Just a few weeks ago, which seem distant now, students across the world were at school – playing sports, celebrating special days, hanging out with friends, looking forward to a lot in life. Suddenly it all changed, almost overnight. Schools shut, they became home bound. For a while, not going to school became exciting. However, soon reality dawned and anxiety and frustration became the order of the day. While all were hit hard, teenagers will be the focus here. What was taken for granted now became so much more valued. The new ‘normal’ is a given situation and is not going to go away any time soon. It is here to say. We have to adjust to this new normal.
Remember:
YOU ARE NOT ALONE: Teens like you across the world are affected by this pandemic.
YOU ARE THE CHANGEMAKERS: You are the ones with a trove of ideas.
YOU ARE INNOVATORS: You can do it.
YOUR FAMILY LOVES YOU: You love them too.
Just a few tips for all of the teenagers out there – you may be able to connect with these and implement them in your lives to help pass through these difficult times.
Talk and address your anxiety: With your family around you now more than ever, find someone to talk to. It is alright to get angry and emotional. Releasing your stress will help you calm down, and move closer to accepting the situation at hand.
Explore your potential: Don’t forget to use your imagination. You could dance, draw, create a blog, publish a video on YouTube; the options are endless. For once, we have all the time in the world. Try to pass this difficult phase by planning and searching for new solutions. Think of it as a stop in time for you to gather ideas and prepare to put them into action when things are on track once again.
Stay connected: The virtual space is enormous. Connect with friends virtually; chat, play games, watch movies and have fun. This may be the only time when no one can say that they are busy. Share your worries. Everybody is in the same boat. Sharing halves worries.
Skill up: There are a range of opportunities on the internet for you to explore, that can also help shore up your skill set. You never know, it may open another avenue of opportunities for you altogether.
Establish routines: It is very easy fall into a state of complacency. Set a routine for waking up, fix your meal times, fix the amount of screen time per day, and so forth.
Take up family projects: Take charge of projects where you can involve the entire family, including grandparents; such as organizing family photos or creating a family tree. This is a great topic for calls to grandparents, who can also possibly describe challenging times they have faced in the past, and how the family coped with stress.
Practice meditation: Allow yourself some ‘me time’, delve into your inner self and emerge stronger.
Feel grateful: Express gratitude. Look outside and be aware of all those who are not as privileged as you. Incorporate acts of kindness in your day by making someone else’s day better with a phone call, text, or social media post. Volunteer to help tutor children of neighbours or friends online.
Declutter and donate: It’s time to share. Look around yourself and note what you have that may be of more use to others, and can be shared.
To sum it all up – If you can’t change a situation, you must accept it as a challenge to use it as an opportunity.
India is poised to be one of the fastest growing tourism industries over the next decade, with the Hospitality and Tourism sector predicted to grow at an average annual rate of 7.5% to 18.36 lakh crore (US $270 billion) by 2025 (7.2% of GDP). The issue of skill gaps is a worldwide problem. In India, for instance, the shortage of skilled manpower poses a major threat to the overall development of tourism. In Dubai, a shortage of manpower poses the biggest challenge to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tourism industry, according to industry management studies (Source: Bloomberg Nov 2019).
The hospitality sector in India is projected to grow tremendously in the next decade. In today’s context, the demand for hospitality professionals is also growing, and the sector is expected to come up with more trained professionals in the coming decade. Moreover, it has been observed that the demand for hospitality is rising in small cities in India. People are involving themselves more in travelling as compared to the past because of better connectivity and the ease of air travel. With advancements in technology, hotel rooms can now be booked with the click of a button. From budget hotels to five-star properties and home stays to boutique resorts, there is something for every traveler. There is a growing awareness of hospitality standards in India and people are demanding high-quality services in hotels and restaurants. Social media also provides a platform for people to express their opinions. There are several brands and chains that have entered the Indian market and with high competition, customers are spoiled for choice. Overall, it is important for hospitality professionals to plan for the long term, and hence the demand for highly trained professionals is increasing.
