uCalgary Opts For Multi-modal International Recruitment Strategy

Source: uCalgary News via Academica | April 28, 2014

 

The University of Calgary has decided against outsourcing its international student recruitment efforts. Instead, the uCalgary board of governors has approved a plan that would see international students come to the university via a combination of internal programs that would include direct international recruitment, new partnership programs, and a revised English for Academic Purposes program designed to help students make the transition into a degree program. “This model creates opportunities for increasing international diversity while at the same time taking careful consideration in balancing access for our local student population,” said Provost/VP Academic Dru Marshall. uCalgary had considered developing partnerships with third-party recruiting providers, but met resistance from the uCalgary Faculty Association (TUCFA) who alleged that outsourcing would violate their collective bargaining agreement. TUCFA President Paul Rogers issued a statement lauding uCalgary’s new approach, stating that it “appears to deal with the main items that were of concern to the Association last semester.”

TCS Insights: uCalgary is putting increased efforts into the recruiting of international students without outsourcing any of their recruitment measures. The university itself will be implementing various new programs aimed at attracting students from abroad to study and perhaps pursue bright futures in Alberta.

A Global Stamp

Source: Times of India | April 28, 2014

 

In keeping with the trend of ‘going gobal’ as witnessed among many institutes in the country, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), too, have geared up to make their presence felt worldwide.

With the granting of the Association of MBAs (AMBA) accreditation for five years in March 2014, IIM Calcutta, too, has sealed its position among the top B-schools globally. On the anvil is yet another accreditation for it. “We hope to get the Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business (AACSB) accreditation by the end of the year,” says Anindya Sen, dean (academic ), IIM-C .

On the benefits of such global accreditation, Sen says, “It is an international benchmarking procedure. Accreditation is the concrete evidence that we are ranked highly not only by Indian standards but that we also belong to a very select group of institutions worldwide.” He adds, “Moreover, international branding and recognition is important. Internally , the process of accreditation has enabled us to put in place valueadding systems and processes and forced us to reflect more deeply about what we are and where we want to go.”

With a few other IIMs already AMBA accredited, IIM-C took time to apply and only did after it was convinced about the need for accreditation. “It was also after an office was in place to handle the complexities of the accreditation process,” says Sen.

Following the accreditation, the one-year postgraduate programme for executives has undergone extensive curriculum revisions. “These will take effect next year. The postgraduate programme curriculum review will begin soon,” he adds.

TCS Insights: International recognition and accreditation has established IIMs among the leading business schools in the work. As programs are reviewed and improved, the reputation of Indian educational institutions will only be heightened around the world.

Canada Ranks Third Among Global Destinations For Business Grad Students

Canada Ranks Third Among Global Destinations For Business Grad Students

Source: Graduate Management Admission Council via Academica | April 22, 2014

An American study has found that Canada ranks third among global destinations for graduate business students. The report, which surveyed 12,000 prospective graduate business students, indicates that Canada is a target for 5% of respondents, behind only the US (70%) and Europe (15%). Canadian business schools’ global profiles have been enhanced by a number of marketing campaigns initiated by the federal government as well as through interuniversity recruitment and marketing campaigns. A complementary report, which surveyed nearly 240,000 GMAT test-takers, indicated that Canada’s visa policies for students and skilled workers may explain Canada’s popularity. International students submitted 63% of all GMAT test scores sent to Canada in 2013, up from 48% in 2009, and foreign students accounted for 29% of all students who took the test within Canada.

TCS Insights: Visa policies and improved marketing have contributed to Canada’s reputation as a place to pursue a higher education for international business students. These students comprise a growing portion of total writers of GMAT tests and the country looks to continue this trend.

Universities Must Play A Role In Attracting & Keeping Talent In Atlantic Canada

Source: Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission via Academica | April 21, 2014

The Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) is urging its members to team with governments and the private sector to take action attracting and retaining international and out-of-province students. The organization issued the call in response to new reports from the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC) and the Nova Scotia Commission on Building Our New Economy. The former report shows that the number of international and out-of-province students in Atlantic Canada is growing rapidly, while the latter argues that building a better economy is required to maintain this talent. The AAU says that universities can help by providing a highly trained talent pool for businesses in the Atlantic provinces. However, moving forward will require strong partnerships between universities, governments, and the private sector. The AAU cites the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) immigration program as one opportunity for further collaboration.

TCS Insights: Atlantic Canadian provinces are looking to increase the number of out-of-province students who stay in the region after they complete their studies. In order to do this, universities and both the public and private sectors will do more in the future to prepare students for careers in the Maritimes.

