Funding Round for international students opens

The International Student Wellbeing Strategy has been designed to protect and enhance New Zealand’s reputation as a safe and welcoming study destination.
Its vision is that all international students should feel that they are welcome, safe and well, enjoy a high quality education and are valued for their contribution to New Zealand.
Funding for one year projects to support the outcomes of the international student wellbeing strategy comes from the Export Education Levy.
Funding Applications
The theme for the 2019 funding round was chosen in response to feedback from international students and community organisations – that international students need more safety and mental health support.
The Funding Round Expressions of Interest (EOIs) that support this and should also contribute towards one or more of the outcomes of the strategy.
Your EOI should also demonstrate student involvement in the project (this could include student governance, participation or consultation). The International Student Wellbeing Strategy (ISWS) 2019 funding round is now open.
The funding round is seeking proposals that support the outcomes of the ISWS and contribute to the 2019 theme of ‘Improving International Student Safety and/or Mental Health.’
The Expressions of Interest are due on Friday, August 24, 2018.
Please email Jacob.middleton@education.govt.nz if you have specific questions on the ISWS funding round.
Minister’s Concern
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said that funding of $750,000 will be targeted at projects aimed at supporting the wellbeing of international students.

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U.S. Remains Most Preferred Destination for Indian Students

Indian students are studying in 90 countries as of July 18, 2018, the data provided by the government, based on inputs received from Indian missions abroad, showed. The United States is the most preferred nation, with 211,703 Indians pursuing studies in the country. The corresponding number in Canada is 124,000, followed by Australia, which attracted 87,115 Indian students.

However, the number of students going to the United States has seen a tepid rise, with only 4,995 students leaving for America in the last seven months, the publication added. As much as 49 percent of the F-1 and M-1 non-immigrant international student population in the United States hails from either India or China, a recent biannual report on student trends conducted by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) showed. F-1 students are non-immigrants whose primary purpose is to complete an academic course of study at an SEVP-certified school or program, while M-1 non-immigrants are foreign nationals pursuing a full course of study at an SEVP-approved vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution — other than in language training programs — in the United States.

To create a database of Indian students going abroad, the Ministry of External Affairs in 2016 developed a “Students Registration Module” within the MADAD portal, which enables Indian students abroad to register voluntarily and provide data about their courses, location, institution, duration of the course, etc. The registration of students in the portal is an ongoing process, as the movement of Indian students to other countries, change of visa status, and their return to India etc, are dynamic, the ministry said

The United States continues to be the most sought after destination for Indian students, followed by Canada and Australia, respectively, according to data provided by the Indian government. As many as 752,725 students from India are currently studying abroad, Gen. (Retd) VK Singh, the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, said in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on July 26.

The countries with the lowest number of Indian students are Uganda and Serbia, with one student each. Saudi Arabia, with 70,800 students, and the United Arab Emirates, with 50,000 students emerged as the other major destinations for students from India. About 30,000 students went to New Zealand, while data for the United Kingdom for 2016-17 showed 16,550 Indians studying there.

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Why You Should Study Abroad In College

Here is an experience of a student like you all who did her college in London. Please read and do go to the source for detailed experience. It will help you in looking forward to a phenomenal experience instead of being nervous about living you birthplace!

“Arriving in London, I already knew I was meeting up with a couple other girls because our flights were arriving near enough to each other. And before I knew it I was officially on British soil.

The next step was to take the tube from Heathrow to the flat that I would be living in for the next four months. Fortunately, one of the girls I had met up with was my new roommate, so we had a chance to get to know each other. After about an hour or so, we arrived. Our flat was a couple blocks from the station, and we eagerly raced up the blocks to get to our building. We quickly got moved in and set up, and then we had a day and a half to adjust to the time zone and begin exploring. As I recall, the 14 or so of us all went to Nando’s for dinner that night.

I loved every class I took in London. Most of my classes were in a small building a few blocks away from my flat. There I took a religion class, an art class, the seminar we all were assigned, and a class about Contemporary Britain, which allowed us to look at current issues and differences between Britain and the U.S. For the most part, these felt like ordinary U.S. classes, just meeting once a week for a couple hours instead of twice a week for one hour or so. There were a lot more ‘field trips’, though. I was at a different museum each week, and I got to visit several different places of worship, and even meet a practicing witch as part of the religions course.