‘Talent gap’ refers to a lack of skilled individuals in the industry. Every sector occasionally faces the tough issue of the talent gap. Lack of talent can be demotivating for an industry. To fill this talent gap, an individual needs skills, abilities and knowledge about their sector. While there are ample opportunities for growth and success in the hospitality field, students need to evaluate their aptitude for a career in this field before coming right into it. A candidate must be willing to work in various areas as the profession requires employees to be multi-talented and to handle different aspects of the job, such as management, food and beverages service, housekeeping, front office operation, sales and marketing or any other department depending upon the specific requirement.
Covid 19 Impact
According to the UNWTO April 14-2020 report, the tourism sector is currently one of the hardest hit by the outbreak of COVID-19, with impacts on both travel supply and demand. This represents an added downside risk in the context of a weaker world economy; geopolitical, social and trade tensions; as well as uneven performance among major outbound travel markets.
Considering the evolving nature of the situation, it is too early to estimate the full impact of Covid-19 on international tourism. For its initial assessment, UNWTO has taken the SARS scenario of 2003 as a benchmark, factoring in the size and dynamics of global travel and current disruptions, to estimate the geographic spread of COVID-19 and its potential economic impact:
At the time of writing this article, UNWTO estimates that in 2020, global international tourist arrivals could decline between 20-30%, down from an estimated growth of 3% to 4% forecast in early January 2020.
This could translate into a loss of US$ 30 to 50 billion in spending by international visitors (international tourism receipts).
Estimates for other world regions are currently premature in view of the rapidly evolving situation.
UNWTO underscores that any estimate must be treated with caution due to the volatile and uncertain evolution of the outbreak which might lead to further revisions.
In a recent talk at IIM-Calcutta, the Chief Economic Advisor mentioned that “the outbreak of coronavirus provides a good opportunity for India to follow an export-driven model.” But the question remains whether India has the necessary tools and infrastructure to replace China. India does not only have the potential to match China in terms of scale, but it is endowed with rich pool of unskilled labor, and a robust service sector. Given the complex chains that China operates, the biggest stumbling block will be the lack of skill. This has to be addressed immediately and effectively, as there is a huge potential for India by the year 2025 in the manufacturing and service sector.
Changes in the Education System Post Covid-19
The education system will perhaps see a shift from a teacher-centric approach. Educational institutions across the country would be changing their perspective now to facilitating centers and collaborative learning centers. However, active industry academia interactions are inevitable; employability of the students and acceptability by the industry is going to be the major yardstick for measuring the quality of the institute. More technology-based teaching and learning is likely to be in place from now onwards. However, there are certain constraints on switching over to 100% technology-based distance and online programs for the practically oriented courses like Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Medical Science, Engineering, etc., wherein students need to perform practical experiments on a regular basis, which also need to be under the direct supervision of the faculty. Therefore, the new model of curriculum would have to ensure a certain amount of compulsory classroom and laboratory sessions for the students at the college for professionally oriented courses.
Hospitality Management institutions need to give more importance to housekeeping management and food hygiene and sanitation, since both subjects are going to be more prominent in the changing scenario post Covid-19.
In terms of higher education as well, changes are to be expected as a result of the epidemic. Karnataka state, for instance, is well known as a higher education hub in India. There are more than 1000 institutions for higher education in this state alone, at present. Most of these institutions are entirely dependent on students coming from different states and countries. However, the inflow of such migrant students might be a challenge in the current scenario. Therefore, there is a possibility of some kind of setback in terms of admissions for such institutions in the 2020-21 academic year. In addition, the economic situation of the country and its citizens is likely to cause further difficulties.
