Tips on How to Write an Academic Peer Review for Journals
Get a feel for the field If you've been asked to perform a peer review, hopefully it is in a field that you are familiar with. However, the paper you are reviewing may be in a different sub-field or use different methods to the ones you that work with. So be prepared to do some research around the topic of the paper, so that you can understand how it fits into the broader literature. If there's an important paper in the field which is not mentioned in the paper, you can suggest that the authors include this reference. Or if a similar issue has been researched in earlier years, you can suggest that the authors mention this previous debate. Make sure you're comfortable with your knowledge of the topic before you start your review. Check statistical methods, tables, and graphs One of the most important functions of peer review is checking over the data in the paper – in terms of both how it is analysed and how it is presented. Make sure that you understand the statistical tests which are used, and consider if they are the best ways to test the hypothesis of the paper. If important data is missing, such as effect sizes, then suggest that this is added in. Also carefully check graphs and tables to make sure that they are correctly labelled and that they are in accordance with the way that the authors have described their data. Are the inferences drawn by the authors in the discussion reasonable, given the data? Check references Another important task for peer reviewers is the checking of references. This is something which general readers are unlikely to do, so it's especially important for reviewers to pay attention to. When you see the authors assert a fact and back it up with a reference, go and find the paper being referenced and check whether the authors' summation of it is reasonable. This is also a good time to check whether the references are complete and formatted correctly. Make your feedback specific and constructive The best peer reviews are not combative towards the authors, but rather constructive. They provide helpful information on how to make the paper better. The key to helpful feedback is to give specific, actionable suggestion for improvements. So, for a reviewer to say “I find this argument unconvincing” is not very helpful. But a reviewer who writes that “This argument is unconvincing because it does not address this specific important issue, and it would be better to refer to this debate in this context” is much better. Where possible, don't just point out problems with the paper, but also suggest ways in which the paper could be improved. Follow instructions, and submit on time Peer reviewing is one of those tasks which everyone agrees is very important, but often gets shoved aside when people are busy. Do read all of the instructions which the editor sends you, and take particular note of the due dates. Returning your reviews on time will be greatly appreciated by the editors and authors and marks you out as a professional. Also, remember to be considerate about confidentiality. You shouldn't discuss the contents of a manuscript or your review of it with anyone outside of the editorial process. And you should not use the ideas in the work you are reviewing in your own papers until the reviewed paper is published. Be aware of your own biases Naturally, you'll approach a peer review with your own opinions and perspective, based on your expertise in the field. But you should try to remain as objective as you can when reviewing. Don't reject a paper just because it uses a different method or has a different view from yours, and certainly don't let your personal feelings about the authors cloud your judgement. Be aware of your own biases and try to overcome them to review the work fairly.
Peer review is one of the cornerstones of academic progress, and it's vital that papers are reviewed by a knowledgeable party before they are published, in order to maintain quality. You see lots of advice for authors of papers, but rather less for peer reviewers. If you've been asked to review a paper, here are some tips on how to do a great job and to provide a review which is helpful to the editors and authors.
Meet Guilherme: a Master’s Student in Economics at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil
Guilherme agreed on sharing his study experience with us. We are happy to publish his interview here. What did motivate you to visit INOMICS and take part in the contest? Will the prize contribute to your academic development? A classmate told me about INOMICS as we were searching for courses and scholarships in several countries. I found out about the contest on the website itself and I decided to take part. The prize will be useful for acquiring important books for my current study and research. What did encourage you to pursue your Master's? I decided to do my Master’s because I plan to follow the academic career. UFRJ is a good university in my country and is formed by some nationally and internationally recognized professors. The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – here Guilherme is doing his Master’s Credit: Fulviusbsas What specialization did you choose and why? I decided to focus on Macroeconomics, since it is a research field that interacts with those most important issues in the economy. Also, this is a field full with divergences and debate, which presents posibilities for a curious scientist. Which channels do you use for gaining reputation in the academic world? I usually receive an actualization each week by email. Then I review the changes and new opportunities offered in my area. How do you see your future academic career? Which positions are you aiming at and where would you like to work? I would like to work as a professor in Brazil. Which tips would you give to other Master's students? I would advice them to stay informed on opportunities and courses that can improve their abilities and help with their research. Also, they should be patient, since it is a fase of hard work with few immediate results. Finally, the usual tip is to maintain their discipline! Is the INOMICS platform useful for you? What do you use it for? INOMICS has been quite useful, since information about courses, universitites and scholarships is usually hard to access. This is especially true when it comes to the quantity of information one can obtain on INOMICS. We are glad that we can help Guilherme in making his career decisions and contribute to his academic development. We wish him a lot of success in achieving his goals. ➲ Were you inspired by Guilherme's story? We encourage you to check INOMICS regularly so you will not miss any interesting study programs and courses in your discipline. ➲ Do you want to help other INOMICS users in choosing their university for their studies or work? Find your institution here and leave your review! ➲ Would you also like to share your experience in academia with other students or researchers? Write to us at media@inomics.com. We will be happy to hear your story!
Guilherme Morlin is a Brazilian currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Economics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Guilherme is also our lucky winner of $100 Amazon Gift Card in the recent INOMICS Review Prize Draw. Students and researchers from all over the world took part in the contest by submitting reviews of the universities and institutions where they study or work.
The value of diversity resides on new ideas, creativity and innovation. To ensure the success of your international team, you should work towards inclusion, where every single member feels valued and integrated in the organization, mission, vision and strategy. When professors, students and administration members feel appreciated, they are more willing to generate ideas and make resources available for innovation and growth. There is no magic bullet or golden rule that will keep your team members happy - everything depends on the culture of your organization or university. But properly assessing the characteristics of your team will help you considerably. Focus groups, interviews and surveys are at your disposal to draw good conclusions in this endeavour. Some other good practices that will lead to success in your diversity team include: Recognise and respect the cultural differences of your team members: In an international team you will often face multiple interpretations of the same issue. While some of your team members understand a situation as normal, others can experience it as stressful. It is always worth getting to know your team members as well as possible in order to avoid miscommunication in the words and body language that you use, or even confusion as a result of workflows that to you might seem standard, but to others may be very foreign. Design processes to make your employees or students feel welcome: A new employee or student from a completely different cultural background needs to feel accepted. Make the first day of the new team member an important event and alert current employees about the new team member. Create mentor groups: Assigning a local mentor to people from different cultural backgrounds will make them feel comfortable and supported. Create a free space to share ideas and take them into account: Problem solving comes in different shapes in different cultures; so let your institution absorb the new ideas and approaches from people from other backgrounds. Use benchmarking: Other institutions have successfully reached a diverse multicultural environment - let them teach you and provide you with new ideas. Provide communication training for your employees and students: Whether communication coaching, language courses or assertiveness, being able to communicate messages properly will help your people blend into your workplace community Build up a strong leadership program inside your institution: Avoid all types of cultural bias about the styles and characteristics of a leader; the challenge is to enable each team member to become an effective leader matching their own cultural mindset. Listen to your people: Make use of surveys and interviews to determine the needs of different employees and students. Only then can you develop a strategic retention plan for your diverse talent. Focus on building trust in your team: The most basic way in which you can ensure trust in your team is by setting up good communication channels (intranet, posters, emails, social media groups, etc.) Make sure that your team members understand each other clearly, regardless of the ways that their background influences their behaviour and non-verbal communication. By organizing team-building activities, you will provide a space outside your institution to socialize and learn from each other. Managing a multicultural team of employees and students may be a signficant challenge but it also promises a big reward in terms of experience and learning. At INOMICS we are happy to support your recruitment activities and to provide you with tips for the effective management of your international talent. Please feel free to write to us at info@inomics.com if you are interested in knowing more about us, our research initiatives in the recruitment industry and the advertising opportunities for your institution. We will be happy to work with you to attract the best candidates for your institution.
Managing a multicultural team can be exciting and challenging. While employers might know what to expect from employees with the same background as them, a multicultural team demands more time and dedication since not all management and motivation techniques will work the same way with all team members. Last month we talked about diversity recruitment and how to hire multicultural talent for institutions. In this article we will address different suggestions that will help you keep your employees and students engaged.
