Source: Study International
“World-class global exposure” for India’s student startup founders visiting Silicon Valley.
Students
Indian Education System Unable to Respond to Society’s Changing Needs
Source: Economic Times
Indian executives surveyed said that the quality and quantity of skills in the Indian workforce are at least comparable to those of other countries.
Canada An Increasingly Desired Destination for International Business Students
Source: Globe & Mail
GMAC indicated Canada now among the top five countries while friendly postgraduate work policies are seen as a reason.
More Middle-Class Students From India Go To Canadian Unis
Source: Study International
Canada is outpacing other countries in taking post-seconday students into its higher education institutions.
Delhi University Radio to Broadcast Shows Helping Those Seeking Admission
Source: Study International
University of Delhi’s campus radio will be broadcasting two programmes aimed at students & parents seeking admission into the university.
To read the full story, visit Study International.
Internet Loves Desi Student Touching Dean’s Feet
Source: Study International
A video of an Indian student touching his dean’s feet after receiving his degree scroll from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) has gone viral.
For full coverage, as well as to view the video, visit Study International.
Early Reports of Increased International Yield for Canadian Universities
Source: ICEF Monitor
Previous reports of significant increases in visa applications and admissions applications to Canadian universities are now being followed by corresponding growth in yield rates for 2017/18 admissions. Growth appears to be particularly notable for students from India.
This report can be read in its entirety via the ICEF Monitor website.
Canadian Colleges See Surge of Foreign Students
Source: New York Times
The lower cost of higher education in Canada is attracting large numbers of Americans, as well as students from other countries.
To view the full article, visit the New York Times.
Indian Students Show Increased Interest in Canadian Universities
Source: Skilloutlook
ESS Global, a consultancy firm that provides recruitment services for students who wish to study abroad, reports a steady increase in queries.
To read the complete article, please check out Skilloutlook.
Why Canada Has Become A Destination of Choice for International Graduate Students
Source: University Affairs
Canadian Association for Graduate Studies President Brenda Brouwer explains that Canada’s standing as a safe, welcoming and multicultural country contributes to its desirability among international PhD degree-seeking students.
To read the complete article, please go to the University Affairs website.
Modi Government May Bring Ordinance to Empower 15 IIITs to Issue Degrees
Source: Economic Times
Degree-granting powers to 15 IIITs set up under public-private partnership mode.
For the full report, visit the Economic Times.
Nashik Girls’ Topper Prefers IISc Over IITs
Source: Times of India
Vrunda Rathi emerged all-India topper among girls in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains 2017, the results for which were declared recently. She ranked 71st in the overall list with a score of 321 out of 360.
Employability of Engineers A Concern: IIT Heads
Source: Times of India
“The country is producing as many as 10 lakh engineers a year…Do we really need so many engineers? Are there that many jobs?”
For the whole story, visit the Times of India.
For Indians, Trump’s America is a Land of Lost Opportunity
Source: New York Times
Young Indians who have aspired to study, live and work in the United States are looking elsewhere.
Beware of Fake Handbook of International Unis
Source: Times of India
In their ongoing quest to avoid higher education scams, students must now beware of a fake handbook of international universities sold online.
India: 8 Courses That Lead To High-Paying Jobs
Source: Study International
Students who take Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) courses look set to rake in the money once they enter the job market. And it seems to be a choice that will ultimately pay off, given the lucrative remuneration packages companies are giving to graduates from these fields. “Generally, STEM courses stand as one of the highest-paying jobs worldwide,” international education consultancy The Chopras managing director Natasha Chopra said.
For the complete list, visit Study International.
37% of Indian Uni Students Suffer Moderate Depression
Colleges Flouting Student-Faculty Ratio To Face Action
Source: Hindustan Times
Engineering colleges not maintaining the prescribed student-faculty ratio will be liable for action, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has said.
The complete story can be read on the Hindustan Times website.