The class that felt the most foreign to me was the class I took through London South Bank University (LSBU). I come from a small college where 30 students are considered an overfilled class. To sit in a lecture hall fitting 300 was a huge change. In addition, we had different lecturers each week as they took turns presenting on their areas of expertise. And the two-hour lecture was followed by a two-hour seminar where we worked together in small groups on a final project. Although this was a big adjustment for me, I found that I rather enjoyed this class. It was structured differently to the classes I’d taken in the U.S. and I found the change pleasant and challenging in exactly the right ways.”... Please go to source for more. And if you are on the verge of making a study abroad decision, do visit 

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What English IELTS Score Is Needed to Immigrate to Canada?

The medical professions require test scores of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 to qualify for Canada immigration. For some provincial immigration programs which target demand occupations, required scores may be as low as CLB 4.It is important to note that candidates with a high level of French may not need any English, and vice versa. Programs generally ask for proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages.  Proficiency means Intermediate abilities in the combination of reading, writing, speaking and understanding English.

A language test is a mandatory part of the immigration process to Canada. For applicants with English language abilities, an IELTS or CELPIP test score needed for immigration to Canada depends on the program a candidate is targeting. A starting point is to understand how point scores relate to language abilities.

All programs require a minimum point score to qualify and some programs give candidate more points for achieving language higher levels. There are also programs which require higher test scores depending on the profession of the candidate.

However, under the Express Entry system there are points given for a candidate’s first and second official language proficiency. Knowing both languages will score you more Express Entry points, but this is not a requirement. Many of Canada’s immigration programs outside Quebec feature priority processing for French-speaking candidates. The country is investing million of dollars in driving up the number of French-speaking immigrants it welcomes.

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Skilled Immigration To Canada

India among most popular destination for Australia students under New Colombo Plan

The New Colombo Plan was a signature initiative of the Australian government, which was designed to encourage more Australians to live, study and work in the Indo-Pacific region. Australia’s Acting High Commissioner to India Rod Hilton said, “With India at the front rank of Australia's international partnerships, I'm pleased that 1,261 students from 27 Australian universities will conduct internships, mentorships, practical’s and research in India in 2019.”

As outlined in the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper, the New Colombo Plan was a practical manifestation of the Australian government's commitment to learning from its neighbours in the Indo-Pacific.

India is among the most popular destinations for Australian students taking part in the Australian Government's New Colombo Plan, with close to 1,300 students heading here next year to live, study and undertake internships, an official statement said.

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Study and Settle in Australia

Study: Foreign STEM Students Prefer U.S.-Based Postdocs

International students in chemistry prefer to stay in the U.S. for postdoctoral research positions, according to a new working paper available from the National Bureau of Economic Research, “Will the U.S. Keep the Best and the Brightest (as Post-Docs)? Career and Location Preferences of Foreign STEM Ph.Ds.”

The researchers, Ina Ganguli, of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Patrick Gaulé, of the University of Bath, surveyed students across 54 top chemistry programs in the U.S. A total of 1,605 Ph.D. students responded to the survey, which found that international students “are generally more interested in academic careers than U.S. students, even when controlling for ability and comparing students from similar subfields and programs.”

The survey also asked respondents to choose between hypothetical job offers at highly ranked institutions in the U.S. and abroad.“We find that foreign students have a stronger preference for U.S. locations even after controlling for ability and career preferences,” the paper states. “Our results suggest the U.S. is managing to retain talented foreign graduate students for postdoc positions”. So as a different perspective even if you hear about less job opportunity for outsider it’s not completely true if you have what it takes to shine.

For more details, visit Global Knowledge Works 

Planning a move to New Zealand? Here’s everything you need to know

It is important to do thorough research in advance of such a big move, whether you are travelling alone or with a family.