Meet Carolina: a PhD Student in International Economics at Brandeis University in the USA
We asked Carolina about her impressions from the conference and her PhD study experience. She was also happy to share a couple of photos from the event (see below). Conference Impressions Why did you choose this conference? I chose the 3rd Geography of Innovation Conference because it was a great platform to present my paper about International Trade and Innovation and meet the most relevant people in the field. I was not wrong! I watched fabulous presentations, had conversations with many scholars and received great feedback after presenting my paper. How did you spend the time in France and what was your overall impression from the conference? The conference location was a big plus: Toulouse is such a beautiful city. It is small and has great public transportation which makes it very easy to get around. The conference also had social events (like a 'meet and greet' and a gala dinner) held at different venues, so I also got to spend some time with the other presenters strolling around the city. It was a lot of fun! How was this conference useful for your career? This was my very first international conference. So far I had only been able to present my work at my University, which made this conference a great opportunity to get more varied feedback and talk to scholars doing similar research. I believe conferences are very useful; you can only benefit from exposure and feedback. What is the importance of networking for you and what do you do to extend your network? I believe networking is fundamental in any profession. There is this idea that academia is all about doing research by yourself and you don’t need networking, but I strongly disagree. I have learned a lot by interacting with other scholars, both by listening to their fresh ideas and also their thoughts about mine. For this reason, I try to extend my network as much as I can. Conferences are a great way of doing it, provided you keep in touch with the people you meet! I added a few on LinkedIn and also chat via email. Which channels and tools do you use for gaining reputation in the academic world? Once I have a good paper draft, I send it to my advisors and close friends in the field. After incorporating comments and suggestions, I use that draft to apply to conferences. I regularly check the INOMICS website as several conferences are being added every day! If I get into one, I present it and get as much feedback as possible. Once I incorporated all comments, I upload it somewhere (SSRN, Ideas Repec, own website) and send it to as many people as I can (pretty much anyone I know in the field, including people I meet at a conference). I believe this is a good system for getting out the best version of your work and gaining reputation in the academic world. PhD Study Experience Why did you decide to do your PhD? While doing my Master’s in Economics I worked part-time as a research assistant for two very well-known researchers. I loved the job even though I wasn’t even doing the best part: choosing the research topic. But being able to get to the bottom of things was very eye-opening. I realised I needed to get a PhD to conduct my own research and hopefully make a career out of that. It takes a long time, with lots of hard work and the lowest pay in the market, but now that I am reaching the end of the journey I couldn’t be happier. What specialization did you choose and why? I chose to specialise in Economic Development and International Trade, and right now I am studying the impact of Technological Innovation on them. I was always attracted to studying differences across countries, and what the developing world can do to catch-up. I believe this choice has to do with my upbringing: being Argentinean I always wondered why some countries were more developed than others (and how I could fix mine!). Carolina is doing her PhD at Brandeis University Credit: Leo Felici How do you see your future academic career? Which positions are you aiming at and where would you like to work? I would love to have an academic career. I realise it is hard to get a good academic job (i.e. at a well ranked University) because the spots are very limited and the competition is tough. However, I would very gladly work at any place that allows me to do some research (think tank, bank, NGO, etc). How does our platform help you in developing your career? INOMICS has been very useful to me! I mainly use it to find conferences and fellowships, and I find it is the most complete source out there. I also know that I will be using it to find job postings at the end of this year when I go to the job market! Which tips would you give to other PhD students and PhD candidates? Just go out and present your work! Working on your own all the time can be tiring and frustrating. It is very refreshing to discuss your work with others, and you can only benefit from interaction. Take advantage of the hundreds of conferences being held everywhere in the world and show what you’ve got! We at INOMICS are happy that we could help make Carolina’s conference trip possible and wish her a lot of success in pursuing her academic career. ➲ Were you inspired by Carolina's story? We encourage you to check INOMICS regularly so you will not miss out on any interesting conferences and study programs in your discipline. ➲ Do you need support to attend a conference in your field? The next Conference Grant Contest 2016 is coming soon! Subscribe to our Email Alert here and stay updated! ➲ Would you also like to share your experience in academia with other students or researchers? Write to us at media@inomics.com. We will be happy to hear your story!
Carolina Pan is an Argentine student, currently in the last year of her PhD program in International Economics at Brandeis University, USA. We chose her as the winner of our Conference Grant Contest 2015 and awarded her with a €500 grant. The prize helped her to attend the 3rd Geography of Innovation Conference organized by the University of Toulouse and Sciences-Po Toulouse in France. Participants from over 50 countries took part in the contest by submitting short explanations about their personal reasons for going to their chosen event. You can see her winning answer here.
5 Apps That Every Professor Needs to Know
1. Keynote (iPhone/iPad) For putting together slide shows, either for lectures or for presentations at conferences, Keynote is a favourite program among professors. This app lets you create, design, edit, and present slide shows, all from your mobile device. The primary advantages of Keynote over other slide show apps is that the themes are more stylish than others, and that the presentation mode allows you to present your slides on a large screen, while you see your notes and a timer on your mobile screen. Plus, the app is designed for a touch interface, so it's easy to use and you can drag and drop the items to where you need them. If you have an Apple device, this app should be your first choice for presenting. 2. Skype (iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows Phone) It's becoming increasingly common in academia to use video chat programs for collaborating with foreign researchers or for interviewing job candidates. While not the same as an in-person meeting, video chats allow you to converse with other academics instantly, even over great distances, to get feedback on your projects or to get to know them better. Whilst some people do use programs like Apple's FaceTime, by far the most popular choice of app is Skype. It's free, fairly stable, and easy to use. If you're involved in the hiring process at your university, or if you're hunting for a new job, you'll definitely need this app. 3. LastPass (iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows Phone) Security is a real concern for anyone who regularly uses electronic devices and services, but this is especially true for professors who might have proprietary or confidential information stored on their devices. One of the biggest security flaws that makes most users vulnerable is the habit of re-using passwords on multiple sites and devices, so if someone obtains your password for one site, they can potentially access all of your confidential information. But it's also hard to remember hundreds of different passwords. The way around this is to use a password manager like LastPass, which will generate, store, and fill in unique passwords for all the websites you use regularly. Keep your data secure and know that you'll never lose an important password again with this app. 4. Chrome Remote Desktop (iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows Phone) You're travelling to a conference, or you're at your desk at work, when you realise that you've left a vital document on your home computer and you need to access it now. In this situation, it's incredibly useful to be able to access your home computer from your phone. Generally, this would be achieved by setting up a VPN (virtual private network) which lets you tunnel in to your computer from a remote location. However, this is rather technically challenging to set up, and usually incurs some costs. Non-technical professors can get a simplified version of this service by using Chrome Remote Desktop, which is easy to use and also free. Once you've set it up, you can use your phone to browse your computer and read any important notes, or to email your files to yourself, which is invaluable in an emergency. 5. Ustream (iPhone/iPad, Android) With lots of classes now being streamed online for distance learners, it's common to see recording equipment in the lecture hall. Some universities have large specialist departments for technical support and online learning technology, but others are just starting to embrace the possibilities of online learning. If you work in a university which does not have much technological support available, you can still set up your own streams of your lectures, even if you are not very technically knowledgeable. The Ustream app makes it easy to create live online streams from the camera on your smartphone, or to upload previously recorded video files taken on your phone. You can even chat with your audience while streaming, so you can engage with distance learners directly. These apps can help to enrich the learning experiences of your students, to connect with colleagues abroad, and to make your life easier.
There are lots of technological tools available to help support professors in their teaching, research, and administration. But these tools aren't just for your home computer – there are lots of apps for mobile devices which can be useful in university life too. We've covered top apps for students before, and today we're listing some of the best mobile apps for professors.
