Hurry Up and Wait graduates

A recent article I read in the London Student 'Can't get a Job? Become an Intern!', comments on the UK government getting involved in developing a solution for the 400,000 graduates it claims will have a hard time finding work in this recession. If these interns work for companies that can stimulate the economy there maybe some optimism in finding an internship and it will lower the unemployment rate. There is some competition now for developing internships. In the past month, Popabroad contacted a number of international coordinators in charge of the student internship programs at Universities in the US and received feedback that students attempt to find international internships on their own. "Our students are very Savvy in finding internships abroad," stated Traci Buss, who is the academic coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Buss also commented that many students are working their way through degree programs and that she tends not to guide her students towards fee based programs. In our conversation, I presented UWM with an international work program that Popabroad is designing which is fee based.  In response to student costs,  I explained that the costs covered housing, meals, some travel, and a project management certification from a business school in central London. Costs maybe relative to conditions but students need to look for programs that will provide a learning experience as well as boost their employability. I have a feeling that the government sponsored internships will fill up fast.

Popabroad-Hatch is developing an incentive package that will also give funds back to the post- program participants but it will be through entrepreneurship and a lot of hard work.

Source: 

London Student Volume 29, Issue 7.19th January 2009

A 20 hour work week for International Students

There are part-time jobs for international students in London. I was taking photographs on Great Portland Street for the Linkthings360 site and found the International Students House just across the street which posts vacancies on their website.

If you have an unconditional offer at any programs in the UK and would like to work part-time I suggest contacting the student development office. Universities like Brunel have a placement and careers center that can help international students with establishing an employer as well as counseling on current regulations. Roehampton has a program called ROAD that works with current students to make them more employable. 

Plenty of American Pie to go around

Almost one year ago there was an article written in the Guardian "Bye bye American Pie: students become the next victims of the credit crunch," and there is growing pessimism about the future of US abroad degree programs. The universities abroad that are listed under FAFSA may still see enrollment from US borrowing students but many schools attempting to attract students from America may have to offer more scholarships. Universities in London like Roehampton posts scholarship information that it offers US students 4 postgraduate scholarships. Undergraduate scholarships are promoted at other Universities across the UK. Glamorgan University offers undergraduate scholarships and any student who applies automatically has a chance at the funding. Students that take programs in the UK can work up to 20 hours a week on their student visas. This may off-set some of the fees and if the student stays during the summer they can work full-time.  So pie is not given away but American students need to plan further ahead for their experience abroad.

Sources:

Roehampton Scholarships

Glamorgan Scholarships

Financial Stimulus

Guardian UK

Education Commodities

With many jobs in jeopardy students are facing higher education cost and less opportunity. A recent article in the London Student, 'Universities to become 'handmaidens of industry' comments about a report published by the Department for Innovation (DIUS), that "many students lack the skills needed by employers".  The article goes on to comment that there needs to be a greater level of support for integrating university programs with industry. Do Universities have a responsibility to design programs for employment? Universities are businesses as well. The dilemma facing students is can I afford to enroll in a University when I know I have a slim chance of getting a job afterwards. The commodity of education from this perspective seems to be what it is worth today. 

Source: London Student

Volume 29, Issue 8-2nd February 2009