Strategies to Overcome Problems presented by the Current Crisis
Challenges to be converted into opportunities
The Economic Advisor to the central government has emphasized the importance of actions aimed at providing adequate infrastructure facilities to those MNCs that are willing to shift their base from China to India. The implication is that if we succeed in bringing them to India, it would in turn help to create adequate employment opportunities at by 2025. Hence, it is an opportunity for students to invest their time and energy now, which would reap a rich harvest by the end of their professional academics.
More Scholarships and Financial Assistance to Students
It is the time now for financial institutions to relax their norms and provide financial support to students who are interested to take up professional courses. Institutions need to offer more merit scholarships so that students and parents can have some kind of support in these trying times.
Greater Focus on Developing Entrepreneurship
The need of the hour is to focus more on entrepreneurship development, so as to create more job opportunities. Educational Institutions need to give a greater emphasis on incubating business ideas and developing them into successful ventures. The faculty must not fail to emphasize that entrepreneurship by definition is a journey on an uncharted path. The basic foundation of entrepreneurship is obsessive passion, fierce focus and seizing opportunity. There is no such thing as failure, there is only learning and bouncing back – a golden principle of entrepreneurship.
Increased Importance of Human Resource Management
Understanding of human resource management extensively in business brings unimaginable benefits. Although staff training is just a small part of human resource management, it is this aspect that needs close attention in terms of the changes brought about by the pandemic. In order to keep up with the pace of change in a world that is changing rapidly every day, making the best use of the abilities of your personnel has become increasingly significant. People working in the human resource departments need to be aware of the implications of globalization, technology change, workforce diversity, labor shortage, and so forth. Staff training is crucial in any industry, and especially so in the hospitality industry.
The Great Evolution of education – Life is not going to be the same after COVID-19. This is the reality that each one of us has to face and understand.
This lockdown has given us an unexpected yet much needed break; to observe change as an inevitable force. In recent decades, mankind has been like a puny peg, living life on a roller coaster; which is exhilarating and exciting, but on the other hand is wedged on rails. Riding at a phenomenal pace, bearing the crests and falls, he has been tied in a situation from where there is no escape and he has had to move with the machine, as a machine.
The education sector too had been coping at its own pace. However, today, it is undergoing a defined evolution. This sector has undergone an intellectual crisis, as in most schools across the country some teachers have held on to traditional methodologies and are not willing to adapt to change. Due to this complacency, the education ecosystem has deteriorated over time. This uncalled for hibernation has not only helped to shake us out of this stupor, but also to see education in a different light. The world of education has come closer, where sharing knowledge has become the new norm. From this empathy has emerged a new energy. Today schools in many states have opened their “online doors” to other school children in their vicinity, thereby ensuring universality of education.
Experts in their fields are becoming accessible through the internet. There is so much knowledge being meted out and ideas being shared. While series after series of webinars have led to a cognitive overload, they have also created an inflow of new ideas and have given the individual a choice to participate and walk on the road less taken.
Schools have resorted to alternate methodologies of teaching. Teachers are trying to find ways to ensure that their students do not stagnate, but are constantly assimilating knowledge and evolving. Lessons are being reworked and innovative strategies are being used to make the teaching/learning process comprehensive and concrete. To achieve this, teachers are undergoing intensive trainings organized by schools, educational boards and private organizations. Teachers who were indifferent towards technology have to now learn to become adept at its usage.
There will be long-term impacts of Covid-19. Teachers cannot simply replicate what they have been doing in classrooms. The quantum of syllabus will have to be reconsidered. A focal shift from broader to deeper perspectives is imperative. We need to conserve our schools and their ethos. Teachers are indispensable; their commitment and sincerity cannot be replaced. The pollination of ideas must take place for ‘Educational Evolution’ in the future. Different pedagogical motley will have to be woven together with a whole lot of patience. It might not be perfect at first, but with adjustments and innovations, it will cater to the needs of all learners.
