Popabroad

QR4World Show

2011-06-17T06:14:00.000-07:00

Entries are in for A QR Code for the World-exhibiton to take place on June 24th at the Winston House in London.

The theme of the show is Connecting People.

QR's have been around since the 1970's. They were primarily used to track items during shipping or manufacturing. With the advancement of micro technology and global communication systems as well as mobile handset development, QR Codes are becoming more than a logistic item. The QR Codes are now connecting people to all sorts of digital content that can be shared across borders.

There are many creative ways to use a QR Code and we will see how participants from different countries apply the QR's to a postcard size material.

Partial list of Exhibitors:

Frederic Daubagna-aestetype (France), Philip Warbasse (USA), Jassen Popp (USA), Monkey Design (Taiwan), Twan Verdonck (Netherlands), Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni (Switzerland), Micah Olson-Walt Horton Studios (USA), Laird-QRazy Art (USA), Nothing Like Chocolate (Grenada), Bartek (Poland), Lynnda Pardoe (USA), David Popp (USA)

A selection of postcard size images will be viewable at Popabroad

QR Code Exhibition-London

2011-05-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

QR Code For the World—Calling For Entries (London, UK) – A QR Code postcard exhibition is calling all aspiring artists, website owners, bloggers, students, organizations, and anyone that has an interest in QR codes to create a postcard-size work and enter it in an exhibition in central London at the Winston House.

There is one crucial design requirement: the postcard must incorporate a QR Code. We encourage all participants to use a QR Code that they like or have designed. However, upon entry each entry will receive a QR Code that can be used to customize their postcard. Five postcards will be selected by Sotheby’s Institute of Art and further displayed at their London Institute from July 5, 2011.

Theme: Connecting People

The exhibition attempts to encourage the use of QR Codes across a variety of sectors and interest levels throughout the world. Perhaps this event will provoke a global discussion about about how QR Codes can or should be used in communication material such as postcards.

Who is Eligible: The exhibition is open to individuals and groups worldwide.

Entry Deadline: June 11, 2011

Exhibition Date: June 24, 2011

Where: Winston House, London, UK

Entry Fee: See website or visit

This is an exciting time to engage a variety of organizations and individuals such as artists, designers, marketers, and website owners to participate in the advancing use of QR codes. The exhibition is being organized by Jassen Popp, Founder/Designer at Popabroad.

Study Gaming in the UK

2011-04-11T06:17:00.000-07:00

Do you have the potential to engage in, and experiment with, practical games creation, with workshops lead by designers working in the industry? Would you like to explore a range of theories and concepts with which to analyse the values of games, play and pleasure. We are recruiting students for a range of gaming studies at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Contact us for details.

Internships Abroad

2011-04-06T07:39:00.001-07:00

Internships abroad are a relatively new and still not fully explored and widespread concept. They are a branch of a broader education abroad phenomenon in higher education that have still generally not gone mainstream in many countries.

Considered as a privilege for the elite or doomed inaccessible for the masses due to structural, academic, language, and financial constraints, studying abroad is slowly opening up opportunities for students. Internships abroad have a real chance of changing educational landscape and extending learning beyond the usual classroom.

As studying abroad is contributing to the development of new cohorts of global citizens, internships abroad are shaping the new generation of globally trained and easily accessible candidates, able to comfortably compete for job openings wherever they happen to be. The invaluable professional experiences interning abroad brings about are becoming more available. Their biggest advantage in today’s economy seems to be the creation of required skills and the emergence of a mindset capable of grasping the complexities of globalised and interconnected world on a practical, individual level.

Commitment to not only studying abroad, but actually immersing oneself in the professional community in another country carries an immense value when competing for a job. Internships abroad are becoming the necessary commitment all students should fit into their course of studies.

Internships in Poland

2011-02-28T03:16:00.000-08:00

Description:

The internships take place in Poland with the University of Lodz and a mobile marketing company.

The Internships are 4 or 8 weeks in duration, and are unpaid. Interns work together in a supervised mentor-lead group and may also be assigned an independent project during the program.

The intern will be working side-by side with professionals and with local representatives on an international project. This may include participation on project teams, research, and assisting international marketing officers in an educational context.

More info at goabroad.com

MADE IN AMERICA - QR Code

2011-02-26T05:47:00.000-08:00

Popabroad adds MADE IN AMERICA - QR Code image to its portfolio of designs. The design is an interactive representation of a US flag. The idea is for people to scan the QR Code with their cell phone and find out what products and services are made in America. More info

Love & Gratitude

2010-11-30T02:56:00.000-08:00

Love & Gratitude, a florist boutique in Golders Green, is harnessing the 50 Million Dollar QR Code to market their flower shop across London. The boutique is offering customers who mention the 'QR Code' a 50 % discount on all floral arrangements who visit their shop on the high street.

