationUSA, there are over4900 accredited Universitiesand colleges spread over the 50states of America. Of these,more than 650 are public fouryear institutions while morethan 1,100 are public two yearinstitutions.

These public state-run institutions have a lower tuitionfee but financial assistance tends to be limited. Thereare over 2000 four year private institutions both forprofit and not for profit. Such private institutionsmostly have higher tuition and fees but financialassistance may be provided.

Application process

Today’s technology driven worldmakes on-line applications thenorm. One can apply eitherthrough the commonapplication websitewww.commonapp.org or theuniversal college applicationwww.universalcollegeapp.com/or directly through theinstitution's website as per thepolicies of the institution.Please use thewww.applytexas.org website forschools in the Texas system andthe UC common application forthe ten schools in the California

system. through www.universityofcalifornia.edu

Supporting documents

Your teacher and/or counsellor will be invited to sendconfidential letters of recommendation online alongwith the profile of the school. Students will also be

As per the Open Doors Report published by the Institute ofInternational Education (IIE) in partnership with the US Departmentof State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the number ofinternational students at colleges and universities in the USincreased by 5 per cent to 723,277 during the 2010/11 academic year.There are now 32 per cent more international students studying atUS colleges and universities than there were a decade ago. Womenrepresent approximately 45 per cent of the international students.The number of students from the Middle East studying in the UnitedStates has reached 42,543, an increase of 26 per cent, according tothe 2010/2011 Open Doors report. Of this figure, 1,871 studentswere from the UAE, with just over half of them pursuingundergraduate programmes.

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asked to send TOEFL and SAT scores directly from theEducation Testing Service and College Board. An IELTSor PET score can be submitted instead of the TOEFL.Some schools would need SAT II subject tests as well.

The counsellor/you would need to submit transcriptsof the last three years, one or more essay,

information on extra-curricular activities includingsports, voluntary work and leadership initiativesundertaken; information on summercourses/internships etc.

Some schools may not require SAT scores frominternational students. Supplementary forms may berequired from you so ensure that you read instructionscarefully. Students who wish to pursue Art, Design orArchitecture will need to submit a portfolio.

Deadlines

If the applicant wishes to apply for an early decision

or early action, the application deadline is usuallyin October. You can visit individual websites for thespecific dates. Students wishing to apply foradmission to University of California for the fallterm must submit an application by November 30thof the year prior to enrolment. Most otherinstitutions have a January 1 deadline for the

autumn intake. For the Spring (January) intakeapplications must be sent in by October. As hundredsof students apply every year, you need to be mindfulof deadlines and submit all documents within thestipulated deadlines.

Scholarships

Merit based scholarships are granted on academicmerit. There are also grants awarded to students whohave demonstrated financial need. Some universitiesneed additional forms and essays for scholarshipconsideration while at others, every applicant isautomatically considered for scholarship at entry.

Most institutions have a January 1 deadline for the autumn intake.For the Spring (January) intake applications must be sent in byOctober.

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Visa Process:

The process of applying for an F-1 student visa beginswith acceptance to an American college or university.Following admission, the educational institution in theUnited States will issue a Certificate of Eligibility forNon-Immigrant Student Status (I-20 form) and providethat to the student.

Sponsoring academic institutions are required to enteraccepted foreign students’ names into SEVIS, theStudent and Exchange Visitors Information System.Students should verify with their sponsoring academicinstitution that they are entered into SEVIS before theyapply for a visa. Upon receiving the I-20 form,students are required to pay a SEVIS –Student andExchange Visitor Programme fee online atwww.fmjfee.com and take a printed copy of this receiptto the visa interview.

U.S. immigration policy requires that all foreign

students submit proof of financial support for theirstudies. The financial guarantee may take the form ofa bank statement or letter from a sponsoring agency.For further information, visit: abudhabi.usembassy.gov/niv/students.html. There are twoEducation USA centers in UAE, one located in theAmerican Embassy premises in Abu Dhabi and theother in the Consulate in Dubai. Professionally trainedpersonnel are available in both english and arabic tooffer information and assistance. They can becontacted by emailing EducationUSA Abudhai@state.gov or EducationUSA Dubai@state.gov

Important websites

www.chea.org (Accreditation Informationwww.ed.gov (US Department of Educationwww.collegeboard.com - SATinformationwww.toefl.org -Information on Test of English asa foreign language

U.S. immigration policy requires that all foreign students submitproof of financial support for their studies. The financialguarantee may take the form of a bank statement or letter from asponsoring agency.

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At the 95 public and not-for-profit Universities whoare members of the Assn. of Universities and Collegesof Canada, (www.aucc.ca) there are a plethora ofundergraduate, post graduate and doctoralqualifications on offer along with certificate, Diplomaand professional qualifications. Apart from this, thereare over 150 members of the Assn. Of CanadianCommunity Colleges ( www.acc.ca) these are publicinstitutions offering credentials sanctioned byprovincial and the territorial government. Programmes

vary in length from a few months to four years. Thecourses are mostly practical and offer workplacements. Historically, these institutions offereddiplomas and certificates, not degrees. However, thesedays, some of them award degrees as well.

According to the Assn. of Universities and Colleges ofCanada, (AUCC) Report on Trends in Higher Educationon Enrolment, in 2010, there were almost 1.2 millionstudents in degree programs on Canadian campuses:

Canadians have developed one of the world’s finest educationsystems with high standards. The country spends more on education(as a percentage of GDP) as compared to the OECD (Organizationfor Economic Co-operation and Development) average, and is thesecond highest among G-8 countries. Canada is currently ranked 4thon the United Nations Human Development Index which indicatesquality of life. It also has low incidence of violent crime and has ahealth care system that is a model for the world. All this makesCanada a sought after destination for international students. Adegree from a Canadian university is recognized world-wide and asa result, international students who graduate from top universitiesin Canada enjoy successful and prosperous careers.

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755,000 undergraduates, 143,400 graduate studentsstudying full-time, and an additional 275,800 studentsstudying part-time. The number of full-time universitystudents has more than doubled since 1980, and part-time enrolment is up 16 percent. In 2010,international students represented approximatelyeight percent of full-time undergraduate students in

Canada, approximately 18 percent of full-timemaster’s students and 23 percent of full-time PhDstudents.

Universities in Canada are a $30-billion enterprise with$10 billion worth of research activities. In fact,research is one area where tremendous amount ofmoney has been pumped in by the Government andIndustry. 100 colleges and institutes alongwith 4,444companies across Canada are engaged in appliedresearch. In addition 4,380 companies havecollaborated for industry research and 64 for socialinnovation research. 447 areas of researchspecialization and 305 specialized research centres andlabs support innovation in all sectors of theeconomy,13,585 students engaged in applied researchin 2010-11, up by 63 percent from 2009-10. 1,606faculty and staff, including industrial experts andtechnicians, engaged in research, up by 34 percentfrom 2009-10.Private sector investment in Canada’scolleges increased by 13 percent in the last year to$50.3 million. All this means that students will be ableto benefit from the easy availability of funds to getinvolved in cutting edge research.

The number of international students has doubled ineducation, and there were four-fold increases in visualand performing arts, and business, management andpublic administration. In 2008, the most popular fieldsof study were: business, management and public

administration (23 percent), architecture, engineeringand related technologies (16 percent) and social andbehavioural sciences, and law (13 percent). Accordingto Erica Alini’s article “Canada Calling the World” inMaclean’s 2011 Guide to Canadian universities, nearly88,000 international students were enrolled inuniversity in Canada; on an average, undergraduate

foreign students paid an estimated $16,773 in tuitionin 2010-2011, according to Statistics Canada.

Application Process

The University year is usually September to April,intakes being September and January. As theapplication process is competitive and the deadlinesvary, it is best if you apply six to eight months beforethe start date of your program. Most students apply tomultiple institutions. American curriculum students willneed to send a SAT score.

For students from other curricula, although SAT is notmandatory, some institutions may require it forscholarship consideration. It is best to check admissionrequirements of individual institutional websites. Forundergraduate admission, academic records from grade9 to the most recent will be reviewed as part of theadmissions process. A good academic profile is givenpreference.

Extracurricular activities are looked upon favorably.Students who wish to take up commerce relatedsubjects should take up Math. Prospectiveinternational students should demonstrate proficiencyin English or French as per the language of instructionin the institution/s being considered. Test of English asa Foreign language (TOEFL) the International Language

The number of international students has doubled in education,and there were four-fold increases in visual and performing arts,and business, management and public administration.

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Testing System (IELTS) or Test de francais international(TFI) are the tests necessary. Preparatory courses beforethe commencement of the program may be needed forthose with inadequate scores.

The province of Ontario, Alberta and that of BritishColumbia have a centralized application system foradmission. The Ontario Universities Application Centre(OUAC), Ontario’s application hub started in 1971 and canbe accessed by visiting: www.ouac.on.ca/ SomeUniversities will want you to include ID slips that they willmail you once you have done the initial application.

British Columbia’s centralized application system canbe accessed through myBCcampus. To apply to Alberta,visit its new centralized online application andtranscript transfer system throughwww.applyalberta.ca. After completing the onlineapplication, you would need to send all supportingdocuments like transcripts, reference letters, essays,proof of language proficiency etc. so that yourapplication gets reviewed and processed. Remember toinclude your student ID number for easy reference.

Costs

Canadian Institutions, charge lower tuition fees forinternational students than their counterparts in othercountries and at the same time, maintain excellenteducational quality. However, as the fees are moreaffordable, admissions are more competitive. Over thelast three years, Canada's inflation rate has remainedone of the lowest in the industrialized world.

Study Permit

Once accepted at a college or university, in order tostudy in Canada for a period of six months or more,you need to apply for a study permit from theCitizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).To study inQuebec; you must also secure a Certificate ofAcceptance from the Province of Quebec. For the study

permit, apart from your acceptance letter, you wouldneed to show adequate funds to support you during yourperiod of stay in Canada. In some cases, medical andSecurity checks may also be required. The student permitmay take six to eight weeks to be processed. Applicantsbelow eighteen years of age also need to submit anundertaking of guardianship from a citizen of Canada.

Employment

Students can work on anywhere on campus for 20hours a week without a work permit. After one year ofstudy, full time students can work off campus for upto 20 hours a week when school is in session and fulltime when school is out. After graduation, students canapply for a work permit of up to three years – theduration of the visa will depend on the length of theirpost secondary studies in Canada.

Safety

Safety is given paramount importance in Canada'scampuses. Most universities / colleges have their owncampus security 24 hours a day. There are also " WalkSafe" programmes to assist people in getting to publictransportation during late hours.

Source & Web Sites of use

English Tests: www.toefl.org or www.ielts.orgCareer & Applications: www.careercruising.comApplication: www.electronicinfo.caCanadian Embassy Abu Dhabi:www.abudhabi.gc.caScholarships: www.canlearn.ca,www.studentawards.comStudy Permits:www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study.aspwww.india.idp.comwww.global-opportunities.netwww.edwiseinternational.com/

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seneca colege???

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seneca colege???