7 Best College Diplomas To Have In Canada
University is the Place for Liberal Values & Right to Dissent
Source: Study International
India’s Vice-President Hamid Ansari said on Saturday universities must uphold liberal values and respect dissent, a month after violent protests erupted at a university in the capital Delhi over a speech by a student accused of sedition. Addressing students at a university in the northern state of Punjab, Ansari said commitments to the right to dissent should be revisited at a time when the “value and scope of academic freedom” was being called into question.
To view the complete article, visit Study International.
Canada’s Moment
Source: Inside Higher Ed
A Trump effect? Many Canadian universities are reporting large gains in international applications at the same time some American universities are seeing declines.
Leigh-Ellen Keating, who directs international services for Brock University, in Ontario, just attended a student recruiting fair in Mexico. “The table was flooded with people, which is not historically what I have seen with the Mexican market,” she said. “They just want to go to Canada, and historically I think a lot of them would go to the States.”
For the complete article, please visit Inside Higher Ed.
Watch for Shifts in Indian Outbound this Year
Source: ICEF Monitor
Indian students’ choice of study destination is highly influenced by visa policy generally and the availability of post-study work opportunities in particular. Recent developments in the US and UK have called the continuing attractiveness of both leading destinations into question for some Indian students. And this has opened the door for alternative destinations to claim a greater share of the Indian outbound market.
For the complete report, visit ICEF Monitor.
Cultural Exploration Main Factor for Teenage Study Abroad Interest
Source: Times Higher Education
Culture bigger draw than academic advancement while most students have safety fears.
Delhi Technological University Student Receives Job Offer From Uber
Source: Study International
Sidharth, a final year Computer Science student at Delhi Technological University (DTU), has bagged a Rs1.25 crore (US$186,000) per annum job offer from Uber Technologies, the Hindustan Times reports.
Canada’s International Credential Assessors Find New Resource in Web Portal
The recognition of international academic credentials in Canada has found new support in a web portal launched by the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials. The new portal offers information and extensive resources to support the assessment and recognition of international academic credentials. These resources include a step-by-step guide on how to assess an academic credential issued outside Canada, a Quality Assurance Framework, and a competency profile for an academic credential assessor. Academic credential assessors across Canada will also have access to additional resources through a special interface, which will feature access to detailed profiles on the education systems and academic credentials of 12 countries, along with how they may compare to education systems in Canada.
Montreal Knocks Off Paris As World’s Top City for Students
Source: Montreal Gazette via Academica
Montreal has beaten out London, Berlin, Boston, and Tokyo as the world’s best city for students, according to rankings compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds. The Montreal Gazette reports that Montreal’s desirability, affordability, and positive reviews from students propelled it from seventh place in 2016 to first place 2017. Montreal’s ranking was reportedly influenced heavily by the experience of students who have studied there. “A lot of people want to study in London, but those who have studied in London don’t necessarily have as positive an experience as they do in other places,” said Ben Sowter, head of research for QS. Other Canadian cities on the list included Vancouver (10th) and Toronto (11th). Ottawa received a first-place ranking in a category based on student perceptions.
Canadian Uni Seeks to Absorb U.S. Students Affected by #MuslimBan
Source: Study International
The University of Ottawa announced yesterday that the university was “deeply concerned” about American President Donald Trump’s executive orders and have thus “immediately sought ways” to help any students or academics who are affected.
BC Should Look to India for International Students
Source: The Province via Academica
PSE institutions in British Columbia would be wise to “cultivate new markets” for international student enrolment and avoid becoming overly dependent on China, according to a US-based analyst. Rahul Choudaha tells The Province that despite a recent jump in the number of Chinese international students coming to BC, this growth—and the overall growth in international student numbers—is slowing. However, India stands out as an exception to this slowdown, says Choudaha, who notes that enrolments from India grew 25% last year, outpacing the growth rate of Chinese enrolments. “Given the scale and the growth potential of India as a source of international students, Canadian institutions have an untapped potential in recruiting Indian students at the bachelor’s level,” the analyst concludes.