Everything You Need To Know About IELTS Test When Applying For UK Visa
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a test that measures the language proficiency of people who want to settle in places where English is used as a language of communication. An easy-to-use 9-band scale clearly identifies proficiency level, from non-user (band 1) through to expert (band 9). You can take the test at more than 1100 locations and there are 48 test dates a year. Which IELTS test do I need to study in the UK? Check this decision-making tree to find out: Since 6 April 2015, three IELTS test formats have been available including the new IELTS Life Skills test, as well as the two established tests: Academic Training and General Training. IELTS Life Skills is a test for people who need to prove their speaking and listening skills at Levels A1 or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). This is a single test covering speaking and listening skills. Can I use any IELTS test result for my UK visa application? If you wish to use your IELTS test for your visa application and your test was taken on or after 23 April 2015, it needs to be an 'IELTS for UKVI' test from one of the UKVI test locations. You can submit your IELTS results to UKVI from tests taken before 23 April 2015 if: - your visa application requires you to supply results from a Secure English Language Test, and - your IELTS test date was on or before 22 April 2015, and - your IELTS test was taken at any of the 1100 IELTS test locations around the world. Are you planning to study a bachelor’s degree or higher in the UK? UKVI has confirmed that these changes do not affect you if you are entering directly at degree level or higher at a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the UK. Higher Education Institutions currently choose their own method of testing students’ English language ability for entry onto their courses and this will not change. Tier 4 Student Visa If you are applying for a Tier 4 Student Visa to enter a university that is a Tier 4 Sponsor to study a bachelor or postgraduate degree, you must meet the English language level as defined by the institution. All British universities and colleges accept IELTS results. Tier 4 Student Visa applicants can apply to the UK universities listed here with an IELTS result from any of the 1100 IELTS test locations worldwide unless the institution has additional requirements. Where can I take an IELTS or IELTS Life Skills test for a UK visa application? The tests are available throughout the world, in locations specified by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Find your IELTS test location here. How often can I retake IELTS or IELTS Life Skills? For IELTS tests, there are no restrictions on retaking the test. For IELTS Life Skills, if you pass the test, you cannot retake it at the same level for a period of two years. If you do not pass it, there are no restrictions on retaking the test. If I take an IELTS test for UK visa purposes, can I use my result in other countries/for other purposes? Yes. IELTS test results are accepted by more than 9000 organisations worldwide, including universities, colleges, governments and employers. Find more information on IELTS website.
If you are planning to study in the UK, bear in mind that you will need to provide proof of your English language proficiency to get a visa. For this, you can choose one of the tests approved by UK Visas and Immigration.
If you're an economics student, today we're listing the top 10 summer schools for you to attend in 2016: Economics Summer Schools at Barcelona GSE Organizer: Barcelona GSE Location: Barcelona, Spain Duration: Jun 27, 2016 to Jul 8, 2016 Details: The Barcelona Graduate School of Economics welcomes the summer with a diverse range of summer schools in economics and related fields. These short summer programs are addressed to researchers, professionals and graduate students who want to improve their competences in specific fields of knowledge. Renowned academics and leading practitioners teach the summer school courses, which draw participants from all over the world. Apply now PSE Summer School Organizer: Paris School of Economics Location: Paris, France Duration: Jun 27, 2016 to Jul 8, 2016 Details: PSE Summer School offers research-oriented teaching by leading experts in their fields. It seeks to gather Master and PhD students, post-doctoral students, academics, and professionals. PSE proposes four intensive one-week programmes, each being a full-time mix of coherent courses on topical issues, taught by PSE professors. Apply now EcoMod Modeling School Prague Organizer: EcoMod Location: Prague, Czech Republic Duration: Jun 27, 2016 to Jul 1, 2016 Details: EcoMod is the world’s leading research, advisory, and educational not-for-profit network dedicated to promoting advanced modeling and statistical techniques in economic policy and decision making. Its summer school curriculum includes courses in general equilibrium modeling, GVAR, DSGE, fiscal and budgetary policy and macro-econometric modeling using GAMS, Matlab, dynare and Eviews. The training is fully practical and provides 'hands-on' experience through intensive use of exercises on the computer. EcoMod offers a limited number of partial scholarships to candidates from developing countries and transition economies. New course available on Tax Revenue Modeling Using Econometric and Microsimulation Techniques with EViews and Stata! Apply now 11th Advanced Summer School on Nonlinear Cross-Section and Panel Regression Models with Focus on Count Data Organizer: University of Crete Location: Crete, Greece Duration: Jul 31, 2016 to Aug 7, 2016 Details: This course taking place in a beautiful city of Crete will cover regression methods for count data, such as number of doctor visits, where the dependent variable is a nonnegative integer. While the focus is on count data, most of the methods are applicable to nonlinear regression models in general, and the relevant general frameworks will be presented ahead of specialization to counts. All methods will be carefully illustrated in full detail by applications to cross-section and panel count data examples. Apply now Global School in Empirical Research Methods (GSERM) Organizer: University of St. Gallen Location: St. Gallen, Switzerland Duration: Jun 2, 2016 to Jun 24, 2016 Details: This summer school is a high-calibre 3.5 week integrated programme teaching methodology for PhD students and postdocs from leading universities all over the world. The GSERM offers an attractive course-based learning atmosphere on different aspects of empirical research. Participants can choose from different courses (one course per week) offered as block seminars led by internationally renowed lecturers. Apply now Warwick Economics Summer School Organizer: University of Warwick Location: Coventry, United Kingdom Duration: Jul 17, 2016 to Aug 6, 2016 Details: The Department of Economics at The University of Warwick offers a three week programme aimed at current undergraduates studying economics, students progressing to Masters level study as well as professionals. All courses on offer are taught by world leading economists including professors: Ken Binmore (CBE), Andrew Oswald, Marcus Miller and Abhinay Muthoo. It is an excellent opportunity for students to further enhance their skills and knowledge in economics through studying at one of the leading economics departments in Europe. Apply now The 8th Summer School International - Global & Chinese Economy Organizer: Peking University Location: Beijing, China Duration: Jul 4, 2016 to Jul 29, 2016 Details: This summer program offers a wide variety of academic courses in economics taught in English. It also provides Chinese language courses to students at beginner's level. All courses will be held at the Peking University campus. Upon completion of the programme, students will receive an official transcript and earn academic credits from Peking University. Apply now International Summer Program in Economics Education Organizer: Hebrew University Location: Jerusalem, Israel Duration: Jul 11, 2016 to Aug 11, 2016 Details: A five-week summer school in economics includes a series of courses in economics and finance designed to prepare students for graduate studies (in the U.S. and Europe). The courses are taught by leading Hebrew University faculty and supported by teaching assistants who meet with the students throughout the program. Apply now ÊSTIMATE - Early Summer Tutorial In Modern Applied Tools of Econometrics Organizer: Michigan State University Location: East Lansing, MI, United States Duration: Jun 3, 2016 to Jun 5, 2016 Details: Econometrics has long been a strength of the Economics Department at Michigan State University. Their summer program gives empirical practitioners, academic researchers, industry/government researchers/analysts, and graduate students, access to econometrics training usually reserved for students formally enrolled in PhD programs at MSU. ÊSTIMATE is an intensive weekend workshop taught by world class econometricians. ÊSTIMATE’s focus is modern econometric tools as used in practice. Participants learn methods and techniques to use immediately in their empirical research. ÊSTIMATE’s goal is to broaden and improve the practice of econometric methods throughout empirical research and data analysis in academics, industry and government. Apply now Summer School in Health Economics and Statistics Organizer: The American University of Paris Location: Paris, France Duration: Jun 6, 2016 to Jul 15, 2016 Details: Renowned for 50 years for its international curriculum, engaged faculty, and location under the Eiffel tower, The American University of Paris offers an excellent educational experience and one of the most diverse student bodies in the world. The intensive summer session packs into 6 weeks all of the quality of its American-style curriculum against the backdrop of the City of Light. The summer school focuses on the role played by relative market prices in our society and on the forces of market supply and demand in determining these prices. Since the actions of consumers and firms underlie supply and demand, the course studies in detail the behavior of these two groups. Apply now Harvard Summer School in Economics Organizer: Harvard Summer School Location: Cambridge, MA, USA Duration: Jun 21, 2016 to Aug 6, 2016 Details: Are you a college student, a professional seeking advancement, or an international student interested in studying at Harvard for the summer? This course aims to build a theoretical framework for international monetary economics and apply it to a better understanding of both the historical and current international monetary system and recent policy implications. Throughout the course, country case studies and quantitative analysis supplement the core material. Apply now
If you want to learn about a new topic, to brush up on your skills, or to meet more people in your field, then summer schools are an ideal opportunity. Generally aimed at undergraduates, masters students, PhD students, researchers and professionals, these short courses involve teaching, discussion, and group projects.