“If you want a great job which will guarantee you a happy and successful career, design is the way to go”
Worldwide, creative industries continue to outgrow more established professions year in and year out. If you want a great job which will guarantee you a happy and successful career, design is the way to go. The scholars of today need to keep up with the dynamic pace of change that the world is experiencing. There can be no room for negative thinking. We need to see change as positive and be a positive part of that change.
The advent of AI, which we term as Augmented Intelligence – nothing ‘artificial’ thank you – along with Robotics has brought forth a dramatic paradigm shift to the way the world is developing. Technology is advancing on a daily basis and any responsible organisation will always keep up to date with advances. The soon-to-be world of the students of today will be vastly different to the world we have experienced. AI and Robotics will bring with them a whole new way of working, requiring a whole new skill set.
Robots are not creative; students of design need to be. The basics of established learning will be eaten into by Big Data, ready for the AI machine to disgorge required information at a frighteningly rapid pace. Actually the word frightening is wrong; I should say exciting, stimulating, empowering pace. It’s all very wonderful, really. When referring to AI and robots we don’t talk about scary technology aimed at ruling the world but rather Aladdin’s genie, eager to please with the power to make magic happen.
I often refer to the Harvard Business Review for inspiration. After all, you can’t get much better than this. Looking back on past attitudes to development, the status quo could be harsh. The dog-eat-dog, ‘push your way to the top’ philosophy prevailed. Fortunately, those days have gone. It is encouraging to see that the key word that comes out in these articles now is ‘empathy’, and developing empathetic as well as brilliant scholars is at the heart of our endeavour. Of course this more gentle approach does not dismiss the massive change in technology that exists, rather it embraces it. The enhanced human skills of the future needed for growth have been identified.
Today’s young professionals grew up in an age of mind-boggling technological change, having seen the growth of the internet, the invention of the smartphone, and the development of machine-learning systems. ‘What should I learn today so that I’ll have a job in the future?’ is a question most of them have pondered over at some point.
“Robots are not creative; students of design need to be”
I believe we need to concentrate on the following important elements that robots cannot do.
Storytelling – how good is it? The most basic form of communication is constructing a compelling story. The good news, from a competitive standpoint, is that most people have turned their brain over to bad software, resulting in the all-too-familiar ‘death by PowerPoint’. Although efforts have been launched to create robot authors, and the impact of robots on fake news and echo chambers is undeniably significant, the ability to communicate compellingly will always be in high demand and hard to automate.
Content
Communication must be about a particular topic. If you know a great deal about a given domain, you have a rich base on which to draw. Moreover, if you have an appreciation for the dynamics of that domain, you have something that mere ‘googling’ can never replicate.
Context
Automated systems are usually very bad at recognising context. understanding the context, business model, competition, and leadership of a client or an employer makes your understanding of content more useful.
Management
Gleaning facts and even finding the solutions to problems is of little help if you cannot manage those facts efficiently. Process is power.
Emotional Competence
Robots will never truly understand the human heart. Our options may be set by rationality, but it is emotion that binds us to action. The most basic level of emotional competence is being able to recognise the emotions at play in the context of analysis and action. The next level is the ability to successfully intervene in an emotionally complex situation, when people are hurt or uncertain. At the highest level, emotional competence involves persuading individuals and groups by evoking emotion (while simultaneously recognising that some team members don’t buy into what you’re saying).
Teaching
Teaching, or rather, mentoring. If the way we interact with those we are trying to develop becomes the imparting of mere facts, then no good is done. Empathy is vital, care and concern, knowing the individual – all very human qualities.
Connections
It is not what you know, but who you know that counts. How often have we heard this? And, although by no means entirely true, there is a lot of reality in this statement.
An Ethical Compass
We are beginning to realise just how important ethics and the capacity for moral judgement are in the field of applied AI. The fact that the world will be increasingly controlled by machines lacking an ethical compass amplifies the importance of having people in our future workforce who possess strong moral values.
Design students need to be ‘equipped for every good work in every way’. That is why they are special.