Canada Overtakes UK as ‘Most Desirable’ Country for EU Students
Source: Times Higher Education
Canada has overtaken the UK as the most attractive English-speaking country for European Union students, according to a study that highlights the damaging impact of the Brexit vote on the UK university sector. A survey of 219 international students at universities in the UK found that Canada was the most desirable English-speaking nation for EU students, followed by the UK, Australia, the US and New Zealand in last place.
For the complete article, visit Times Higher Education.
Many Immigrant Students Lack English skills, but Achieve Comparable GPAs
Source: Seneca College via Academica
What role does an immigrant’s region of origin and English language proficiency have on their academic and employment outcomes? This is the question that researchers at Seneca College’s Centre for Research in Student Mobility explore in a new report. The study followed the pathways of 18,466 students (non-international) who entered Seneca College between 2010 and 2014 within five years of leaving an Ontario high school. The study found that Seneca students who were born outside of Canada were more likely than their Canadian-born peers to have highly educated parents, live in lower-income neighbourhoods, and to aspire to university. Despite having attended an ON high school, many immigrants come to Seneca with weak English-language skills requiring support in language proficiency, with 59% being placed below college level English, compared to 36% of Canadian born students. Despite this, however, these students achieve similar overall GPAs and graduation rates.
Canada: International Student Spending Hit $11.4bn in 2014
Source: The PIE News
Spending by international students and their visiting friends and family amounted to a net CAN$11.4bn in 2014, up from $8bn four years earlier, according to the federal government’s new economic impact study. Canada’s international education services now account for 11% of the country’s service exports.
For the complete article, visit The PIE News.
Effects of Rupee Demonetisation Could Hit Outbound Market
Source: The PIE News
International education has not escaped the effects of last month’s demonetisation of the Indian rupee. While the industry is unlikely to suffer in the long term, India-based education agents have told The PIE News there are short term implications to overcome, including problems with student payments for visas and tuition fees as well as bank withdrawals.
For the full article, visit The PIE News.
94% of ON University Grads Find Jobs within 2 Years of Graduation
Source: Council of Ontario Universities via Academica
More than nine out of ten university graduates from Ontario find well-paying jobs within two years of graduating, according to a new study conducted for the province’s Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development. The survey-based study showed that university graduates in full-time jobs earn an average salary of almost $42K six months after graduation, and an average of more than $49K after two years. The report also found that employment rates and earnings for university undergraduates were higher than they were for any other level of education. A large majority of recent graduates in full-time jobs also said that their work was related to the skills they developed in their program of study. “In a complex and ever-changing world, Ontario’s universities are helping to build a brighter future for graduates, their families and communities, and the province,” said Council of Ontario Universities President David Lindsay.
Students Set Priorities for “Reimagining the World-Class University”
Source: University World News via Academica
Students around the world place a high level of emphasis on culture and values when they are asked to imagine a “world class university,” reports University World Report. The students in question were speaking at the recent Times Higher Education BRICS and Emerging Economies Universities Summit, under the theme “Reimagining the world-class university.” “We need to create the means of engaging with each other’s language, literature and cosmology,” noted one student speaker, while others spoke to a need for more engaged teaching, as well as a call for education research to feed more quickly into teaching methods. The vice-chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand reportedly noted that institutions must be “locally responsive and globally competitive,” a strategy he said universities cite but do not always “internalize.”
International Students Praise Canada’s Openness & Affordable Fees
Source: The PIE News
Competitive fees and attractive post-study work options are some of Canada’s most magnetic features drawing international students to its shores. Word of mouth recommendations, however, remain powerful influences when students are choosing a study destination.
For the complete post, please visit The PIE News.
Canada Sees 5.4% Increase in International Students in 2015
Source: Study International
In 2015, Canada increased the number of study permits issued to international students by 5.4%, according to official government data. In a report compiled by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, it was revealed that 125,783 new study permits were granted to international students last year. The Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration also showed that the number of foreign students applying for study permits in the same year had increased by 6.4 percent from the previous year to 187,968.
For the complete article, please visit Study International.
