5 Reasons to Study in Turkey: “Crossing the Bridge”
In the last five years, Turkey has become an increasingly popular destination for students. Every year, hundreds of expats relocate to Turkey, to work or study in old and new Turkish universities that teach in English. The majority of the most prestigious universities of the country, for instance the Bogazici University, Galatasaray University and Koç University, are located in Istanbul, a city that connects the two continents of Asia and Europe. Turkey, and especially its capital Istanbul, offers the warmth and delicious cuisine of Middle Eastern culture, in a fascinating mix that is not too unfamiliar to Western society. Life in this city is affordable, exciting, and it can connect you to the Asian continent without an extreme culture shock. Turkey is a bridge between Asia and Europe Turkey has the privilege of being geographically placed in 2 continents. Istanbul is a very particular city with two bridges that connect Europe and Asia. While living in Istanbul, you will find yourself exploring both the different and the common characteristics of the East and West on a daily basis. It is possible to find traces of all civilizations that have lived in Turkey since the Paleolithic age in the city. You can study next to an old Ottoman Palace or work in one of the most famous churches in history, which was later turned into a mosque by The Ottoman Empire. Everywhere is central in Turkey Like we said before, Istanbul brings two continents together with its lovely Bosporus. Turkey is close to many European and Middle Eastern countries at the same time. Turkey is a great location to be based in, since the country shares borders with eight countries including Greece, Armenia and Georgia. If you choose to study in a Turkish university like, you will have the opportunity to live in Asia and be very close to Middle East as well as many historical sites and landmarks, some of which are beautifully introduced in this article. You will be a part of an innovative academic world There are new areas of study being introduced in Turkish universities every year, and you can choose to study more than one subject to tailor your own interdisciplinary education. You have the possibility to learn about business, economics or political sciences from a point of view that is different to the Western educational perspective you have been previously exposed to. The Middle East Technical University in Ankara, the Anadolu University in Eskisehir or the Ege University in Izmir are some of the best alternatives to the universities in Istanbul, offering high quality education in English. Business and economics Turkey is a market in demand for international investors. There are many global companies that have offices in Istanbul, Ankara or Izmir that offer internships and jobs to international students. There are also many digital and hardware start-ups looking for young talents such as Startup Factory or Young Turk Ventures, as mentioned in this article. It is affordable The life of a young academic or student is usually relatively low-budget. Fortunately, life in Turkey is much more affordable than other European countries. From low-priced restaurants to a fair-cost cultural dining experience, Turkey offers different options for students to enjoy their experience in the country. Eating out in Istanbul can be transformed into a rich experience for a low price. Typical dishes such as kuru fasulye, islak burger or kebah, can be cheap, delicious and extremely addictive. Moreover daily life expenses such as groceries, transportation and utilities can be considerably cheaper than in other countries. Regardless of the place you choose to study in Turkey, you will have access to a rich culture, beautiful landscape, history and a personal experience that will definitely enrich your life and give you a new vision of western and eastern culture. Photo credit: Moyan Brenn
Earlier this month we wrote about the top 5 reasons to study in the Iberian Peninsula; the high quality of education, the Spanish language, the culture, lifestyle, landscape and entertainment are factors that draw people towards study in Spain. Next up, Turkey is the second country we want to talk about in our series exploring top destinations for students from around the world.
Why Study in Spain? Top 5 Reasons to Head to the Iberian Peninsula
Spain’s popularity with students comes as no surprise – in addition to the great educational opportunities the country has to offer, the language is useful in countries around the globe, the culture is rich and diverse, the food is delicious, the cities are beautiful and there are beaches galore. In this post, we’ll offer you specific examples of why you ought to consider Spain when taking the next step in your education. High quality education Spain is home to hundreds of higher education institutions, including many top-notch universities that consistently rank high on QS and other global lists. For instance, the University of Barcelona, the Complutense University of Madrid, the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics and the University of the Basque Country are all very well respected institutions with faculty and students from around the world. Students interested in earning a graduate degree or spending a semester or year abroad would be wise to look into these and other top Spanish universities. Moreover, the number of graduate programs taught exclusively in English has increased rapidly in recent years, catering to the demands of the international community and raising the bar for graduate education in Spain. For more detailed information about the benefits of earning a graduate degree in Spain take a look at this recent article on the INOMICS Advice Section. For more info about studying abroad go here. Spanish language In addition to offering ample educational opportunities for students from around the globe, Spain also allows students to gain expertise in one of the world’s most spoken languages. Whether you choose to take one of the thousands of language courses offered around the country or prefer to simply immerse yourself in daily conversations with those around you, studying and living in Spain is a great way to boost your language skills. Being able to put Spanish proficiency on your CV will give you a leg up in any field. So what better way to reach that goal than to enjoy an extended stay on the Iberian Peninsula? Culture and lifestyle Spain is a country known for long and leisurely lunches, afternoon siestas and all night parties. Yet, it’s also known for it thousands of years of culture and traditions, stunning architecture and numerous World Heritage sites. Whether you’re living in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville or anywhere in between, you can easily fill your weekends visiting the countless beautiful sites around Spain or gazing at world-class art in one of the many globally renowned museums. Furthermore, Spain is home to numerous first-rate football clubs, including Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. As this article points out, even if you’re not normally a big sports fan, letting yourself get swept away in the enthusiasm of a Spanish crowd at a football match is an experience you won’t quickly forget. Beaches and landscape Not only is Spain home to some of the most beautiful, engaging and interesting cities in the world, it also boasts almost 5,000 kilometers of coastline, and mild temperatures that make a beach trip possible all year long. With hundreds of pristine beaches along both its northern and southern borders, Spain is a prime vacation spot for people from around Europe and elsewhere. As a student in Spain you would have the opportunity to scout the best beaches, find your favorite and hit up great spots during the off season when you can have the whole beach to yourself. In addition to its countless gorgeous beaches, Spain also has 14 national parks with stunning ecological diversity. From snow-topped mountains to placid lakes or the prehistoric forests on the Canary Islands, Spain is a country full of natural beauty. Food and entertainment Many students cite the adventures they had and great memories they made with fellow exchange students as the key experiences their made their time abroad a success. Regardless of whether you’d prefer an all-night rave or an early evening flamenco performance, Spain has everything a student could want in terms of entertainment. And with a diet rich with Mediterranean influence – olives, wine and olive oil in abundance – no matter where you are you can always find great food in Spain. From tapas to cured pork to hot chocolate with churros, traveling through Spain is simply a culinary delight. No matter where you choose to study in Spain, you will have ample opportunities for engaging with the rich culture, beautiful landscape and amazing cities the country has to offer. Furthermore, the personal growth you experience will make you cherish your time in Spain for many years to come. Photo credit: mariusz kluzniak
Spain is the first country we will be highlighting in a new series exploring top destinations for students from around the world. Spain is one of the most popular countries in Europe for students interested in either short-term or longer exchange programs, as well as for those looking to earn a full degree in a foreign country.