Top 10 Summer Schools 2016: Political Science & International Relations
Today we're considering the top 10 summer schools for students in politics and international relations which you could participate in 2016: EUsers Summer School: Performance and Governance of Services of General Interest in the EU​ Organizer: University of Milan Location: Milan, Italy Duration: Jun 27, 2016 to Jul 1, 2016 Details: This summer school is aimed at analysing the structure, regulation and performance of public services in Europe, particularly network industries. It is targeted to master-level, PhD students and post-doctoral researchers who are working in the fields of Economics, Management, Public Administration, Political Science and Social Studies. The school offers an overview of network industries reform in the EU, a unique focus on public enterprises economics and management, an international faculty of senior experts and a great opportunity for interacting with stakeholders from the European Commission and European agencies. Apply now Istanbul: Crossroad of Civilizations Summer School​ Organizer: Isik University Location: Istanbul, Turkey Duration: Jun 6, 2016 to Jul 1, 2016 Details: Enjoy your summer in Istanbul studying the history and culture of Istanbul at one of Turkey’s most prestigious universities. Immerse yourself in Turkey’s history, traditions and people in Sile, home of Istanbul’s most renowned summer resort. Discover Turkish and Middle East politics, culture, economy, society and art through a study of Istanbul. Deepen your understanding of Turkey with several day-long trips to major historical sites. The program also includes elementary Turkish for students from abroad. Apply now International Relations & Politics Programme​ Organizer: Cambridge Summer Institute Location: Oxford, United Kingdom Duration: Jul 3, 2016 to Aug 27, 2016 Details: This course serves as an introduction to the theoretical background of international relations and politics. You can examine a range of historical topics about international relations in trade, finance, and political institutions which it is possible to explore the behavior of states of international organizations. Through this, you will be provided with an in-dept understanding of international relation and politics related disciplines in the complex field between nations. Apply now Harvard Summer School: Debates in International Politics​ Organizer: Harvard Summer School Location: Cambridge, MA, USA Duration: Jul 11, 2016 to Aug 6, 2016 Details: This course critically examines arguments, analytical frameworks, and possible solutions for major debates in international politics. Students are encouraged to take positions on key economic, security, and global controversies. You will examine debates surrounding phenomena such as sovereignty, imperialism, terrorism, world governance, and state failure. You will also have a chance to investigate disputes over international injustice, environmental degradation, global trade, as well as America's role toward China and the rest of the world. Apply now 2016 Munich-Vienna Middle East Summer School​ Organizer: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and MEIA Research Location: Munich, Germany & Vienna, Austria Duration: Aug 3, 2016 to Aug 26, 2016 Details: During the 2016 Munich-Vienna Middle East Summer School, students will be provided with a broad understanding of the key political, economic, and societal developments in the contemporary Middle East. In the seminars, students will be taught by academics and practitioners with long-standing experience in the Middle East and given the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with students from the region in focus. The program targets both advanced students and young professionals from various backgrounds. Apply now SciencesPo Summer School​​: The European Union at a Crossroads Organizer: Sciences Po Paris Location: Paris, France Duration: Jun 3, 2016 to Jun 30, 2016 Details: The Sciences Po Summer School is a unique opportunity for students from all over the world to study political sciences at Sciences Po, France’s leading university in the social sciences. The aim of the course is to introduce students to the multiple European realities and to provide the necessary tools for understanding how the EU can face these challenges in an ever-changing world. This interdisciplinary course will permit students to approach these major issues through the lenses of political science, law, economics and history. Apply now International Politics Summer School​ Organizer: University of Oxford Location: Oxford, united Kingdom Duration: Jul 31, 2016 to Aug 13, 2016 Details: The International Politics Summer School tackles the vital issues that shape politics in the modern world, in a rigorous academic environment. Participants will apply their knowledge to in depth analysis of key countries and regions outside of Western Europe and North America, and will engage with broader issues that affect all parts of the globe. Apply now The Summer School 'China: A World Superpower - Myth or Reality?' ​ Organizer: Schola Empirica in cooperation with the Institute for European and National Strategies Location: Prague, Czech Republic Duration: Jul 2, 2016 to Jul 9, 2016 Details: Whether one likes or not, the People’s Republic of China is becoming an economic and political powerhouse and the world’s second most powerful country after the United States. At the same time there are a lot of misconceptions and confusion about the real nature of Beijing’s political and economic system. If you are a student interested in finding out what the real China is and where it is headed in the near future, SCHOLA EMPIRICA is pleased to invite you to its summer school. Apply now LSE-UCT July School Organizer: London School of Economics and Political Science Location: Cape Town, South Africa Duration: Jun 27, 2016 to Jul 8, 2016 Details: This innovative and prestigious two-week 'summer school' style programme provides the highest calibre students, graduates and professionals from across the globe with an exciting opportunity to study important social science issues relevant to Africa today across subject areas as diverse as international relations, economics, management, government, geography, law, media and social policy. The programme is taught by outstanding faculty from the University of Cape Town and LSE - two of the world’s leading institutions for teaching and research. Apply now Summer School in Methods and Techniques​ Organizer: European Consortium for Political Research Location: Budapest, Hungary Duration: Jul 28, 2016 to Aug 13, 2016 Details: The Summer School forms part of the ECPR's Methods School, which delivers cutting-edge courses in the full span of qualitative and quantitative topics, spread across the two schools. Delivered by a diverse range of experienced Instructors and supported by dedicated Teaching Assistants, the academic side of the School is designed to provide young scholars with the methodological skill set they need at the start of their career, while an exciting plenary programme provides an opportunity for all important networking. Apply now
Summer schools are ideal locations for not just learning new skills and ideas, but also for networking with your peers and senior figures in your field. Plus they can be a lot of fun! If you have the time over the summer break, spending a week or two at a summer school can be an helpful step along your career path.
Top 10 Summer Schools 2016: Finance & Accounting
Today we're taking a look at some of the best summer schools in the fields of finance and accounting, which will be running over the summer of 2016: AU Summer University: Finance Organizer: Aarhus University Location: Aarhus, Denmark Duration: Jul 4, 2016 to Aug 28, 2016 Details: The programme at AU Summer University consist of a broad variety of courses, taught in English at Bachelor’s and Master’s level, also within the field of Finance. AU Summer University welcomes Danish and international full-time students, exchange students and free movers. Along with the academic programme, it offers accommodation service, visa service, and a social programme for both lecturers and students. Apply now The Finance Boot Camp Organizer: Frankfurt School of Finance & Management Location: Frankfurt, Germany Duration: Jul 18, 2016 to Jul 29, 2016 Details: In the first week of your Boot Camp you will participate in a Banking Game. During this class you study how to manage a financial institution by playing a web-based simulation Probanker in a competitive game of student teams. You will have to make choices about lending rates, advertisement campaigns, and funding sources and many other aspects of a real banker’s life to get a firm grasp of risk management in financial institutions. Frankfurt School’s Boot Camp targets non-finance Bachelor and first-year Master students seeking to develop or deepen their financial skills in one of Europe’s leading financial centres: Frankfurt am Main. Apply now International Finance Summer Program​ Organizer: HEC Paris Location: Paris, France Duration: Jun 13, 2016 to Jun 24, 2016 Details: This introductory course is about key decisions made by treasurers or chief financial officers of exporting firms, multinational corporations and financial institutions. Specifically, it addresses the funding/financing and investment questions within a multi-currency setting. Special attention is devoted to Risk Management (including valuation of hedging instruments such as forwards, futures, swaps and options) as it permeates international funding and investment decisions. The intensive summer program is designed for students aspiring to careers in finance at large and small corporations with extensive international dealings, banks, pension funds, private equity firms or hedge funds as well as "globally reaching" financial institutions. Apply now Imperial College Business Summer School​ Organizer: Imperial College London Location: London, United Kingdom Duration: Jun 27, 2016 to Jul 15, 2016 Details: Imperial College Business School runs an intensive but stimulating Summer School programme that gives students the chance to increase their academic standing in one of the most vibrant and culturally-enriched cities in the world. With six courses spread over two sessions and a varied social programme, Summer School is a fantastic taster to life at Imperial and in London. The courses, spread over two sessions, are designed to enrich, enhance and develop your knowledge and practical skills. Apply now Boston University School on Accounting​ Organizer: Boston University Location: Boston, MA, USA Duration: May 24, 2016 to Jul 1, 2016 Details: Imagine summer study in the U.S.—at one of the world’s top teaching and research universities. The course in Advanced Accounting examines accounting principles and practices related to business combinations and foreign operations (accounting for mergers and acquisitions, constructing consolidated financial statements, recording foreign currency transactions and hedging exchange risk, translating foreign subsidiaries' local currency financial statements), business segments, reporting for local governments, and the impact of the SEC and international standards on financial reporting. Apply now 9th Summer School on Social Banking​ Organizer: Institute for Social Banking Location: Tallinn, Estonia Duration: Jun 26, 2016 to Jul 1, 2016 Details: At the Summer School you will have the unique opportunity to meet together – in a lab-atmosphere – with representatives of both, the values based banking and finance sector and the digital FinTec sector. You will learn about values based banking, jointly create digital tools and look on chances and challenges. Apply now Introduction to Finance and Banking​ Organizer: HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht Location: Utrecht, Netherlands Duration: Jul 18, 2016 to Jul 22, 2016 Details: Financial news is dominating the Headlines. The Financial and Banking system had and still have a great impact on the economic situation in the world. This course is a general introduction to Finance and Banking to help you understand better. You will learn all about the basics of Finance, with a special focus on Banking. Apply now Summer Session: Financial Markets Organizer: University of California, San Diego Location: San Diego, CA, USA Duration: Jun 27, 2016 to Jul 30, 2016 Details: UC San Diego Summer Session offers more than 600 courses from over 40 disciplines. Students can choose from two convenient five-week sessions and a special session. During the summer you can accelerate progress towards your degree, enroll in courses that are difficult to enroll in during the fall, winter or spring quarters, enhance your career prospects, and enrich your cultural and intellectual knowledge. UC San Diego Summer Session is open to current students and visitors. Apply now Financial Leaders of Tomorrow Organizer: Tsinghua University PBC School of Finance Location: Beijing, China Duration: Jul 3, 2016 to Jul 15, 2016 Details: The Tsinghua PBCSF Summer Program is designed to help you get to know China’s financial markets in 2 weeks. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of China’s financial markets, including banking, securities, insurance, funds, and other sectors. Unique and in-depth lectures will be provided by a combination of Tsinghua faculties, policymakers from the government and industry elites with extensive experience at top financial entities. Apply now
Do you want to brush up on your academic skills, to meet more students in your field, and to have fun visiting a new place over the summer holidays? Then you should consider attending a summer school! Usually such schools last between one and three weeks, and involve travelling to a new city and attending lectures, workshops, and group activities related to a specialist academic field.
Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
Tsinghua University PBC School of Finance
Top 10 Summer Schools 2016: Business & Management
If you're thinking about attending a summer school in 2016, below we're listing some of the best courses here: Summer School in Marketing, Global Business, Finance, Tech Business and Sport Management Organizer: UPF Barcelona School of Management Location: Barcelona, Spain Duration: Jul 4, 2016 to Jul 15, 2016 Details: UPF Barcelona School of Management features 5 innovative summer schools based on the acquisition of business and technology abilities in an entertaining, multicultural atmosphere. Students are introduced to analytical thinking and real business case studies in small-group morning classes. In the afternoon, they top up their learning experience with a series of professional workshops that will introduce them to the reality of today's labor market. This summer school has been designed for all university students who are doing their bachelor's degree or have finished it within the last two years, who are interested in learning about marketing, global business, international finance, tech business or sports management. Apply now Markets and Management in Europe (M+M) - Berlin International Summer School​ Organizer: Berlin School of Economics and Law Location: Berlin, Germany Duration: Jul 3, 2016 to Jul 23, 2016 Details: As one of the pioneers in international academic summer sessions in Germany, Berlin School of Economics and Law offers trusted programs that have proved to satisfy the intellectual curiosity of the participants. The academic content of this course is taught in three modules which are specifically focused on intercultural management, marketing, and economics. Students are being offered a multidisciplinary approach to the headline topic including institutional visits and a visit to an automobile company (e.g. Volkswagen in Wolfsburg) as well as German language & culture classes at beginners level. Apply now Summer Venture in Management​ Organizer: Harvard Business School Location: Boston, MA, USA Duration: Jun 18, 2016 to Jun 24, 2016 Details: This is a one week management training program for rising college seniors designed to increase diversity and opportunity in business education. An annual event at HBS, this unique educational experience helps participants develop a broader understanding of the challenges business leaders face, the many dimensions of the business world, and the impact they can have on their community and the world through business leadership. Apply now Oxford Summer Business School​ Organizer: CBL International & Oriel College Location: Oxford, United Kingdom Duration: Jul 3, 2016 to Sep 10, 2016 (five 2-weeks sessions) Details: This outstanding summer school offers delegates the opportunity to participate in seminars and tutorials to learn more about Global and International Macroeconomics, Financial Crisis and Policy Responses, International Taxation, Development Economics, Behavioural Economics, and other cutting-edge economic disciplines. Participants have the choice of enrolling in a two-week session, or extending their programme in Oxford to 10 weeks. Apply now Dubai Business School​ Organizer: CBL International Location: Dubai, UAE Duration: May 28, 2016 to Jun 10, 2016 Details: Joining the business study abroad programme in Dubai will introduce you to the bustling legal centres of the Middle East, mainly Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Before letting you loose to explore the city, you’ll receive an introductory course on the Arabic language. The programme is appropriate for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in international legal, economic, and business trends and developments within the Gulf Region and the Middle East. Apply now Summer Busines Classes at UH Maui College​ Organizer: UH Maui College Location: Kahului, Hawaii, USA Duration: 13 different sessions starting from May, 2016 Details: This summer you could condense a semester’s worth of learning in just five or ten short weeks. And why wouldn't you want to fast-track your education on one of the most naturally beautiful islands in the world? UH Maui College is an accredited baccalaureate degree granting institution, part of the state’s University of Hawai’i System, and it offers a wide variety of exciting business summer classes, e.g. Principles of Business, Business Technology, or Introduction to Supervision. Apply now Intercultural Management: a Scandinavian Perspective​ Organizer: BI Norwegian Business School Location: Oslo, Norway Duration: Jun 27, 2016 to Jul 22, 2016 Details: The course focuses on comparing Scandinavian and Norwegian cultures with other cultures in the international business arena. This context will provide the backdrop for understanding and applying research on culture, communication and management. Participants examine intercultural management in specific global industries where Norwegian firms have excelled. In addition to the summer course, it is also possible for BI summer students to attend lectures on Norwegian Life and Society, which are organised by the International Summer School at the University of Oslo. Apply now Summer Business School Organizer: London School of Business & Finance Location: London, United Kingdom Duration: Jul 6, 2016 to Jul 31, 2016 Details: The LSBF Summer Business School is an intensive business programme aimed at undergraduates from all around the world, exposing you to the new challenges and techniques found in the global marketplace. Here you will be encouraged to discuss new business topics, and enhance your awareness at an international level. The classes are delivered through a combination of discussions, case studies and group projects – taking you closer to the real business environment. Apply now Summer Institute for General Management​ Organizer: Stanford Graduate School of Business Location: Stanford, CA, USA Duration: Jun 19, 2016 to Jul 16, 2016 Details: The current job market is extremely competitive, and companies are hiring young professionals who can make an immediate impact in the workplace. The Summer Institute for General Management (SIGM) will provide you with the tools you need to distinguish yourself and get hired. SIGM is a four-week residential program that provides participants with a strong foundation in business management fundamentals. Apply now The Entrepreneurship Summer School Organizer: London Business School Location: London, United Kingdom Duration: Jul 18, 2016 to Sep 10, 2016 Details: This summer school gives you the chance to assess and shape your business opportunity in a robust and practical way. Over the course of the summer you will be provided with the skills and insights you need to research your target market and industry and to know what it takes to turn your idea into a viable business. This programme is perfect for you if you are contemplating an entrepreneurial venture but don’t know how to take it forward or you’re unsure if you’ll enjoy the way of life. Apply now Bocconi Summer School Organizer: Bocconi University Location: Milan, Italy Duration: Jul 4, 2016 to Jul 22, 2016 Details: If you are interested in further developing your passion for business and economics by taking part in a life and learning experience on leading-edge subjects, you can do it right in the heart of Milan. Bocconi Summer School offers a selective three-week study program, entirely taught in English. Courses are held in innovative multi-media spaces with teaching materials and tools available to you online at any time. To keep you anchored to the real world, each course curriculum includes company visits and teamwork on real-life business cases and situations, putting to the test your problem-solving and soft skills and creativity. Apply now
As a business or management student, you'll know the importance of acquiring specialist skills, and of building your network. Summer schools can help with both of these goals, giving you chances to learn about new topics and to get to know other students, researchers, and professors in your field.