ADVERTORIAL

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In 2011, there were 557,425 enrolments by full-feepaying international students in Australia on astudent visa. This was a 9.6% decline on the sameperiod in 2010. There were 298,842commencements in 2011, representing a 8.6%decline over the same period in 2010. In 2011, theHigher Education sector ranked first by volume of

enrolments. The sector recorded growth of 0.1% inenrolments. By enrolments volume, the two largestsource countries were China (40.2%) and Malaysia(7.4%) “Management and Commerce” was the mostpopular broad field of education with 51.1% ofnrolments. The next most popular field was“Engineering and Related Technologies” with 8.8%

Studying in Australia promotes innovative, creative and independentthinking. You’ll learn to work as part of a team, to communicateeffectively with others and to develop the practical skills andintellectual abilities you need for global success. The Australianeducation system has a strong international reputation and is knownfor its effective structure and innovative policy developments. Youhave the freedom to choose the study option to suit your goals. Youcan study at Universities, vocational institutions, schools or Englishlanguage training centers. These sectors are linked so you can moveeasily from one qualification level to the next and from oneinstitution to another.

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enrolments. The third most popular field was“Information Technology” with a further 7.5% ofenrolments. In 2011, enrolments at the under-graduate level of study were up by 3.1% butcommencements were down by 2.6% on 2010figures. Post-graduate research enrolments andcommencements were up by 13.0% and 5.9%respectively over the same period. In contrast, otherpost-graduate enrolments and commencementsdeclined 8.0% and 8.9% respectively. (Source:(Australian Education International, Govt. ofAustralia)

All courses offered to international students mustbe approved and listed on the CommonwealthRegister of Institutions and Courses for OverseasStudents (CRICOS). Qualifications offered tostudents must fit the Australian QualificationsFramework. Periodic monitoring of teaching,learning, administration and research of allinstitutions is conducted by government bodies.Universities are audited every five years by theAustralian University Quality Agency. Vocationaleducation and training institutions are audited bythe Australian National Training Authority.

Australian institutions develop the creative,analytical and lateral thinking skills of students, andencourage individuality. There are in total, 41universities; of these, 38 are government funded orpublic and three are private. These institutions offerBachelor’s degree, and post graduate qualificationsincluding Masters, graduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, Masters, MPhil and PhD. Apartfrom these, Australia has several vocationalinstitutions that offer skill based courses that arepractical and industry linked. Some of them offerpathway programmes to Universities. TheGovernment funded Technical and Further EducationInstitutes (TAFE) offer excellent vocational training.National agencies monitor teaching, learning,administration and research in institutions. MostBachelors degree programmes are three years induration while Masters level courses are one and a

half to two years in duration. Students who needto improve their English proficiency, can enrol inone of the many private language centers or take apre- sessional course at one of the universities orvocational centres.

Entry requirements

To be accepted to study on a student visa inAustralia you will need to demonstrate a sufficientlevel of English language proficiency, and meetminimum academic requirements.

Academic requirements

To gain entry into an Australian undergraduatecourse you will need to have an Australia SeniorSecondary Certificate of Education (Year 12), or theoverseas equivalent. Some undergraduate coursesmay also have specific pre-requisite subjects. Forpost graduate admission, apart from thesatisfactory completion of at least one degree atundergraduate level, your institution may takeresearch ability or relevant work experience intoconsideration. For VET or Vocational education andtraining courses, generally there are no otherentrance exams. However some courses may havespecific pre-requisite subjects or work experiencerequirements.

Application Process

The academic year commences in February/Marchand ends in October/November. There are usuallytwo student intakes per year; one at the beginningof the academic year ie February and the second inJune/July. Students would need to start theapplication process at least 3 months in advance.English language courses are offered all through theyear. You can apply directly to an Australianeducation institu-tion via an online form or visit an

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agent that represents several Australian institut-ions. Individual institution would have varyingadmission criteria based on the programme andlevel of study. It is best to visit the relevant web sitefor specific deadlines and admission requirements.

Finances

Tuition fees vary from AUD 6000 to AUD 16000 fora six-month graduate certificate/diploma course toover AUD 30,000 per annum for a medical degree.Foundation or bridging programmes can costbetween AUD 9000 to 14,000 per annum based onprogramme location and duration of study.

Most full time degree and post graduate degreescost between AUD 10,000 to 20,000 per annum.Vocational education and training, costs vary fromAUD 3000 to 4000 for a 20-week certificate courseto over AUD 18,000 per annum for laboratory orcomputer intensive advanced courses.

The Australian government requires that

international students and their families pay forhealth insurance in Australia through the OverseasStudent Health Cover (OSHC) Scheme.

Health care costs in Australia can be quiteexpensive. The cost of health insurance may bearound $300 for a single person. Details of USHCprovider is given here: www.health.gov.au

While most international students pay full fees,some scholarships are offered by the AustralianGovernment, education institutions and a numberof other organizations for academic merit. Theycover various educational sectors, includingvocational edu-cation and training, studentexchanges, undergraduate and post-graduate studyand research.

The Australian Agency for InternationalDevelopment (AusAID) and the Department ofEducation, Employment and Workplace Relations(DEEWR) administer and manage governmentscholarships. Further information can be found atwww.australianscholarships.gov.au

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An average international student in Australia willspend about A$360 a week on accommodation,food, clothing, entertainment, transport andtelephone. Remember, though, that this figuredepends on your location, lifestyle and even yourcourse. You should seek further information onliving costs from your institution.

‘Those who graduate with at least a bachelor degree

from a university will be able to stay on and workfor up to four years and will not be tied down toany particular occupation, unlike in the past.Universities will be accountable for the visaoutcomes of their students.

If these outcomes are consistently poor, theuniversity will be removed from the streamlinedprocessing arrangements and prospective studentswill be processed under the existing rules’. Says areport in University world news titled “Australia:Doors open to foreign students” by Geoff Maslen.

Student visa:

This year a number of changes have been incorporatedinto the visa procedures for education in Australia.To be granted a student visa you must satisfy thevisa requirements and comply with a number of visaconditions for attendance and academic performancewhich come into effect after you have enteredAustralia. Your student visa will list the conditionsthat apply specifically to you. It is important tocomply with your visa conditions to avoid visacancellation.

Updated student visa information is available onthis website:

www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/applying-student.pdf

Scholarships:

Three main programmes available under AustralianScholarships are: Endeavour Awards – www.endeavour.deewr.gov.auAustralian Leadership Awards (ALA):

www.ausaid.gov.au/scholarAustralian Development Scholarships (ADS):www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar

Apart from these scholarships, individualinstitutions have on offer various scholarships. Allcandidates are automatically considered in someinstitutions but for others, individual applicationsneed to be made.

Websites of use:

The Australian Government: www.australia.gov.auStart Dates: www.universitiesaustralia.edu.auStudy in Australia: www.studyinaustralia.gov.auEducation in Australia: www.education.gov.auThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (forcontact details of your country’s embassy)www.dfat.gov.auThe Department of Immigration and Citizenship(for immigration and visa information)www.immi.gov.auThe Australian Customs Service (for informationabout what you can bring into Australia)www.customs.gov.auTourism Australia www.australia.comNew visa regulations: www.immi.gov.au/students

Your student visa will list the conditions that apply specifically toyou. It is important to comply with your visa conditions to avoidvisa cancellation.

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Malaysia has 22 state universities, more than 480private institutions, many of which are branchcampuses of international institutions such as MonashUniversity from Australia. As per Education Malaysia,their Consulate’s Education wing, more than hundredEmiratis are currently enrolled in Malaysianuniversities, compared with just eight in 2007. Apartfrom that, there are about 34,000 students from theregion.

Malaysia is also stepping up efforts to lure moreuniversity students from the UAE, following a surge innumbers in recent years - enrolments have beenincreasing by about 5 to 7 per cent a year since 2004.Eleven Malaysian institutions were represented at thelast Sharjah International Education Fair. The major‘pulls’ of the Malaysian education system as far as UAEstudents are concerned are the relatively low fees andthe common religion, in addition to the quality of

Malaysia is gaining acceptance as a reputable study destination inthe region. The education sector offers a variety of highereducational programmes as well as professional and specialized skillcourses that are competitively priced. Branch campuses of reputedAustralian and British institutions also have been established inMalaysia. Universities from UK, USA, Canada, Australia, France,Germany and New Zealand offer twinnings, franchised and externaldegree programmes in partnership with Malaysian institutions.

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education and the variety of courses on offer likeIslamic Banking, Shariat Law etc.

The Malaysian government is also ensuring the qualityof higher education in the country. So much so, that,from 2009 to 2010 alone, the nation’s HigherEducation Ministry cancelled the setting up of 59private colleges, and deregistered 28 others for notmeeting its exacting standards. The ministry is alsoconcentrating on awarding large amounts of researchfunding under its Fundamental Research GrantScheme. Last year, 224 research projects at 22 differentprivate universities, university colleges, and branchesof foreign universities were awarded funds – and thisyear, the number of projects is up to 254.

Enrolling at a 'Licensed' PrivateEducational Institution

It is advisable that international students ascertainwhether the institution of their choice has been'licensed' and 'approved' before they enrol. Tosafeguard the interest of international students, allprivate schools, international schools, private colleges,private universities and foreign university branchcampuses in Malaysia must obtain approvals from therelevant regulatory bodies of the Malaysiangovernment. These approvals include:

• Primary and Secondary EducationPrivate Schools and international schools which offerprimary and secondary education - these institutionsmust be licensed by the Ministry of Education Malaysiaand the Ministry of Home Affairs (MalaysianImmigration Department www.imi.gov.my in order toaccept international students.

• Tertiary Education Private higher educational institutions which offertertiary education - besides obtaining approval fromthe Ministry of Higher Education, these institutionsneed to ensure that the courses offered are endorsedby the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. As such,

students are advised to check with the institutionconcerned or online at www.mqa.gov.my to determineif their intended course of study is endorsed oraccredited by MQA.

Enrolling at a Public University

Public universities offer postgraduate studies andlimited places for bachelor's degree programmes tointernational students. Funded by the government,these public universities are allowed to recruitinternational students for full-time undergraduate andpostgraduate studies. Their courses are assured by MQAand the Immigration Department will issue a 'StudentPass' to every student enrolled by these universities.

Applying to Study at a MalaysianInstitution

Applying to study at the Malaysian institution of yourchoice is simple. Just complete the relevantInternational Student Application Forms for yourchosen course and return it to the institution of yourchoice with the following documents and fees:

• Certified copies of all relevant examination resultsand academic certificates (preferably with copies translated in English if documents are in another language)

• A completed accommodation form (if accommodation is required)

• Photocopy of valid international passport - all pages

• Photocopy of identity card• Most recent passport sized colour photograph

(4 to 6 copies)• Personal medical health report• Application fees (ranging from US160 to US250,

usually non-refundable)

You may obtain the application form online from theinstitution's website or from the institution's overseas

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representative. You will beasked for evidence of youracademic achievement andproficiency in English. Ideally,you should apply about twomonths before the intake date.

Getting an Offer fromthe Institution

Upon receiving yourapplication, the institution willusually take 5 to 7 days toprocess your application. If youare accepted, the institutionwill issue an 'Offer of Place'letter and deliver/send thisoffer letter to you. This letterwill confirm the full-timecourse details, commencementdates, and an invoice for thetuition fee, miscellaneous feesand accommodation fees. You then need to makearrangements for the payment of fees and you shouldrequest the institution to issue a receipt to you uponconfirmation of payment.

Application of Student Pass

The next step will be the application of a Student Pass.The institution will apply for an approval for a studentpass from the Malaysian Immigration Department inMalaysia on your behalf. This will take from 7 to 14days, provided all documents are in order. Theinstitution will then proceed to notify the studentregarding the status (approved or rejected) of theapplication for the student pass. With the receipt ofthe Immigration's approval letter through theInstitution, you can prepare for your journey toMalaysia. You do not need to apply for a separate visato enter Malaysia.