UPEI ‘Talking Circles’ Boost International Students’ Confidence
Source: CBC
The University of Prince Edward Island is hosting “talking circles” to help international students gain confidence in their English language skills. The events, held every second Friday, are organized by the International Relations office and the English Academic Preparation program at the university. At each session, they focus on specific subjects so international students can understand English jargon.
For the full article, please visit the CBC.
ACOA, PEI provide $500K to Help UPEI International Students Stay in Province
International students at the University of Prince Edward Island will soon have additional support to help them to stay in the province, reports CBC. UPEI has reportedly increased its support to international students over the past year-and-a-half in particular, and has been working with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and PEI to support students with language training and adapting to life in Canada. ACOA is providing $493,631 under its Business Development Program and PEI is providing $53K through the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning. International students reportedly make up 22% of UPEI’s full-time student population, a figure that CBC states has been growing steadily in recent years. “This important diversity adds so much in terms of cultural exchange and learnings among all of our students,” said UPEI President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz.
New Online Program Matches Freshmen With Study Abroad Opportunities
Source: Diverse
In an effort to get more students to think sooner than later about studying abroad, a new pilot program enables college freshmen to set up online profiles that match them with programs of interest around the world.
“It’s like an online dating site only instead of getting matched to people, they’re getting matched to global opportunities,” said Samantha Martin, CEO of Via TRM, a Colorado-based tech startup that launched a pilot version of the program this fall with three universities.
For the full article, please visit Diverse.
How India is Climbing International University Rankings
Source: University World News via Academica
Institutions from around the world can learn much from the progress that China and India are making in global university rankings, writes Anand Kulkarni for University World News. The author highlights how both countries have fared well in recent years, noting for example that India has risen to eighth in the world for the number of students it graduates in science and engineering. Kulkarni warns, however, that graduating more students in a particular area “does not necessarily say much about quality, the ability of graduates to find meaningful jobs or research capability, among other things.” This is part of the reason, Kulkarni writes, that China has advanced in world university rankings at a better pace than India. The author attributes this success to China’s more consistent distribution of institutions among the different tiers of rankings, while India’s tendency to have a “best and the rest” system, with only a few elite institutions, continues to hold back the country’s overall performance.
Québec Creates Program to Retain More Foreign Students
Source: La Presse via Academica
Quebec has provided $1.6M to Montreal International to implement a program encouraging more international students to stay in the province after graduation, reports La Presse. The program will specifically target graduates trained for work in in-demand sectors, although it will still be open to students from all programs. Montreal International CEO Hubert Bolduc hopes that the program will increase the number of students remaining in the province after graduation from 3,000 to 9,000. Bolduc notes that of the 30,000 international students who currently study in Montreal, many do not stay due largely to language barriers, difficulty finding a job, and the burden of the immigration process.
MacEwan Considers International Student Tuition Increase
Source: Edmonton Journal via Academica
MacEwan University is considering an increase to its tuition fees for international students in order to better support domestic students studying abroad, reports CBC. A draft proposal reportedly suggests that the school should implement a 10% increase in international student fees for fall 2017-18 and an additional 5% increase for fall of 2018-19. The Edmonton Journal adds that the proposed changes could result in the creation of $2.5K entrance bursaries or scholarships for as many as 230 students, and the same amount for up to 120 MacEwan students studying abroad. “Tuition is not a small dollar item anymore and so when you look at these models for tuition, you don’t want to be too high; we want to be accessible to students (and) at the same time, you don’t want to be too low,” said MacEwan Provost John Corlett.
UAlberta Students Hold Turban-Tying Event in Reaction to Posters
Source: Edmonton Journal via Academica
In response to the recently discovered and removed racist posters on campus, the Sikh Students’ Association and the World Sikh Organization of Canada held a turban-tying event called “Turban, eh?” in the University of Alberta Students’ Union building. The event invited any interested persons to have a turban tied on their heads, and provided the opportunity for participants to ask the volunteers questions. Faculty, staff, and students from UAlberta were joined by politicians and community members for the event. UAlberta President David Turpin commented that he was filled with pride at the event, stating that “it really is an opportunity to stand up and say what it means to be Canadian.”