83% of Ontario College Grads Employed Within 6 Months of Graduation

Source: Colleges Ontario News Release | April 15, 2014

 

According to Colleges Ontario’s latest Key Performance Indicators (KPI) report, 83.4% of college graduates find employment within just 6 months of graduation. Employers are also pleased: over 92% of respondents reported feeling satisfied or very satisfied with the graduates they have hired. While impressive, these numbers are relatively static compared to the KPI reports issued in the last two years. Linda Franklin, CEO of Colleges Ontario, said that “the benefits of a college education continue to be clear” but urged Ontario colleges to expand their 3-year and 4-year degree program offerings. Colleges Ontario also noted that “it will be important for the province to promote the value of college education as Ontario strives to address the youth unemployment and underemployment challenges.”  The full report further breaks down the results by college.

TCS Insights: The province of Ontario continues to tout the ability to meet college graduates with job opportunities soon after they complete their studies. International students looking to remain in Canada for a time after their academic experience ends should consider fulfilling their studies in Ontario.

O.P. Jindal University Launches India’s First Global School For Liberal Arts & Humanities

Source: Gutenberg Communications | April 24, 2014

 

New Delhi: Imagine studying for an undergraduate degree for two years in India, in one of the best new universities and the next two years in one of America’s oldest and best private colleges in serene Florida whose famous alumni includes a Nobel Prize winner.

In a rapidly globalizing world, where transnational interaction and global exposure are integral parts of personal development, this is very much possible. Jindal School of Liberal Arts & Humanities in collaboration with Rollins College, USA, has launched a first-of-its-kind undergraduate joint program in the Liberal Arts & Humanities, at the end of which students will receive an undergraduate qualification recognized both in the US and India.

Situated in the O.P. Jindal Global University campus at Sonipat, Haryana, Jindal School of Liberal Arts & Humanities (JSLH) will offer a vibrant, social and educational experience where teachers and students from all over the world interact and work together to create a global intellectual hub.

Admissions for the inaugural batch beginning on August 1st, 2014 are now open. All students who have successfully passed the examination conducted by a Board/University at the 10+2 level of schooling or its equivalent are eligible to apply. JSLH has adopted a rolling admission policy selection process based on SAT or ACT scores, a 1000-word personal statement and a personal interview for shortlisted candidates.

Speaking on this special occasion Professor Dr. C. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, O.P Jindal Global University, said, “The JSLH-Rollins dual B.A. degree will usher in a new way of teaching the liberal arts and humanities in India. Breaking away from the ossified Indian educational system of rote learning and term-end examinations, Jindal School of Liberal Arts & Humanities will have an assessment methodology that includes writing and presenting papers and presentations and debates nearly every day of the week. Even while students deal with subjects of individual interest they simultaneously train to become excellent oral, written and visual communicators about those subjects.”

Ms. Kathleen Modrowski, Dean and Professor, Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities, further added, “The teaching approach at JSLH will emphasize multidisciplinary engagement. A work of art or literature will be analyzed not just through the prism of literature, but also via sociology, political science, history and even economics. JSLH will imbue its instruction methods with a holistic, 360-degree approach to subjects. With faculty being the bedrock of excellence in education, we are delighted to have on-board a global faculty team educated at universities like Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, Columbia and Chicago. Many non-university speakers, experts, academics, industry professionals in the fields of liberal arts and humanities will also interact with the students. The O.P. Jindal University and the JSLH faculty will harness its wide extra-academic associations to generate a vibrancy that will become known for its talks and seminars as much as for its classroom riches.”

At JSLH students will study through the concept of ‘lenses’. These ‘lenses’ will help students to inquire, explain, represent, express and communicate phenomena they scrutinize in the classroom. For instance, a course on the history of ancient India will be studied through the lens of epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. These two epics will serve as the cornerstone for the study of ancient Indian history and philosophy. Similarly, epics like Iliad and Odyssey become the lenses to examine ancient European civilizations and philosophies.

The Jindal-Rollins dual degree B.A. program will strengthen the student’s chances of undertaking higher education in the US or Europe or securing a career after graduating from Rollins College. The first two years at JSLH will be a rigorous process of preparation for the next two years at Rollins College and the curriculum during the first two years will consist of core courses that will test the aptitude and latitude of students while automatically prepping them for the whole menu of courses available at Rollins College.

The annual program fee is INR 6, 00,000 excluding residence hall, dining and laundry which are an additional INR 1, 50,000 annually. For any further information regarding the admission process and fee structure, students can visit www.jslh.edu.in or [email protected]. For the two years at Rollins College, USA, the average holistic cost amounts to US$ 120,000.

 

About Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities

Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities (JSLH) is India’s first transnational humanities school. JSLH’s mission is to establish a center for interdisciplinary learning in India that will create world-class thinkers, leaders, creative entrepreneurs and innovators. The four-year undergraduate degree program offered by JSLH in liberal arts and humanities in collaboration with Rollins College, Florida, is a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary course which provides students an opportunity to study at one of the leading colleges in USA. The world-class faculties at JSLH include distinguished scholars educated or trained at universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Columbia and Chicago. JSLH is led by the dean of the school and eminent educator, Kathleen Modrowski.