Finding a place to live: Overview of the property market, short-term accommodation options, average cost of renting and buying a home in each of the main cities, and how to find cheap furniture

Which city? The most popular locations for Irish people, and what they offer in terms of jobs and lifestyle

Finding a job: Introduction to the current economic climate in New Zealand, examining the jobs market, what skills/occupations are currently in demand and where, and advice on how to jobsearch

Health: Who is entitled to public healthcare, what costs are involved, and health insurance options

Education: How the education system is run, third-level options and fees

Culture and lifestyle: Multicultural, awash with restaurants, plenty of sport and big events - and that’s just Auckland

Finance: How much money you should bring to get set up, how the cost of living compares to Ireland, and an introduction to the tax system

Directory: Contact details for Irish organisations, sports and culture clubs, online social networks and other useful support groups.

For more detailed talk to the experts at Global Knowledge Works

New Canadian visa requirement by July 31 2018

Each year, Canada welcomes millions of visitors and accepts hundreds of thousands of students, workers and permanent residents. Canadians understand the importance of immigration to there country’s economic and social well-being.Nationals from countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East will be required to provide biometrics when applying for a visitor or student visa, work permit, and permanent residence to Canada beginning July 31.

Canada is expanding its biometrics programme that requires foreign nationals to give their fingerprints and photos when applying for these visas.US nationals are excluded from the biometric requirement if applying for a work or study permit. UAE passport holders travelling to Canada for tourism, business trips or family visits will not be affected as they are visa-exempt and only require a valid electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to visit Canada. However, UAE passport holders applying for Canadian study or work permits or for Canadian Permanent Residence will be required to provide biometric information.

The move will help accurately establish identities of applicants which is an important part of immigration decisions in Canada. For more than 20 years, biometrics have played a role in supporting immigration screening and decision-making in Canada. Canada has one of the highest per capita rates of immigration in the world and is an attractive destination for immigrants and visitors. Expanding biometrics will strengthen Canada’s immigration programmes through effective screening (biometric collection, verification, and information-sharing with partner countries). It will also enable Canada to facilitate application processing and travel — while maintaining public confidence in its immigration system.

For details on studying and settling in Canada go to http://gkworks.in/study-and-settle-abroad/study-settle-canada/

UK peer calls for action to prevent fall in Indian student numbers

Indian students like to work for a few years after they have completed their education, to gain experience. While the UK has clamped down on that, Australia has enhanced its post-study visa offer, which would naturally make it more attractive to Indian students.

According to the London Mayor’s office, the number of Indian students coming to the UK fell from a peak of nearly 24,000 a year in 2010-11 to a low of around 9,000 a year in 2015-16. Khan attributed this decline to wider perception issues related to UK visas in India.

The UK is being outstripped by countries like Australia and Canada in attracting Indian students to their universities and action must be taken to prevent the falling numbers, a senior peer and academic has told the House of Lords. Lord Philip Norton, chair of the UK’s Higher Education Commission, raised the issue in Parliament yesterday as he warned that the country’s higher education export “success story” was under threat. “An increase in enrolment by Chinese students has masked a fall in students coming from other nations, not least India. Since 2006-07, there has been a 45 per cent fall in enrolment by Indian students…unless action is taken, we will see our competitors further outstrip us,” said the Conservative party peer and professor of government at the University of Hull.

UK’s heavy dependence on Chinese students was not sustainable as the population of 18 to 22-year-olds in China is set to decline. He pointed to the inclusion of students in the government’s annual migration targets and a change in the country’s post-study work visa regime as key factors that had put the UK at a “considerable disadvantage” in the international education market.

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Study and Settle Abroad

Australia overtaking UK for overseas students

Australia has been rapidly expanding its international student numbers.The British Council says it shows the UK needs to "look again" at its policies towards overseas students.

An analysis this year found that overseas students added £20bn to the UK's economy - and universities in the UK have warned that immigration rules after Brexit will need to be more welcoming for students.

Canada is also catching up in taking a growing slice of the lucrative overseas student market. Three years ago the UK was recruiting around 130,000 more overseas students than Australia.

But he says successive years of Australia having increases of 12% to 14% in overseas students have seen it catch up and overtake the UK, which has been growing much more slowly. UK higher education is still highly valued internationally, but the government has held down the growth of international student numbers for five years, by limiting new student numbers and post-study work visas. Meanwhile, competitor nations are strongly promoting their international education.