Popabroad is developing these voucher style mobile promotions for clients that want to increase foot traffic through their retail outlets and for generating traffic to online stores. As the 50 Million Dollar QR Code gets more popular so do the businesses and sites connected to it.

The 50 Million Dollar QR Code ad campaign can work for almost any personal or business related product, service and event. For example, if you have an ebay store and would like to promote your items, Popabroad can design you a mobile page and link your seller's page to the 50 Million Dollar QR Code.

Connecting your site to the code is just the beginning. The more popular the code becomes the more we will promote it both online and offline. Plus we provide you with your own QR Code that links to your newly created mobile page so anyone that scans it will land directly on your page.

50 Million Dollar QR Code

2010-11-22T02:17:00.000-08:00

Popabroad is now hosting the '50 Million Dollar QR Code' ad campaign, a first of its kind for mobile marketing. Anyone with a website, blog, networking page can take part in it. The idea is to make 2011 the 'Year of the QR Code' by building the world's most valuable QR Code out of identity features like logos. This QR Code has the potential to link over 1 million websites into one single image. Sites that are attached to the QR will be readable on a mobile phone.

"For organizations who would like to mobilize their marketing efforts this can be a affordable gateway for exploring QR Codes as well as an opportunity to be part of mobile history." Jassen Popp (Founder/Designer)

First Social Card with Memory

2010-09-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

Tississippi offers the first of its kind social greeting card with the power to remember things. Each time a person interacts with the card it collects memory. You can expand the card's memory by adding stories, photos, videos, songs, and even tweets to it online and with your mobile phone.

The card can be purchased online at Zazzle where you can personalize it with your own photos and text.

View Card.

Tales of Tississippi

2010-09-24T05:38:00.001-07:00

Tississippi is Popabroad's latest development. For more info visit Squidoo.

Mgoing Abroad

2010-07-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

How can Higher Education Institutions reach the 'Thumb Generation' ?

Well just not thumbers but savvy, smart, highly intelligent and sometimes very mobile students.

The questions should be rephrased to: How can Universities engage 'thumbers' in their brand.

Popabroad has taken an active step in this direction with its Mgoing publication available this fall, 2010.

Try it! Scan one of our QR Codes :-)

Internships in Poland

2010-05-18T03:11:00.000-07:00

Popabroad is publishing an interactive global education magazine this fall and has internships available to international students and recent graduates.

The internships are 10 weeks in duration, and are unpaid. Interns work together in a supervised mentor-lead group at the PopHatch office and at the University of Lodz.

The intern will be working side-by-side with professionals and with local representatives on an international project. This may include participation on project teams, research, and assisting international marketing officers in an educational context.

This is a fee based program which includes: Room & Board.

Not included: Flight to Poland and travel insurance.

Internships are open to international students 18 years of age.

What's Available:

• INTERNATIONAL MARKETING

• JOURNALISM & NEW MEDIA

• GRAPHIC DESIGN/PRODUCT DESIGN

Contact Popabroad for details and an application.

Pop Prototyp

2010-03-24T04:47:00.000-07:00

At the 'ProWein' , International Fair for Wines and Spirits, in Dusseldorf, Germany, Popabroad's "Education and Innovation" brand extension called Pop Prototyp, offered its pre-market services focused on the Polish market to a host of leading producers from Portugal, Spain, South Africa, America, New Zealand, and Germany.

The feedback received was very positive and organizations indicated a strong interest in opportunities in the Polish market. Many producers simply want importing opportunities for their current products that at an educational level such findings can be researched. The main question was how?

Pop Prototyp's position on this was that they will work closely with researchers and students at the University of Lodz in Poland and with MBA students at London School of Business and Management in central London as well as Interns recruited through Popabroad from America and other countries to assess opportunities via case studies, brand audits and alternative (Social Market) researching methods. Concerns of measurability for research and development was addressed in two batches.

The first batch is a tangible prototype. Besides a marketing report provided to clients at the end of each project a printed/assembled prototype is developed. As an example it could be in the form of a soft drink pouch package for sampling for promotional purposes or an interactive online prototype that can be used for on demand purchases.

The second batch is feedback. A combination of social channels or from direct methods of sampling potential opportunity. At an educational level clients can reduce costs associated with hiring a marketing firm. Plus, Pop Prototyp's service is for a full calendar year at an educational rate. The international students/interns/researchers taking part in these projects may also provide a word of mouth channel that could inflate equity across borders just because they have a real world project to work on.

This hands on approach to an international project will provide our clients with an exceptional pre-market service and our participants with experience that can be showcased at a future job interview or land them a position in the process.