Just a few weeks ago, which seem distant now, students across the world were at school – playing sports, celebrating special days, hanging out with friends, looking forward to a lot in life. Suddenly it all changed, almost overnight. Schools shut, they became home bound. For a while, not going to school became exciting. However, soon reality dawned and anxiety and frustration became the order of the day. While all were hit hard, teenagers will be the focus here. What was taken for granted now became so much more valued. The new ‘normal’ is a given situation and is not going to go away any time soon. It is here to say. We have to adjust to this new normal.
Remember:
YOU ARE NOT ALONE: Teens like you across the world are affected by this pandemic.
YOU ARE THE CHANGEMAKERS: You are the ones with a trove of ideas.
YOU ARE INNOVATORS: You can do it.
YOUR FAMILY LOVES YOU: You love them too.
Just a few tips for all of the teenagers out there – you may be able to connect with these and implement them in your lives to help pass through these difficult times.
Talk and address your anxiety: With your family around you now more than ever, find someone to talk to. It is alright to get angry and emotional. Releasing your stress will help you calm down, and move closer to accepting the situation at hand.
Explore your potential: Don’t forget to use your imagination. You could dance, draw, create a blog, publish a video on YouTube; the options are endless. For once, we have all the time in the world. Try to pass this difficult phase by planning and searching for new solutions. Think of it as a stop in time for you to gather ideas and prepare to put them into action when things are on track once again.
Stay connected: The virtual space is enormous. Connect with friends virtually; chat, play games, watch movies and have fun. This may be the only time when no one can say that they are busy. Share your worries. Everybody is in the same boat. Sharing halves worries.
Skill up: There are a range of opportunities on the internet for you to explore, that can also help shore up your skill set. You never know, it may open another avenue of opportunities for you altogether.
Establish routines: It is very easy fall into a state of complacency. Set a routine for waking up, fix your meal times, fix the amount of screen time per day, and so forth.
Take up family projects: Take charge of projects where you can involve the entire family, including grandparents; such as organizing family photos or creating a family tree. This is a great topic for calls to grandparents, who can also possibly describe challenging times they have faced in the past, and how the family coped with stress.
Practice meditation: Allow yourself some ‘me time’, delve into your inner self and emerge stronger.
Feel grateful: Express gratitude. Look outside and be aware of all those who are not as privileged as you. Incorporate acts of kindness in your day by making someone else’s day better with a phone call, text, or social media post. Volunteer to help tutor children of neighbours or friends online.
Declutter and donate: It’s time to share. Look around yourself and note what you have that may be of more use to others, and can be shared.
To sum it all up – If you can’t change a situation, you must accept it as a challenge to use it as an opportunity.
Life becomes tough at points where we have to make some important decisions which have a lifelong impact. One such decision is related to making career choices. Out of the many alternatives available, each with its own pros and cons, one must cautiously weigh each one of them to make a prudent career decision. One such combination of choices may be – opting for a self-created entrepreneurial venture, or choosing to join the already established family business.
Let us now evaluate these two options on the basis of some common parameters. A self-created venture calls for extreme levels of enthusiasm, creativity, and preparedness – to start from scratch in arranging the factors of production, bearing all the risks, and shouldering all the responsibilities alone. This requires a cluster of 4 C’s, including Courage, Conception, Capability and Capital, to establish an enterprise without the background support. Entrepreneurship, therefore, is not an easy venture to enter into. However, it creates immense satisfaction and a sense of independence for an individual to start with something of one’s own, and that too, on one’s own. It is an inner motivation that pushes one to touch the sky of one’s dreams. The beauty of a self-created enterprise lies in the fact that it creates a constant urge for moving on and making one’s dreams come true. Additionally, it can bring that rare inner happiness which one has been craving for, and which is felt when one accomplishes one’s dreams. For all this to happen, it is essential for an individual to be self-motivated, disciplined, target-oriented, inclined to move with the times, and capable of adapting to change. There is also a strong need to be on one’s toes, to work really hard in the direction of dream fulfillment.