Scholarship Options Boost Student Interest in Your Master’s Programs
Nowadays, the demand for graduate education is clear, but only a small percentage of interested students are able to access a graduate program due to financial barriers. After researching the problem, we discovered that more than 90% of potential Master’s students feel ready to begin a degree, yet 40% of them face such financial difficulties that they abort their studies and focus on searching for a job. How can university marketers cope with students’ limited resources ? The answer is funding options. Currently we find thousand of programs advertised by universities that do not mention any type of financial help. Since students actively look for such opportunities, programs with explicit funding options are more attractive than programs without any advertised financial aid. Financial help comes in the form of scholarships, grants, prizes, donations and student jobs. From fully covered programs to student assistantships, including information about possible funding options is highly appreciated by students. The graph above shows that scholarships and external funding options are most popular in terms of how students anticipate financing their studies. Not all students can count on family help or their own savings to pay for tuition and living costs. For this reason, offering clear information about scholarships in addition to loans, stipends and working options available at your university is highly valuable for students as they plan the next step in their career path. We invite you to check tips on how to increase the number of applicants to your programs and how reviews can increase the engagement levels of students for your institution. Are you interested in learning more about student trends and preferences? You can contact us at info@inomics.com
It often happens that potential students show interest in a specific program by visiting the webpage, pre-subscribing for the next semester, or sending enquiries via email, however the number of completed applications is much lower than the number of people interested. We decided to research this issue and discovered the factors potential Master’s students take into account when choosing a university and type of degree. What we found is that the possibility of receiving funding motivates potential applicants and develops added value for students.
Gandhi – A Proponent of Well-Rounded Education for All
Yet, what many people might not be aware of is that Gandhi was also a strong proponent of comprehensive education reform, calling for more educational opportunities for everyone. He believed that the only way to fully change Indian society was to start from the bottom up, promoting the integration of hands-on learning alongside skills such as literacy and logic. Gandhi wanted the Indian school system to be self supporting and fully separate from that in England, allowing it to grow in a way that made sense in that specific region. He believed that manual and mental work must complement one another, and that education must nourish the whole person. To describe this view he was quoted as saying: By education I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in the child and man—body, mind and spirit. At the time this view was quite radical, as it tore through the strict structure of the caste system in India. By promoting the production of handicrafts as a part of comprehensive education, Gandhi was arguing against the class-based specialization of labor that was becoming the global norm. If we look at the reality many people face today, however, we can see that Gandhi’s teachings in this area are still highly relevant. While a formal education is incredibly valuable, it is also important to have a diversity of skills in order to be a well-rounded and successful individual. Furthermore, Gandhi was also quoted stating: Persistent questioning and healthy inquisitiveness are the first requisite for acquiring learning of any kind. This quote underscores Gandhi’s promotion of interactive education and intrinsic interest in a given subject. Such interest is precisely what is required in order to stay motivated at a high level, for instance while pursuing graduate or postdoctoral research. In this realm, the rise of interdisciplinary and international education fits into Gandhi’s ideas of broad-scale learning. Moreover, the proliferation of Massive Open Online Courses(MOOCs) and free online education are also key examples of a contemporary global movement away from classically structured formal education. Thus, while we remember Gandhi today, we should not only think of his achievements in the realms of peace, independence and religious tolerance, but also in the area of open, diverse and well-rounded education.
Today marks the 145th anniversary of the birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, born October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, India. More commonly referred to by the honorific title Mahatma (Sanskrit for “high-souled”), Gandhi is well known for his leading role in the Indian independence movement against British rule in the early to mid-20th century. Gandhi employed nonviolent civil disobedience, promoting religious tolerance and a strongly humanitarian worldview.
How to Make the Most of Being Department Chair
Highlight the positive Although it may sometimes seem like a key component of your job as department chair is to deal with the dirty work that no one else wants to take care of, the best way to make the most of your position is to slog through the dirt (as we’ll address in the next point) and focus on the positive. For instance, it is important to recognize the honors your colleagues receive. If someone in your department receives an award or significant grant, highlight their achievement in a public fashion. They will appreciate it, and it will inspire and motivate others in the department, thereby bringing more positive recognition to your discipline. Accept the negative Yes, being department chair means taking care of tasks such as hiring and firing. As Dr. Michael Munger points out in his article on the subject, sometimes firing a toxic staff member can significantly improve the work environment for everyone else in the department. As chair, it’s your responsibility to take the time to recognize such an issue and take care of it in a sensible, considerate and timely manner. Broaden your friend circle The transition from just being an academic to also being an academic supervisor can be difficult. There is no need to break ties with your friends in the department, but you may find it helpful to seek out new friendships as well. Since you will be completing evaluations and creating assignments for your colleagues within your department, spending too much time with specific individuals might lay foundation for claims of favoritism. As Dr. Rob Jenkins emphasizes in this article, forming new friendships with other department chairs or members of the administration will help create a support network of people facing similar tasks, while also steering you clear of possible complaints regarding favoritism. Create trust Being a trustworthy department chair is twofold – you must create trust by listening to your colleagues and not divulging any personal information they may come to you with, yet you must also gain their trust by doing what you say you will do. By keeping any promises you make, you will make clear to your colleagues that you take the position seriously and care about their interests and demands. Address the right issues In order to maintain the trust you build amongst colleagues, you need to address certain issues while quietly getting rid of others. If you know the loud complaints of a certain colleague will not lead to anything positive for the department, take the time to figure out the best strategy for addressing his or her grievances without creating space for a flame war. Opposingly, a good chair also spends time on the quieter issues that can have a big impact on the department, such as landing grants, creating long-term plans for the trajectory of the department and mentoring new colleagues. Set personal goals Although it may seem that you are suddenly a slave to the department, it is important to take the time to recognize how your time as chair can also affect your personal growth. In order to do so, many people suggest writing down a brief list of clear goals that you would like to achieve while you are chair. Reflect on these personal goals throughout your time as chair and build on them if and when it seems appropriate. If you’re not quite at the department chair level just yet, perhaps taking a look at our article Teaching Tips for New Professors would be more helpful for you. Or, if you’re still searching for the right job, head to INOMICS and browse through hundreds of positions based on your specific interests and qualifications. Photo credit: Boston Public Library
With the start of the academic year come many changes to most university departments – new students, new courses and, every so often, a new department chair. If you happen to find yourself in the lucky position of holding this post, it’s important to be aware of the plethora of responsibilities and advantages that come with the job. In this article, we’ve gathered helpful tips and reminders from a variety of sources to create a comprehensive list of what you need to know to make the most of being a department chair.