Australia has been marketing itself as an English-speaking country with high-performing universities, with an attractive climate and a welcoming culture for overseas students. This year's Best Student Cities rankings put Melbourne and Sydney in the top 10 - although London was the highest ranked of all. Australia has succeeded in attracting students from outside Europe, particularly from China. The research from UCL warns that the UK's future intake of international students will depend on keeping its appeal for European students.

For more details visit Study and settle abroad

Perks of studying abroad for higher education

Choosing an overseas education during your university years is one of the most rewarding decisions you will ever make in your life. A study abroad experience will benefit you in ways beyond your imagination and expectations. It will offer you an opportunity to  discover a unique diversified culture, make lifelong friendships and connections, and receive an education that goes a long way in your holistic development.

It is one thing to go and visit a country and a completely different thing to live and explore it as a resident. When we live as residents in any city we see a completely different side to which we generally don’t while visiting. Obviously there’s the issue of living away from your family which is a major disadvantage but it also helps open your mind to different ideologies and ways of thinking and lets you make friends from all different parts of the world. You get to look at your home country with a different perspective and point of view. You get to eat foreign foods and pick up new hobbies and probably learn a brand new language. Obviously you’ll have to spend much more in your education but it gets balanced when you start earning much more in comparison to what you would have earned in comparison to a developing country like India. You even learn to manage things on your own without the help and support from anyone else. Cons for a student. There are a few. As a foreigner, you will need to be constantly vigilant because there are people who will want to take advantage of you. You’ll have to get used to it and stay alert and everything will be fine.  Plus, you'll have a lot of stories to tell your friends and family when you get home.

The list is endless, and it’s different for every person. Meeting new people vs. leaving loved ones behind, trying new foods vs. missing your favourites, learning a new language vs. not understanding anyone - this list could go on and on.

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Study and Settle Abroad

Study abroad fuels passion for exploration

College students’ experiences challenge who they are—and how they think—in ways that are transformative. A range of faculty-led programming blends the academic rigor and intellectual curiosity that’s central to the College curriculum with the University’s commitment to international education.

Through their experiences abroad, College students develop new lenses through which to see and reflect upon not just their academic subjects, but also themselves.

Study abroad offerings include courses that fulfill general education, major and minor requirements across a range of disciplines within the social sciences, humanities and natural and physical sciences.

Here are some experience of Indian student mentioned in the article. They  went to study abroad and this is how they explored.

 “During this annual parade, which is part of the La Mercé celebrations in Barcelona every fall, participants dressed as devils run through the streets swinging fireworks and dancing,” said first-place photo contest winner Sahil Chatterji. “I joined in the parade with my camera and had my shirt singed from the sparks, but it was worth it for the chance to experience the energy of the festival.”

“Before spending a year in Barcelona, I didn’t give much thought to the concept of tradition,” added Chatterji. “Sure, I enjoyed celebrations with family and friends, but it didn’t hit me how important taking part in collective traditions were for my own sense of self and belonging until I was alone in a new continent. A memory that will always stay with me from my time abroad is during Thanksgiving in November, when I organized an impromptu thanksgiving feast for all my new friends in the city. Since I was the only American, none of my friends were familiar with the tradition of having a Thanksgiving dinner, but they came over to cook, eat, and celebrate together with me, making Barcelona seem a little more like home as we shared a tradition with new friends from around the world.”

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London Mayor Urges UK Govt to Offer Easier Visa Rules for Indian Students

The number of Indian students arriving in the United Kingdom has gone down over the years, from a peak of almost 24,000 a year in 2010-11 to around 9,000 a year in 2015-16, the report added, citing the London Mayor’s office. The fall is mainly due to the
perception issues prevalent in India.

In June this year, the UK government omitted India from the list of 25 countries that would benefit from the relaxation of the Tier 4 visa rules for overseas students. While nations such as the United States, Canada and New Zealand were already a part of the list, the UK Home Office added other countries like China, Bahrain and Serbia in the category that enables students to face less checks on educational, financial and English language skill requirements to pursue higher education in the United Kingdom. The new countries added to the list were considered low risk places.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged the UK government to reconsider its stand on granting visas to Indian students. India should be added to the list of low-risk countries that were recently offered easier norms for student visa application

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New horizons: What do changing visa and work norms mean for Indian students?