An alternative to entrepreneurship, if available, may be joining the family business and taking the family legacy ahead and forward. One can be the good son or daughter of the house and can take up the family business, aligning one’s personal dreams with the happiness of the family.
In doing so, there are the benefits of constant background support, capital availability, guidance, and training; and one can be free from the fear of starting from square one. There is a degree of convenience of having things already processed and functional, thereby giving the individual an opportunity to channelize their energy in the direction of business expansion and diversification. This may not only bring a good name to the family business but will also reap long-term benefits for future generations.
Towards the end, the question arises, “Is the individual ready to take up what his/her forefathers have already created, or is he the one who is constantly making an effort to chase his or her dreams and accomplish them on his own”? The discussion is a never-ending debate and a final choice can be made on the basis of several factors taken into account together. The individual has to understand his own feelings and set his own goals to reach a final conclusion.
Pathology, or, in current nomenclature, Laboratory Medicine has been the backstage department in healthcare which gives silent support to clinicians. Lab Medicine has various specialisations, such as Pathology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology. In a Pathology Laboratory, there are doctors who have specialised in one of the Laboratory Medicine subjects, a technical team that perform the tests on the bench, and researchers who hold a Ph.D. in basic science subjects.
After completing your MBBS, you can specialise in Pathology, Microbiology or Biochemistry. In this era of specialisation, most Pathologists super specialise in Hemato-pathology, Histopathology, Cytopathology or Molecular Pathology. Some pathologists still continue to be general pathologists who work in haematology, clinical pathology and cytopathology, and manage the Department of Medicine in smaller healthcare setups. The Clinical Biochemists form the backbone of the laboratory and report all the biochemical tests which help in the diagnosis of thyroid, kidney, and liver diseases to name a few. The Clinical Microbiologists are at the helm of managing the diagnosis of all the infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, urinary tract infection, typhoid, tuberculosis, SARS, and Cov2. They also formulate and manage the infection control practices of hospitals and play a crucial role in the management of outbreaks like the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Hemato-pathologist specializes after post-graduation in Pathology and helps diagnose all diseases related to blood-cancers such as Leukemia and Lymphoma, as well as other diseases including thalassemia, anemia, and many more. They do this by using sophisticated tools of flow cytometry and molecular biology. The Histopathologist looks at all the biopsy tissues after staining with simple and specialized stains and works closely with the clinician, specially the cancer surgeon, to form a diagnosis.
For a keen researcher, there is always the option to study new targets for various diseases – to understand the progress of the disease, treatment of the disease and diagnosis of the disease. With treatments being extremely targeted, the role of such researchers is wide.
Most of the investigations in Laboratory Medicine are performed by trained technicians, who are under-graduates or post-graduates in Laboratory Medicine. These are then analysed and interpreted by specialists in Laboratory Medicine. The technical team are the scaffolding of a laboratory.
During this Covid-19 period the Laboratory Medicine specialists have been silently working in the laboratory and supporting all emergency testing, in both Covid and non-Covid hospitals. The role of each specialty in Laboratory Medicine is crucial. Covid-19 infection leads to various inflammatory responses for the Biochemist to detect, hematological changes for the Hematologist to diagnose, and for the Microbiologist, the detection of the virus is most exciting. The Microbiologist, along with the Molecular Specialist, would work to detect the virus and also learn more about the response generated by our body. The role of Laboratory Medicine in the post Covid-19 era will be very interesting, especially for the Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology specialists.
Globally we have been facing an unprecedented time in history with the outbreak of the Corona Virus. After many lockdown iterations in India – we have entered an “Un-lock” phase which is bringing about its own set of challenges. One of the industries reeling from the impact of this global pandemic is international Education; with travel restrictions imposed, Embassies and Consulates closed; many campuses globally and in the US are now opting for online delivery of the Fall 2020 intake. This has resulted in a lot of uncertainty and doubt regarding students’ plans to study abroad. Luckily, my current organization has been pro-active in evaluating the upcoming challenges and hence advised staff to work online in order to safely service students virtually and stay focussed on their applications for Fall 2020 intake and beyond.