Students Undervalue Study/Work Abroad
Source: The PIE
Many students who have access to international experiences during higher education don’t realise their value until after they have graduated, according to a recent survey. It found that study abroad, overseas internships, language courses and intercultural exchanges are all overlooked by students as they studied. However, in the survey of more than 1,000 graduates, three-quarters said they felt it was the responsibility of their institutions to offer access to international opportunities.
For the full article, visit The PIE.
Canada Sees Steady Growth in International Student Numbers
Source: Edmonton Journal via Academica
The past five years show a “national trend toward a steady rise in the number of overseas students arriving in Canada,” reports the Edmonton Journal. The article notes that Manitoba has nearly doubled the number of international students studying in the province since 2011-12, while Alberta has seen a 40% increase and Saskatchewan has seen a 24% increase over the same period. The article highlights how specific institutions in AB have promoted themselves to international students and how they benefit from growing international cohorts. “Internationalization is important because the world is becoming more globalized and it’s important that students and staff have the capabilities to work well with each other,” says NorQuest College Chair of Graduate Studies Ron Horton.
Western President Explores the Many Values of Intl. Ed.
Source: Universities Canada via Academica
“The intrinsic value of developing a broad world view through international education is self-evident,” writes [CIEC Academic Member] Western University President Amit Chakma. The author highlights a number of strides the federal government has made to boost the role of international education in Canada, which include rebranding the country as an education destination, improving the Express Entry program, and renewing the country’s commitment to study abroad. Chakma also takes time to remind readers that in addition to the country’s ambitious targets, “what’s more important to consider is the philosophy behind the idea, along with the merits of pursuing such a policy more aggressively to better support the development of our future global citizens.” Chakma concludes with a discussion of the barriers currently faced by students looking to pursue study abroad and how institutions and governments might better address them.
Shifting Discussion from Benefits of Attracting International Students
Source: Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance via Academica
“We need to start shifting our focus from the benefits [international] students bring, to ways that we can help them succeed while they are attending our institutions,” writes Colin Aitchison for the OUSA. Aitchison critiques the ways that current discussions about international students talk about the “benefits” these students bring to Canadian universities, such as “unique perspectives in class discussions” or “a significant economic impact.” While these benefits are real, the author writes, they also draw attention away from the significant barriers that international students face at Canadian institutions. Aitchison outlines several ways that institutions can shift the focus of this discussion by better supporting international students.
Canada Introduces New Visa Process for Conditional Admissions
Source: ICEF Monitor
The Canadian government has quietly introduced an important change to how it processes visas for students entering Canada to pursue conditional admissions or pathway programmes. Under the new processing policy, visa officers are instructed to issue a study permit – that is, a Canadian study visa – only for the period of the student’s prerequisite studies. After successfully concluding any such preparatory studies, the student will now be asked to apply for a further study permit to cover the period of their planned academic programme. This is a departure from the previous practice which saw visa officers issue a single study permit for the entire duration of both programmes.
For the complete article, please visit ICEF Monitor.
Canada a Popular Alternative to Britain for International Students
Source: Academica Top Ten
A new study claims that 41% of surveyed students from outside the UK are less likely to study in Britain after the Brexit referendum, reports Times Higher Education, but Canada was found to be a popular alternative for international study. The students listed a number of concerns with the UK in light of the referendum that made it less attractive. When asked about alternative study destinations, The Independent reports that as many as 32% stated that they would choose Canada as an alternative study destination, followed by Germany, Australia, and the US. The Chronicle of Higher Education observes that the US could also see difficulties in international recruitment as a result of the upcoming American election, and notes that “Canada could be the biggest winner” when it comes to recruitment.
India: New Study Abroad Regulations to Improve HE Quality
Source: University World News
New regulations to allow Indian universities to collaborate with universities and colleges overseas and enable Indian students to gain credits for study abroad semesters were announced by India’s Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani recently. The measures are aimed at bringing world-class education to Indian students, as well as improving higher education curricula, through increased interaction with overseas universities.
For the full complete article, please visit University World News.