How to Increase the Number of Applicants to Master’s Programs
1) Emphasize your career development opportunities. The key goal of university students is to finish their degrees and begin their professional lives in a good position; ready to find a top company and do something that makes them happy. Career orientation and professional networking represent important offers that make the difference between programs. Showing your commitment to the development of students after graduation is highly valued by applicants. 2) Make use of social media channels to connect with students. Nowadays, applicants are connected through different social media channels. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Xing – all of these social channels need to have updated content that attracts younger generations. Keeping people updated with departmental news is a great way to connect with students. 3) Use technology to inform students. These days, universities cannot expect that prospective students land on their university pages by chance. It is also important to include clear information about programs in key platforms where students can search for study opportunities. Moreover, the inclusion of pictures, videos, and virtual tours of the campus helps to catch the attention of students. 4) Develop a mobile app for your university. Young generations consume internet via mobile devices. Offering up-to-date information about university transportation, events, library services, and even the lunch specials at the cafeteria could completely transform the way your current and prospective students see your university. 5) Keep alumni engaged with your university. From good career offices to digital content, alumni carry valuable information about your university and your programs that could build both reviews and recommendations. 6) Use smart email marketing. Students are bombarded with advertisements about schools and universities, but general content will never catch their attention. Invest time and money in targeted emails so your prospective students get information on exactly what they want. In the end, such strategic marketing will significantly improve the quality of your leads. 7) Pay attention to university website metrics. As emphasized above, prospective students belong to a young generation connected online. Helping students find your website should be part of your marketing goals. Building partnerships with popular websites that engage your target audience is a great idea. Online partnerships reward you with more popularity in the web and with more traffic to your page. 8) Don’t forget about parents. Parents generally have high influence on students when they are making decisions about their future career. Proper information about your programs and university are a must to gain the trust and influence of parents, which will be to the benefit of your program in the end. This list is comprised of general ideas for boosting applications and engagement among your students. Each university is a particular case that requires creativity and, most importantly, it requires you to get to know your students, their needs and the best ways to deliver your message to them. At INOMICS we are happy to help you find the right strategy to promote your university and program. Please contact us for more information. Photo Credit: Audio-Luci-Store
Fall is just beginning, which means it is time to start planning marketing strategies for boosting the number of university applications. In our previous articles we talked about how quality information increases students interest in universities, and the potential reviews hold for heightening applicants’ interest and engagement levels. It is time to work creatively to find the best approach to student recruitment, which is why we are presenting you with some tips for success.
From Poli Sci to Policy – Jobs For Political Science Graduates
Moreover, while many grads feel ready to put theory into practice, they are not sure where to look for the right opportunities. If you find yourself in this position, you should start by considering what you found most engaging during your studies, then think about what type of position you might like to have that builds on what you learned. To help you in that process, here are some possible career options for someone with a political science degree: Diplomat Human rights worker Lawyer Policy Analyst Academic Social Worker Lobbyist Politician Journalist The next question is, of course, how to land a job in one of these areas. One of the best ways to gain both experience and connections is to engage in an internship. Many organizations encourage recent graduates to apply as interns, and quite often an internship can turn into a paid or more long-term position. Another option, promoted in this article from Michigan State University, is to contact someone at an organization you find interesting and ask for an informational interview. Such an interview allows you to ask detailed questions about the type of work being conducted and the best first steps to take if you are interested in such a career path. Informational interviews grant you an inside look into a potential career without any level of commitment. While many of the jobs in politics and policy are clustered in certain cities, such as Brussels, Washington, D.C., New York, London or other capitals and metropolises, there are also countless organizations located in other areas around the globe. Rather than simply picking up and moving to a city where you know large organizations are located, it’s a good idea to gain initial experience first then look for that next step that might have a big move associated with it. Whether you live in Australia, Zimbabwe or anywhere in between, there are relevant institutions operating nearby that you should not overlook. Take a look at these recent articles to peruse top think tanks and social science research institutes in the U.S., Europe and across the Spanish-speaking world. If you would rather gain experience in a development organization, here is a list of international organizations around the world. Once you have found organizations that interest you and are ready to send out applications, have a look at our step-by-step guide to writing a great cover letter. No matter where you’re applying, first impressions are important, so use this article to keep your applications at the head of the pack. Finally, it is important to remember that it’s okay to be unsure of which direction you’d like to go in, and to take steps one at a time. In fact, focusing on the present and taking the time to figure out what really makes you happy is one of the most important ways to start you down the right career path. Photo credit: RJ Schmidt
With September upon us and campuses around the globe preparing for the coming school year, many recent graduates face a harsh reminder that student life is over and it’s time to plunge headlong into the workforce. Yet, sometimes landing that first career-oriented position can be tough, particularly in today’s economic climate.
Experts Talk: An Interview with Dr. Nancy Folbre
You earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a Master’s in Latin American Studies prior to getting a PhD in Economics. What inspired the shift to economics for your doctoral studies? It seemed to me that economics was the terrain on which the battles I was most interested in fighting were being fought. I think I was right about this, though I underestimated the scope of the conflict. Do you feel your diverse academic background allowed you more breadth in your work than if you had only studied economics? Yes, though it may have proved a weakness as well as a strength. It’s hard to say without a clear point of comparison. But going broad has, I think, contributed to the sustainability of my intellectual enterprise. I have never been bored. Whenever I have hit a dead end in one direction, I have been able to redirect and reroute my path. Throughout your career, your work has focused primarily on the economics of care. What initially motivated you to examine this largely marginalized subsection of economics? “Care” lies at the intersection of socialist and feminist critiques of the organization of human society. It grows out of concerns about the welfare of others—concerns that traditional economic theory treats as exogenously given. “Care” highlights the central coordination problem of human society: Many selfish strategies that pay off in the short run are not sustainable in the long run. Caring preferences are costly, often putting caregivers at an economic disadvantage relative to those who are unencumbered by concern for others. Yet some level of support for caregiving is crucial to biological and economic sustainability. Much of your research is interdisciplinary, connecting historical analysis with contemporary issues. From your perspective, has the field of economics become more flexible in terms of such crossover research? Yes, in my view, economics has evolved in many positive directions, including greater interdisciplinarity. But it is overconfident in the individual pursuit of self-interest and—relatedly—in the efficiency of market transactions. Both nature and the family are an important source of unpriced resources that not bought and sold. They should not be dismissed as a realm of mere “externalities” because they are far larger in economic value than the goods and services priced in the market. You have also written extensively on education, including in your book Saving State U: Why We Must Fix Public Higher Education. What is your take on the recent Brookings Institution report stating that, “the impact of student loans may not be as dire as many commentators fear”? I think that formulation is pretty vague. How dire is dire? Who, exactly, is too fearful? That study focuses on the average distributional impact, ignoring the uneven consequences for middle-income families in states where legislatures have drastically reduced public support for higher education. You have been an associate editor of the journal Feminist Economics since 1995. How has your (professional) relationship with feminism changed over the years? When we launched that journal, few economists took it seriously. Now it has garnered respect and ranks very high for social science citations. I believe the journal has driven home the point that feminism is not just about women’s rights—it’s about a larger process of rethinking the gendered relationship between rights and obligations. As a leading economist in a field still largely dominated by men, is there particular advice you give to female students entering the discipline? Yes. Recognize that gender is an important dimension of collective identity and action that helps shape perceptions of the way the economy works. But remember that gender is not the only dimension of collective identity and action that does that. I am fond of a quote from the Marxist historian E.P. Thompson that goes something like this: “The facts are there, not to disclose their own meaning, but to be interrogated by minds trained in the discipline of attentive disbelief.” For the past five years you were a weekly blogger for the New York Times Economix. How did writing in this format differ from other blogging or journalistic experience you’ve had? First of all, it was more consistent or, one might say, more relentless in terms of scheduling. Almost of necessity, producing a short essay every week increased my fluency. Second, it engaged me with a very diverse and demanding audience. Often I learned a great deal from the comments posted by readers, but I also saw how easy it is for readers to misunderstand the intent and meaning of an argument. And I received a fair amount of vitriolic hate mail. Your career has included numerous posts as visiting fellow or researcher alongside being a professor. Did you ever think about shifting into policy or advocacy work full-time? I don’t think I have the temperament for full-time policy or advocacy work. I like the freedom to think and write and take chances. If you could be President of the United States for one day and enact change via executive order, what is one of the first issues you would tackle? No idea. That’s an example of why I like being an academic and public intellectual. I’m just not any good at coming up with practical slogans or catchy endings. Photo credit: Nancy Folbre
In the third interview in the Experts Talk series, UMass Amherst Professor Emeritus, New York Times Economix contributor and leading feminist economist Dr. Nancy Folbre discusses the importance of interdisciplinarity, the overconfidence economics has in the individual pursuit of self-interest and what she learned from reading the comments section on her New York Times pieces, among other topics.