The Chronicle of higher education has a live tracker (currently of about 910 US institutions). According to the latest figures, about two-thirds plan to re-open in the Fall. We have witnessed a mix of optimistic and opportunistic decisions among US Universities. Where on the optimistic side, Ivies such as Harvard and Yale are yet to make a decision; some of the more conservative high-ranked universities are considering a hybrid model in order to equip future students with the best possible options.
Thus any student who has already applied for Fall 2020 has a few options:
Take Fall 2020 classes online
Defer intake to Spring or Fall 2021
Attend physical classes in Fall (subject to getting a visa approval in time and assuming some institutions may/may not defer the start of the Fall intake)
So considering all the above options, the questions that tickle the belly are:
Should one take online classes? What are the benefits? Drawbacks? If one defers to a future intake, are they still eligible for work experience opportunities or will they miss out?
Understandably, as online classes are a newer medium for most students, they may be hesitant to enrol, may it be the fear of parents being uncomfortable with this scenario or the whole idea of overseas education being compromised.
The reality is the whole world has been forced into a “new normal” and many of us have been pushed into innovation, and to use technology and virtual platforms to move ahead in time.
What I may offer is that online learning (even in a blended way) is here to stay; and to some extent, all of us will have to adapt to this. While you may not get the exact feel of being on a campus – online learning does afford some advantages such as personalised group projects, more time to absorb the material as you will have the pace to yourself, one-on-one interactions with faculty and, of course, saving money!
Did you know that if you choose to take online classes for the first semester, from the luxury of your room/study, then you save almost half the cost of US Education in the form of rent, transport, living expenditures, etc.? Most universities are offering these online classes at a reduced cost for your convenience. So, you can still stay on track to complete your studies in time, and as a bonus save some money in the process.
In case you choose to defer to a later intake, US Universities are happy to assist you all the way. As they understand it is a student’s personal decision to make. Some universities are even waiving off standardized test (GMAT, GRE, SAT) requirements, so do check the Covid-19 Update section highlighted prominently on university websites for detailed information.
In case you are waiting for your standardised test/English Language test appointment dates, check with your test providers and keep yourself updated regarding online registrations or the latest available test dates.
Please do not panic and continue to focus on your planning and preparation to secure admissions. If you have received an admit, start ensuring all your documents for the visa are ready. This way as soon as visa appointments open up – you can be first in line.
US Universities and colleges do value their international students, so be rest assured they will work with you to ensure you get the best possible educational experience, virtually and in-person!
If we have learnt anything from the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, it is the importance of a good education in a safe environment that leads to a high demand occupation and provides for long term secure employment opportunities.
Australia is a friendly and welcoming country, our nation values individual freedoms, and the rights of citizens and visitors are protected under a transparent legal system. Our cities have some of the lowest crime rates in the world and our streets and public spaces are open and safe.
Recognised as a world leader in education, Australia is expected to overtake the UK as the world’s second most popular study destination. Our high-quality education, easy access to student support services, multicultural society and fantastic lifestyle make Australia an attractive study destination.
Australian vocational and technical colleges are committed to equipping students with practical skills and knowledge to help them succeed in their chosen industry. As global demand booms for entrepreneurial and innovative thinkers, Australian education providers have re-engineered their approach to teaching and learning to inspire thought leadership and creativity among students in every discipline.
Australian vocational and technical colleges teach students the practical skills and theoretical knowledge needed to help find success in a fast-changing world and to remain agile in uncertain times. The focus is on equipping students with an education designed to help them succeed in the global workforce; and with qualifications that will make them very attractive to potential employers in Australia, at home and around the world.