Top 10 Summer Schools 2016: Math & Stats
For those wanting to gain new skills in mathematics or statistics, here are 10 of the best summer schools for you to attend: STATA Summer School​ Organizer: Timberlake Consultants Location: London, United Kingdom Duration: Jul 4, 2016 to Jul 9, 2016 Details: Timberlake Consultants, official distributor of Stata, offer the summer school comprising a series of four 1-day courses and one 2-day course. All courses will be delivered interactively using the internationally used software package Stata. This is a great opportunity for students, academics and professionals to expand their econometrics skills and learn how they can apply econometrics and statistics from professionals pioneering research at the forefront of their specialist fields. See also other Timberlake's summer courses here. Apply now Harvard Summer School: Introduction to Quantitative Methods Organizer: Harvard University Location: Cambridge, MA, USA Duration: Jun 20, 2016 to Aug 7, 2016 Details: Are you a college student, a professional seeking advancement, or an international student interested in studying at Harvard for the summer? During this course, you will be introducted to statistical principles, applications, and analysis. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, sampling procedures, estimation methods, confidence intervals, tests of significance, chisquare tests, regression and correlation, and analysis of variance. Computer programming knowledge is not required. Stata is used and taught in the course. Apply now Cambridge Immerse Mathematics Programme​ Organizer: University of Cambridge Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom Duration: Jul 24, 2016 to Aug 20, 2016 Details: Cambridge Immerse is a unique two week residential educational experience with a diverse and enriching curriculum, designed and taught by Oxford University and Cambridge University staff. Tutorials and seminars are taught by highly regarded tutors in an optimal learning environment that stimulates academic enquiry; yet the carefully planned schedule ensures that the programme not only meets the academic needs of the participants, but also provides a unique insight into the university city through an abundance of extracurricular activities. The Cambridge Immerse Mathematics course is perfect for those considering studying mathematics at university level. As well as consolidating students’ existing understanding of core mathematical topics, the course introduces students to more advanced topics and areas of study. Apply now Complex Networks: Theory, Methods, and Applications Organizer: Complex Systems Society Location: Como, Italy Duration: May 16, 2016 to May 20, 2016 Details: The school offers a succinct education in network science. It is open to all aspiring scholars in any area of science or engineering who wish to study networks of any kind (whether theoretical or applied), and it is especially addressed to doctoral students and young postdoctoral scholars. The aim of the school is to deepen into both theoretical developments and applications in targeted fields. Apply now Thematic Program on Model Theory: Graduate Summer School​ Organizer: University of Notre Dame Location: Notre Dame, IN, USA Duration: Jun 13, 2016 to Jun 17, 2016 Details: Organized jointly by IsaacGoldbring (University of Illinois at Chicago), Anand Pillay (University of Notre Dame) and Sergei Starchenko (University of Notre Dame), this graduate summer school encomprises a series of mini-courses on Continuous Model Theory, Topological Dynamics and Model Theory, Descriptive Set Theory and Model Theory and Stability, Combinatorics, and NIP. Apply now Summer School on Random Matrices​​ Organizer: University of Michigan Location: Ann Arbor, MI, USA Duration: Jun 13, 2016 to Jun 24, 2016 Details: This summer school is motivated by the observation that there are several non-overlapping techniques used in random matrix theory. Its goal is to provide an opportunity for graduate students and postdocs to learn these different techniques and acquire the background necessary to understand how they can be applied for understanding the properties of random matrices. Students are expected to have some basic working knowledge on random matrix theory. Apply now GESIS Summer School in Survey Methodology Organizer: GESIS – Leibniz-Institute for the Social Sciences Location: Cologne, Germany Duration: Aug 4, 2016 to Aug 26, 2016 Details: This summer school offers high quality training in state of the art techniques and methods of survey research. It aims to give a broad overview of survey methods and equip participants with essential skills in designing, planning, execution, documentation and quality assurance of surveys.It also provides an opportunity to deeply engage with the different tasks of survey design and implementation, different survey modes, and research designs involving surveys. Participants may expect good networking opportunities, a supportive social environment, and an exciting time in Cologne. Apply now MSRI-UP 2016: Sandpile Groups​ Organizer: Mathematical Sciences Research Institute Location: Berkeley, CA, USA Duration: Jun 11, 2016 to Jul 24, 2016 Details: The MSRI Undergraduate Program is a comprehensive summer program designed for undergraduate students who have completed two years of university-level mathematics courses and would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences. The main objective of the MSRI-UP is to identify talented students, especially those from underrepresented groups, who are interested in mathematics and make available to them meaningful research opportunities, the necessary skills and knowledge to participate in successful collaborations, and a community of academic peers and mentors who can advise, encourage and support them through a successful graduate program. Apply now Derived Categories: Dimensions, Stability Conditions, and Enhancements Organizer: Hausdorff Center for Mathematics Location: Bonn, Germany Duration: Mar 29, 2016 to Apr 2, 2016 Details: Hausdorff School offers three lecture series of 4-5 talks as well as exercise and discussion sessions. The topics discussed during the lectures will include: applications of stability conditions, generators and dimension in triangulated categories and uniqueness of DG enhancements. Apply now Madrid UPM Advanced Statistics and Data Mining Summer School​ Organizer: Technical University of Madrid Location: Madrid, Spain Duration: Jun 27, 2016 to Jul 8, 2016 Details: This summer school is organized by the Artificial Intelligence Department of the School of Computer Science. It comprises intensive courses which aim to provide attendees with an introduction to both the theoretical foundations and the practical applications of some of the modern statistical analysis techniques currently in use. Each course has theoretical as well as practical classes, in which each technique is put into practice with a computer program. Students are free to choose the courses according to their interests, with the only restriction being that courses which are given in parallel are mutually exclusive. Apply now
It's early to start planning for the summer – but if you want to make the most of your time as a student, you need to look ahead! If you have time off between semesters in your undergraduate or masters degree, you can use that time to attend a summer school. These residential courses typically run from between one week and three weeks, and involve teaching on specialist topics, and group workshops too. Plus, they are are great opportunity to network with fellow students and researchers in your field.
