Course List

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

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

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

Umbrellas and Entrepreneurship

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