Online Reviews of Universities: Competition for Official Rankings?
The whole “reviewing culture” started with gadgets and books, and then rapidly spread to the hospitality industry, branching out into independent evaluation platforms like Yelp and Trip Advisor. Today, users can review just about everything, and you will be surprised to find out unexpected combinations of online reviews in Google Search. In fact, be it a new camera, a medical doctor or a local business – “Googling” online reviews before opting for a product or a service has become habitual, if not normative. Even in academia, the times when reviews could only be used in relation to research papers are long gone, and what were previously just consumer habits are quickly invading the world of careers and education. An infamous online service for Professors Rating, where students and co-workers can review professors anonymously, was probably the first step towards crowdsourcing of teaching evaluations. This trend should not come as a surprise – when it comes to making the most vital life decisions, it is natural to draw on all possible information, especially when knowledge is more easily accessible than ever for everyone with an internet connection. Choosing a university is no exception – a quick search in Google illustrates search patterns and top search combinations. For many students worldwide a postgraduate degree is linked to a considerable investment, both in terms of time and money, so it is natural to devote considerable time to an evaluation of all possible options. Moreover, the majority of prospective Master’s, PhD or MBA students belong to the so-called Generation Y, meaning they are more likely to turn to their iPhones before even talking to peers about their choices. And if you think that it is all just about the number of stars and positive vs. negative comments, the influence of online reviews is much more complex than that. A study from Stern Business School proved that it was not the number of stars that positively affected consumer choice, but rather the volume of reviews of a particular product. A big number of reviews caused what can be called a “word-of-mouth” effect in real world: the higher the awareness generated by online buzz, the more sales went up. Besides the obvious influence that reviews have on users’ decisions, as the volume of online reviews has reached such critical mass, it is increasingly becoming a source of research, with some interesting findings publicly accessible. The insights drawn from this research, if used in the context of behavioral science, can give universities (or other institutions) a good idea about people’s psychological processes and detect certain patterns that lead to positive or negative reviews, as well as consequential buyer behavior (which can differ tremendously depending on a product). Looking from a different angle, it can also provide valuable feedback, if interpreted correctly – since what people write might not directly correspond to their full range of feelings and experiences. Time and research will show us whether online reviews of universities and study programs will become as important for students’ choices as hotel reviews are for travelers right now. We recently launched online reviews of universities and other academic institutions for both students and faculty/staff on INOMICS. If you want to influence other people’s life decisions – just type your institution in the search bar and tell others what you think by sharing your personal experience. Your input will be highly valued by those who are making important career choices. Photo credit: Wikimedia / Obsidian Soul (Public license CC-BY-SA-3.0)
When the first online reviews of consumer products appeared in the internet, they were often received with mistrust and had little affect on how consumer choices were made in reality. Over the past few years, however, the behavior of users and their interaction with product reviews has changed dramatically, and with rocket speed. According to last year’s research, 90% of respondents who read online reviews prior to a product purchase admitted that their decisions were influenced by positive online reviews, while 86% of respondents indicated that their choice was mostly influenced by negative reviews.
Reviews Increase Your University's Applicant Interest and Engagement Levels
The answer is very simple and connected with the popular concept of social sharing: Reviews. There is no bigger factor influencing the choices of a potential applicant than other students’ descriptions of how good their experience was at a given university. At INOMICS we recognize how important reviews can be, so we now offer to our customers a complete review section to help maintain engaged potential students, current students and alumni. How does it work? We encourage you to share a link to your institution with your current and past students. In less than 5 minutes they can leave their positive comments about your teaching methods, educational opportunities and more. What about you leaving a review? You can help fellow professionals or students make smart choices for their careers. Share your experiences as an employee or a student on INOMICS - it will just take a minute! Simply enter the name of the institution at which you have studied or worked in the search bar of our website, click "Review" and tell us what you think! If you can't find the right institution just send us a short message at info@inomics.com and we'll make sure it appears on INOMICS! Have you already reviewed your institution? Then spread the word among your colleges and students. Help your institution gain popularity in the web.
Continuing with last month’s topic, it is known that quality information increases student interest in universities. We pointed out the relevance of giving detailed information in the promotion of programs, courses and scholarships. If a prospective student finds quality information and thereby recognizes the value of an institution, he or she is more likely to apply and stay engaged with the university over a lifetime. So how else can universities provide information to their candidates?
First Woman in History to Win the Top Math Prize Fields Medal
Field’s Medal prizes, which are often considered to be the mathematical equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize, are awarded to dedicated academics every four years. Scholars and math communities around the globe were ecstatic when the final decision of the ICM was announced today, as Mirzakhani’s complex works and theories concerning Riemann surfaces and algebraic geometry have been highly valued for many years. Dr. Maryam Mirzakhani was born in Tehran, Iran in 1977 and received her doctoral degree from Harvard University. She was an esteemed Research Fellow of the Clay Mathematics Institute from 2004-2006. Although she dreamed of becoming a writer at a young age, Mirzakhani began to develop a great interest in science and numbers, and eventually made her way to the International Mathematical Olympiads during her high school years. Today, Mirzakhani has made phenomenal contributions to mathematical disciplines concerning dynamical systems, moduli space and geometry. According to Math Union, “She has a strong geometric intuition that allows her to grapple directly with the geometry of moduli space. Fluent in a remarkably diverse range of mathematical techniques and disparate mathematical cultures, she embodies a rare combination of superb technical ability, bold ambition, far-reaching vision, and deep curiosity.” The first woman who won the Field’s Medal has quickly become a bright catalyst for change in the diverse world of mathematics. This landmark event will surely have a humongous impact on scholars and mathematicians for generations to come.