Mathematical Sciences Research Institute
Econometrics, Statistics and Quantitative Methods (JEL C)
Top 10 Interdisciplinary Summer Schools 2016: Social Sciences
For those of you who are working in the social sciences, today we're sharing a list of the top 10 interdisciplinary summer schools in 2016: Methods Summer Programme​ Organizer: London School of Economics and Political Science Location: London, United Kingdom Duration: Aug 15, 2016 to Aug 26, 2016 Details: The Methods Summer Programme is a summer school in social science research methods for undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and professionals from around the world. It offers 12 intensive short courses across three areas of research methods: Qualitative & Mixed Social Research Methods, Quantitative Social Research Methods and Methods for Economists. All courses provide training in research methods as used by the top researchers in the field, and are taught by world-class academics at our campus in central London. Apply now Change and Continuity in the Middle East - Graduate Summer School​ Organizer: Isik University Location: Istanbul, Turkey Duration: Jun 6, 2016 to Jul 1, 2016 Details: Istanbul is calling you to discover politics, culture, economy and society of Middle East which has been home to many civilizations for thousands of years and where major political changes have taken place over the past several years. The program aims to look at the long-term social, economic, and political drivers of change in the region, and to analyze the political and cultural continuities underway across the Middle East. It is designed for International and Turkish graduate students and to all participants who hold a bachelor degree. Apply now Summer School in Health Economics and Statistics​ Organizer: University of Gothenburg Location: Gothenburg, Sweden Duration: Jun 13, 2016 to Jun 17, 2016 Details: This summer school offers four condensed courses on fundamental topics in evaluating health policies and interventions. All courses are a mix of standard lectures and computer-based lab sessions where participants will work with real-world datasets. Apply now Energy and Finance Summer Program​ Organizer: HEC Paris Location: Paris, France Duration: Jun 27, 2016 to Jul 8, 2016 Details: If you are a university-level student or recent graduate (from any discipline) seeking an academic challenge and multi-cultural learning experience, the HEC Paris Summer School experience is for you. At the HEC Paris Summer School, you can sharpen your mind, develop your analytical and decision-making skills, and grasp complex challenges and strategic opportunities in today’s global economy. Apply now Investment, Securities and Psychology of Finance​ Organizer: The University of Edinburgh Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom Duration: Jun 6, 2016 to Jul 1, 2016 Details: Explore the types of behaviour that shape financial decisions. This course is intended to provide a foundation in financial decision making – and an understanding of the techniques of financial analysis. It introduces the key elements of financial management and provides an outline of how to carry out financial evaluations of business decisions. Apply now Interdisciplinary Summer Programme​ Organizer: University of Cambridge Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom Duration: Jul 3, 2016 to Jul 16, 2016 (Term I), Jul 17, 2016 to Jul 30, 2016 (Term II), Jul 31, 2016 to Aug 13, 30, 2016 (Term III) Details: The three terms of the Interdisciplinary Programme offer courses covering a wide variety of subjects including economics, international politics and relations, and history of science. You can select courses in the same discipline or study more widely by choosing courses in differing subject areas. Courses consist of classroom sessions held on weekdays. Almost all are limited to 25 participants. Apply now International Interdisciplinary Summer School: Post-democratic Challenges​ Organizer: Tübingen University Location: Tübingen, Germany Duration: Jun 20, 2016 to Jun 24, 2016 Details: During this summer school, twenty graduate students and junior scientists from all over the world will have the opportunity to discourse post-democratic developments and challenges with this year's Unseld lecturer Colin Crouch. In addition, up to twelve participants will be selected to present their own research related to Crouch's work during the summer school. The participants will also attend the Unseld Lecture held by Colin Crouch and an interdisciplinary colloquium, both open to the public. Apply now Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research​ Organizer: ICPSR, University of Michigan Location: Ann Arbor, MI, USA Duration: Jun 20, 2016 to Jul 15, 2016 (first session), Jul 18, 2016 to Aug 12, 2016 (second session) Details: The ICPSR Summer Program is recognized throughout the world as a leading program providing basic and advanced training in a wide range of methodologies and techniques for research across the social, behavioral, and medical sciences. The courses emphasize the integration of methodological strategies with the theoretical and practical concerns that arise in research on substantive issues. An unique and supportive social environment facilitates professional networking and encourages the exchange of ideas about research theory and practice. It is addressed to students, faculty, and researchers. Apply now IPSA-NUS Summer School for Social Science Research Methods​ Organizer: National University of Singapore Location: Singapore, Singapore Duration: Jul 4, 2016 to Jul 15, 2016 Details: The school offers a wide variety of quantitative, qualitative, and formal methods courses, all taught by highly experienced international faculty from the U.S. and Europe and provides participants with rigorous, hands-on training in state-of-the-art research methods. Apply now Interdisciplinary Summer School on Privacy Organizer: PI.lab and Center for Information Technology Policy at Princeton Location: Nijmegen, Netherlands Duration: Jul 10, 2016 to Jul 15, 2016 Details: The interdisciplinary summerschool on privacy provides an intensive one week academic post-graduate programme teaching privacy from a technical, legal and social perspective. The goal of the summerschool is to provide students with a solid background in the theory of privacy construction, modelling and protection from these three different perspectives. It also aims to help them to establish a first international network with peers and senior academics across these disparate disciplines. Apply now
When you're working on interdisciplinary topics, it's extremely helpful to have contact with other students and researchers in related fields. Getting to know people who are working in different academic disciplines to you gives you new perspectives on your research, as well as improving your communication skills and broadening your knowledge. So interdisciplinary summer schools are the ideal chance to interact with other students and get in practise at presenting your work to an interdisciplinary audience.
Events in 2016 that your University should not miss
Over recent years we have covered topics about how to network in academia, the possibilities for networking at a conference and different tips to make the most of your conference trip. In this post we want to provide you with a list of international networking events that will contribute to the development of your institution. The level and nature of participation of course depends on your recruitment goals and budget. Participation in events represents a significant investment for your institution, so before planning your conference remember to budget your participation, define objectives and align the opportunities that each conference provides to your goals. The following conferences are listed chronologically: APAIE Conference 2016 Dates of the Conference: 29 February – 3 March 2016 Location: Melbourne, Australia APAIE is a non-profit organization whose goal is to reinforce the internationalization of higher education around the world and especially in the Asia-Pacific region. The annual conference is one of the most well-known forums in the Asia-Pacific region that bring together policy-makers and education experts from all over the world. The conference will help participants improve their professional skills and learn about new developments in the area of international education. The theme of the conference is “Asia Pacific – A Global Education and Research Powerhouse” and the aim is to encourage the development of new models for cooperation in research engagement and education mobility. AACRAO 2016 Dates of the Conference: 20 – 23 March 2016 Location: Phoenix, United States The mission of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO) is to provide standards to be used by higher education officials in terms of best practices in records management, admissions, enrollment management, etc. This meeting gives the opportunity to learn best practices and new techniques first hand from colleagues involved in recruitment and enrollment activities, as well as the opportunity to stay updated with policy matters affecting higher education. NAGAP 2016 Dates of the Conference: 13 April – 16 April 2016 Location: Nashville, United States The mission of the National Association for Graduate Enrollment Management is to engage and advance graduate enrollment management professionals by promoting excellence and collaboration through education, research and professional development. The 2016 conference theme is “Embracing collaboration in the student lifecycle: instrumental to success”. The educational sessions will provide new approaches and creative strategies related to admissions, policies and processes, career and staff development, marketing and recruitment, scholarships and financial aid and student services. NAFSA 2016 Dates of the Conference: 29 May– 3 June 2016 Location: Denver, United States The NAFSA Association of International Educators is the world’s largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. The association is committed to the growth of international education and works to increase the professional effectiveness at all career stages by giving access to some of the best resources and unrivaled opportunities for partnership and networking. The NAFSA 2016 theme is “Building Capacity for Global Learning” and participants can look forward to training, workshops and a wealth of opportunities to connect with international education professionals. EduWeb Digital Summit Dates of the Conference: 1 – 4 August 2016 Location: Denver, United States EduWeb works to deliver knowledge and experience to improve the digital marketing presence of institutions and universities. The EduWeb Digital Summit is focused on bringing higher education professionals together to showcase examples and best practices that can be easily applicable to their institutions. The topics of this year’s conference are focused on social media and digital strategy. CASE Europe Annual Conference Dates of the Conference: 30 August – 2 September 2016 Location: Brussels, Belgium The Council for Advancement and Support of Education serves educational institutions and professionals who work on behalf of alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas. CASE helps members to build stronger relationships with alumni and donors, raise funds for campus projects, marketing of universities and recruitment materials. The 2016 CASE Meeting focuses on successful strategies for fund raising, techniques to bring researchers and academics in touch with alumni, rebranding issues for universities, etc. THE EUPRIO CONFERENCE 2016 Dates of the Conference: 1 – 3 September 2016 Location: Antwerp, Belgium The Association “European Universities Public Relations and Information Officers” aims to promote PR ideas, techniques and experiences in higher education and to enhance cooperation between information, public relations and marketing at universities. The 2016 EUPRIO Conference theme is “Living the Brand” and focuses on the strength of a university’s brand as key to success. The conference wants to explore how communications and marketing professionals can develop the university brand and how they can work with academics, students and colleagues to maximize perceptions of their institutions. The ICEF Higher Education Forum 2016 Dates of the Conference: 13 September 2016 Location: Liverpool, United Kingdom ICEF connects educators, education agents, work & travel professionals and education industry service providers to key markets and networks worldwide, supporting the growth and development of international education and global student mobility. ICEF workshops bring together international educators and high quality recruitment agents at a unique networking event devoted to growing international student enrollments. The Higher Education Partnership forum enables participants to connect with partners and get informed about models of collaboration such as dual/double degrees, joint degree programs, articulation agreements, course to course transfers, third party contracts, research collaboration, study abroad, exchange, etc. EAIE 2016 Dates of the Conference: 13 – 16 September 2016 Location: Liverpool, United Kingdom EAIE is a non-profit, member-led organization serving individuals actively involved in the internationalization of their institutions through training, conferences and knowledge acquisition and sharing. EAIE delivers training, shares knowledge and best practices and provides solutions for internationalization challenges and strategic change. The 2016 edition of the EAIE Annual Conference has as its theme “Imagine…” based on John Lennon’s dream of a world at peace. The conference will focus on the dream of higher education that transcends national borders, nurtures global citizens and moves us closer to freedom, quality and peace around the world. HighEdWeb 2016 Dates of the Conference: 16-19 October 2016 Location: Memphis, United States This is the annual conference of the Higher Education Web Professionals Association that brings together programmers, marketers, designers and all the team members in-between who are involved in web issues facing colleges and universities. The conference provides enriching sessions to improve the web performance and presence of universities, as well as opportunities for networking and engaging with peers and the HighEdWeb community. AIEC Conference 2016 Dates of the Conference: 18 – 21 October 2016 Location: Melbourne, Australia The Australian International Education Conference is a major opportunity to reach international education professionals, teaching staff, researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders to learn about trends and to enable networking with the Australian and international education sector. The theme of the 2016 conference is “Connectivity” and it aims to explore the concept of connection, its disruptions and opportunities across three broad contexts: technology, people and partnerships. ASSA / AEA 2017 Dates of the Conference: 6 – 8 January 2017 Location: Chicago, United States For those interested in academic and student recruitment in the area of economics and related disciplines, the American Economics Association and Allied Social Science Associations organize an annual conference offering opportunities related to a career in economics and access to top-notch professionals in the field. The AEA mission focuses on the encouragement of economic research, freedom of economic discussion. If you are a professor in economics or if you are looking for talent in the area of economics for your institution, this event should be high on your list of priorities for the coming year. Between now and January 2017 INOMICS will attend the annual conferences of NAFSA, EAIE and ASSA. So feel free to write to us at info@inomics.com if you are interested in discussing cooperation between your institution and INOMICS or if you want to share your experiences and knowledge about recruitment events with colleagues all over the world. If you are not working in the recruitment, admissions or enrollment fields, please feel free to share this information with your colleagues.