Travel

Before leaving the country forMalaysia, you should informthe educational institution ofyour port of entry (airport),flight number, arrival date andtime. Upon arrival at theairport in Malaysia, theeducational institution’srepresentative will receive youat the immigration check-point. Within 2 weeks of yourarrival, the educationalinstitution will submit yourpassport to the ImmigrationDepartment, which attachesthe student pass sticker.

Source: www.studymalaysia.com

And MEPC-Malaysian Education

Promotion Center

Websites of use:

• Ministry of Higher Education Malaysiawww.mohe.gov.my, www.educationmalaysia.gov.my• Malaysian Qualifications Agencywww.mqa.gov.my• Ministry of Education Malaysiawww.moe.gov.my, www.moe.gov.my/bps• StudyMalaysia Online Course Search :www.studymalaysia.com

Important Contact Address:

Malaysia Education Promotion Centre Dubai, UAE Consulate General of Malaysia 83, Street 10D, Mankhool, P.O.Box 114140 DubaiTel : +9714-398 5843 Fax : +9714-327 5151

MALAYSIA

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Students can join a research oriented programme at aUniversität (university) or a more practice-focusedcourse at a Fachhochschule (university of appliedsciences), or an artistic programme at one of the manyKunst-, Film-, or Musikhoch-schulen (college of art,film or music). Many programmes are offered by allthree types of institutions, which widen a student’schoices even further. If you already hold a degree, you

can also choose to enter a postgraduate or doctoralprogramme for advanced qualifications.

Students wishing to study in Germany can choose frommore than 12,000 degree programmes and subjectsoffered at 340 state (public) and state-recognizedhigher education institutions. Each of the 16 states inGermany has its own higher education laws and

Germany’s higher education institutions enjoy an excellentreputation. Teaching and research are geared towardspromoting innovation and progress. Institutions have state-of-the-art equipment and labs to provide students with thevery best conditions for successful studies. Germany’s highereducation system is very diverse and varied. This means astudent can choose a programme that best fits his/her needs.

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guidelines. Not all of the courses taught are in English-medium, students should check with the institutionregarding the medium of instruction before enrollingfor courses.

The academic year is generally divided into two six-month semesters; the winter semester normally beginsin October while the summer semester begins in April.Course duration is around three months in the summersemester and four months in the winter semester.Students can use the non-lecture period to revisematerial taught in the previous semesters or tocomplete internships.

The German higher education system generally hasthree distinct types of institutions,

• Universitäten: Universities and equivalent institutions are greatly focused on research and teaching. Most Universities offer courses in practically all subject areas while some universitieschoose to specialize in a particular field.

• Fachhochschule (FH): FHs were especially established to give students a chance to engage inthe more practical studies and applied research. Subjects offered by FHs cover fields like technology, business, IT, design, social fields, education, nursing and applied natural sciences.

• Kunst-, Film-, or Musikhoch-schulen: Colleges of art, film and music offer artistic-creative subjects – like fine art, industrial and fashion design, stage design, graphic art, instrumental music or singing.There are even special media-oriented colleges that train directors, camera operators, authors, film-makers and other TV or media professionals.

Besides the state (public) higher educationinstitutions, a number of private universities alsooperate in Germany that generally offer subjects fromthe fields of law, economics and businessadministration and social sciences. Private universitiesoften maintain close contacts with companies in orderto give their graduates an edge and better careerprospects.

There are two categories of subjects in Germany: 1. Subjects with a centrally restricted admission policy(nationwide numerus clausus). These subjects are sopopular that there are far more applicants thanavailable places at the university. At present, thesesubjects include Medicine, Pharmacology, VeterinaryMedicine and Dentistry.

2. Subjects with no or a locally restricted admissionpolicy(numerus clausus implemented by the university). Appying for a subject with a centrally restrictedadmission policy

A nationwide numerus clausus (NC) applies to thosesubjects for which there are more applicants inGermany than the university system can absorb. If youwish to study one of these subjects, there are specialconditions that pertain to your application.

Where you submit your application depends on thecountry you come from and whether you have aGerman higher education entrance qualification.

Two groups of applicants must submit theirapplications to the Foundation for Higher EducationAdmission (formerly ZVS):

1. Applicants from EU member states, as well asLiechtenstein, Iceland and Norway 2. Applicants who have received their secondaryschool-leaving certificate in Germany or at aGerman School abroad

For more information visit the website of theFoundation for Higher Education AdmissionAll other applicants should submit their applicationsdirectly to the university of their choice, or applythrough uni-assist.

Appying for other subjects

All international students who wish to study subjectswith no centrally restricted admission policy should

Of the many demands on our budgets as parents

and grand-parents, the education of our children

and grand-children is an important priority that de-

mands much careful thought and planning.

At ADCB we believe in ambition and therefore believefully in supporting our customers, who of course wantthe very best for their children. To help parents realisetheir ambitions for their children, we have put consider-able thought into providing an optimum range of com-prehensive services that will help and support them astheir children grow and the costs of education growswith them. ADCB supports parents every step of theway as they make important educational choices andplan effectively to ensure that the increasing costs ofeducation are well provisioned for as early as possible.ʻBanking on Educationʼ is ADCBʼs one-stop shop for allparentsʼ education-related financial needs, providingstructured support and advice for future planning, aswell as a comprehensive range of products and serv-ices that provides three important functions:1) Make advice and information easily available tohelp parents make important decisions and choiceswith regards to their childʼs future and education re-quirements2) Allow parents to save carefully for their childrenʼseducation by providing a wide range of structured sav-ings plans, investment options and savings accounts3) Provide access to additional funding through ed-ucation loans to sail parents through the most demand-ing years, should it be required.“Through personal experience and ADCBʼs profes-sional research with educational institutes both hereand abroad, it has become increasingly evident that ed-ucation costs are an ever increasing burden on parentswhose budgets are already tight,” said SundarParthasarathy, ADCB Executive Vice President, Head– Consumer Assets. ADCB aims to provide valuableand practical support to all parents, helping them savefor the future and invest in their childrenʼs education.”At ADCB you can take an Education Loan for any

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ADCB’s ‘Banking on Education’helps parents plan and provide fortheir children’s education

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apply either directly to the International Office or theStudent Administration Office at the university wherethey wish to study or through uni-assist, if youruniversity is one of over 100 that cooperate with thisservice.

List of all uni-assist-universitiesPlease enquire about the application procedures at theInternational Office at the University of your Choice.

Deadlines

Two dates you should mark red in your calendar:January 15th and July 15th. If you wish to begin yourstudies in the winter semester (October) thesubmission period is from the beginning of June to15th July. If you prefer to start your studies in thesummer semister (April), the submission period is fromthe beginning of December to 15th January.

Costs

• Fees for notarising copies and translations • Examination fee for the TestDaF or DSH (the costof which depends on where you take the test) • Processing fee for the application (The cost of theprocessing fee depends on where you apply.) • Through uni-assist: Maximum of 68 euro for thefirst application. Each additional application costs15 Euro. • No fee is charged at the moment for taking theTestAS examination. Please remember that your application will only beprocessed after you have paid the fee.

Application Process

Most foreign students must apply directly to theInternational Office at the Higher education institutionat which they would like to study. Documents requiredinclude an officially-certified copy of the schoolleaving certificate plus language certificates. Studentswill also need to provide personal details in a C.V or aresume, as well as information on how they plan tofinance their studies (i.e. proof of sufficient financialresources). Institutions will process your admissionapplication only if all the required documents andpapers are provided.

More than 90 German higher education institutionsonly process international study applications once thesehave been formally pre-checked by “uni-assist” (acertification service for international students). Theadvantage of this is that international students onlyneed to contact one central office to apply for a placeat several higher education institutions at once with justone set of application papers. Uni-assist contacts astudent without delay in case any document is missingfrom their application. More details can be found on thewebsite www.uni-assist.de

Admission Requirements

Students must present educational qualifications thatare recognized as equivalent to a German highereducation entrance qualification. Often a schoolleaving certificate (transfer certificate) that qualifiesyou for entry into colleges or universities in your homecountry will be accepted as an equivalent qualificationfor admission. Since 2007, there has also been a test

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with which foreign students can assess whether ornot they possess the knowledge to start academicstudies in Germany.

The test for Academic Studies (TestAS) can be takenin the spring at any of the 350 TestDaF centersworldwide. These test scores will help you realize ifyou are prepared for higher education in Germanyand a good test score can help improve your chancesof getting the course that you want.

As German is the medium of instruction in most of thecolleges and universities, foreign students wishing toenroll in courses in these institutions will need toprovide proof of their proficiency in the language or willneed to sit for an exam called ‘German as ForeignLanguage Test (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache –TestDaF)’ or a comparable test such as German LanguageTest for the Admission of Foreign Study Applicants(Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang –DSH).

The TestDaF can be taken from licensed test centers fora fee of 80, 110 or 150 € depending on the country. Thetest is conducted 6 times a year, and the deadline forregistration for the test is always 4 weeks before thefollwing test date. The DSH test can only be taken inGermany. It does not have a set test date. The institutionsconducting the DSH test, set the date themselves, andsometimes charge up to € 150 for the test.

Finances

On an average, the cost of living is € 600-770 permonth. Students can avail of special concessions andcan use local transport at a nominal rate. They can alsoattend cultural events, visit cinemas, or libraries anduse cultural facilities at discounted prices. Themaximum tuition fee that can be charged is € 500 forundergraduate studies; doctoral candidates have beenexempted from having to pay tuition.

A wide range of scholarships for German and Foreign

students especially post-graduates and researchersare offered by Deutscher Akademischer AustauschDienst (DAAD). A searchable web-based scholarshipdatabase is available to students on the DAADwebsite (www.daad.de/offices or www.funding-guide.de). DAAD has an office in Abu Dhabi which canprovide all the support you will need to study inGermany.

Visas

Admitted students need to submit the followingdocuments to apply for a visa,• Letter of admission• Proof of Health Insurance Cover• Proof of Financial Resources• Documents related to Previous EducationalQualifications• German Language Proficiency Certificate or Planfor Intensive Language course in German• Minor students would need a letter of consentfrom the person(s) responsible for their care andcustody• A student visa is generally issued for a period of 3months. If the study period is longer, you mustcontact the foreigner’s authority (Aus-landerbehorde) to apply for a residence permit. TheResidence permit is initially issued for 2 years butcan be extended for a further period of 2 years.

Source: Study in Germany website, DAAD website

Websites of Use

Information on German Institutionswww.daad.de/zulassung List of all recognized German Language testswww.learn-german.netInformation about tests for academic studieswww.testas.deInteractive learning platform on GermanLanguage, Culture and Everyday life in Germanywww.dutsch-uni.com

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The academic year is divided into two semesters:Winter from October to March, and Summer from Aprilto July. The total length of study up to the firstacademic exam is usually four to five years, dependingon the course, with six years for medical studies.

The Swiss academic degrees are the Lizentiat/Licence,

the diploma, and the PhD. The level of the licentiateand the diploma (the first two degrees conferred inSwitzerland) correspond to the American Mastersdegree. Most Swiss universities ask for a licentiateas pre-requisite for a PhD. In addition to therecognised institutes of higher education, there area number of private colleges offering courses that

There are twelve official higher education establishments inSwitzerland. In addition to the 12 universities, there are alsofurther types of universities including nine universities ofapplied sciences, 14 universities of teacher education andseveral university institutes receiving financial support fromthe Swiss Confederation.

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are not Government recognized. The language ofinstruction can be German, French, Italian or English.Students are therefore advised to research optionsbefore they apply.