Brunel Study Abroad

2010-01-11T07:08:00.000-08:00

Brunel University based in west London, UK has added a Study Abroad program to its competitive range of international programs. According to Brunel International, "The University is dedicated to providing a world class education for its 13,000 students, which includes an international student population of more than 2,000, who come from over 110 different countries."

In the United States, "Brunel University currently maintains undergraduate student exchange agreements with the San Francisco State University (Design, Sport Sciences), State University New York (SUNY) Brockport (Social Sciences, Arts, Sport Sciences and Business), and Iowa State University (Mechanical Engineering)."

Brunel has two main terms for their study abroad program, Junior Year/ Term Abroad.

Junior Year Abroad-One Full Academic Year

"The Junior Year is an academic year of study, from September to the end of May in the following calendar year. It consists of three terms; two teaching periods of 12 weeks each-the Autumn and Spring Terms-and the summer period of revision and examinations."

Autumn or Spring Term- One semester

"Autumn or Spring Term Abroad runs for the 12 weeks of the first term from late September to mid December. The Spring Term option begins in January and runs for the 12 weeks of the second term, followed by the Summer period of revision and examinations." Additionally there is an option for Junior year abroad and terms with English called JYA plus English for non-English speaking students.

There is a wide selection of courses to choose from in the Arts, Social Sciences, Sports Science and Foreign Languages. Please see course list.

Please contact Popabroad for information regarding Brunel's study abroad program for application assistance.

Cult Film and TV-Studies in London

2009-10-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

Where do the creators of Vampire fiction movies hang out?

According to Brunel University in west London, "Over the last 20 years there has been an explosion of interest around the patterns and traditions of cult film and television. Whether defined by horror, kung-fu or science fiction film, or fantasy television formats such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel, critical interest in cult media has become a prominent source of interest for the academic and the cult film/TV fan alike. This new, cutting-edge MA is the first academic programme of its kind dedicated to the study of global traditions of cult media. Check out details here.

Ecological Impact In Bath

2009-09-09T02:02:00.000-07:00

The thermal spa in Bath can be an ecological delight in itself. The water temperature may be at a similar degree when the Romans first threw a cursed pledge into its waters and today remains a central location for well being. Besides the warm waters and friendly people, I encountered a photography open air exhibit called "Earth from the Air" by the French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, that had a splendid overtone of Ecology.

In response to this exhibit, I would like to promote a graduate program that may help foster knowledge needed for managing our environment.

The postgraduate program, Ecological Impact Assessment is at Bath Spa University. According to Bath Spa's prospectus, "the course addresses skill gaps identified by the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management and the British Ecological Society, in terms of: Biological survey; data interpretation; environmental legislation; and, professional practice."

Please have a look at this link for more information and contact me for an application.

QR Codes in Education

2009-08-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

Creating a survey for a dissertation or a report can be difficult because people may not want to go online or be bothered by filling in a paper form. For anyone that has tried this on the street it can be even more difficult to get a person's attention. From a personal experience of mine of taking a student survey during my MA thesis in London, I realized that most people will not stop to chat especially when there is shopping to be done.

Possible Solution

Create a mobile survey. Find mobile free site like Winksite, make a free QR Code with a link directly to the mobile survey and include the code in your project. Scan the one above for an example. It will lead you to this survey.

A 360 Perspective

2009-08-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

Places to see in London.

Golders Hill Park

St. James Park

Hampstead Heath

London Images

2009-08-13T07:56:00.001-07:00

More places to see while studying in London.

London Bridge

Temple Church

Tower Bridge

London

2009-08-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

Some places you may want to see

while studying in London.

Barbican

Hampstead

Tower of London

Panoramic London

2009-08-11T03:35:00.000-07:00

We are adding some more 360 images of London. Please take a look at these 3 locations.

China town

Banking District

Little Venice

Linkthings360 China Town

2009-06-29T01:37:00.000-07:00

Potential UK international students may want to take a look at some of these 360 photos at Linkthings360. Follow the link to a photo taken in China Town. In this area of the city you can see Leicester Square, Soho, and Covent Garden.

Digital Studies

For a student in the UK, entertainment can be integrated into your studies. A prime example is the innovative program at BathSpa University called Digital Design.

Mobile Coding

2009-06-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

After receiving a number of requests for information about the University of Glamorgan's MSc in Mobile Telecommunications Management, Popabroad began exploring the mobile sector and found areas that could be researched further. On the tube, I read a popular men's magazine called ShortList, that published an article about mobile phones in Japan and their ability to gratify an audience on the go. Living here in London, I have caught more than an eye full of gadgets and mobile content. Mobile technology in my opinion does not look like a trend.

During more research, QR Codes caught Popabroad's attention. These codes have the ability to hold content, not that much (about 150 characters) before your phone can't make sense of the codes but they have the potential for much more. In response, Popabroad began developing a mobile coding project called Seed Codes. The project is a social promotion to combine mobile coding with nature. It is something that everyone can participate in online.