The infamous opening ceremony of the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) was held today in Seoul, South Korea where Maryam Mirzakhani was awarded the Fields Medal, the most prestigious and honorable prize in the vast field of mathematics. Mirzakhani, an admired professor from the Departments of Mathematics at Stanford University in California, is the first female winner of the distinguished award that was established in 1936.
How to Create an Infographic for Academic Purposes: Tools & Resources
You can see infographics everywhere: humorous animations on the Internet, news and stories in newspapers and magazines, company advertisement and teaching materials. The most important thing to think about before using any of the abovementioned tools is WHAT you want to show. The information should be presented in a clear and structured way to ensure your audience can grasp it easily. Some people might think that creating a good and catchy infographic requires a lot of effort, time and money, but this is not necessarily true. You will obviously spend some time brainstorming the idea itself and ways to visualise it, but you don’t need more than a pen, a piece of paper and a little imagination. The Web offers many options to put your infographic together and create a masterpiece to share with the world. Here is a list of our favourite easy-to-use online tools to make your own infographic; each has a free and a paid option depending on your needs and requirements. They are very intuitive and don’t require weeks of training and learning. 1) Inforg.am The perfect tool if you need to make graphs and charts, as you can visualise your numbers and ideas with the available options including pictorials and wordclouds. Upload your data or simply adjust one of the existing templates accordingly. No download is possible in the free version, but you can share it on your social media account or get a web link. 2) Piktochart This tool allows you to start your infographic from scratch or choose from around 10 designs for free (or many more in the paid version). Many creative charts and graphs are available as well. Downloads in the free version can be made in JPEG and PNG format. You can share your infographic through social media, but not using a link (which is a significant drawback for many users). 3) Venngage This is another nice source that allows you to make your infographic from scratch and offers many types of charts, maps and pictures to select from. Downloading your masterpiece is only possible if you have the paid version. Finally, if you want to get some creative ideas on how to organize your own infographic you can browse through coolinfographics.com and dailyinfographic.com to see what other people have created and get inspiration. This is of course not a comprehensive list. Please share other creative tools with the INOMICS Team and other readers in the comments. Image Credit: Tartila / Shutterstock (Licensed Image - copyright)
A picture speaks a thousand words, an adage that also holds true when presenting data to an audience. Whether to stand out during an academic conference or a class presentation, to share statistics with your customers, to explain a difficult concept to your students or to impress your friends with something funny: if you want to convey the message quickly and clearly an infographic is the tool to use!
Writing a Successful Motivation Letter for UK PhD University Applications
For many applications, this letter is the only personalised component, so it is important to remember to be detailed, clear and confident. Many people have trouble arranging their thoughts in a concise yet explanatory manner, yet this is precisely the task you face when writing a motivation letter. To help you through the process, we’ve broken down this section into five categories based on the most important components of a good motivation letter. Display detailed interest in the course One major mistake applicants often make is to leave out specific information about the programme to which they are applying. You need to make it clear to the admissions board that you are not only familiar with the course, but also engaged with its components. Underscore your interest in specific elements by offering examples of what you find particularly interesting and why. You can also name particular professors with whom you would like to work, pointing out why their research aligns with your own goals and interests. Moreover, doing your own investigating about a given programme prior to writing your motivation letter will help you shape your statement by making clear what are the most important course components and how you will be engaged with them. Highlight academic achievements Another misstep some students make is to assume that the admissions board will learn all they need to know about previous academic achievements from transcripts. On the contrary, the motivation letter is the best place to introduce what you deem most important regarding your academic trajectory, filling in details and giving a personal angle to the facts and figures found in your transcript. You should emphasis particular milestones or engagements and offer specific details that cannot be found elsewhere. In this way, you are telling a story about what you have done up until this point, giving the admissions board your version of the key plotlines that make up your academic trajectory. While you should never lie or fictionalize, this is the correct place to let your achievements shine. Do not leave something out that could set you apart from other applicants. Make sure to have an outside reader look over your motivation letter and your transcripts and CV to get an outside perspective on what makes you an optimal candidate. Discuss career qualifications When applying for a postgraduate course, it’s important to let the admissions board know that you have a clear career path in mind, and that you’ve already started down this path. Even if you’ve only held internships or student jobs, you should make clear how the programme to which you are applying fits within your prospective career path. Moreover, you should reference how what you have learned in previous positions will help you in areas such as research, analysis or writing during your studies. If you have worked in an international environment, pointing out what you learned there or why that was important for you is a very good idea. Create a personal narrative Although the content of your motivation letter is of utmost importance, so is its style. By creating a clear voice allowing your individual experiences to shape the narrative, you can create a strong and noteworthy introduction for the admissions board. For those of us who have sat on such boards before, there are generally three types of letters – those that are remarkable for their strengths, those that get forgotten and those that are remembered for their flaws. In order to make sure you fall into the first category, it is important to focus not only on content but also personal voice. In order to make sure you have a strong narrative, take your time writing the letter. Do not start one week prior to deadlines – instead you should begin a draft months in advance and then revisit it numerous times, asking for outside input and making changes along the way until you have a highly polished document. Offer a clear conclusion Another common stumbling block is the conclusion. A motivation letter is not an essay, but it does need to end with strong, clear concluding remarks. You should always restate your interest and briefly summarise key points you have made throughout the letter. The introduction and conclusion are the most important parts of any form of cover letter, as they are what stick in the reader’s mind. In your final paragraph, you should reiterate why you are an ideal candidate for the course, while also highlighting how the course fits into your academic and career trajectory. It is a good idea to conclude by thanking the admissions committee for their time and letting them know that you would be more than happy to speak with them further in a personal interview. Header Image Credit: Ollyy / Shutterstock (Licensed image - copyright)
Regardless of what type of course you would like to study, you will almost certainly be asked to write a motivation letter, also called a cover letter or personal statement. This letter acts as an introduction, telling the admissions board who you are and why you are a good fit for the programme to which you are applying.