Study Programmes

The number of university graduates continues to riseeach year in Switzerland. Nevertheless, all studyprogrammes have remained open to students having avalid maturity certificate or other certificate qualifyingfor university entrance. Exceptions are studyprogrammes in medicine (human medicine, dentistry,veterinary medicine) and chiropractic as well as inhuman movement and sports sciences.

There may be entrance examinations to the studyprogrammes in medicine and partly in humanmovement and sports sciences depending on thenumber of applicants for admission in any given year.The limited number of openings is the reason whyinternational students, apart from some special cases,are not admitted to the study programmes inmedicine.

Admission to a Bachelor's Programme

For access to Swiss universities a valid Swiss maturitycertificate or an equivalent foreign upper secondaryschool-leaving certificate qualifying for universityentrance is required. Each of the universities makes itsown decisions as to what certificates and qualificationsit recognizes. Detailed information on general andcountry-specific access and admission requirementscan be found at the CRUS/Swiss ENIC Web site.

Students should have a good knowledge of thelanguage of instruction (either German, English, Frenchor Italian). Candidates should also possess a state-recognized Swiss matriculation certificate or foreignequivalent. Foreign students may be asked to paysomewhat higher fees than native students when theyare accepted onto a course.

Application Process

Apply in writing to the university you have chosen,mentioning the field in which you wish to study, andenclosing a copy of your matriculation certificate,copies of college or university certificates (if any) andexamination results with an official statement aboutyour studies, and finally a detailed curriculum vitae.Once you have received confirmation of acceptancefrom a Swiss university, contact the Swiss Embassy inyour home country for information on entry formalitiesfor Switzerland. You will have to show proof of yourfinancial means during your studies at this time.

You will have to apply to the police department afteryour arrival in Switzerland to obtain a residencepermit. You will need a valid passport, with visa ifnecessary, confirmation of acceptance from a Swissuniversity, a guarantee of sufficient financial means tosupport your studies (such as a bank statement), anda statement concerning your address in Switzerland.The residence permit will only be issued if yourfinancial means are guaranteed; you will also need torenew the permit annually.

Scholarships

The Swiss Government grants university scholarshipsto foreign students who have graduated fromuniversity or, to a limited extent, university of appliedsciences or advanced arts programmes. Detailedinformation on the application requirements for thescholarships, the relevant countries, and how to applyare provided by the Federal Commission forScholarships for Foreign Students (FCS):

Federal Commission for Scholarships for ForeignStudents (FCS)Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 BernTel. +41 (0)31 323 26 76Fax +41 (0)31 232 30 20

The mobility centres of the Swiss universities provide

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information on scholarships for international studentsgranted by universities.

Visa requirements

As of 20th June 2011, all visa applicants must have anappointment to submit their visa application at theConsulate General. One appointment will be allocatedper person, for example, if a family of five is applyingfor visas, then 5 appointments must be made.

There are a limited number of daily appointments. Youmay book your appointments in advance with theirservice provider: Quick Print. Email:swissvisadubai@gmail.com

An appointment request may be submitted by phone,fax, e-mail or in person at Quick Print. Each applicantis required to provide the name as in the passport,passport number, mobile phone number and e-mailaddress. You will be given an appointment time anddate and reservation number. The charge for thisservice is AED 35.00 (Thirty-five dirham) perapplication. Payment must be made in person alongwith the original passport(s). In return you will be givena Visa Appointment and Receipt.

The completed application and documents must be

presented to Quick Print for verification at least 48hours prior to your appointment date. You will then beissued a preview checklist confirmation of thisverification, which should be presented to theConsulate at the appointment. Admission to theConsulate will be declined if you do not have thestamped checklist. Please note that this preview is noguarantee of a visa but only an aid to assist us in theefficient processing of your application.

Further Information

Brochures about studying in Switzerland inEnglish:l"Studying in Switzerland: Universities, 2012"l"Studying in Switzerland: Universities of Applied Science, 2012"

l"Studying in Switzerland: Universities of TeacherEducation, 2012"

l"Higher education and research in Switzerland, 2011"

The English-language Web site www.swissuniversity.ch/ provides information for internationalstudents wanting to study in Switzerland and foruniversities seeking cooperation partners.

Source: © 2012 - Rektorenkonferenz der Schweizer Universitäten

(CRUS) www.crus.ch

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The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs providesdetailed information on the colleges and institutesoffering these courses:

ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL EDUCATIONWith 36 universities and 1195 colleges offeringundergraduate and postgraduate engineering courses invarious branches, India is rightly referred as a Mecca forfinding engineers suited to cutting edge technology jobs.Over 200,000 students take admission in Indianengineering institutes and colleges. All the engineering

colleges / institutions in India are recognised andregulated by the All India Council of TechnicalEducation (AICTE).

Students aiming for entry into technical courses in2013 will see a new admission procedure. To get up todate information, visit the CBSE and AICTE websites.

MEDICAL EDUCATIONIndian Medical Institutes are known worldwide forproviding medical education of international

Studying in India is an enriching experience that opens thegates to professional growth. India offers many graduate,post graduate and doctoral level courses. Most state andcentral level Universities and colleges have excellent faculty,course curriculum and accommodation facilities. Cited belowis a list of the major undergraduate and post-graduatecourses in India.

INDIA

standards. There are 18 university level institutions and785 medical colleges offering undergraduateProgrammes in medicine and related areas (includingPharmacy, Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathic andNursing). All Medical/ Dental/ Pharmacy/ Nursingcolleges in India are recognised and regulated by thestatutory bodies’ i.e. Medical Council of India / DentalCouncil of India /Pharmacy Council of India / IndianNursing Council at central level.

AGRICULTURAL/VETERINARY EDUCATIONIndia is the preferred destination for AgriculturalEducation including study of Animal Sciences, Dairyand Fishery Sciences. There are 40 renowned universitylevel institutions and more than 199 colleges offeringvarious courses in Agriculture. Undergrad-uateProgrammes are offered in 11 major disciplines and

post-graduate Programmes in asmany as 65 differentspecialisations. All universities

also offer Ph.D Programmesin these specialisations.

The universities offeringMedical Education in

India are under thecontrol of an apexnational body,Indian Council forAgriculturalresearch (IICAR),which isresponsible forthe promotion

and coordination of agricultural research and highereducation in various branches of Agriculture and AlliedScience in India.

MANAGEMENT COURSESTo meet the growing demand of managementprofessionals, India started its first formalisedmanagement educational programme in the late1950s. Today, India has more than 600 institutesoffering programmes in management at undergraduateand postgraduate levels with prestigious institutes likethe Indian Institute of Management (IIMs). Allmanagement colleges/institutes in India are recognisedand regulated by All India Council of TechnicalEducation (AICTE), a statutory body of The Governmentof India.

NATURAL/APPLIED SCIENCES/LIBERAL ARTSAND HUMANITIESStudents from all over the world come to the Indianshores for study of Natural and Applies Sciences,Liberal Arts and Humanities, the reason- India has awealth of resources, from infrastructure to faculty. Avariety of Programmes are available in traditionalliberal arts and humanities. There are 162 traditionaluniversities and more than 7,494 colleges offeringdegree in Science/ Arts / Commerce. More than 150disciplines in undergraduate programmes and 50specialisations in postgraduate programmes areoffered.

HOTEL MANAGEMENT AND TOURISMThe degrees offered by Indian institutions in HotelManagement and Tourism studies equip students withall skills and knowledge required to effectivelydischarge supervisory and managerial responsibilitiesin the hospitality industry.

With 24 Institutes of Hotel Management (IHMs) and 6Food Craft Institutes spread all over the country, Indiaoffers three-year degree Programme in Hotel Managementand Catering Technology. The Indian Institute of Travel andTourism Management (IITM) offers short term coursesdesigned for travel and tourism studies.

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FASHION AND DESIGN TECHNOLOGYIndia has always been the hub of textile and garmenttrade. There are as many as 75 institutes in India thatoffer courses in fashion, design technology and relatedfields. Training at these institutes is imparted keepingin mind the demands of the international market. Theinstitutes are equipped with latest technologies,laboratories, workshops, design and research centres,libraries, and computers.

Source: National Portal Content Management Team, Reviewed

on:10-01-2011

UNDERGRADUATE COURSESUndergraduate courses, in general, are of three yearsleading to Bachelor degrees in Arts, Science,Commerce, etc. However, undergraduate coursesleading to a first degree in professional subjects likeEngineering, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy are ofa longer duration ranging from four to five and a halfyears. Most of the engineering courses take four years,to complete while the medical courses are for aduration of about five and a half years.

POSTGRADUATE COURSESPostgraduate Courses in Arts, Science, Engineering andMedicine are usually for two years ending with theaward of a Master's degree. Some universities and

institutes offer a diploma or a certificate course ofshorter duration. However the duration of thesecourses varies from university to university.

DOCTORAL COURSESDoctoral courses like M Phil and PhD are available onlyat the university colleges. These courses involveresearch work under a guide, leading to thesissubmission and viva-voce.

Application Process:

Most Colleges and Universities in India begin theiracademic term in July/August. The application processvaries from Institution to institution and from state tostate. Institutions start distributing application formsfour to six months before the commencement ofclasses. Students must have completed 12 years ofschooling to be eligible to apply. The competition forseats is intense and the cut-off percentages for entrycan be extremely high as there are more applicantsthan seats. Most professional courses have prerequisite qualifying examinations, some of which areat all India level while others are at the state level.Some institutions offer Management seats or chargehigher fees for their self-financing sections. Minority

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groups get preference and some seats are reserved forthem. Some courses such as architecture requireaptitude tests. Most private institutions offer foreignnationals and non resident Indians seats. The costs forthese spots are much higher and some institutionshave special entry tests before admission. The result ofthese tests along with board exam results is used todetermine the student’s eligibility for admission.

International students and non-resident students cansecure admission through a scheme called DirectAdmission for Students Abroad (DASA). To be eligible, thestudent must have studied in a foreign institution for thelast two years. For more information on this, visitEducation Consultants of India. The site also listsinstitutions they work with. www.educationindia 4u.nic.in

Foreign Nationals/Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)/Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who wish to secure a placeunder Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA)Scheme to Undergraduate Courses in Engineering inNational Institutes of Technology (NITs), IIITs and otherpremier Technical Institutions in India can visitdasanit.org/ for detailed information.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development,Government of India has entrusted the coordination ofthe admission process under DASA scheme to NITK,Surathkal from academic year 2010-11 vide an officialorder (No F-22-12/2007-TSIII dated 04 March 2010).

Documents Required:

Printed application form duly signed by the candidateand parent / guardian.• Recent Passport size photograph (4.5 cm x 3.5

cm) in the hard copy of the application form• Copy of candidate’s Passport (In case of Napalese

candidates not having passport, copy of citizenship card has to be submitted)

• Copy of Mark Sheet of 10th and 12th (or) Equivalent examination

• Proof of 2 Years Study Abroad (for NRI students)

• Documentary evidences for residential requirements

• Proof of fee payment / DD• SAT II scores to be sent directly by College Board

The above documents should be sent toCoordinator DASA, DASA OfficeNational Institute of Technology Karnataka

Costs:

Indian institutions offer quality education at affordableprices. Estimated cost for an undergraduate degree isabout USD 10,000 for all three years. Living costs alsoare comparatively low and can range from USD 1200to 2000/. Fees under Management quota tend to behigher. Scholarships are available for academic merit,under sports quota etc.

Visas

Internationals desirous of studying in India would needto submit the following documents:A valid passportProvisional acceptance letter from an accreditedinstitutionA health certificateIt is best to contact the nearest Indian diplomaticmission for updated information and guidance.

