Thomas Cook launches University Tours

Travel company Thomas Cook has launched University Tours in collaboration with education consultancy firm The Red Pen College Tours in the United States. The Tours will take Indian students on a tour of select colleges and universities in the US to help them decide where they want to pursue their higher studies.

Students will be taken to campuses of leading universities such as Stanford University, University of California - Los Angeles, Harvard University, New York University and Princeton University.

According to a release from Thomas Cook, traditional route of online research and word-of-mouth has fallen short of providing Indian students and their parents a realistic and hands on perspective.

The University Tours are expected to give prospective students and their parents a glimpse into university life experiences with visits to the US colleges, interactions with students and university admission advisors.

The tour operators promise customized sessions and workshops at some universities, a pre-departure workshop on the US university admission process and on how to select a university for parents and students, workshops to guide students on how to select majors and careers, how to prepare resumes and individual counselling after the trip.

According to the release, Shibani Phadkar, senior vice-president and head, Leisure Travel (Outbound) Products of Thomas Cook (India), says: "This initiative is aimed at giving students a vibrant firsthand perspective of what to expect when pursuing their undergraduate studies in America. On-ground counselling and interactions with local students and counsellors make for engaging sessions while ensuring selection of an apt university."

Study in Latvia centre opens in Chennai

Latvia is the newest name in a growing list of foreign study destinations for Indian students. A conglomerate of seven Latvian universities launched a "Study in Latvia Centre (SLC)" in Chennai last week. 

Latvia University

According to Professor Leonids Ribickis, the Rector of Riga Technical University, Latvia offered "vast education opportunities and international exposure." Imants Bergs, Vice-Rector in Turiba University said that a cooperation agreement between the Governments of Latvia and India enabled mutual recognition of issued qualifications, besides allowing Indian students to apply for Latvian government scholarships.

The Centre is founded by Riga Technical University, Turiba University, Liepaja University, Latvia University, B A School of Business and Finance, Latvia University of Agriculture and Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration, all based in Latvia.

For information on tuition fees and living expenditures, take a look at the University of Latvia information sheet on fees for 2013-14.

Netherlands Fellowship Programmes

Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the budget for development cooperation is offering Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP) for developing country applicants. NFP offers fellowships for master’s, PhD and short courses. Applicants can apply for Master’s degree programmes and short courses in the application period of December 2013- February 2014. Students must be a national of one of the countries in the NFP country list valid at the time of application. If for whatever reason a candidate stays in another country other than his or her home country for more than 90 days before the start of the course and/ or programme, he or she is not considered to be living and working in his or her home country. Nuffic receives thousands of fellowship applications each year. Only a small percentage of these applications are eventually granted a fellowship. Application should be submitted till 4th February 2014.

Study Subject(s): Fellowship is provided to learn any one course offered by Dutch institution (applicant should be employed in a subject area to which the study will make a relevant contribution)

Course Level: Applicants can apply for Master’s degree programmes and short courses in the application period of December 2013- February 2014.

Scholarship Provider: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the budget for development cooperation.

Scholarship can be taken at: Netherlands

For more information, go to: http://scholarship-positions.com/netherlands-fellowship-programmes-developing-countries-applicants-nuffic-masters-degree-phd-research/2013/07/29/

Engineering Careers

Engineering has traditionally been a popular career choice for students in India. The Open Education Database (OED) is a useful resource for students interested in studying and working in the field. The site is dedicated to providing educational/career-oriented resources to those interested in pursuing an online education.

The website features a Guide to Engineering Careers. The guide itself profiles the best locations for a job/degree, the average salary, and general career information for a variety of different fields. The guide also features a section for those looking to pursue a career and/or degree in engineering.

India driving global demand for MBA programmes

Indian students are driving global demand for MBA programmes.

Professionals from industries such as banking, retail and finance are looking at the MBA programme as a tool to jump-start their careers. While there is steady interest in foreign schools, Indian b-schools are also reporting an increase in applications.

Piyush Saxena, a mid-level manager at a retail company in Delhi is taking a year off from work to join an MBA programme in the United States. “This is probably the best time to get an MBA degree as far as my line of work is concerned,” reckons Saxena. 


India’s retail sector is set for unprecedented growth with foreign giants such as IKEA and consumer brands such as Starbucks crafting their India stories. Saxena is hopeful of getting a top job with an international retail brand when he returns to the country after completing his degree.

With Asian economies such as India and China establishing themselves as powers to reckon with in the global arena, there is an increased demand for trained managers and management professionals who can thrive in an international setting. Students from these countries are looking for full-time MBA programmes that deliver quality education and international exposure giving them an edge over others.

Research from the latest Annual Application Trends Survey conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has revealed that worldwide, Indian, Chinese, and US citizens accounted for the greatest number of foreign applicants to MBA programmes for 43 per cent, 27 per cent, and 6 per cent of MBA programmes, respectively. According to the survey, 83 per cent of MBA programmes in India which accept GMAT scores have also reported an increase in applications.

According to the GMAC survey, 80 per cent of two-year business programmes in Central Asia - a section dominated by Indian schools – have reported higher applications. Though impacted by the worldwide recession the Indian economy is not as badly hit as those closely integrated with the US economy, such as those in Europe.

The survey stated that "Indian business school graduates in 2012, reported large percentage gains in post-degree earnings compared to pre-degree salaries."