Proficiency Exams in French, German and Spanish: Top Language Certificates
The European Language Certificate (TELC) tests are the most widely recognized of all language exams, partially because they adhere to a clear and uniform structure. Regardless of which language you are being tested on, TELC scores are graded along the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which ranges from A1 through C2, as you can see in the table below. In general, a minimum of B2 standing is required to study at university, while B1 is the minimum to begin work in a foreign language. A1 Beginner A2 Elementary B1 Intermediate B2 Upper Intermediate C1 Advanced C2 Proficient French Diplôme dEtudes en langue française (DELF) The DELF exam is offered at various levels along the CEFR scale. The test generally lasts about three hours and is divided into four sections: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, speaking and writing. The DELF can be taken at testing centers around the world. If you receive a score of B2 or above, this will qualify you for entrance into French universities. Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF) The DALF is similar in nature to the DELF, though the level of French used throughout the exam is higher. Additionally, an oral presentation must be prepared during the speaking component. It can also be taken at centers around the world. The DALF is aimed at individuals in the C1 to C2 range. If you pass the DALF, you will receive a certificate stating proficiency within this range, which will allow for entrance into French universities and show a level of fluency sufficient for most jobs. German Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (Test DaF) The Test DaF is offered at testing centers around the world. It is standardized and consists of four sections: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, academic writing and oral expression. While the Test DaF roughly corresponds to the B2 to C1 level, it is scored along its own rubric and expressed in three levels, TDN 3, TDN 4 and TDN 5. Some German universities admit students with a score of TDN 3, and all universities recognize the score of TDN 4 or higher. Zertifikat Deutsch (ZD) This exam is roughly at a B1 level and is thus not generally recognized as sufficient for university studies. Many employers do accept the ZD, however, as evidence of sufficient German for certain positions. This test can be taken at centers all over the world; most commonly offered through the Goethe Institute. Spanish Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE) The DELE exam is the official qualification offered through the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport in Spain. This comprehensive language test recognizes all the diverse variants of Spanish and is graded along the CEFR structure. DELE certificates are granted at each of the CEFR levels, though B2 is generally required for university entrance. If you are looking for a study program or job in a French, German or Spanish speaking country, take a look at the thousands of listings updated daily on INOMICS. Photo credit: rawpixel.com / Designed by Magnific (Free License)
If you are interested in working or studying in a French, German or Spanish speaking country, you will almost certainly need to provide proof of language skills. While exact requirements differ between institutions, there are certain exams that are more widely accepted than others. Following up on our recent post on English proficiency tests, in this post we will offer you an overview of the most respected language exams from around the globe for French, German and Spanish.
Writing A Thesis This Summer? 10 Tips on How to Stay Motivated
1. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. The desire to finish your thesis can be consuming, and for good reason, of course. Be sure to plan a set schedule for yourself, as the Learning Center at the University of Sydney explains, which includes benchmarks concerning all of the progress that should be completed. You will feel uplifted once you finish editing numerous chapters or hand in the next section of your thesis to an advisor by your set deadline. Don’t forget to evaluate your progress each week to make sure you’re on track. 2. Everybody makes mistakes. Is it too hot to concentrate or did you accidentally fall asleep for five hours, instead of just resting for five minutes? Don’t dwell too long on your “mistake” of not finishing a task that you had set aside for your thesis, instead forgive yourself, push ahead and keep writing. You can do it! 3. If your (thesis paper) boat is sinking, call for help. If you have exerted all your energy into a portion of your thesis and find that you’re getting nowhere, share your concerns with classmates or people who are the most important to you. You will more than likely receive motivational and positive feedback, giving you the urge to set sail once again. 4. Keep a notepad. While brainstorming or writing you might find that random thoughts continue to invade your head, disrupting all well intended notions during your thesis. Do you need to email a future employer later, or call someone on your thesis committee? All those thoughts can wait. I’ve found it exceedingly helpful to keep a colorful pad of sticky notes or a favorite notebook close by where I can scribble down daily to-do’s, so my mind won’t be cluttered when writing or proofreading. 5. Find your happy place. For most of us this would mean a seaside view with a cool beverage in hand, however, you’ll become feel much more motivated to produce quality work when you can write in a comfortable and familiar atmosphere. Investigate all the cafés around your neighborhood, discover the perfect hidden carrel at your library, and make yourself at home. 6. Overcome your brainfreeze. Whether your brainfreeze is from an unintentional ice cream overdose or lack of creativity don’t stop writing during the time that you have set aside for your thesis that day, instead go back to a previous chapter to do some quick and simple editing. You won’t have to use too much brainpower and you’ll feel more motivated the following day. 7. Stay in close contact with your advisor. Even though it’s August, and your thesis advisor and committee are probably on holiday (lucky them, right?), you should be diligent about keeping in touch with them so you will remain committed to the evolution of your thesis. The American Psychological Association suggests continuing emailing your advisor with the work you have accomplished, even if it’s not a large quantity, so your motivation levels will not drop during a heat wave. 8. Give yourself some gold stars. Literally. Although using a schedule is very helpful, I find that utilizing progress charts, as a thesis success measurement tool, are a great way to provide an extra boost of motivation when I need it most. Invest in some colored stickers and mark how you felt about your efforts that day. “Genius-like?” “Just okay?” You’ll be able to visually see your summertime progress and triumphs. 9. Take a necessary breather. A well-deserved break is just as important as working on your thesis or final project during the dog days of summer. Indulge in some guilty pleasures, which might include a few episodes of your favorite TV series, a quick dip in the pool, or a delicious lunch with your close friends. You will certainly feel refreshed and will be able to better concentrate on pressing thesis-related assignments. 10. Dream a little. If you’re stuck in between paragraphs and start to lose morale, just think about the many great things you will be able to do after your thesis is submitted, defended, and bound. Boost your motivation with positive thoughts such as receiving your diploma, getting a higher paying job, and working in a field that you are passionate about. Moreover, if you need a little extra motivation, take a look at the thousands of job opportunities updated everyday on INOMICS. Which of these ten motivational tips did you find the most helpful? Please feel free to share your own advice regarding how to stay motivated when writing your thesis or working on your final project during the summer months. Image Credit: fizkes / Shutterstock (Licensed Image - Copyright)
Instead of relaxing by the pool, engaging in night long barbecues or taking long awaited beach vacations, do you find yourself smoldering in the summer heat at your local library, or at your very own disheveled desk, mustering what little willpower you have left to write your thesis? As a current graduate student at the American University in Cairo I share your woes, and perhaps sleep depriving fears, but believe me when I say there is light, and the promise of a blissful graduation, at the end of that slightly terrifying thesis tunnel. Whether or not you’ve established a sizeable outline or built a praiseworthy bibliography, you will need to keep writing, and not succumb to the dastardly clutches of summertime procrastination, to ultimately reach your deadline. The key to thesis writing during this scorching summer is to stay motivated, even if it takes pitchers of iced coffee and copious amount of frozen yogurt to get you through! Take a look at my top ten tips on how to stay motivated while writing your thesis this sunny season.
Quality Information Increases Student Interest in Universities
On the other side, marketing departments at universities look for the best option to attract students to their programs. Decisions about media channels dominate their strategies – but what about the content? Which information is best to give to students so that they choose the right programs? At INOMICS, we have thought about the best options to connect the needs of these groups by coming up with the new INOMICS platforms for Programs and Scholarships. The new categories give advertisers the possibility to offer prospective students high-quality information about their university and specific programs being offered. Moreover, it gives institutions the chance to include detailed information about courses, funding options and even hints about the percent of international students and class size. It has been proven that well informed students make better decisions and are more engaged with educational opportunities. At the same, it is known that high-quality leads are more valuable than untargeted advertising that results in low commitment from program applicants. Based on such information, our new products seek to give universities an opportunity to fully show their competitive advantage and state clear reasons why students should choose their institution for studying and developing their career. Are you interested in promoting your Master’s and PhDs programs to recruit high quality students? Are you interested in attracting high performing, committed students to your institution? Take a look at the opportunities INOMICS has to offer. Posting a program, posting a scholarship or combining these two options can give a clear boost to the number of applications and can help your university manage and promote its brand.