Websites of use:

www.ugc.ac.in: Information on Universitiesdasanit.org: DASA schemewww.mhrd.giv.in : Ministry of Human ResourceDevt. Govt. of Indiawww.mciindia.org: Medical Council of Indiawww.educationindia4u.nic.in EducationConsultants of Indiawww.aicte.ernet.in: All India Council for TechnicalEducation

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A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signedon 24 April 2012 by Immigration New Zealand andEducation New Zealand to create a number of benefitsfor New Zealand’s international education industry. TheMoU aims, in part, to improve the service offered tothe international education sector via their NewZealand Specialist Agents (NZSA). ImmigrationMinister Nathan Guy stated that the MoU will see an

enhanced role for Immigration New Zealand in theoperation of the NZSA programme. “Immigration NewZealand plays a key role in facilitating the entry ofaround 100,000 international students who come toNew Zealand each year”. “The MoU with EducationNew Zealand will increase the ability of ImmigrationNew Zealand to provide incentives for NZSA agents,such as priority processing, resulting in more timely

New Zealand has a reputation the world over for the qualityeducation provided by its colleges and universities that ispractical, and modern. New Zealand institutions featuremodern facilities and class sizes conducive to activeparticipation and learning. Unparalleled study opportunitiesand excellent support services for international studentsmake the country a favorite destination for higher education.Moreover, the climate is temperate and almost sub-tropical,with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers, conduciveto study, sightseeing and recreation.

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decisions on student visa applications submitted byNZSA agents,” Mr. Guy says.

(Source: NZSA Update May 2012)

As per New Zealand Government statistics, between2006 and 2010, there was a 182% increase in thenumber of Middle East students pursuing education inNZ. During this time, the increase in the number ofIndian students was 346%. In 2010, there were 98,474international students studying in New Zealand. Ofthese, 5953 were from the Middle East. They enroll inshort term courses such as English language programs,secondary schools, courses in preparation forenrolment into tertiary institutions, or vocationalcourses and degree programs.

System of Education

Higher education in New Zealand closely resembles theBritish pattern. Students pursuing higher education inNew Zealand need to have self-direction as mostcourses are taught via lectures, labs and tutorials. Thecourses are flexible and student-centered, and thelecturers and tutors are accessible. In all, there are eightuniversities in the country and all of them are fundedby the state. A bachelor’s degree in the country typicallytakes three years, and students can get an Honorsdegree after another year of study. However, bachelor’sdegrees in some special fields take much longer tocomplete. Candidates can pursue a Master’s degree aftercompleting their bachelor’s. Doctoral studies requireeither a Master’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree withHonors. New Zealand also hosts 23 Polytechnics orInstitutes of Technology, as well as around 860 privatelyowned training establishments, which offer a wide rangeof vocational courses in various subjects.

Entry to the higher educational institutions in thecountry is open, as students need to attain theminimum requirement for admission. However, theemphasis is clearly on independent study.

New Zealand has established a Code of Practice for the

pastoral care of international students. Read more onwww.minedu.govt.nz/gota/international

Application Process

The education system in the country has been patternedon semesters. The first semester starts during the monthof February and is over by the end of June. The secondsemester starts in July and finishes in November. Someuniversities have a three-semester pattern where thesemesters begin in February, July and November.Students wishing to study in New Zealand can apply bycontacting the institution they wish to study in directly,by approaching the nearest New Zealand TradeDevelopment Board Office, New Zealand Embassy, bycontacting the local agent or representative of thecollege or university or by applying online.

Admission Requirements

Different courses and institutions have different entrycriteria. Check with the institution you are applying to.Most tertiary institutions require you to prove that youhave a reasonable grasp of the English language.

Entry into colleges and universities in New Zealandrequires 13 years of education. Students from theIndian curriculum will be accepted directly into theprogramme provided the board exam result is 75% andabove. For all those with less than 75%, the year longfoundation will be mandatory. A student with highschool marks that are less than 75% can first beenrolled in one of the polytechnics for one year untilhe/she improves his/her grades and then be moved toa university for a bachelors degree.

The institution will advise you if it wants you to have yourqualification assessed by the New Zealand QualificationsAuthority. This costs NZ$450 and takes up to 8 weeks.Download the form from the NZQA website.

It is always best to apply three months to six months

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before the commencement of your course. That way,one can find out all the specific requirements foradmission and work towards attaining them.

Finances & Scholarships

Undergraduate study can cost about NZ$18,000–$25,000 a year, depending on your course. It can costup to $40,000 a year for postgraduate courses. Yourfees cover:• Government Service Tax (GST)• registration and enrolment• student health and counselling• language support• use of most campus facilities.

All international students are required to have medicalinsurance when in New Zealand. This can be arrangedbefore you leave home, or your institution will arrangeinsurance for you when you enrol. Internationalstudents in New Zealand are eligible for a wide varietyof scholarships through the New Zealand government,educational institutions, foreign governments, andprivate funding sources. Commonwealth Scholarshipsfor candidates from developing countries to study inNew Zealand are available at Masters or doctoral level.

For Masters Degrees, the scholarships are tenable for upto two years. For doctorates, the maximum scholarshiplength is four years. Candidates are required tostudy/research full-time. The Commonwealth Scholarshipsand Fellowships Plan (CSFP) website has furtherinformation on Commonwealth Scholarships, includingnominating agencies. The New Zealand DevelopmentScholarships (NZDS) scheme offers the opportunity topeople from selected developing countries to undertakedevelopment-related studies in New Zealand.

Source(www.newzealandeducated.com)

Visas

The New Zealand Immigration Service only grantsstudent visas for enrolment in an approved course at

an institution that is accredited by NZQA or NewZealand Qualifications authority.

Once you have secured admission, you will receive an‘Offer of Place’ letter confirming commencementdates, course details and an invoice for the tuition fee.You would need to apply for your student visa alongwith this offer of place letter and the followingdocuments:

Your application will need:• a recent passport-size photograph• payment of a non-refundable application fee• an offer of place from an educational institution,which states that you have been accepted by theinstitution, the name of the course, the minimumtime required to complete the course, and whether acourse fee must be paid or the student is exemptfrom the fee (e.g. scholarship students). This will besent to you by the institution confirming yourenrolment• evidence of payment of the fee or exemption fromthe fee (not necessary if your application is beingapproved in principle)• a written guarantee from an institution or personthat suitable accommodation is available to you inNew Zealand• evidence of sufficient funds to live on while youare studying• a return air ticket to your country, or evidence ofsufficient funds to buy one.

Valid passport

If your application is approved, your passport must bevalid for 3 months after your planned date of departurefrom New Zealand.

Medical and Police checks

If you are spending at least six months in New Zealandyou may need to provide a medical certificate to show

NEW ZEALAND

that you meet the acceptable standard of health. Whatyou must provide depends on:• whether you have recently sent a medical

certificate with another application• how long you intend to spend in New Zealand• what countries you have previously lived in or

visitedFor courses longer than 24 months, you'll also needto provide medical and x-ray certificates that areless than 3 months old. If you’re over 17 and studying in New Zealand forlonger than 24 months, you’ll need a policecertificate to show that you are of good character.• Medical report

For all guidelines in securing a student visa/permit,visit: Student Visa Application (INZ 1012) PDF.

Websites of use

www.studyinnewzealand.com – Comprehensiveinformation on education in NZ.www.mynz.com – Institutional profiles andinformation on studies in NZ. www.immigration.govt.nz - Visa informationwww.immigration.govt.nz/branch/DubaiBranchHome/www.newzealandeducated.com: Info for students www.educationnz.govt.nz/specialist-agents: NZSAprogrammewww.ezone.ae Specialist Agent: Education Zone

Knowledge village, Building 2B, Office F30, Dubai, UAEPostal Address: P.O. Box 214592, Dubai, UAE.Tel- 009714 3910257

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Singapore has a successful free market economy with a vibrantlife style. The cost of living in Singapore is relatively low andtherefore the cost of tuition and living is not as prohibitive assome of the other countries. Most institutions offer meritbased scholarships and unemployment rate is 2% as per 2011estimates. Moreover, atudents can fast track programmes andtransfer into parent campuses in UK or Australia. Singaporeis a gate way to Asia. Its geographical position makes travelwithin the Asian region very easy and affordable.

SINGAPORE

105

Using Singapore as your base, explore the ancient citiesof Cambodia or island-hop your way through Indonesiaor Thailand. The education system in Singapore evolvesaround the premise that every student has uniqueaptitudes and interests. They adopt a flexible approachto allow you to develop your potential to the fullest.

Over the years, Singapore has evolved from itstraditional British-based education system to one thatendeavours to meet the needs of individuals and seeksto nurture talents. The strength of Singapore'sEducation system lies in its bilingual policy (Englishwith Malay/Mandarin/Tamil) and a broad-basedcurriculum where innovation and entrepreneurshipcommand a premium. Individuals acquire the relevantskills and abilities to survive in competitiveenvironments, equipped for life.

At the tertiary level, apart from the four renownedlocally grown universities, Singapore has attractedmore than 10 world-class institutions with strongindustry links to set up centres of excellence ineducation and research. Among them are respectednames such as the leading French university -INSEAD, the renowned Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology, and leading US business schools suchas University of Chicago Graduate School ofBusiness.

The four local universities in Singapore:1. National University of Singapore (NUS)2. Nanyang Technological University (NTU)3. Singapore Management University (SMU)4. Singapore University of Technology and Design(SUTD)

International Universities inSingapore

In addition to local universities, many of the world’sleading foreign universities have also established theirpresence in Singapore. These universities have eitherset up a physical campus or have joint

collaborations/programmes with local universities.1. Curtin Singapore2. East Asia Institute of Management (EASB)3. James Cook University4. Management Development Institute of Singapore

(MDIS)5. PSB Academy6. Raffles Institute of Design7. Singapore Institute of Management8. Tourism Management Institute of Singapore

(TMIS)

Cost of Living:

An international student in Singapore spends onaverage about S$750 to S$2,000 a month on livingexpenses. The amount varies depending on yourindividual lifestyle and course of study. For student visainternational student are required to show S$10,000/-for first year of expenses.

Work Opportunities in Singapore:

A majority of the courses offered by foreign institutionsare project based and have in built internships. Sincecourses are accelerated, students are able to finishtheir studies quicker and are ready to earn full timesalary. After studies students may take up full time joband apply for a work permit under one of thecategories including Employment Pass or Work permit(foreign worker).

Even after graduating into the workforce, there arenumerous opportunities for further training.Professional and skills-based training are offered andpopularly subscribed to. It is not uncommon to see thelikes of seminars by management gurus or lectures byvisiting dignitaries.

The presence of such an international mix ofinstitutions, a high quality and rigorous educationsystem, and a nation that believes in investing in

RAK Medical & Health Sciences University was established in 2006

by the Ras Al Khaimah Human Development Foundation (RAK-HDF)

under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi,

Supreme Council member, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and Chancellor of

the University, with the vision to be the leading Medical and Health Sciences

University in the UAE. Entrepreneurial leaders Al Ghurair Investments and ETA

Ascon Star Group, Dubai are the partners in this venture.

The university is dedicated to the pursuit of academic excellence and committed to prepare graduates with criticalskills to join the medical and healthcare fields in the 21st Century.

Full time study programmes include • Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) - five-year programme + 1 year internship• Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)- five-year programme + 1 year internship• Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) - four-year programme + six months practice school• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) - four-year programme.

Working Nurses holding Diploma in Nursing can upgrade their qualifications to Bachelor of Science inNursing on completion of the 2 year RN-BSN bridge program.

