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| Sunday, 3 July 2005 |
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University education - Storm the challenge University education, be it local or foreign, is the aspiration of many a student and parent. Many of those who are suitably qualified cannot fulfil their dreams of entering local Universities, because of the constraints regarding local Universities. the only option then ,is to enter a foreign University. But, how are they to get about getting information about these Universities. Many of them, turn away because of prohibitive costs of foreign Universities, on the one hand, and the lack of awareness of approaching the correct source to get reliable information on the other. Identifying these problems, a new company, which has researched the availability of Universities for local students, keeping in mind the cost factor, have armed themselves with the required information and will hold a seminar,to apprise students of the information. by Chamitha Kuruppu Just like many youth in Sri Lanka you too might be aspiring to study overseas. Unlike the good old days there are many opportunities for individuals who desire foreign education. Not only the privileged families but average parents too consider giving an overseas education for their children. Meanwhile, there are a large number of students who wish to pursue higher education and are unable to do so, due to the dearth in the number of vacancies available at Universities in the country. This situation therefore has created a dire need for placements in universities overseas. Studying abroad must be the 'in thing' but it requires a lot of dedication and courage. Living all by yourself in a foreign country with thousands of strangers, speaking an unknown language is one of the biggest battles you have to overcome. And don't forget your loved ones will not be around to pamper you during your difficult times ( your mom will not be there to provide coffee in the middle of the night while you are studying for exams). Deciding the correct path for your education, while being armed to face all pitfalls you come across in achieving your goals should be your centre of attention when thinking about foreign education. According to Rose-marie Fernandez, a certified Human Resources Professional from Canada, Asian universities especially Sinagaporean and Malaysian Universities are getting popular among Sri Lankan youth. Historically, Sri Lankans mainly go to Universities in the UK, USA and Australia, primarily due to the medium of instruction being English. Although this trend has continued, there are a large number of parents who are reluctant to send their children to these countries and are opting for Universities within closer proximity to Sri Lanka. In addition to logistical considerations, the constant devaluation of the Sri Lankan Rupee has also made Western Universities more prohibitive in terms of cost. Rozana who boasts of an experience of over 25 years, across several continents working in a variety of environments, says that having a sound knowledge about the country one is going to. Good communication skills are essential, when lookingfor overseas education. "This might sound silly but it is essential to make friends when students go abroad.Therefore, before going to a strange country it is vital to know the 'tactics and technique' of making friends," Rozana noted. There are plenty of organisations which provide educational consultation services for individuals aspiring to study overseas. But selecting the 'right' institution is equally important as selecting the correct path. Rozana works as a lead facilitator at the UTO EduConsult (Pvt) Ltd. The institution was set up, primarily, to cater to individuals aspiring overseas education specifically looking at Universities in the region, especially in Malaysia, Singapore, India and Pakistan. However, the company will also cater to those who wish to study in the UK, USA, Canada or Australia and we have already secured links with Universities in these countries so as to offer a prospective student an entire range of Universities/countries to choose from. UTO EduConsult is a part of a conglomerate of associate companies handling businesses as diverse as Travel and Tours and International and Domestic Courier. Thus, the company will be able to provide the entire gamut of services. These would include Counselling, Visa processing, Ticketing and Accommodation. UTO EduConsult is cognisant of the fact that many parents also wish to conduct a preliminary study, including visits to Universities and the company is geared to meet this requirement. UTO has a network of agents that represent them in all the key countries such as UK, Canada, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. These agents are exclusive to the company, with most holding an equity stake in the company. The directors of the company have also established a domestic network of agents in several leading International schools in the country. Thus, UTO is able to obtain a database of students direct from the schools, which makes the marketing effort more effective. |
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