When a student chooses a program, it’s not only a decision about a subject and place of study, but also a choice regarding future career. Such a choice has a big impact on students’ dreams, plans, budgets and decisions that affect their personal and social life for at least the next 2 or 4 years.
Jobs Posted Over the Summer Get 3x More Applicants
There are several reasons for this phenomenon. First of all, the competition to get our users’ attention is lower. Many institutions promote their new open positions in peak seasons like spring or autumn, so potential applicants are not exposed to that many announcements during summer. This allows them to stay particularly focused on announcements listed on INOMICS. Additionally, summer is the best time to attract the attention of qualified yet “passive” candidates who are driven to the platform to look for other content, such as conferences. The CTR is calculated by taking the ratio of users who click the “Apply now” button to users viewing the announcement page. This ratio indicates how much interest potential candidates have in the announcement, and the probability of such a user submitting an application can be inferred from this data. To share your new positions with INOMICS users, take a look at our advertising options here.
Based on our experience here at INOMICS, as well as by examining site usage statistics, we can confirm that the click through rate (CTR) on Standard jobs advertised in summer is significantly higher than throughout the rest of the year.
Experts Talk: An Interview with Dr. Ed Dolan
Ed Dolan, who writes the popular Ed Dolan’s Econ Blog (which is also hosted on EconoMonitor), is the first expert we interviewed for a new series titled Experts Talk, conducted by INOMICS. We proposed this series as a way to tap into the experiences and ideas of leaders from diverse fields, with economics being the natural place for us to start. We were very pleased to have Dr. Dolan be our first guest in this series. We hope you find his answers as insightful and interesting as we do! Both your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are in Russian Studies. How did you make the leap from the Russian and East-European Institute at Indiana University to earning a PhD in economics at Yale? When I started studying Russian in college, I concentrated on language and literature. By the time I graduated, I was getting nervous about career prospects as a Russian literature teacher, so I followed the advice of friends who suggested adding some more practical subject—economics in my case. The REEI at Indiana University was a perfect fit. It was a double Master’s degree program, one degree in Soviet area studies (more literature but with politics, geography, history and other subjects added) and simultaneously a Master’s degree in economics. From there, continuing to a PhD at Yale was a natural step. My studies at Yale included the expected broad background in economic theory and econometrics, but I kept up my interest in Russia by writing a dissertation on the early history of economic planning in the Soviet Union. After teaching at multiple American universities, including Dartmouth and the University of Chicago, you moved to Russia in 1990 and began teaching at the State Finance Academy. Can you briefly describe that experience? The “briefly” part is hard. It was quite an adventure. My wife (who is also a graduate of the REEI) and I had always been frustrated that we had never had the opportunity to live and work in Russia for an extended time—long enough to turn our bookish Russian into a real conversational fluency and to get a feel for everyday life in that country. Finally, Gorbachev’s perestroika gave us that chance, so we took the first teaching job we could find. In addition to the State Finance Academy, where I taught, we both taught for a small program, run by a former Soviet dissident now living in the United States, that offered American-style business courses to Russians. When we ran an ad in a Moscow paper for an entrance exam to the program, we were overwhelmed with 1,200 applications for sixty openings. Neither of those teaching jobs paid much, and life in the last two years of the Soviet era was pretty chaotic. We learned more about Russian everyday life than we bargained for—how to buy butter under the old Soviet three-line shopping system, how to make an international telephone call to our kids in college back home (unbelievably difficult), how to survive on a packed trolley bus, and lots of other useful skills. The cleaning woman on the hall where we lived at Moscow State University was convinced that we would starve to death since, with empty stores, the only way you could get food was through “connections.” She used to trade us chicken legs (which she got through a nephew who worked in a butcher shop) for aspirin (which we could buy for hard currency.) It was an interesting time. In 1993 you founded the American Institute of Business and Economics in Moscow. Could you give some insight into building an MBA program in post-Soviet Russia? How did your students compare to those you’d taught in the U.S.? The first thing that made it possible to build an MBA program from scratch, with no sponsoring university on the US side, was the energy and ability of our students. Most of them were graduates of the top institutes for math, physics, and engineering that had fed the Soviet military-industrial complex. They had skills in nuclear weapons design, laser-guidance systems, and the like that suddenly had no demand in Boris Yeltsin’s new Russia. Given their fantastic quantitative skills and strong motivation, it was a professor’s dream to introduce them to finance, economics, and accounting. The second thing that made the program possible was the enthusiastic support of the American and Western European business community in Moscow. Western firms by the dozens were opening offices in Moscow in the early 1990s, and they were hungry for employees who could speak English and understand basic business concepts. Some of them gave small grants, some sponsored students, and most important of all, they hired our graduates. Not that all of our students went to work for Western firms. Some started their own companies and others went to work for Russian companies that wanted to do business with the newly arriving Western firms. Whatever their choice, they were always in demand. The third thing that made building the school possible was the fact that there were no rules to follow and nobody paid any attention to us. In the first few years, while we were getting our feet on the ground, no one insisted that we get a license, no one demanded a bribe, no one at the official level even knew we were there. We never asked official permission to do anything, we just did it. Unfortunately, that blissful situation did not last long. By the late 1990s, more and more of our time went to dealing with fire inspectors, education commissions, and tax police. Hiring “consultants” to deal with these people drained money, energy, and morale. By the time Vladimir Putin arrived on the scene, we knew it was time to move on. Two of our people (one a former student, another a professor) agreed to take over the school, which they continue to run to this day. After eleven years, it was sad to leave Moscow, but in another way, the feeling was a little like what you get when you take off your ski boots at the end of a hard day on the slopes. Since the late 1990s you’ve held teaching positions at universities across Europe. Do you feel your diverse academic background was an asset in helping you along your professional trajectory? It is perhaps generous to call it a “professional trajectory.” That sounds like something planned in advance with a goal in mind. But yes, a diversity of experience helped. In my case, the diversity included not just teaching both in Europe and America, but also stints as a regulatory economist in Washington D.C. and as an adviser to the National Bank of Kazakhstan. After Moscow, teaching jobs in Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia added still more perspectives. Sometimes I open an economics journal and see an article written by a Yale classmate who, I realize, has held the same job for forty years or more. Most of them have professional resumes that are a lot more impressive than mine, but I probably have more experiences to draw on when I stand up in front of a class, and probably I’ve had more fun. Would you advise students interested in working as economists in academia today to pursue a Master’s degree and/or PhD or an MBA? I am a strong believer in the MBA degree. The interdisciplinary nature of the MBA—technical courses like economics and finance mixed with “soft” courses like leadership and marketing—gives a good basis for flexibility in building a career in business or government. I still think of a PhD in economics as mostly a teaching degree, and I encourage my students to go that route only if they are sure they want an academic life. A masters’ degree in economics seems to me to offer narrower alternatives than an MBA and not quite enough for academia. Having said that, though, I should note that one of my daughters has built a very good career in banking based on a Master’s degree in financial economics, so sometimes it can be just right. Global mobility is highly promoted and ever increasing – what advice can you give to young people studying or working abroad for the first time? First, although Americans probably need this advice more than Europeans, don’t neglect to study the language of the country you’re going to. Even if your working environment