The University is the first in UAE to commence the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program in October. Masterof Science in Pharmacy with specializations in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacy Practice will alsocommence shortly. All programs have been granted initial accreditation by Ministry of Higher Education andScientific Research, UAE.

RAK College of Medical Sciences is listed in the AVICENNA Directories(formerly WHO Directory of MedicalSchools). Please see www.avicenna.ku.dk/database/medicine. It is also listed in International Medical EducationDirectory(IMED) https://imed.faimer.org

The university is listed in IMED (international medical education directory) https://imed.faimer.org. The first batchof MBBS and BSN students graduated in July 2011.

The university provides system-wise, integrated and updated curriculum as well as training in clinical skills fromfirst year of study. The latest teaching methodology such as, problem-based learning is used to facilitate learningin small groups. Clinical training and internship is offered in government hospitals at Ras Al Khaimah Saqr & ObaidHospital. The campus has a well-equipped library and lecture halls. Its multipurpose laboratories help in practicingclinical skills. There is also an English language centre for TOEFL and IELTS test administration and training,gymnasium and sports facilities.

RAK Medical and Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU) has 78 full-time faculty, 65 full-time staff members and62 clinical adjunct faculty. The members of RAKMHSUʼs faculty are drawn from 22 different countries. It has well-qualified faculty and staff members. RAKMHSU has 500 plus students enrolled in its programmes belonging to 40nationalities. The university offers a co-education campus.

Students can apply online at www.rakmhsu.com and send a copy of the 12th grade marks by scanning the sameand e-mailing to admissions@rakmhsu.ae along with their TOEFL/IELTS score.

For more details visit www.rakmhsu.com

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education, will together offer students an enrichingand fulfilling learning journey.

You need to know:

In accordance with the Immigration Regulations, aforeigner who wishes to study in a Government /Government-Aided / Independent School requires aStudent’s Pass (STP) unless he / she is a holder of aDependant’s Pass (DP) or an Immigration ExemptionOrder (IEO).

Local Universities/Polytechnics/Institute of TechnicalEducation 1. Check the course brochures or website of theuniversity of your choice to see if you meet thecourse requirements. 2. Apply directly to the educational institutions

accompanied by the relevant certification anddocumentation. Please note that local universitiesaccept online applications. 3. Some institutions or courses will require you toundergo an interview or placement test. 4. Upon acceptance, you will be sent a Letter ofOffer. Applicants who apply online to localuniversities can check their application status online.5. Sign the acceptance form and return it by theclosing date. 6. You will receive a package and should plan to bein Singapore at least two weeks before the semestercommences.

Websites of Use

www.moe.gov.sg (Ministry of education)www.singaporeedu.gov.sg: Education in Singaporewww.yoursingapore.com (info on Singapore)

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As people from over 152 nationalities reside inU.A.E, apart from the government funded stateschools, there are various curricula on offer like theAmerican, British, International Baccalaureate (IB),Indian, Australian, Canadian, German, French,Iranian, Pakistani, to name a few. More than 13different education systems are offered in U.A.E.The number of CBSE Schools in the Gulf is 119, ofthese, UAE has more than 50%. Schools in Dubaiare inspected by Knowledge and HumanDevelopment Authority. (KHDA). This enablesmaintenance of quality.

According to a Khaleej Times report dated 14thSeptember 2011, the growth of international schoolsin Dubai and the UAE has been significant. In the year2000 there were 97 international schools in the UAEteaching 77,000 students. By 2009, this had increasedto 251 international schools teaching 174,600 studentsand today there are 357 international schools in theUAE teaching 302,300 children. Just over 50 percentof schools in the UAE use an English curriculum, with22 percent following an American-based curriculum,and 19 percent follow an international curriculum suchas the International Primary Curriculum (IPC).

Nationals from the UAE and Saudi Arabia have

outperformed their global counterparts when it comesto the number of youngsters attending school, a recentreport by research companies AMRB and TRU has stated.While 90 per cent of youth between the ages of 12 and19 attend school globally, 97 per cent of these youth inthe UAE and Saudi Arabia attend school or a highereducation institution. The organisations undertook thestudy to better understand consumers of the future.AMRB and TRU conducted the same study in 40 othercountries to compare how teenagers spend their timeand included activities such as attending school,sleeping, watching television, using the internet,hanging out with friends, and playing. The nextgeneration of youth is very optimistic about the futureand consider themselves global citizens. “They wish tobe educated, have good jobs and thus be successful. Atthe same time they realise their responsibilities towardstheir families and society in general,” researchers stated.

According to ISC Research, a company which maps theworld's international schools, the Middle East wasresponsible for two-thirds of global growth ininternational primary and secondary schooling in2010/11, a year which saw a record number of schoolsand a record number of enrollments. The leading citiesfor international schools are Dubai with 175 schools,Doha with 101 international schools, Bangkok with 100

U.A.ESchools

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international schools and Karachi with 99. In Dubaialone, 143,661 students study in international schoolstaught by 11,453 English-speaking teachers. Some ofthe popular educational systems available here aredescribes below.

International BaccalaureateThe IB diploma is designed as an academicallychallenging and balanced programme of educationthat prepared students aged 16 to 19 for success atUniversity and life beyond. IB diploma students studysix subjects at higher or standard level Students mustchoose one subject from each of groups thus ensuringbreadth of experience in languages, Social Studies, theexperimental sciences and mathematics. The sixthsubject may be an arts subject chosen from group 6,or the student may choose another subject from group1 to 5. At least 3 and not more than 4 subjects aretaken at higher level (recommended 240 teachinghours), the others at standard level (150 teachinghours). Students can study these subjects, and beexamined in English, French or Spanish.

In addition the programme has three core requirementsthat are included to broaden the educationalexperience and challenge students to apply theirknowledge and understanding.

• The extended essay is a requirement for students toengage in independent research through an in-depthstudy of a question relating to one of the subjects theyare studying.• Theory of knowledge is a course designed toencourage each student to reflect on the nature ofknowledge by critically examining different ways ofknowing (perception, emotion, language and reason)and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic,mathematical and historical).• Creativity, action, service (CAS) requires that studentsactively learn from the experience of doing real tasksbeyond the classroom. Students can combine all threecomponents or do activities related to each one ofthem separately.

Assessment:Students take a written exam at th end of theprogramme. The highest total that a diploma holdercan be awarded is 45. The marks awarded for eachcourse ranges from 1 to 7, with 7 being the highest. Ascore of 24 or above must be secured to be granted adiploma along with satisfactory performance in CAS.Up to 3 points can be granted for the extended essayand theory of knowledge. Some universities may offercredits for high scores in the IB.

Source: www.ismoshi.org/dip_flier.pdf

110

British Curriculum SchoolsThe International GCSE (IGCSE) is an internationallyrecognised qualification which was designed as asecondary school qualification for pupils overseas butit is now being adopted by an increasing number ofschools and colleges in the United Kingdom inpreference to the standard GCSE. IGCSEs are the samequalification level as a standard GCSE and thequalifications are considered by many to be a morerigorous preparation for A-levels.

IGCSEs offer progression to 'A' Level, BTEC vocationalcourses, and other similarqualifications that are recognisedinternationally and by theUniversity and CollegesAdmissions Service (UCAS).IGCSE is offered to students inover 150 countries and is gainingpopularity in the UK .World-wideover 1.5 million students enterIGCSE exams every year.

A Level Courses A Levels are considered the GoldStandard of the British educationsystem and abilities, even in later life, are stillmeasured against it. Because A levels are usuallystudied over a two year period each syllabus isdivided into two halves or “AS & A2 Levels”. Whilsteach half covers approximately the same amount ofmaterial, the conceptually harder elements willnearly always be found in the second "A2" half.Generally, AS and A2 will each consist of two units.Each unit leads to a corresponding exam.Examinations are normally in June, although youmay be able to arrange to sit some exams in January.

• You can start an A Level course at any time but youcan only sit your examination in an appropriateexamination window.• To prepare for A Levels, students should have aminimum of 4 GCSEs at grade C and above orequivalent qualifications. These would ideally includeEnglish and Maths

Various subjects are on offer and can differ from schoolto school. Students can also prepare and appear forexams privately through the British Council withpermission from the school.

Apart from this, some schools provide, CambridgeIGCSE cicculum for 14-16 year olds, leading to globallyrecognized Cambridge IGCSE qualifications. It is partof the Cambridge Secondary 2 stage. Schoolsworldwide have helped develop Cambridge IGCSE,which provides excellent preparation for theCambridge Advanced stage including Cambridge

International AS and A Levels andCambridge Pre-U, as well asother progression routes. Itincorporates the best ininternational education forlearners at this level. It developsin line with changing needs, andis regularly updated andextended. Cambridge IGCSEteachers can draw on excellentresources, training and advicefrom subject experts.

Assessment for Cambridge IGCSEincludes written and oral tests, coursework andpractical assessment. Schools have the option ofassessing learners using only external examinations or,in most subjects, combining examinations withcoursework. Coursework is set and marked by theteacher and externally moderated by Cambridge.

Teachers who have received training fromCambridge, or who possess suitable experience ofmarking coursework may carry out this assessment.In most subjects there is a choice between core andextended curricula, making IGCSE suitable for a widerange of abilities. Each learner’s performance isbenchmarked using eight internationally recognisedgrades. There are clear guidelines which explain thestandard of achievement for different grades.Cambridge IGCSE examination sessions occur twicea year, in May/June and October/November. Resultsare issued in August and January.

EDUCATION UAE

Rochester Institute of Technology, a US based university, is now backed by 180-year history of delivering high-

quality education in the United States. RIT has been listed in Petersonʼs Competitive Colleges and listed in

Barronʼs Best Buys in College Education. Recently RIT was ranked as the third largest online learner provider

in the nation by Inside Technology Training magazine. And RIT has the third largest production of graduates

in science, technology, engineering and mathematics among U.S universities.

In addition to these great achievements, RIT is becoming a global provider of high quality education. RITestablished a Dubai campus in August, 2008 located in Dubai Silicon Oasis. We currently offer bachelor and masterdegree programs in engineering, computing, business and leadership in our Dubai campus.

All programs offered in Dubai are the same as those offered in the main New York campus. The degrees that wegrant are US accredited degrees. All Bachelorʼs & Masterʼs programs are accredited by the Ministry of HigherEducation in UAE. Keep in mind students who graduate from Dubai will earn a degree as if they have attendedRIT in Rochester. Students have also the option to move between the two campuses in NY or Dubai during theiryears of study.

The following are programs we currently offer in our Dubai Campus. However we offer over 200 programs in ourmain NY campus for your students to choose from. If you find a program not offered in Dubai but is in our NYcampus www.rit.edu , you can start your first 1-2 years in Dubai then transfer to our main campus in NY.

Visit RIT Dubai during our

Open Day which is

scheduled every month, plus

take the TOEFL on campus

at RIT Dubai. Register online

www.rit.edu/dubai to attend

our events. We are located

on Emirates Road, at Dubai

Silicon Oasis, across from

Academic City.