QR Codes are not used that often in the UK nor throughout Europe. In North America the codes are even less known. On the seedcodes website there is a link page that provides more information and links to downloading software to your phone in order for you to scan these the codes. Aside from Popabroad's interest in mobile coding, Bath University in the UK, not on Popabroad representation list, is conducting further research and appears to be integrating this technology into the higher education sector.

The course that Popabroad can recommend is this MSc program at the University of Glamorgan. It is a course that students may have the opportunity to develop and learn how to manage mobile technology.

If you would like to contribute in some way to the development of mobile coding please add to the seed count and give Popabroad's Hatch Incubator development a push start.

Resource:

ShortList Issue 80/14 May 2009

The Magnificent Future of the Mobile Phone

Jim Harris

http://blogs.bath.ac.uk/qrcode/

Course List

2009-05-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Popabroad has created a partial list of courses for the Universities/Schools that it represents. In this list are both postgraduate and undergraduate programs. If you would like any further information or application guidance contact Popabroad. Please keep in mind that the cut off dates for September 2009 will be coming up soon for international students. Course List

Social Funds

2009-04-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

Is your higher education worth the socialization?

Social networking sites are popping up everywhere on the web and due to the economic downturn many international students are chasing their dreams by creating profiles on social lending sites such as GreenNote, CollegeNet, Gradefund and Virgin Money.

There seems to be a slight shift taking place regarding an age old practicing question, "Can I borrow that." A number of these sites do nothing more than what students probably have tried before, asking family and friends for money. Catch phrases can be read as a community effort. Since when has education not been community based. Even online education facilities offer groups to join which are in one form or another a community.

On the upside for creating a profile is your accessibility for gathering interest and or delivering the "Pitch" will be more convenient. Asking for the cash offers students a bit of wiggle room so they do not feel too needy. Not a bad idea, besides, a number of students do not have much to lose in the process because their way of life is embedded into this socialization of identity.

The problem I see with generating cash is the low level of disposable income source within the young demographic that these sites are targeting. The do it your self approach to the borrowing mechanism would be even better if the students could network within a future hiring organisation. For any individual or group wanting to invest in education this could be the next investment bubble. From an investors lens if a student turns out to be the next average paid employee your 6.5 percent or whatever you make on your investment could pay out a solid return. To push the idea even further this social borrowing could foster a revolution of technology.

Big ideas, like that catch phrase "think globally, act locally."

Hurry Up and Wait graduates

2009-02-11T05:40:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-10T06:19:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-10T03:07:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-06T06:04:00.000-08:00

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

Umbrellas and Entrepreneurship

2009-01-30T04:03:00.000-08:00

Is it interesting when current event articles raise awareness of the need for entrepreneurship?

There was an article written in the "Evening Standard" which I purchased for 50 pence because they were giving away rather nice umbrellas. Considering that I live in London and if you take a long walk you are sure to see some damaged; left for dead, umbrellas lying on a side walk. It looked like a good deal. The article, "Get real, Harriet, you've set out on the wrong road to social mobility," written by Anne McElvoy describes how people without connections may find it even harder to find a job after their higher education studies than those with social connections. This article appears to highlight a real element of pressure for schools and educators to integrate some practical work experience into the education system.

In my opinion, opportunity is not like a coloring book that educators have full control over the colors but rather can assist in its application, design and mandate programs that integrate theory with practicality. This middle ground between theory and application has been for a long period of time the work of entrepreneurs that invent, design and implement solutions. For example, universities like Brunel have developed a business center that works with local, regional and international organizations on research or practical design projects used in the market place. Entrepreneurship at this level is supported by providing students with an opportunity to present their career aims and a reward scheme for developing innovative solutions or potential new organizations. Students have to be very proactive and seek out the opportunity. In other words mobility has two sides: the student's ability that is highly dependent on motivation, and outlets for a practical working experience. These programs of opportunity can be placements, internships or implemented directly into the course curriculum. So who needs an umbrella when the chance for opportunity is about social mobility? I went to school to learn something which is different than going to school for a job.

Reference printed version, Wednesday 14, January 2009

www.standard.co.uk

First Entry

2009-01-27T02:06:00.000-08:00

I am back in London, UK after a long US east coast higher education recruitment tour. The consultancy I developed, Popabroad, was recruiting undergraduate and postgraduate students for Brunel University, Bath Spa University, LIBT, London School of Business and Management, FIC, University of Glamorgan and Roehampton University. During this tour I got the chance to meet a lot of people and potential international students. I learned of the needs many of these students have when it comes to studying abroad.

Over the next few months I will address many of these questions and concerns and will post material about internship opportunities which seemed to be one of the main topics while visiting schools in the States.