is all in English or your home language, just a smattering of the local language can make your living experience much richer. My command of Hungarian never got much beyond being able to ask for a half-kilo of duck liver at the butcher shop, but that was enough at least to get me a smile along with the kacsa maj. Second, keep your eyes open, ride public transport, shop where the locals do and absorb what you can. You’ll be surprised how those things help you in business situations, too. You say on your blog that you want to promote economic literacy. Do you feel you’ve made an impact in this area? Relatedly, how do you feel the public’s engagement with economics has changed in general since you entered the field? By college, if not earlier in their education, people sort themselves into “good with words” or “good with numbers”. The humanities draw mostly from the “good with words” group and economics from “good with numbers.” Because I started out in the humanities and got into economics by the back door of Russian area studies, I’m better with words than the average economist. That gives me a comparative advantage—I am happy to let others do the heavy lifting of econometrics and model building, and then translate their ideas into language that I hope a wider public can understand. I’m glad to say that I’ve had some success with that strategy, first with my textbooks and more recently with my blogging. As far as public engagement with economics—yes, people are engaged, in that they know economic events affect their lives and want to understand them, but at the same time, I think the gap between economics as written in the leading journals and anything a nonprofessional could actually read is wider than ever. In that sense, there is still a niche for translators. What impact has blogging had on your professional and/or personal life? Blogging has been great for me. I’m doing much less classroom teaching now that I was a few years ago, and I’ve never written much for academic journals, so it’s the perfect way for me to keep professionally engaged. I’m happy to say, also, that economics bloggers have a significant impact on public policy debates, especially in shaping what ideas are talked about and how they are framed. Have your views as an economist changed throughout your career? A lot has changed in the economics profession as a whole, of course. When I was in graduate school, the orthodox center was represented by a Keynesian-neoclassical synthesis that was challenged on the left by Marxists and on the right by monetarists. Marxism and monetarism are now just footnotes to the history of economic thought, but that does not mean the Keynesian-neoclassical synthesis of the 1960s has survived unchallenged. Instead, it is challenged from approaches to economics that either did not exist 50 years ago or that got virtually no attention—public choice theory, behavioral economics, Austrian economics, and modern monetary theory are all examples. Gradually over the years, I stopped trying to figure out which single approach represents “the truth” and became more appreciative of the fact that many different approaches offer useful insights. I think my international experience has had a lot to do with how my thinking has evolved. Very likely if I’d spent my whole career teaching in the United States, I would have become much more specialized and had a much narrower perspective. I can remember how disappointed I was when I didn’t get tenure in my first job at Dartmouth, but if I had, I would probably still be there, and I would have missed out on far more than could have foreseen at that time. Photo credit: Ed Dolan
We spoke with Dr. Dolan about his crossover interests in Russian literature and economics (and how he made that combination work to his advantage), his experience working in Moscow during the last years of the Soviet Union and why he recommends the MBA degree, among other topics.
The Benefits of International Students for Universities
Without any doubt, the mobilization of students is a popular topic nowadays among people interested in expanding their knowledge frontiers. However, what does it represent for university marketers? Speaking frankly, marketing departments at universities and other teaching institutes view international students as a gold mine. This is the case not only because of the high rates that they must pay to study in a foreign institution, but also because of the cultural richness have they provided to the academic and cultural environment. The monetary benefit that foreign students represent for their host institutions is well known. With higher universities fees and education taxes, foreigners are committed to paying around 50% more money than a standard national candidate. Recruitment planning and market forecasting make people experts on the topic, yet the potential of international students is still sometimes underestimated. In order to understand the multiple doors foreign students open to institutions, we decided to twist the topic and give it a new focus, emphasizing the benefits of having international students at universities. For instance: * International students enrich the diversity of the university * They enrich the experience of other students on the campus * They promote cultural awareness at the university: events and cultural groups allow students to share and learn from each other’s food and traditions * They promote new languages and cultural adaptability, which benefits both students and university staff. Interacting with people from other countries and continents increases the cultural adaptability of everyone at the university * They offer an opportunity to promote the university and country abroad: happy international students generate word of mouth promotion to their families and friends * They enrich classes with different perspectives on topics and theories: discussions and debates at university will be richer and will compile variety of thoughts * They bring diverse sources to research and discussions by using materials from their home country that peers might not have previously been familiar with There are many more benefits that apply to specific institutions and regions. However, careful thought does need to go into choosing the right international candidates for your university. It is important to watch for high quality applicants in terms of academic and language skills. No benefit is applicable if the new generation of students does not meet the performance of the institution. Finally, mission and vision play a key role. While mission stops marketers from being greedy and recruiting international students solely for profit purposes, vision helps in sketching the future of the university culture and fostering positive diversity.
Globalization has changed the panorama of the education, giving more options to students to choose the place where they want to study next. Nowadays, students from all over the world can enroll in a program in destinations they had never imagined. Moreover, high quality of education, career options and discovering of new cultures encourage young people to increase the percentage of foreign students at prestigious universities around the globe.
Why Hiring an International Candidate Can Benefit Your Workplace
Moreover, with personal and professional networks continuing to expand, people are increasingly willing to make the leap and move abroad for a new job. In fact, according to the 2013 INOMICS Job Market Report, location was consistently ranked as the least important factor for economists taking a new step in their career. Yet, many organizations are still hesitant to look internationally when recruiting new employees. Visa restrictions and language difficulties are generally cited as issues standing in the way of hiring a candidate from outside an organization’s home country. Quite often, however, the enthusiasm, diligence and diverse background of an international employee will more than make up for any initial hassle with visa paperwork or a perceived language barrier. For instance, international candidates likely have diverse experience in how to approach problems, work on projects and handle workplace issues that may arise. Following the old adage that two brains are better than one, multiple ways of approaching a job leads to a dynamic and forward-thinking work environment. Furthermore, hiring internationally can also create a boost for current employees. Diversifying a team and adding fresh skills and ideas can invigorate your entire organization. In terms of language, adding a new language to a workplace can offer other employees a way to connect to a different culture and practice their own language skills. By hiring internationally, you will thereby create a contemporary work environment that benefits all employees. INOMICS users represent this contemporary workforce – diverse, talented and globally connected. A new class of highly educated young people is emerging around the world, and tapping into this market is a key strategy for keeping your organization future oriented, culturally engaged and internationally relevant. INOMICS recognizes the importance of international recruitment and offers you a way to take advantage of this global market. Image Credit: AVA Bitter / Shutterstock (Licensed Image - Copyright)
With more and more students earning degrees abroad, the mobility of highly educated young people continues to be on the rise. As standardization helps ease recognition barriers both in the European Union and around the globe, it is more common than ever for young professionals to earn a degree in one country and then work in another.