Contact Information:

RIT Dubai, Dubai Silicon Oasis

PO Box 341055, Dubai, UAE

Main Office: 971 4 371 2000 Fax: 971 4 320 8819

Email: dubai@rit.edu

Website: www.rit.edu/dubai

Engineering

• Electrical Engineering • Mechanical Engineering

B.S. Programs Offered:

Business and Management• Management • Marketing

M.S Programs Offered:

• Electrical Engineering• Mechanical Engineering• Networking, Security & Systems Administration• Service Leadership & Innovation• MBA- Masterʼs in Business Administration

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Assessment for Cambridge IGCSE includes written andoral tests, coursework and practical assessment.Schools have the option of assessing learners usingonly external examinations or, in most subjects,combining examinations with coursework. Courseworkis set and marked by the teacher and externallymoderated by Cambridge.Source www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/

middlesec/igcse/subjects

www.edexcel.com/International/Documents/

Edexcel-Capabilities-Final-UnitedKingdom.pdf

www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/

middlesec/igcse/overview

Indian CurriculumThere are 119 CBSE schools in theGulf Council and each GCCcountry is represented by aChapter Convenor who co-ordinates with other chapter. InDubai, there are 21 schoolsoffering an Indian curriculum..

These schools follow thecurricula of the Central Board ofSecondary Education (CBSE) or InternationalCertificate of Secondary Education (ICSE). Accordingto KHDA statistics, around 58,000 students currentlyattend schools offering an Indian curriculum in Dubaialone.

Central Board of Secondary EducationThe Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE)conducts final examinations every spring for All IndiaSenior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE) forClass 10 and 12.

The board also annually conducts the AIEEE foradmission to undergraduate courses in engineering andarchitecture in numerous colleges spread over India. Italso conducts AIPMT - All India Pre medical Test foradmission to major medical colleges in India. Theformat for proffesional entrance exams will change in2013.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR First Term - April to JuneSecond Term - Sept. to NovemberThird Term - December to March

The curriculum is so designed as to inspire the studentsto acquire and use the knowledge and skills needed tosucceed in a multi-cultural, technologicallysophisticated environment that places intellectual andemotional quotient on par. Students who graduate areeligible for admission to any school in any part of India

or other parts of the world. TheAll India S.S.C Examination of theCentral Board has beenrecognized as a qualifyingexamination for admission toIndian as well as foreignUniversities. Hindi is taught as acompulsory second languageupto Grade 7. The student has achoice of opting for French fromGrade 8 onwards. Arabic is acompulsory language for allgrades up till Grade 10 andoptional for Grades 11 & 12.

Scheme of StudiesSecondary (Grade 9 and 10)These 2 crucial years of school life are spent almostexclusively in preparing the child to appear for the AllIndia Secondary School Examination conducted byCBSE, New Delhi.

Core Syllabus - English, Arabic, Hindi / French,Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Science,(History, Geography, Economics, Civics and PoliticalScience, Disaster Management), Computer Science, ArtEducation, Work Experience, Physical and HealthEducation.

Senior Secondary (Grade 11 and 12)The AISSCE conducted by CBSE, New Delhi has beenrecognised as a qualifying examination for admissionto Indian as well as foreign Universities. The schooloffers various streams of study at this level example:

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Science, Commerce or Arts. The electives offered maybe changed under instructions from the Board.Compulsory Subjects - English Core, General Studies,Physical and Health Education, Work Experience.Marking Scheme: www.cbse.nic.in/curric~1/ms-class-x-2010.pdf

Council for the Indian School CertificateExaminationsWith its affiliation to the Council for the Indian SchoolCertificate Examinations, New Delhi, India, someschools follow the curriculum ofthe CISCE Board and preparesstudents for the ICSEexamination in the SecondarySchool and ISC examination inthe Higher Secondary School. TheBoard and the curriculumframework provide a platform fordiversity of intelligence inchildren and provide multipleavenues to focus on thestudent’s potential.

The Indian Certificate ofSecondary Education or ICSE examination This is an examination conducted by the Council forthe Indian School Certificate Examinations, a private,non-governmental board of school education in India,for class 10. It has been designed to provide anexamination in a course of general education, inaccordance with the recommendations of the NewEducation Policy 1986 (India), through the medium ofEnglish. The examination allows secure suitablerepresentation of Governments responsible for schools(which are affiliated to it) in their States/Territories.Private candidates are not permitted to appear for thisexamination.

In all subjects other than Science and Computers,students must submit compulsory courseworkassignments. In groups I and II they count for 20%of the student's performance in the subject; ingroup III the assignments count for 50%. In Scienceand Computers, students are tested on their

laboratory work. In subjects where there is morethan one paper, the mark in the subject iscalculated by taking the average of all papers in thesubject. Candidates appearing for the examinationhave to study seven subjects, with anywhere from1 to 3 papers in each subject. This makes for a totalof 8-12 papers, depending on the subjects. Thecertificate has international equivalence andenables students to transfer to InternationalUniversities.

Source: www.icseguide.com / www.cisce.org/council.html

American Curriculum SchoolsThe American curriculum isbased on American standards ofachievement in all subject areas,supported by a huge range ofco-curricular activities thatensure students have theopportunity to develop fully asindividuals. It includes enquiry-based, hands-on teachingmethods and learning strategiesgeared to individualizedinstruction.

Any American curriculum refers to a broad and balancedKindergarten to Year 12 [K-12] program commencingwith entry to Kindergarten at age 5 and concluding withthe award of the American High School Diploma onsuccessful completion of Grade 12, at age 17. TheAmerican diploma is accepted for entrance by all USuniversities and colleges, and is increasingly recognizedby international schools of higher education.

To cater to the needs of the diverse community, schoolsoffer a range of course options and curricula. Someschools in UAE offer a combination of two curricula.

Some may have a British system along with IB whileothers like the SABIS schools offer APs or advancedplacement along with A levels. Most schools aresegregated and operate from separate campuses or atdifferent times. The costs, facilities and structure varygreatly. The choice is yours to make. n

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To many educators, these notions are music to theirears. Would it seem terribly strange then to hear thatstudents indeed are doing these things regularlyoutside of their classrooms? Every day, many studentsare spending countless hours immersed in populartechnologies—such as Facebook or MySpace, World ofWarcraft, or Sim City—which at first glance may seemlike a waste of time, and brain cells. But these genresof technologies—Social Networking, Digital Gaming,and Simulations—deserve a second, deeper, look atwhat’s actually going on.

These technologies are already demonstrating howthey impact the way we think, learn, and interact—andthey are also demonstrating the tremendous potentialthey have in these areas as well. The emergence ofsocial networking technologies and the evolution ofdigital games have helped shape the new ways inwhich people are communicating, collaborating,operating, and forming social constructs. In fact, recent

research is showing us that these technologies areshaping the way we think, work, and live. This isespecially true of our youngest generations— thosearriving at classrooms doors, soon to be leaving themand entering the workforce and society-at-large.

Our newest generation – currently in K-12 – isdemonstrating for us the impact of having developedunder the digital wave. These youth have beencompletely normalized by digital technologies—it is afully integrated aspect of their lives (Green & Hannon,2007). Many students in this group are using newmedia and technologies to create new things in newways, learn new things in new ways, and communicatein new ways with new people—behaviors that havebecome hardwired in their ways of thinking andoperating in the world. Green and Hannon give anexcellent example of this, Children are establishing arelationship to knowledge gathering which is alien totheir parents and teachers.

Fun andInteractiveThat is today’s ClassroomWhat is good learning? That may be a subjective question. But it’s likelythat many educators would give answers that fall in the same ballpark…

l students collaborating, discussing ideas & possible solutions…l project-based learning, designed around real world contexts…l connecting with other students around the world, on topics of study…l immersing students in a learning experience that allows them to grapple with a problem, gaining higher-

order thinking skills from pursuing the solution…

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Traditionally, education has been impeded by thesecurity and other potential dangers of employingsocial networking technologies. These concerns shouldnot be ignored; however neither should these tools dueto these concerns. Advances in these technologiescontinue to afford us new ways to manage thepotential dangers.

What will classrooms in the next five years look like?The technology of today will be obsolete in a few years.Students need to learn how to utilize the latesttechnology to learn and to prepare for their futures.Educators need to focus on the importance oftechnology in school.

Technology in EducationThe importance of technology in schools is so evidentin the 21st Century. Students who are not computersavvy will struggle in their future professions, as mostjobs require some type of computer work. In the"Overview of Technology and Education Reform" on the

Ed.gov website, researchers reported that "to beeffective, technology and teachers must work togetherto provide challenging learning opportunities."Technology can become the catalyst for change to helpstudents to use higher order thinking skills.

Some are describing teachers as "digital immigrants"while their students are "digital natives." The reason being,teachers (the immigrants) need to learn the technologicalenvironment that the kids (digital natives) already "livein" and use to acquire knowledge on a daily basis.

Problems with current technology use in theClassroomTeachers need to have adequate training to teachstudents to use technology in the classroom. Theteachers who are trained to teach students usingtechnology can offer engaging lessons beyondcompleting research assignments on the Internet orpresenting information in a Power Powpoint slidepresentation. A survey completed by Gabie E. Smith,

118

Ph.D., Department of Psychology, Elon University calledthe "Student Perceptions of Technology in theClassroom: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" found thatin college classroom that teachers sometimes went toofast using technology, such as when using a PowerPointpresentation. Students sometimes need time to processthe information and this is difficult when teachers flythrough slide presentations. In addition, some studentsfelt that their instructors "hid behind the technology"and the classrooms became less personal.

As new technology emerges that can engage the 21stcentury learner, teachers need to be trained and becomeproficient with the technology. New technology, such asthe 3-D projector are constantly coming on the marketmaking it important that teachers place a premium onthe importance of technology in schools.

Effective Use of Technology in the ClassroomBeyond the students' future, learning that is fun, hands-on and challenging will engage the student. The Internethas opened up so many avenues for teachers to teachcontent.

Teaching in 3-DA new emerging technology in the classroom is usingthe multi-media 3-D projector. Students can beengaged with 3-D presentation in any subject area,such as seeds emerging from the ground andgrowing into a full plant to an event in history.Teachers can engage students while they wear their3-D glasses and watch objects zoom throughout theclassroom.

Web quests & Google AppsFor example, teachers can use Google Talk to allow aforeign language student speak with a person from thatforeign country. Or, teachers can show students placesthrough "virtual field trips" through Google when fieldtrip budgets are very tight.

Another Internet application is allowing students towork on a project simultaneously through Google Apps.Google Apps are currently free for public schools. Thereis no software to install and no ads. In addition, thereis a virtual teacher training site. Plus, there are securityand privacy safeguards.

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White Boards and ClickersThe SMART board or interactive white board givesteachers another tool to teach in the classroom. Theseboards are great for educational games. Games can be afun way to review content or reinforce key information.

The University of Michigan's Center for Research onLearning and Teaching suggests using clickers in avariety of ways in the article "Teaching with Clickers:Types of Activities." Instructors can use clickers in theclassroom to assess students' prior knowledge, to startdiscussions on difficult topics, to administer quizzes andtests, to gather feedback on instruction and even totake attendance and/or to assess student participation.

Wireless Technology in the ClassroomThe cost and room to house a computer lab is definitelya deterrent as space is expensive and schools struggleto lower costs. One option is wireless technology suchas netbooks or iPads. This has been effectively used inseveral schools in UAE. This can also reduce the burdenof carrying too many text books and note books.These smaller electronic devices can do much of whata personal computer can do with less space and cost.A teacher who has a class set of either the netbooksor iPads need not waste time by going to the lab. TheiPad has many educational apps for the preschoollearner all the way to high school students.

Educational AppsFor the iPod there are hundreds of apps. Some are freeand others cost money to use. There are Math apps tohelp the tutor, give definitions for formulas or even toplay Sudoku. There are also apps for Language tutorsthat can help build vocabulary and improve spelling. Astechno-logy evolves, the importance of technology ineducation will grow too. Teachers not only needtraining on how to take their students into the futurewith the next technological invention, but also need tostay abreast and use this technology in their own livesin order to effectively use it in the classroom.