Many Australian vocational courses include work experience programs and internships so that students can gain hands-on industry experience and grow their professional network while they study. Students are also permitted to work up to 20 hours per week while studying; which can be a great way to find study-related work, or simply pay for the lifestyle in Australia.
Traditional ‘trade courses’ such as automotive mechanics are in high demand and working as an automotive mechanic provides a good work-life balance and an exciting and varied career path; with employment opportunities available not only in Australia in both regional and city areas, but also world-wide.
Institute in Focus
In Australia, Oceania College of Technology specializes in providing training for the Automotive Industry which is industry-focused and driven, providing hands-on skill development and theoretical training. This includes industry placements and internships in a variety of courses, such as the following:
Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
Automotive Diesel Engine Technology
Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology
Body Repair and Refinishing
Automotive Mechanical Diagnostics
The college is now taking expressions of interest and applications for its April 2022 semester intake. Email: int.admissions@oct.edu.au for additional details or to request an application/enrolment form.
Hospitality is directly related to civilization, as the idea of being friendly to outsiders has been around for decades and has grown into a flourishing industry.
The time I spent in Switzerland was a unique and exceptional experience. Studying amidst the beautiful Alps and the mesmerizing scenic beauty drew me into hiking, sports, and other outdoor activities. As an international student, one gets a plethora of benefits, such as living in elite cities and building an international network that will be beneficial for the future. The quality of education and punctuality the teachers and students have to maintain in Switzerland is unique compared to other cultures and educational institutions in various countries. An integral part of my hospitality course was research, and a high level of attention to detail in research institutions is mandatory in Switzerland. I was majorly involved in group projects, assignments and presentations, and poster making assessments and competition with an extremely culturally diverse team. The teachers were very helpful and supportive of all my work. In some instances, there seemed to be a language barrier, where I was unclear what the teachers would discuss; however, as all the work was uploaded on presentations, I could see it later to clarify any confusion. In Switzerland, it’s an advantage to learn German along with English, for which we had classes in college. My colleagues and I participated in various research conferences and seminars, led by professors from all around Europe, which gave an insight into the experiences and learning of various individuals. My university allowed me to learn how a hotel or restaurant functions from within, from the points of view of the management and the employees, and taught me various ways to excel in the different departments.
“The internship is a dose of the real world. In school, we just learn the basics; in the hotels, we learn the actual, never-ending hard work”
Although it can be quite expensive to afford the daily living there, costs can be covered while doing the course by working in professional hotels and companies and undertaking yearly internships to gain savings and manage personal expenses. Internships are an important part of college, along with studies, and are also the best way to gain first-hand knowledge and experience. My internship taught me a lot of good things that will help me in my future studies and in work. I mainly worked in Service, Kitchen, and Sales & Marketing. I learned how to work along with other people in the departments and the importance of obeying the rules set by the manager and by senior colleagues. The internship is a dose of the real world. In school, we just learn the basics; in the hotels, we learn the actual, never-ending hard work. Our manager was a very sincere and disciplined person. We had a no late-comer policy and every employee had to be on time. I learned to appreciate the importance of punctuality working in such an environment, and would want to follow this in the future. Most days, the work was continuous and we got only one or two breaks in the whole day. On days when there were many guests, we even had to miss some break shifts and work over hours.
There is so much to learn from guests and colleagues of various regions. I wouldn’t say there was any particularly challenging situation; however, one thing that did bother me was that many times I had to work an hour or more as overtime, and I did not get that time off later as compensation. Another issue was the food, as I only ate vegetarian food there were occasions when they forgot to cook my food, as vegetarian food was hardly made there. At times, they would forget to make my food and I had to remind them, and my lunchtime would be wasted waiting for my meal. Overall, although there were minor issues, an internship is a great opportunity for students to gain real-life insight into what their graduate career could be like. The experience allowed me to see if I am the right fit for the position and the firm, and likewise, it helped me judge whether this is a career that I really want to pursue.