About Rollins College

Founded in 1885 by New England Congregationalists who sought to bring their style of liberal arts education to the Florida frontier, Rollins is a four-year, coeducational institution and the first recognized college in Florida.

About O.P. Jindal Global University

O.P Jindal Global University (JGU) is a non-profit global university established by the Haryana Private Universities (Second Amendment) Act, 2009. A philanthropic initiative of Mr. Naveen Jindal, Founding Chancellor, JGU envisions to promote world-class education in India. Located on an 80-acre state-of-the art residential campus in the National Capital Region of Delhi, JGU is one of the few universities in Asia that maintains a 1:15 faculty-student ratio and appoints faculty members from across the world with outstanding academic qualifications and experience. JGU has established five schools: Jindal Global Law School, Jindal Global Business School, Jindal School of International Affairs, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy and Jindal School of Liberal Arts & Humanities.

COTR Tops International Student Barometer for Second Year in a Row

COTR Tops International Student Barometer for Second Year in a Row

Source COTR News Release via Academica | April 10, 2014

The International Student Barometer has recognized College of the Rockies [CIEC Academic Member] as the top institution in the world for overall international student satisfaction. This is the second year in a row that COTR has been recognized as the leader in international student satisfaction in Canada, and the first time it has achieved the top ranking worldwide. The survey polls nearly 150,000 international students at 176 PSE institutions worldwide, representing 13 countries. Survey respondents rated COTR in arrival experience, learning, living, and support. COTR scored particularly well for program organization and social activities, as well as for learning support, teaching, and lecture quality. Approximately 200 international students from over 30 countries enrolled at COTR in the 2013-14 academic year.

TCS Insights: College of the Rockies has not only earned maintained its reputation as the top institution for international studies in Canada but has now gained the title of being the most satisfying for international students in the world. COTR remains a top destination for students coming to Canada from abroad looking to find academic success at a post-secondary level.

uAlberta to Offer Canadian Undergraduate Research Certificate

Source: University of Alberta News Release via Academica | April 11, 2014

University of Alberta Bachelor of Science students will soon be able to achieve a Research Certificate in Science (Biological Sciences), reportedly the first such undergraduate certification in Canada. Designed by biological sciences professor Cynthia Paszkowski and undergraduate coordinator Maggi Hagg (retired), the certification will be awarded to students who successfully complete 3 research experiences, a technical skills and data analysis course, and who present their work at a conference. Paszkowski says the new certification will offer students valuable transferrable skills that will prepare them for future studies or to work in industry and government. Students will work in an authentic research environment alongside graduate students, post-docs, and professors. “[Students] will be mentored by scientists and have a genuine appreciation of the connection between teaching and research at the University of Alberta,” Paszkowski adds. The program is reportedly just the second of its kind in North America.

TCS Insights: Biology students attending uAlberta will have the chance to earn unique credentials through this one of a kind program in Canada. Both international and domestic have the opportunity to prepare for a bright future in their chosen fields or further academic studies at uAlberta.

New Initiatives at uRegina Business School

Source: Leader-Post via Academica | April 7, 2014

The Faculty of Business Administration at the University of Regina has recently launched a number of initiatives designed to help make the school “known as Canada’s school for experiential education and research,” explains Dean Andrew Gaudes. One interesting initiative is the Hill Legacy Pin program for undergraduate students in the Paul J Hill School of Business; incoming students get a pin that they are expected to wear at university events and that will be exchanged for an Alumni ring upon graduation. The graduate hands the pin to a new incoming student along with a letter of reflection, creating an “instant mentorship.” Another initiative is a new bundling program that allows students to take courses outside of the business school that focus on one country of interest. This gives students in-depth knowledge of a specific area combined with business skills. In addition, the MBA program has developed a more international focus, a new postgraduate diploma helps students “top up” and prepare for an MBA, and articulation agreements with international schools are being explored.

TCS Insights: uRegina is taking new strides in order to better their reputation as an destination for students interested in first-hand learning experiences. By allowing students to complete a portion of their studies in different countries, they will be able to acquire knowledge and experience in regions they aspire to do business in during their careers.

The Future of Environmentalism

The Future of Environmentalism

Do not miss Peter Robinson’s lecture on “The Future of Environmentalism” at Acsenda School of Management on April 24th (Thursday), 3:00 – 4:00 pm!

As a major report by UN warns us of  the “severe, pervasive and irreversible” impact of global warming, Peter’s lecture becomes even more important and more relevant. 

Seating capacity is limited so please RSVP Henny at [email protected] or call 604-430-5111.