Digital GamesDigital games encompass much more than your

computer’s Solitaire or Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros.Over the last decade, the genre of digital games hasexploded to include numerous platforms and designs.Digital games, whether computer-, game console-, orhandheld-based, are characterized by rules, goals &objectives, outcomes & feedback, conflict/ compe-tition/challenge/opposition, interaction, and representation ofstory or more simply, “Purposeful, goal-oriented, rule-based activity that the players perceive as fun” (Klopfer,2008). They are distinguished by two key elements: (1)an interactive virtual playing environment, and (2) thestruggle of the player against some kind of opposition.One of the most obvious benefits to using thesetechnologies for learning is that students are oftenalready familiar with these interfaces and the“language” of interacting with and utilizing them.

Without a doubt, there will be challenges toimplementing these technologies in the classroom. Eventhe most fundamental, non-tech lessons have theirhiccups. And like anything that is new, there is a learningcurve. But the challenges may not be as great as you think,and the easiest way to avoid the hiccups is to spend a littlebit of time with these technologies before hitting theclassroom floor, in order to address potential obstacles.

Many agree that games, simulations, and social networkingtechnologies have much to offer education. Yet while thebenefits of these offerings are still making themselves apparent,a growing number of educators are making sure they are onthe front-end of the wave. By appreciating that the studentsfilling their classroom chairs have a different perspective onthe world; these teachers are able to experiment with newways to connect with kids through these technologies.Moreover, the research is supporting this work, showing thatmultimedia education improves both comprehension of thelesson material and students’ interest in the lesson topic. n

Source:

The Digital Age in Classrooms -written by: Kellie Hayden

Using Technology of today - in the class room today – The

instructional power of digital games, social net working, simulations

and how teachers can leverage them.- Eric Klopfer, Scot Ostenweil,

Jennifer Groff and Jason Hass.

EDUCATIONAL GAMES, GO TO WWW.EDUCATIONARCADE.

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TYPES OF LEARNING DISORDERS AND THEIR SIGNSDoes your child struggle with school? Does he or shedread reading out loud, writing an essay, or tackling amath problem? While every kid has trouble withhomework from time to time, if a certain area of learningis consistently problematic, it might indicate a learningdisorder. By understanding all you can about learningdisabilities, you can ensure your child gets the right helpto overcome classroom challenges and succeed in life.

What are learning disabilities?Learning disabilities, or learning disorders, are an

umbrella term for a wide variety of learning problems.A learning disability is not a problem with intelligenceor motivation. Kids with learning disabilities aren’t lazyor dumb. In fact, most are just as smart as everyoneelse. Their brains are simply wired differently. Thisdifference affects how they receive and processinformation.

Simply put, children and adults with learning disabilitiessee, hear, and understand things differently. This can leadto trouble with learning new information and skills, andputting them to use. The most common types of learning

LearningDisabilities

in Children

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disabilities involve problems withreading, writing, math, reasoning,listening, and speaking.

Signs and symptoms oflearning disabilities anddisorders

If you're worried, don't waitIf you suspect that your child'slearning difficulties may requirespecial assistance, please do notdelay in finding support. The sooneryou move forward, the better yourchild's chances for reaching his or her full potential.

Learning disabilities look very different from one childto another. One child may struggle with reading andspelling, while another loves books but can’tunderstand math. Still another child may havedifficulty understanding what others are saying orcommunicating out loud. The problems are verydifferent, but they are all learning disorders.

It’s not always easy to identify learning disabilities.Because of the wide variations, there is no singlesymptom or profile that you can look to as proof of aproblem. However, some warning signs are more

common than others at differentages. If you’re aware of what theyare, you’ll be able to catch alearning disorder early and quicklytake steps to get your child help.

The following checklist lists somecommon red flags for learningdisorders. Remember that childrenwho don’t have learning disabilitiesmay still experience some of thesedifficulties at various times. Thetime for concern is when there is aconsistent unevenness in your

child’s ability to master certain skills.

Preschool signs and symptoms of learningdisabilities• Problems pronouncing words• Trouble finding the right word• Difficulty rhyming• Trouble learning the alphabet, numbers, colors,

shapes, days of the week• Difficulty following directions or learning routines• Difficulty controlling crayons, pencils, and scissors

or coloring within the lines• Trouble with buttons, zippers, snaps, learning to

tie shoes

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Grades K-4 signs and symptoms oflearning disabilities• Trouble learning the connection

between letters and sounds• Unable to blend sounds to make

words• Confuses basic words when reading • Consistently misspells words and

makes frequent reading errors• Trouble learning basic math

concepts• Difficulty telling time and

remembering sequences• Slow to learn new skills

Grades 5-8 signs and symptoms oflearning disabilities• Difficulty with reading

comprehension or math skills• Trouble with open-ended test

questions and word problems• Dislikes reading and writing; avoids

reading aloud• Spells the same word differently in

a single document• Poor organizational skills (bedroom,

homework, desk is messy and disorganized)

• Trouble following classroom discussions and expressing thoughts aloud

• Poor handwriting

The diagnosis and testingprocess for learningdisabilitiesDiagnosing a learning disability is aprocess. It involves testing, historytaking, and observation by a trainedspecialist. Finding a reputable referralis important. Start with your child'sschool, and if they are unable to helpyou, ask your insurance company,

doctor, or friends and family who havedealt successfully with learningdisabilities.

Other disorders that make learningdifficultDifficulty in school doesn’t alwaysstem from a learning disability.Anxiety, depression, stressful events,emotional trauma, and otherconditions affecting concentrationmake learning more of a challenge. Inaddition, ADHD and autism sometimesco-occur or are confused with learningdisabilities.

• ADHD – Attention deficithyperactivity disorder (ADHD), whilenot considered a learning disability,can certainly disrupt learning.Children with ADHD often haveproblems sitting still, staying focused,following instructions, stayingorganized, and completing homework.• Autism – Difficulty masteringcertain academic skills can stem frompervasive developmental disorderssuch as autism and Asperger’ssyndrome. Children with autismspectrum disorders may have troublecommunicating, reading bodylanguage, learning basic skills, makingfriends, and making eye contact.

Types of specialists who may be able totest for and diagnose learningdisabilities include:• Clinical psychologists• School psychologists• Child psychiatrists• Educational psychologists• Developmental psychologists• Neuropsychologist • Psychometrist

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taught in waysthat are tailoredto their uniquelearning styles.

By learningmore about

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• Occupational therapist (tests sensory disorders that can lead to learning problems)

• Speech and language therapist

Sometimes several professionals coordinate servicesas a team to obtain an accurate diagnosis. They mayask for input from your child's teachers.Recommendations can then be made for specialeducation services or speech-language therapy withinthe school system.

Children with learning disabilities can, and do,succeedIt can be tough to face the possibility that your childhas a learning disorder. No parent wants to see their

children suffer. You may wonder what it could meanfor your child’s future, or worry about how your kid willmake it through school. Perhaps you’re concerned thatby calling attention to your child's learning problemshe or she might be labeled "slow" or assigned to a lesschallenging class. The important thing to remember isthat most kids with learning disabilities are just assmart as everyone else.

They just need to be taught in ways that are tailoredto their unique learning styles. By learning more aboutlearning disabilities in general, and your child’slearning difficulties in particular, you can help pave theway for success at school and beyond. n

Source: www.helpguide.org

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Something’s not quite right about Thomas. He seemsbright enough, but often his performance falls short ofexpectations. He can do some things very well, but inother ways he’s behind his peers. These were commentsexpressed by Martha, a parent from England, who wasconcerned about her 10-year old son. She was exploringoptions to help Thomas with his learning difficulties.

Parents are often the first people to notice that theremay be some irregularities in their child's progress.When the academic performance of a child falls shortof what is expected for their age and intelligence,parents may suspect some form of learning disability.In Canada, it is reported that over 10% of thepopulation are diagnosed with this condition. As thename implies, it affects learning and sooner or later ismanifested by poor school performance, especially inreading, spelling, writing and math.

When Thomas first enrolled at a Canadian privateschool for student with learning difficulties (LD), hecould hardly read, spell or put together a coherentsentence in written form. His schooling in England hadbeen an experience in frustration. He was seven yearsold before it was discovered he had dyslexia – alanguage-based learning disability characterized bydifficulties with accurate word recognition and poorspelling and decoding abilities. It may also include

problems in reading comprehension and vocabularyacquisition. “The solution,” Thomas recalled, “was toput me in special education classes and to do drills.”His mother called them ten lost years.

“I think that attending an LD school probably changedhis life. Thomas couldn’t really read… only very basicwords,” says Martha. “Within a year he was settled, hewas happier, he was more confident. The schoolbasically taught him to read. The strategies they taughthim will benefit him for the rest of his life.”

“I was very hopeful,” says Thomas, “… my progress wasabsolutely incredible. Everything was so positive.” Hechummed with another boy his age with similarlearning difficulties, “… and we both excelled at ourstudies.” The key, says Thomas, was learning how tolearn. “They teach you different ways to learn and Ibegan to understand that this was not something thatwas going to hold me back.”

ParentingaChild

with Learning DifficultiesC O M M O N W A R N I N G S I G N S

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Another common sign is the wearing down of a child’sself-esteem and self-confidence in their abilities andtheir social skills. Martha stated that Thomas’ social lifein England had been “horrible”. After moving to easternCanada, he learned how to communicate with his peersand he blossomed. Through a local cadet program,Thomas earned his amateur pilot’s license and then wasaccepted into a summer flight program. “It’s thefreedom,” Thomas says, “going from someone whocouldn’t write a sentence to someone who can fly aplane.” Although Thomas had excellent verbal skills andcould easily explain things orally, it was a challenge forhim to produce those same thoughts in writing.

In order for parents to address the special learningrequirements of their child, first they need to be aware ofwhat the signs are so they will be better able to navigatetheir way through the options available to them – whethera child has dyslexia or attention deficit disorder, cognitiveor memory disorders, or just needs additional support.

As Thomas’ story illustrates, he exhibited two of themost common characteristics associated with studentshaving a learning disability. No individual will show allof the characteristics – which range from difficulty withliteracy and math skills to processing information, toorganizational deficits, to time management, toattention issues – which all can lead to frustration. Achecklist of symptoms is not a substitute for acomprehensive assessment by a qualified professional,but it may help parents to notice common patterns. Achild may display some of these symptoms or behaviorssome of the time, which is normal. However, if parents

notice several of these characteristics over a long periodof time, they may wish to discuss them with their child'steacher in order to seek a thorough assessment.

If a child's learning disability is discovered early andthey are provided with the right kind of help, this cangive the child the chance they need to develop skillsto lead a successful and productive life.

After graduating from the LD school, Thomas attendeda Flight College and today he is a commercial pilot andflight instructor. He says, “I hope I serve as an exampleto all students… that working hard and followingwhere your dreams take you will lead you to endlesshappiness. No student should be limited to what theycan do if they have a learning difference.” Every childlearns differently – some thrive in a relaxedenvironment while others require structure and rules.Some work well in large groups; others need moreindividualized attention. At the end of the day, it’s reallyup to parents to find the right fit for their child. n

Graydon Mitchell, Educational Consultant – Canada

www.mitchellconsulting.ca

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Believe in yourself -in the power you have

to control your own life, Believe in the strength

that you have deep inside,and your faith will help

show you the way.Believe in tomorrow

and what it will bring -let a hopeful heart carry you

through,For, things will work outif you trust and believe

there's no limitto what you can do.

Author: Emily Matthews

Believe inYourself