Also Indian business schools have emerged as the top study destination for Asians: receiving 41% of GMAT scores sent to top 10 Asian countries. "India and China are the leading Asia Pacific countries contributing to the influx of applications for the full time MBA programmes. The overwhelming response clearly indicates the value placed on quality graduate management education by candidates from this region," says Ashish Bhardwaj, regional director, South Asia, GMAC.

With globalization, the focus has shifted to acquiring skills for success in an international marketplace. Indian applicants are considering MBA programmes that combine academic knowledge, business exposure, learning and cross-cultural experience. Explains Sofia Ribeiro, Director, Marketing & Admissions, The LISBON MBA: “To successfully manage international teams, you’ll need a cultural sensitivity – which is best earned when travelling and working abroad.”

Adds Shirin Jarrar, Director of MBA Programmes, Edinburgh Business School, Dubai Campus: “There are numerous benefits to studying for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with common drivers among participants. Career progression, personal development, a desire to acquire new skills and knowledge, and the opportunity to network with like-minded senior managers from differing backgrounds and nationalities are just some of the reasons that students choose an MBA programme.”

According to QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey 2012, global motivations for taking an MBA are still dominated by the desire for career progression and to learn new skills, followed by attaining a leadership position. Building a professional network and seeking a salary increase, though less important, increased in relevance year-on-year.

 “We go to business school for two years, but the network that we build at school stays with us for the rest of our lives,” agrees Daljit Kochhar, director - KT Advisory, a consulting firm based in India. Kochhar is an MBA graduate from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Nunzio Quacquarelli, managing director of QS Quacquarelli Symonds observes: “This year, there is a clear preference amongst global applicants responding to the survey towards career goals rather than lifestyle choices when selecting where to study. Reasons such as ‘would like to work there afterwards’ and ‘create a network’ have proven more popular explanations for selecting a study destination when compared to 2011, while choices such as ‘cultural interest and lifestyle’, and ‘improve language skills’ have dropped considerably in popularity.

The QS survey also indicates that the dominant MBA study destinations remain the USA and UK, but both markets continue to show year-on-year declines in popularity, as have other English-speaking destinations such as Canada and Australia. The popularity of the USA, which was a target destination for almost 80% of respondents as recently as 2007, has dropped significantly. However, it still retains top position by a large majority, attracting 62% of respondents.

Adds Ribeiro: “India is one of the two largest potential markets for us. We get a good number of students from India and would like to focus more on recruiting students for our 2013 programme.” Confirms Sherry Wallace, Director, MBA Admissions, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: “The enrollment of Indian citizens was about 20 per cent higher for Fall 2012 entry than it was in Fall 2011. However, the number of applications for Fall 2012 entry was higher than Fall 2010 entry, but lower than Fall 2011.”

(Published in QS TopMBA)

New research on Emerging Cities for Overseas Education Promotion

Our emerging cities reports analyses the demand for overseas education in smaller cities and towns such as Gurgaon, Pune, Kochi, Bhubaneshwar and Surat to name a few. The report provides a valuable insight into these promising student markets tracking areas such as economic development, demand for foreign qualification and purchasing power of residents.

Gain an edge in education promotion, get in touch with us to order a copy of the report.

Internationalisation on the table

While internationalisation is the newest buzz word in academic circles around the world, education institutions face different challenges when trying to make their mark in the globalised world.

Institutions in the South Asian region have similar opportunities and challenges but there is currently no regional initiative at the higher education level that focuses on collaboration. There are very few examples of institutions sharing their experiences with each other on how they are meeting the demographic challenge; what is working; what is failing and working together to do what needs to be done.

Britain’s Anglia Ruskin University hosted a round table in Delhi recently to discuss “Internationalisation and its impact on student experiences.” The initiative was part of the British university’s continued focus and commitment to South Asia.

Policy makers and senior academics from universities in the Asian sub continent (India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) participated in the discussion, which ended up as a lively, interactive exchange of ideas and strategies that would help participating varsities collaborate with each other and promote internationalisation at their campuses.

Participants included Professor Michael Thorne, Vice Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University; Professor K S Rangappa, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore; Dr Rajan Welukar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mumbai; Dr G James Pitchai, Vice-Chancellor, Bharathiar University; Professor Erinjery Joseph James, Karunya University; Major General Milinda Peiris, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Colombo; Professor Abdus Sattar, NorthSouthUniversity, Bangladesh; Professor Rahman, Daffodil International University, Bangladesh; Dr Prem Nair, Amrita University; Dr Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay, Pro Vice Chancellor, Calcutta University; Professor SH Pawar, Vice-Chancellor, DY Patil University, Kolhapur; and Sangeet Jaura, Associate Vice President, Chitkara University.

Academics at the round table: Collaboration on the cards

In India for instance, collaboration between universities and education institutions for research, teacher mobility, student mobility for research, joint degrees, and academic exchanges through partnerships and collaboration is prominent on the Government’s agenda. Indian universities are promoting research collaborations with foreign universities and this trend is going to continue to grow in the future. The Indian Government has been prioritising resources in favour of joint research collaborations and has increased allocations to research councils.

The round table in progress

However India hasn’t had much of a success in the race to be an education hub unlike Singapore, Malaysia and Dubai. Sri Lanka on the other hand has a focused plan to attract foreign investment in the higher education sector – an initiative

which has strong government support.

With the participating universities promising to work with each other at the round table, their internationalisation strategies and efforts should get the much-needed shot in the arm.

According to Anglia Ruskin academics, progress from the round table will be monitored and reviewed for the next one to be held in 2014.