Monthly Archives: December 2019

Student- teacher relationship – what to expect while studying abroad

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Deciding to study abroad is a major decision one would take in his life. Even though studying abroad is expensive compared to pursuing a course in India, people pay more to get better outcomes out of their experience.

One of the major differences that a student notices while studying abroad is the warm and friendly nature shown by his teachers & professors. This attitude helps the student to explore more and to be fearless while approaching his teachers.

It’s a cultural thing. Our culture often depicts a student-teacher relationship as sacred and they are bonded by the student’s respect and reverence to his teacher. A teacher is a Guru and his wisdom shines above all. The Guru is always placed on a high pedestal. A student may not ask a question that bothers his mind because of his thinking that his question may offend his teacher.

While western culture portrays teachers as just learning facilitators. A student has to pursue knowledge by himself and the facilitators are there to help him on his path. They guide the student in his journey. This approachability is generally rewarding to the student as in the process of learning he is with his teacher, and they are a team. They both collaborate in the learning process and this, in turn, produces awesome results. This motivates and encourages the student to learn more as he has access to his teacher’s unfluctuating support.

Another important thing is that education is primarily outcome-based. In our culture or system, the student puts focus more on completing his course so that he can get a degree. High marks are his primary concern. But in western universities, it’s more about the activities and assignments that engage the student to discover the subject better. He has individual assignments and group activities to complete and discussion to take part. It’s where he is holistically developed than to be trained just to get high marks on exams. He has more exposure and chances to network with the industry and society.

It’s interesting to note that many students whom are considered to be lazy and dumb, turn out to be outstanding and promising when they are nurtured in an atmosphere that is rewarding and encouraging. This change itself motivates some children to bloom into their full potential.

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About Ms. Nicy Binu, Director, Santamonica Study Abroad
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With over a decade’s experience in international education, Ms Nicy Binu is the brain behind Santamonica’s overseas student program and has steered the organization to a position where it figures today among the prominent overseas education facilitators in India. You may contact her at +91 6282 903 703 for overseas education queries and doubts.

Studying in New Zealand- Expenses & Fee Structure

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Universities VS Colleges

When we ponder about the studying expenses in New Zealand, one has to keep in mind that the country has both Universities & Colleges. Expenses to study in Universities vary from that of Colleges and more often Universities tend to be more expensive than the Colleges.

If you are aiming to study at a college, you have to be ready to spend an amount of Rs. 8 to Rs. 9 lakhs per year. And for a masters degree, it comes around Rs.9 to 10 lakhs per year. If it’s a university, the expenses can be between Rs. 13 lakhs to 17 lakhs per year, depending on the ranking of the university.

A student has to demonstrate the financial capability of 15,000 New Zealand dollars to obtain a student Visa. This comes around 7.5 lakhs Indian rupees.  But please note that this is not going to be an actual incurring expense as students have part-time work rights while they are studying in New Zealand. And in their summer holidays, they can work full time and this means more financial independence and less dependability on deposited funds.
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About Ms. Nicy Binu, Director, Santamonica Study Abroad

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With over a decade’s experience in international education, Ms Nicy Binu is the brain behind Santamonica’s overseas student program and has steered the organization to a position where it figures today among the prominent overseas education facilitators in India. You may contact her at +91 6282 903 703 for overseas education queries and doubts.

Your life as a student in a foreign country, what to expect!

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Academics VS Holistic Development

If we really look into the factors that make student life different in India compared with that of other countries, one major factor that stands out is that we Indians give lots of importance to academic success. Our courses prioritize learning a subject and getting high scores on exams, while in western universities it’s often about the overall performance of the student where academics plays only a part, though an important one.

So a student who is performing well in academics in India has to undergo a subtle transformation in recognizing the importance of holistic development in his curriculum and act accordingly. He is not directly placed on a high pedestal just because he is very good in his subject. He has to earn his grades and success by transforming into a better student by actively involving in many social & cultural activities that are directly and indirectly related to his course.

This emphasis on holistic development is evident when we look at the possibilities that are offered to a student. There are student unions and clubs in which he can be a member whereby he can explore various interests and engage in events & activities. It’s an ideal place to learn about cultures and network with students from various countries. For example, he can join a music club or pursue his passion for modern art or cookery by joining and following the corresponding clubs or associations. The possibilities are vast and the benefits are immense. Often one can even start a club by himself if he has five subscribers to that activity or program. So you have an interest in stamp collecting? No problem, gather round people who share the same interest and you are done.

In a nutshell, academics do not sum up your entire education. It’s an active & important part of your education for sure, but it’s through engaging with people and following your passion that you become a better student. A right balance between academics & the socio-cultural activities is of prime importance. This helps in building character and awareness. Often our students rediscover themselves and find their latent hidden potentials when they get these types of opportunities while studying abroad.

Ultimately when you mingle with people from various cultures and backgrounds, you develop a sense of self-fulfilment because of your increased exposure and understanding. You learn to get along well even with differences. You become more tolerant and empathetic. You evolve into a better person and then into an amazing student with international exposure.
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About Ms. Nicy Binu, Director, Santamonica Study Abroad
——————————————————————————–
With over a decade’s experience in international education, Ms Nicy Binu is the brain behind Santamonica’s overseas student program and has steered the organization to a position where it figures today among the prominent overseas education facilitators in India. You may contact her at +91 6282 903 703 for overseas education queries and doubts.

 

 

 

 

Possibilities of studying biotechnology in Canada

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When we talk about biotechnology courses, it can be seen that in India these courses have a bad reputation among the kids and parents. There are many reasons for this attitude, major deterrent being the non-availability of jobs in the same field after the course completion. So the majority of the students choose to pursue research after completing MSc and BSc. Getting into an industry that offers possibilities in Biotechnology is practically impossible in India.

But this scenario is quite different in Canada. Canada is a global leader when it comes to biotech research and boasts many reputed research laboratories and hospitals. There are huge industries with big investments and high interest in biopharmaceutical R&D. To tackle this ever-growing demand, colleges offer various biotech courses- from diploma to masters to PhD, enabling a pool of talented professionals to meet the market needs.

The diversified biotech industries in Canada, like food & agriculture industry, also offer substantial job opportunities. The health industry is also a related major field where biotech students can diversify. Many of our students even after completing their masters in India, go to Canada to study special courses like forensic biotechnology, which is emerging as a prospective course to pursue. Plus two students can opt for diploma courses in biotechnology while students with degrees and diplomas can select niche courses that offer great job prospects.

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About Ms. Nicy Binu, Director, Santamonica Study Abroad

——————————————————————————–

With over a decade’s experience in international education, Ms Nicy Binu is the brain behind Santamonica’s overseas student program and has steered the organization to a position where it figures today among the prominent overseas education facilitators in India. You may contact her at +91 6282 903 703 for overseas education queries and doubts.

 

Prospects of Engineering/ Nursing/ Hospitality/ Social Work courses in Canada

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Opportunities for Engineers

Canada is a very popular destination among students pursuing Engineering courses due to the excellent job prospects the courses offer. It’s favourable to the engineers that Canada has a strong industrial economy. Mining is one of the major industries in Canada. It’s interesting to note that the mining industry alone can sustain almost all categories of engineers. The manufacturing industry is yet another sector in Canada where engineers are in high demand. Apart from basic engineering branches, there are other disciplines that are in high demand, viz. Aerospace, Biomedical, Environmental, Oil and Gas, Robotics, Computers, Automobile etc. Yes, this makes Canada an Engineer’s Paradise when it comes to placements.

Unlike engineering courses in Kerala, the course curriculum is industry-centric with compulsory internships. Even though almost all engineering branches offer career opportunities, one engineering branch that can be suggested is Sustainable Engineering, a branch that is very futuristic and yet to gain its deserving popularity in India. In a nutshell, opportunities are great in Canada for Engineering programmes and Diplomas.

Opportunities for Nurses

Nursing is considered a highly dignified profession outside India. A registered nurse in western countries is highly paid & respected for her/his profession. It’s worth to note that nursing is a much sought after course in Canada. Seats for nursing courses in Canada are very less and most of the seats are filled very well in advance. Point 7 score in IELTS is a requirement to study nursing in Canada, which is not that difficult for our well-educated students. Demand is high and seats are less as the Nursing is also popular among natives looking for a good career option.

Opportunities for unconventional courses

Till a few years back Malayali parents were only keen on conventional courses with job opportunities but now that scenario is slowly changing. Thanks to the internet and a growing willingness among our parents to accept new career streams, they are becoming more & more understanding, supporting and sympathetic to their children’s ambitions. Kids are also well informed and have a clear idea of what they want to study. Creative courses are in high demand in western countries and these days a student has plenty of choices, even on subjects they have particular interests.

Opportunities for hospitality courses

Hospitality is another sought after course in terms of the career prospects it offers as Canada is a tourist destination brimming with tourist activities. This is one reason why hospitality is a very popular course among students from India. Both long and short term courses are available in this stream. One good thing about studying these courses is that students can start earning while doing internships. Career opportunities are very high as the industry is continuously in need of highly energetic, young, dynamic people.

Opportunities for Social Work courses

Social work courses carry very high demand in a country like Canada. Canada, being a country that offers awesome social security to its citizens, social workers have excellent employment opportunities both in the non-governmental and governmental sectors. Government’s initiatives for the welfare of its citizens can only be fruitful with capable professionals. A student with a positive attitude and a mind to do service to their fellow human beings can join this course.

Canada offers lots of specialisations under this stream. A student after his higher secondary course can take admission for diploma courses. Good placement with high pay is generally assured in this sector.

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About Ms. Nicy Binu, Director, Santamonica Study Abroad
——————————————————————————–
With over a decade’s experience in international education, Ms Nicy Binu is the brain behind Santamonica’s overseas student program and has steered the organization to a position where it figures today among the prominent overseas education facilitators in India. You may contact her at +91 6282 903 703 for overseas education queries and doubts.