Canada’s Immigration division has a new programme called the Student Direct Stream, under which a student can get study permits within 45 days instead of the previous 60-day wait. The number of institutes you can apply to has also increased. You can apply for additional work permits too. If you study here for months, you get a work permit for eight months, if you study for two years or more, you get a three-year work permit, and you can apply for and get additional permits beyond that too.

Studying in New Zealand is becoming attractive because of increased ease in applying to universities and getting visas, availability of niche courses and work opportunities. Canada and New Zealand both offer niche courses in fields such as human-computer interaction and big data. At a lower cost, you get niche degrees, internship opportunities and placements.

 Universities in New Zealand now have tie-ups with multinational companies and this makes finding a job easier too, they also offer multiple intakes for both undergraduate and Masters programmes and hence are beginning to see an average 10% increase in the number of new visa applicants every year.

Getting a job in New Zealand is easier if you build contacts while you are studying there, say former students. They actually need eligible workers here. You just need to check the right boxes. Expenses are relatively low and earnings are high. You also get permanent residency easily.

Other increasingly popular options include Spain, Italy, and Japan, still most popular option  are http://gkworks.in/study-and-settle-abroad/study-settle-newzealand/

http://gkworks.in/study-and-settle-abroad/study-settle-canada/top-10-canada-universities-2018/

Planning to study abroad? Make informed decisions to avoid regrets

Gaining a foreign qualification is universally popular more than ever. Various international student mobility statistics show the USA, UK, Canada and Australia as the top three student destinations while China and India are the top countries from where these students come from. UNESCO data shows that almost 3 lakh Indians go overseas to study and the United States and Australia attract more than half of these students. Indian students have also been attracted to many non-traditional European destinations like Estonia, Latvia, Georgia et al and medicine, health, technology and business are the favourite fields of education.

In times of the fastest growth in international student mobility and massive internationalisation of education around the world, gaining a foreign degree can certainly be a game changer for the student.

Asking the pertinent questions and doing some basic research is something everyone with access to the internet can do these days. Seeking appropriate professional advice is perhaps the best way forward. At http://gkworks.in

You will get exactly that kind of experience from our experts who have been helping students to study and settle abroad. Do visit our site and talk to our experts directly, thank you.

Education without borders

At China's top universities, international students are able not only to immerse themselves in a different culture but also to earn a degree that will help them establish a career full of potential.

Chinese universities are welcoming students from all around the world and showing them how to make the most of living and learning abroad. By adapting to an unfamiliar society and language, they will be able to also forge lasting friendships and networks. Student’s soon find the transition to a new country rewarding. From undergraduate study-abroad programs to graduate studies, the university provides a multitude of learning opportunities.

Through this process of interaction, overseas students soon realize that new countries and people are more approachable. Foreign students may face some challenges, but in the end they gain valuable skills and knowledge that they might otherwise not have known. We can say that students are preparing themselves for more of a global career and a lifetime of international experiences. Their universities have taken them in and shown them the excitement of living and learning abroad. So don’t worry if at beginning it feels intimidating planning well is half work done, so to plan well do talk with our experts at http://gkworks.in

Have a good day, and a bright future!

How Canada can attract international talent and improve knowledge exchange

Canada faces multiple challenges to sustain a well-rounded talent pool due partially to a strong financial disinvestment in science over the last decade and to an aging population. While Canada trains a large number of international STEM students, there is still a general reluctance of domestic

Canadian university students to study abroad and experience international settings, with sobering implications for Canada’s international reputation and national economy. For example, about 53 percent of biotechnology companies in Canada have reported skill shortages among R&D workers, of which interpersonal skills are ranked at the top, followed by business development and management/leadership skills.

But these are some points which make it perfect than any other country for  study and settling abroad.

Flexibility in recruitment at different career stages

Family matters

Virtual mobility to increase minorities’ international mobility

Inter-sectorial mobility to support interdisciplinary expertise

Bureaucracy related to immigration procedures

Institutional support for international and inter-sectorial mobility and knowledge exchange

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