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Students flocking to Singapore now
Following 'racial' attacks on Indian students in Australia and Canada, of late there has been a sudden shift in students' priorities in favour of a safe study environment, like Singpore. An exlusive interview with a student visa expert.
CJ: raj m. atwal , 3 hours ago Views: 15 Comments: 0
FOLLOWING 'RACIAL' attacks on Indian students in Australia and Canada, of late there has been a sudden shift in students¡¯ priorities in favour of a safe study environment. After all, our students are paying hefty sums as fees in foreign universities and colleges. They want their money¡¯s worth too. Personal safety being the buzzword, Singapore has now become a preferred destination for Indian students. Being an Asian country, it is just a second home for most of our students.
¡°Our students can immediately enter the Singapore workforce on completion of their studies since the PR process in that country is not that difficult,¡± said Rajdeep Singh, the Executive Director of Angad Info Overseas Communication Consultancy, the experts in Singapore Student Visas, in an exclusive interview with RMS Atwal.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q Currently, Indian students are bit scared from the security point of view. How safe is Singapore for our students in these tough times?
A. Singapore is hailed as a highly favourable destination to get a competitive degree. That country¡¯s cosmopolitan environment and global connections offer a safe environment ¨C the best of the East and the West ¨C making it a compelling destination for international students to live, interact and work together. Among the many expatriate nationalities in Singapore, we have a large number of Indian nationals, particularly in the info-communications industry.
Today, Singapore has a thriving Indian community. Indian Singaporeans play an integral role in the social, economic and political fabric of that country. Of the four main national languages of Singapore, one is Tamil.
Q Where would you place Singapore education in comparison to that of the USA, the UK and Australia?
A: Singapore being quite close to India, our students can reach there within six hours. Last year, more than 100,000 international students registered themselves with various Singapore schools that provide education in a variety of streams like science, arts, management, tourism and hospitality, information technology
and business development.
Our students seem to be happy with the education standard there. Travelling to Singapore for education is easy as compared to that of the UK or the US. Visa is just a formality. The syllabus structure and academic systems in Singapore are almost similar to the ones followed by our Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE). Hence, Indian students easily adjust to studies there. After passing out of class XII one can opt for a Bachelor's degree in vocational subjects like tourism development or hospitality management.
Singapore now offers The Integrated Programme, also known as the "Through-Train Programme¡±, a scheme which allows the most able secondary students in Singapore to bypass "O" levels and take "A" levels, International Baccalaureate or an equivalent examination directly at the age of 18 after six years of secondary education which makes it a very practical system of education.
Q How soon can a student get a PR in Singapore?
A: The process is similar to that for a foreign worker. Once the students complete education from Singapore, they are required to obtain a work permit or pass from the local employer which allows him to work with the employer till the time the work pass is valid and after that the same student can apply for permanent residency. Students who have to undergo practical training in organisations in Singapore as part of their course curriculum will also get a work permit and subsequently the same can lead to a work pass and permanent residency as well. Thus, a student can immediately, on completion of studies, get into the work force.
Q How has the current economic slowdown affected job prospects in Singapore?
A Singapore¡¯s economy shrank 12.5 per cent in the last quarter of 2008 from the previous period, causing the trade and industry ministry to lower its growth forecast for 2009. The ministry now expects Singapore¡¯s economy to shrink up to 2 percent, with only 1 percent growth at best. Previously, it had expected up to 2 percent growth. But the slowdown is a global phenomenon and does not mean one can hide from it. The economy is bound to bounce back and if one is there at the right time he or she would stand to gain in long term. There has been a huge shortage of skilled and semi-skilled people in Singapore and it remains a preferred destination still for the work force.
Q Apart from MBA, which other courses are in high demand there?
A: Singapore is considered to be one of the most business-friendly economies in the world. Its economy marks the presence of all the top global companies. To run this billion dollar economy, multi-national companies employ thousands of foreign expatriates.
Other Articles by raj m. atwal
Study in the US, gain a competitive edge
Aussie crisis: Retaliation is no solution
T-20 World Cup: No more m&d-slinging, please!
T20 World Cup: India go out with cautious optimism
Dera Sant's cremation: Punjab on high alert
more >>
If you have the skills, then there is no shortage of employment possibilities. Degree and diploma courses in engineering, trades and polytechnics are in huge demand in Singapore¡­Due to its large expatriate community, Singapore is host to many international schools and universities catering to varied student base.
Q. What advice would you have prospective Indian students and how can you help them in to achieve their dreams.
A For any prospective student the advice is simple and clear: most important is always choose the right course and country before you decide to take admission. One has to define his goals in life before taking further education. Going abroad for further studies by spending your parents¡¯ hard earned money is easy but these are the most important years of life which would frame your future course of action. It might me the most important decision of your life probably. Also make sure your consultant is the right one as his advice and guidance would be very crucial in providing the right career path¡­.
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Students flocking to Singapore now
Following 'racial' attacks on Indian students in Australia and Canada, of late there has been a sudden shift in students' priorities in favour of a safe study environment, like Singpore. An exlusive interview with a student visa expert.
CJ: raj m. atwal , 3 hours ago Views: 15 Comments: 0
FOLLOWING 'RACIAL' attacks on Indian students in Australia and Canada, of late there has been a sudden shift in students¡¯ priorities in favour of a safe study environment. After all, our students are paying hefty sums as fees in foreign universities and colleges. They want their money¡¯s worth too. Personal safety being the buzzword, Singapore has now become a preferred destination for Indian students. Being an Asian country, it is just a second home for most of our students.
¡°Our students can immediately enter the Singapore workforce on completion of their studies since the PR process in that country is not that difficult,¡± said Rajdeep Singh, the Executive Director of Angad Info Overseas Communication Consultancy, the experts in Singapore Student Visas, in an exclusive interview with RMS Atwal.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q Currently, Indian students are bit scared from the security point of view. How safe is Singapore for our students in these tough times?
A. Singapore is hailed as a highly favourable destination to get a competitive degree. That country¡¯s cosmopolitan environment and global connections offer a safe environment ¨C the best of the East and the West ¨C making it a compelling destination for international students to live, interact and work together. Among the many expatriate nationalities in Singapore, we have a large number of Indian nationals, particularly in the info-communications industry.
Today, Singapore has a thriving Indian community. Indian Singaporeans play an integral role in the social, economic and political fabric of that country. Of the four main national languages of Singapore, one is Tamil.
Q Where would you place Singapore education in comparison to that of the USA, the UK and Australia?
A: Singapore being quite close to India, our students can reach there within six hours. Last year, more than 100,000 international students registered themselves with various Singapore schools that provide education in a variety of streams like science, arts, management, tourism and hospitality, information technology
and business development.Our students seem to be happy with the education standard there. Travelling to Singapore for education is easy as compared to that of the UK or the US. Visa is just a formality. The syllabus structure and academic systems in Singapore are almost similar to the ones followed by our Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE). Hence, Indian students easily adjust to studies there. After passing out of class XII one can opt for a Bachelor's degree in vocational subjects like tourism development or hospitality management.
Singapore now offers The Integrated Programme, also known as the "Through-Train Programme¡±, a scheme which allows the most able secondary students in Singapore to bypass "O" levels and take "A" levels, International Baccalaureate or an equivalent examination directly at the age of 18 after six years of secondary education which makes it a very practical system of education.
Q How soon can a student get a PR in Singapore?
A: The process is similar to that for a foreign worker. Once the students complete education from Singapore, they are required to obtain a work permit or pass from the local employer which allows him to work with the employer till the time the work pass is valid and after that the same student can apply for permanent residency. Students who have to undergo practical training in organisations in Singapore as part of their course curriculum will also get a work permit and subsequently the same can lead to a work pass and permanent residency as well. Thus, a student can immediately, on completion of studies, get into the work force.
Q How has the current economic slowdown affected job prospects in Singapore?
A Singapore¡¯s economy shrank 12.5 per cent in the last quarter of 2008 from the previous period, causing the trade and industry ministry to lower its growth forecast for 2009. The ministry now expects Singapore¡¯s economy to shrink up to 2 percent, with only 1 percent growth at best. Previously, it had expected up to 2 percent growth. But the slowdown is a global phenomenon and does not mean one can hide from it. The economy is bound to bounce back and if one is there at the right time he or she would stand to gain in long term. There has been a huge shortage of skilled and semi-skilled people in Singapore and it remains a preferred destination still for the work force.
Q Apart from MBA, which other courses are in high demand there?
A: Singapore is considered to be one of the most business-friendly economies in the world. Its economy marks the presence of all the top global companies. To run this billion dollar economy, multi-national companies employ thousands of foreign expatriates.
Other Articles by raj m. atwal
Study in the US, gain a competitive edge
Aussie crisis: Retaliation is no solution
T-20 World Cup: No more m&d-slinging, please!
T20 World Cup: India go out with cautious optimism
Dera Sant's cremation: Punjab on high alert
more >>
If you have the skills, then there is no shortage of employment possibilities. Degree and diploma courses in engineering, trades and polytechnics are in huge demand in Singapore¡­Due to its large expatriate community, Singapore is host to many international schools and universities catering to varied student base.
Q. What advice would you have prospective Indian students and how can you help them in to achieve their dreams.
A For any prospective student the advice is simple and clear: most important is always choose the right course and country before you decide to take admission. One has to define his goals in life before taking further education. Going abroad for further studies by spending your parents¡¯ hard earned money is easy but these are the most important years of life which would frame your future course of action. It might me the most important decision of your life probably. Also make sure your consultant is the right one as his advice and guidance would be very crucial in providing the right career path¡­.
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