Pushing the link between international education and employability [PIE News]

Earlier this month, a British Council poll revealed a third of the UK population believed that they would have had a better job if they had studied abroad. Citing examples of students who had been language assistants abroad, the poll was another reminder that, in a shrinking world, graduates are competing for jobs with candidates in the global marketplace and not just in their own backyards. Aside from the obvious linguistic advantages, Dr. Jo Beall, The British Council’s director of education and society, says that studying abroad offers a holistic benefit to a student’s employability: â€Å"By choosing to live and work in a foreign environment, a student is learning new problem solving skills, understanding new and potentially complex systems and structures, and adapting to new cultures. All of these skills are really valued by UK employers, particularly those who are keen to have business overseas.† In fact, most employers, wherever they are based, are of the same opinion. Speaking at an event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Erasmus EU student mobility scheme earlier this year, Steve Beswick, Director of Education at Microsoft UK, explained how the global Microsoft corporation needed to rely on â€Å"global-ready† staff who could move to Delhi or Sydney, for example, and adapt instantly. Those with international experience were one step ahead, he explained. Of course, it’s not enough to simply be studying abroad, the deciding factor in today’s market is how vocationally astute graduates are. This is acknowledged by Androulla Vassilou, EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport. â€Å"We live in a world in constant transformation†¦ our young people have to cope with increasingly complex tasks and constant change. The jobs of today – and even more those of tomorrow – call for new mind-sets and attitudes.† Given the premium on globally-oriented employable graduates, then, how are international educational institutions themselves working to deliver work-ready students upon course completion? Language schools are in a prime position to offer courses geared towards international competitiveness – and also able to cater for an audience who may not have studied abroad as part of an undergraduate degree programme. The need to provide programming with employment in mind is put into sharp relief by Stephen Shortt, the managing director of Alpha College of English in Dublin, Ireland. â€Å"Youth unemployment in Spain and Italy is at 49% and 31% respectively. Poland, France, Sweden, Belgium and Finland are all over 20%. The financial papers keep referring to recent graduates as ‘Europe’s Lost Generation’, and we want to help them avoid that life sentence,† he says. Other than helping students improve their communication skills in English, â€Å"the international language of business†, Alpha’s USP, when it comes to employability, is the sessions students have with Patrick Shortt, founding director of Alpha College of English and an occupational psychologist. Shortt helps students find career options through psychometric tests that include personality profiling, aptitude testing and interest inventories, as well as offering advice on persuasive CV and interview techniques. An equally hands-on approach is offered by EduGold Careers Services, a company set up by Germaine Broadbent in the UK after her experience in international education suggested careers instruction was not keeping pace with academic standards. To help students skill up for job interviews and selection processes after completing a language course, EduGold sends out qualified careers counsellors to visit schools and meet students on a part-time basis, either for a fixed appointment or drop-in basis, and offer advice tailored to their specific situation, often revolving around job search techniques and CV skills. â€Å"Uptake by schools has been steady† reports Broadbent. â€Å"From January 2013, EduGold counselors will be present in all EC English Language schools in the UK and are in discussion with several other UK language schools including those running junior programmes.† More sector-led approaches have been championed by leading language school chain, EF. They run career-focused Special Interest Courses – or SPINs – that cover a host of skills, including; public speaking and negotiation, and specific industry courses covering IT, tourism and the entertainment industry. EF also offers internships which have involved companies such as BMW, IBM, the BBC, and Nokia. One of EF’s diploma courses is offered through sister company, Hult International Business School, currently ranked by the Financial Times as number 1 for international experience provision. Hult have students from 135 countries and insist they mix with other nationalities. One of the ways they do this is to allow their MBA students to rotate around three of their six international campuses (Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, Shanghai, and Sà £o Paulo). â€Å"We believe we may have maximized the â€Å"global† experience possible in a one year programme† says Hult Hub’s managing director, John Beck, â€Å"and employers recognise the skills our students are gaining: 60% of our students end up finding employment outside their country of origin.† Another practitioner of the multi-campus approach is The University of Southern California which last month announced a World Bachelors in Business to start next August. The course will see students spend their first year at USC, their second at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and their third at Boconi University in Milan. Their fourth and final year can be spent at any of the three and the student will receive undergraduate degrees from all three institutions. Within the university sector, this kind of course represents new thinking, as Gudrun Paulsdottir, president of the European Association of International Education (EAIE), points out: â€Å"It is only in very few areas that we see multiple language use in courses for international students, However almost every university with an exchange programme offers courses in their own language for the benefit of the international students.† Paulsdottir’s assessment of the experienced-based element to skilling up internationally shows another dichotomy: â€Å"Some of the universities in Europe, like Hochschulen, Grand Ecoles and universities of applied science have a tradition in offering placements and interaction with companies, public sector and NGOs. This trend is increasing, though not in the more traditional universities.† Where some universities may hesitate, other institutions are bullish. Major international education company, Australia-based Navitas established a specialist business unit, Careers and Internships in 2008, because â€Å"the added capacity for practical experience led to much more robust outcomes.† 4000 students have now passed through this unit, across the company’s sites in all Australian state capitals and London, UK. Meanwhile the interest in this hands-on add-on of their PY (Professional Year) programme that covers accounting, engineering and information technology, has prompted Navitas to, among other initiatives, look into a programme to provide reciprocal work experience opportunities amongst Australia and China and Japan. â€Å"Navitas is focused on providing outcomes for our students that are designed to meet their needs,† explains spokesman, James Fuller. â€Å"This means not only ensuring our students can pass through to partner universities, but also are able to have the skills to enter the workforce and progress their careers in their discipline. Read the full PIE article. Kickstart your career in Europes biggest startup cluster by studying at Hults London business school. To find out more, take a look at our blog The ‘Why’ to ‘Why Hult London?’ Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Related posts Academics Beyond (narrow) business concepts: â€Å"Soft† skills turn out to be critical skills News Building success: Dual Degree students win at USASBE Community How going beyond business at Hult helped me launch my company Admissions Accepted Students Weekend: A weekend to remember Careers Career mapping: How to become an executive in the next 5 years 0 Thought leadership How to prepare for an uncertain future in a world of AI Instagram Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .