It is important to understand international education best practices as you make decisions about which study abroad options your office will promote, support, approve, and/or affiliate with. What are the priorities of your institution and how do those priorities fit with various study abroad options? In the same way your institution allows students to choose their major and a variety of academic avenues to earn a diploma, it is also necessary to encourage a variety of study abroad options for students. There is not one “ideal” study abroad program or type. Think of it as providing a “portfolio” of options for students to choose from. Different types of programs will produce different outcomes. Things to consider when reviewing/ promoting programs:

- Length of program
- Geographic location
- Language of host country
- Academic standards and structure
- Academic curriculum choices
- Immersion in host culture
- Interactions with locals
- Housing
- Safety and emergency services
- Orientation services
- Utilization of host country resources
- On-site staff
- Cost

There are currently no “certified” or “accredited” study abroad programs per se. The Forum on Education Abroad is a professional organization authorized to establish “best practices” that will distinguish programs that operate on the highest standards? Familiarize yourself with these standards and ask program directors and/or providers how they measure up to best practices for responsible study abroad programs.

Just as there is not one ideal location for a study abroad experience, there is also not one ideal structure for a study abroad program. There is a time and a place for various types of structures in developing various student outcomes. If the priority of your institution is to promote and develop foreign language proficiency, then it goes without saying that you would not limit your students’ options to programs in the U.K., neither would you put much of your efforts into short-term faculty-led programs.

It is crucial to determine the appropriate methodology to produce the intended outcomes. There are valuable and consequential learning outcomes from a two-week international experience, however, a two-week experience cannot be considered an appropriate methodology for developing an adequate level of intercultural competency. Thus, the type of program should be appropriate for the intended outcomes.

Unfortunately, some institutions operating without explicit intended outcomes can look to the “number of study abroad enrollments/participants” as their measure of success. However, the “number of study abroad enrollments/participants” does not indicate the quality, relevance, or learning outcomes of the international experience. Even with the best of intentions, it is actually possible to generate learning outcomes that initiate and/or reinforce negative stereotypes and enhance discomfort of intercultural interactions if programs are not developed and facilitated appropriately.

As education abroad enters the arena of public scrutiny and administrative importance, institutions are being compared and ranked.

Unfortunately, to date, measures are limited to comparing mere headcounts. And thus, there is a threat that number crunchers will emphasize volume at the expense of quality. It may be necessary to remind someone that just as universities are not ranked by U.S. News and World Report by enrollments alone, similarly schools should not be ranked in international education by enrollments alone.

Quality of education is measured by relevant and measurable intended outcomes. Similar and appropriate measures of quality should be applied to education abroad.

Technorati Tags: abroad, Development, Maintenance, Options, Quality, study

Apparently the DMV suspended my license since I did not purchase insurance but since I was overseas I did not purchase. I’m still overseas what can i do to solve this problem. Is there a way to solve it thru the internet?

Probalby not. If they suspended it for not having insurance, then your only fix is to show them you had insurance the eintire time and were responsible. If you can’t, you are out of luck.

Hi i’m an overseas nurse working in the UK and would like to migrate to Dallas, Texas. I dont want to use an agency to process my papers. Can anyone direct me to a webpage for the above procedure.

http://www.bne.state.tx.us

HCCA International (HCCA) specializes in international nurse recruitment and international hospital management. We’ve placed over 30,000 health care personnel from community hospitals to world-class academic medical centers, bringing many different nationalities together to work as a team. Because we’ve managed hospitals to JCAHO International standards, we also understand the demands of clinical quality, fiscally responsible hospital management, and excellence in patient care and customer service.

One Nurse ∙ One Hospital ∙ One Time SM represents HCCA International’s commitment to our hospital clients: to recruit and deliver dedicated, competent, internationally experienced nurses to a hospital’s core nurse workforce. To our nurses, we commit to help each realize a dream of a successful career in America

International Nurses are
coming to your facility…
Recruiting collaborative has goal
of easing the DFW Nursing Shortage

HCCA International and the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) recently signed an agreement which will bring one new solution to the critical problem of hospital Nursing shortages. The solution allows HCCA to recruit international Nurses ready to work for hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. The contract, possibly the first of its kind in the U.S., is a collaborative strategy between the DFWHC and HCCA International designed to address an expected shortage of 3,300 Nurses in North Texas by 2006. The very first HCCA International Nurse has already come through the program is now working at Medical City Dallas.

Natacha Miller, originally from the Bahamas, arrived for duty in late March. So far, Natacha hasn’t missed a beat – with employee orientation and all the regular “new hire” duties under her belt – she is now getting specific training for the medical/surgical unit in which she will be working. Natacha says the extensive use of technology is one of the most exciting aspects of her new job. “I really like the technology that is available here,” she says. “With the Meditech system, for example, I am able to do charting by computer instead of hand.”

Natacha will continue to have ongoing support from her new team of co-workers, and from HCCA International for the next few weeks. “I’ve been aligned with a hospital preceptor who has been helpful in showing me all the policies and standards,” Natacha said. “Orientation also made everything easier. The people here are friendly, and the hospital has so much to offer.”

HCCA International also helped Natacha with advanced training, testing and preparation. She even had help finding an apartment and getting her utilities turned on.

Natacha arrives at a time when hospitals across the country continue to face a slow-down in Nursing employment growth and an increase in Nursing demand. The current shortage, which began in 1998, is expected to increase in severity with the aging baby boomers, the impending retirement of current RNs in the work-force, a shortage of Nursing school faculty and a decrease in Nursing school enrollments. Hospitals and Nursing leadership throughout the country are looking at a variety of ways to address the ongoing issue and this collaborative is just one element of a multi-faceted program in place by the DFWHC.

“This is a significant first step for the DFW area to expand its total population of Nurses available to work in our hospitals,” says John C. Gavras, president of the DFWHC. “The Nursing shortage is a debilitating issue for the individual hospitals to solve alone. HCCA offers hospitals international Nurses, fully trained and ready to work; and better yet there are no financial obligations or up-front expenditures for the hospital. It is exciting to see the wheels in motion to bring additional Nursing resources to North Texas.” The agreement between HCCA and the DFW Hospital Council goes beyond traditional recruitment strategies. It offers a collaborative solution that benefits the health care delivery system in North Texas. By leading this initiative, the DFW Hospital Council and HCCA International are poised to set a new standard for international Nurse recruitment.

“HCCA International is one piece of the overall solution to meet this Nursing shortage head on,” says John. “Hospitals have to collaborate because we need to increase the total number of Nurses in our area. We have to bring in foreign Nurses, add more Nursing school graduates, and keep the Nurses we already have working in our hospitals.”

The DFWHC selected HCCA International based on HCCA’s lengthy international track record, and its no-risk approach for bringing foreign Nurses to U.S. hospitals. Currently, two hospitals have committed to employ the first Nurses that arrive from the program.

“We look forward to delivering an innovative strategy to North Texas hospitals’ overall recruitment efforts, says Ron Marston, president and chief executive officer, of HCCA International. “Our goal is to create a winning solution for the North Texas community, Nurses, health care providers and most importantly, patients in this area.”

Most of the Nurses coming to the Dallas and Fort Worth are from the Philippines, where the export of foreign Nurses is a large part of that country’s economy. Nurses working abroad routinely send money back home to their families, but want to live and work in the United States.

“HCCA International has professionalized and streamlined the process to the point where they really can deliver,” says Paulette Standefer, executive vice president of the DFWHC, who recently traveled to HCCA International’s Manila office to evaluate the process. “Many other international recruitment companies fall through the cracks. HCCA International can deliver Nurses, and we need Nurses.”

“This is an opportunity for us to augment our current staffing needs,” says Lee Sadler, human resources manager at Medical City. “This doesn’t replace or supercede our other recruitment activities, but supplements what we’re already doing.”

“With international Nurse recruiting, it’s always been a question of getting Nurses ready,” Sadler says. “HCCA’s model is to go out and acquire talent at the point of export, and then take 18 to 24 months to fully prepare a Nurse for assignment. It’s quite an investment on their end.”

Nashville-based HCCA International will oversee every detail of the recruitment and placement process – from identifying and screening potential candidates, to testing, training, immigration, acculturation, relocation, licensing, oversight and management for 30 months after hire into a U.S. hospital. At the end of this period, hospitals may employ the Nurses without an additional fee.

Under the contract, HCCA International will recruit 500 international Nurses for DFW hospitals over a four- to-six-year period. The DFW Hospital Council’s participating members will pay HCCA International upon a Nurse’s assignment into the hospital setting. Equally important for the hospitals until the Nurses arrive in the U.S. and are working. The hospitals still retain the right to terminate the employee for any cause.

For hospitals, it’s just another tool to help combat the Nursing shortage.

http://www.hccaintl.com

Why do people study abroad?

I hear it’s actually really cheap to study in Europe? I’m confused. Because Europe is generally expensive…

Can someone just give me an overview of why people study abroad, the requirements to study abroad, and if it’s more expensive/less expensive? Thanks.

If you want to study abroad I recommend you enroll at a US institution and then study abroad for a year through your institution (often you can just pay your own tuition and still get to go abroad – which is awesome).

Whoever told you it was cheap to study in Europe was CRAZY – unless they’re from Europe. If you’re from the European Union and you want to study at any uni in the European Union, you’re golden. I studied at the University of Limerick – tuition is something like 5,000 Euro for EU citizens and 12,000 for non-EU citizens.

Study here and take the opportunity to study abroad for year through your university. I had a WONDERFUL experience. I would recommend it to anyone – it really broadens your views of the world. Check out the university you’re looking at – their website should tell you about study abroad options.

Shot on location in India, this short film provides insight from the perspective of visiting students and local partners into one of Child Family Health International’s 17 international sites.

Duration : 0:5:42

Read the rest of this entry

Technorati Tags: CFHI, Child, educartion, Family, global, Health, international, medical, Nursing, Overseas, science, sciences, social, students

a short commercial on taking classes overseas

Duration : 0:1:14

Read the rest of this entry

Technorati Tags: anderson, bird, brittany, flu, infomational, pam, spears, travel, USAC

Studying in Denmark was a remarkable experience.

Music by The Ghost Orchid.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
http://www.iie.org

Duration : 0:5:10

Read the rest of this entry

Technorati Tags: abroad, camps, carolina, Concentration, Copenhagen, culture, Danish, Dansk, Denmark, destination, DIS, germany, Gilman, international, log, medical, Norway, of, Poland, premed, scholarship, south, students, study, travel, university, USC

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Study Abroad Health Issues

If you are a college student planning to study abroad, health is something that must be taken into consideration before you embark on your trip. First and foremost, you should undergo a rigorous physical examination to ensure you are healthy enough to travel and do not have any illnesses that could be harmful to you or others. It is important to have a strong immune system when traveling because you are exposed to so many different things. During this exam, vaccines for certain conditions may be administered depending on where you are going.

One thing you will need to have is foreign study health insurance. There is student insurance for those who travel to foreign countries, offered by many top insurers. You can even get quoted for free online and compare rates before contacting any insurance companies for a formal application. This type of health insurance ensures that if you are injured or become ill while in a foreign country you will receive the medical attention you need. Some policies even cover evacuation to your home country if necessary. When buying health insurance for traveling abroad, you might also want to add on more coverage.

For example, you can add coverage that protects your belongings if they are lost or stolen. That way you are protecting both your well being and your possessions. Also, before you go on a study abroad adventure, research the region where you are headed to learn about any particular health concerns that may be there. No university is going to risk sending students to dangerous environments, however you cannot guarantee that you won’t fall ill while traveling from a foreign bacteria or virus. Sometimes, students have difficulty digesting the food or water in a foreign country and must seek medical attention.

Your advisor will tell you that study abroad health concerns are some of the biggest that students have. If you are ill with a virus or other disease, you may not be able to travel until you are well again. It is imperative for students and those around them that they maintain good health for traveling because it is strenuous enough on its own. For most, health is not a huge issue when applying for foreign study programs, but just another hurdle to get over like filling out the application or choosing which program you want to take part in.

Technorati Tags: health insurance, health issues, Study Abroad, studying abroad

How would you like a job that no matter where you went, you were in demand? The pay is great. Bonuses are paid when you are hired. You do not have to work in the same place year after year. In fact, you can change the vocation landscape every quarter if you wish. What kind of job am I speaking of? Nursing.

There is such a nursing shortage, they can demand just that. Not just in the United States, but all over the world. It is estimated that there are over 120,000 nursing vacancies in America. And it isn’t getting better. As the US population continues to get older, the nursing shortage is expected to reach 800,000 in the next decade.

Nurses can name their price. Some are making as much as $60-70 per hour. Yes, these are the best of times … and the worse of times for nurses. Good, because they can practically name the terms of their employment. Bad because they are being over worked and our health care is suffering as a result of it. It is only a matter of time that someone’s life is lost as a result of this.

American hospitals are starting to look overseas to satisfy their need for nurses. As this is being written, legislation is being worked to allow these immigrants a path to citizenship as they work in our hospitals.

Pulling nurses from overseas creates problems for those countries that are losing nurses. Good health care is as much a premium there as it is here. This is not the long term solution to the problem.

Our government throws money at everything. Even in nursing education they provide educational grants, loans, etc. The problem is they do not have enough professors to teach new nurses. In fact, there were almost 30,000 qualified nursing students last year that could not get educated.

Is this the government’s responsibility to ante up even more money to educate new nurses? That is not for me to answer, but it seems like some of these agencies and hospitals could do more to encourage and help nurses enter the workplace. After all, these same agencies are willing to pay upwards to $5,000 as a hiring bonus for qualified nurses.

This may not seem to be a problem to you … until you find yourself needing qualified healthcare.

Technorati Tags: Equals, Great, Nursing, Opportunities, Shortage

Leaving your country to study abroad has its won set of worries and woes. A couple of bad experiences faced by others may force you to drop your most awaited opportunity. Thus, it’s better to purge your mind first from all delusions and worries, and go overseas to fulfill your long cherished dream to study abroad.

On an average more than 100,000 college students migrate to study abroad. This phenomenal number of students is instrumental in spreading grapevines about study abroad. But not everything you hear is supposed to be true. There are lots of rumors and buzz associated with studying abroad with almost no relevance to the actual fact.

The most common misconception regarding study abroad is that “it is expensive”. Ironically, the truth is just the opposite. Rather it costs you less than what your tuition fee, boarding-lodging and other additional expenses collectively cost you. There are a few study abroad programs that cost you less than what you one semester cost you at your own country.

Another fallacy is that host families are all needy and consider money as the whole and sole motive. Placing children in false families would bring nothing else but disgrace to the study abroad companies. This is far from reality. Most students resort to study abroad companies based on the blissful experiences they heard from their friends and kinfolk. This fact is further reconfirmed by the ever-rising number of university endorsements over the past few years.

Third, students usually presume that they won’t get to see the country they are staying in due to the jam-packed school schedule. study abroad is not just restricted to classroom lectures. Students get ample time for the sightseeing and taking a trip around the country.

Few other misleading facts are that “I can’t make use of my financial aid to study abroad”, “my graduation may get delayed if I will study abroad” and blah-blah-blah. All these notions are nothing but a figment of ignorance and lack of knowledge. You can anytime consult a study abroad company and lift all the clouds dimming you brighter future prospects.

Getting opportunity to study abroad is like a dream coming true. It’s a sheer foolishness to miss out on such a unique opportunity on the basis of some baseless misconception. Avail yourself of the services of major study abroad advisors in your country, and who knows next year you too are boarding the flight for your dream university.

Technorati Tags: abroad, Facts, Fictions, study