As a human resources or student recruitment officer you are probably well aware of the power that networking offers for your professional life and your organization. Trade shows and conferences provide an ideal space for you to develop the activities of your institution, whether to build beneficial research-focused relationships, to gather ideas for new recruitment strategies, to find new partners for your institution, or actually to recruit students, academics and professionals.
If you want to hear these podcasts, you can usually listen to them directly on their respective websites. But one of the best features of this format is the ability to automatically download episodes when they come out, which you can then listen to later whenever you have time. You can you take advantage of this feature by subscribing using a service like iTunes or another podcast manager. <11an>limit:2;categories:jobs|courses|conferences|Professor;disciplines:Financial Economics (JEL G)|General Economics (JEL A)</11an> Personal Finance: These podcasts are suitable for a general audience and cover topics like savings, budgeting, and the basics of investing for newbies. They are accessible and informative on money management matters, and full of practical advice for people who aren't trained in finance, accounting, or economics, but who want to make the most of their money. The Dave Ramsey Show Entrepreneur On Fire Rich Dad Radio Show Money For the Rest of Us Stacking Benjamins For Finance Professionals: For those people working in finance and looking to keep up with trends in their field, the following are podcasts for a special audience who are knowledgeable about finance, and interested in mergers and acquisitions and other finance topics. PWC Deal Radio Mergercast Tech M&A podcast The Color of Money AdvisorToday.com's Building a More Successful Practice Financial News / Global Economy: Finally, for those wanting to stay in the know about finance news and the global economy, these podcasts discuss recent developments in the field. They are suited to informed members of the public with an interest in finance, but will also be of relevance to finance professionals who want to stay broadly informed. Marketplace Freakonomics Radio Guardian business podcast Planet Money Bloomberg Taking Stock These podcasts should help you keep on top of all the latest developments in the field of finance! Find lots more helpful information about economics and finance on our website.
One great way to keep up to date with the latest news in your field is to listen to podcasts. These are regularly broadcast audio programs which address specific topics, and often include interviews, discussions, and news. We've previously covered some of the best podcasts in economics, but today we're looking at podcasts in the field of finance.
Unique alternatives to PowerPoint for your presentations
Prezi If you're bored of typical slides and are looking for a more interactive way to present visual information, then you could use Prezi. Prezi dispenses with slides and instead lays out all your information in one large map. When you are presenting, you can select a particular area of the map to focus on, like a traditional slide, but moving between topics you can also see how this information fits into the map of other concepts. It's perfect for information which is not too text-heavy, and emphasises the relationships between content rather than giving a lot of detailed text. This means it forces you into good habits – no one wants to read a wall of text while you're presenting! So it's best to work with a few keywords or visual symbols to remind your audience of the main points of your argument, while you give the detailed information orally. If you can get out of your bad PowerPoint habits, then using a tool like Prezi can make you a better presenter – especially if you work in a highly conceptual field like philosophy. However, a note of warning: Prezi includes the ability to zoom in and out of sections and to pan quickly across your presentation. Use this feature with caution! If the movement is too fast or you use it to much, it can be disorientating for your audience or even make them feel nauseous. When it comes to special effects like zooming and panning, remember that less is more. Google Slides If you want to stick with a familiar PowerPoint-like interface, but are in need of better collaboration features than are available for Microsoft Office, then you should consider Google Slides. It's idea for when you have a presentation that you're giving together with a colleague, and you need to collaborate on the slides. As it works together with Google Docs and Google Drive, you can easily share the presentation as you are working on it, and it'll be easy for your co-workers to access and edit. You can even use the chat feature within the slides interface while you're editing, allowing you to discuss changes as you make them in real-time. Slide Rocket If you're including very new data in your presentation and you're looking to stay up-to-date, then you should consider Slide Rocket. Whilst most presentations are designed to be static and unchanging – and therefore quickly out of date – Slide Rocket makes dynamic presentations. You can embed live data in your slides, from Google spreadsheets, Twitter feeds, or Yahoo! Finance stock quotes, meaning that your information will atomically be up to date whenever someone views your presentation. This makes it ideal for a presentation which you're sharing via email, rather than giving in person. With recent scandals in science about fabricated data, it's become increasingly important for researchers to be transparent about the state of their raw data, and the data analysis which was performed on it. Slide Rocket can help with this by giving your audience live access to your data, which they can view but not edit. If your presentations are data-heavy, and you may not be giving them in person, then Slide Rocket can meet your needs. Beamer If you use LaTeX for your word processing, then you may be interested in Beamer for your presentations. Like LaTeX, Beamer differentiates content from styling using a custom markup language. That means that it doesn't have a graphical user interface (GUI), instead, you use markup to set the styling which you would like to use. If you don't have experience with this kind of markup, it can feel complicated and overly technical, but if you understand the principle and you're already familiar with LaTeX then it's easy to use. The advantage of this method is that it allows you to tweak every single aspect of how your slides are presented, to your personal requirements. It's ideal for scientists, mathematicians, or other technical folks. With these unique alternatives to PowerPoint your presentation can really stand out from the croud. For more tips on presenting and other advice for academics, see our website.
When you're presenting your work to an academic audience, you want to make sure that your talk is as exciting and engaging as possible. One way to do this is to work on your slides; using something more interesting and original than standard PowerPoint. Today we're recommending some of the best alternatives to PowerPoint to make your presentation truly unique.
Work visas for the US (for academic & highly qualified professionals)
However, there can be some practical issues to consider regarding working in the US, in addition to finding a position. If you are not from that country yourself, then there can be some challenging legal and administrative requirements that you must meet in order to be eligible for a “green card” - the colloquial term for a permanent residency permit. The US is notoriously stringent about visa requirements, and the process of applying for and being awarded a visa can take months or even longer, so it's important to plan in advance and consider your visa status if you want to work in the US. Today we're covering the basics of knowledge that you'll need for applying for a visa as an academic or highly qualified professional. EB-2 visas If you have completed an “advanced degree” - that is, a master's degree or PhD in the sciences, arts, or business – then you are eligible to apply for an EB-2 visa. This is an application for permanent residency (the right to live and work in the US permanently) which is contingent on a job offer. If you new institution can extend to you a definite offer of work, then you can apply for this visa. However, there is a quota for the number of these visas which can be issued each year, so the application process can be competitive and is not guaranteed to be successful. EB-1 visas If you are a more senior academic, you may qualify for application for an EB-1 visa. To be eligible to apply for this visa, you must be an “outstanding professor or researcher” - which is defined as someone who is internationally recognised for work in their field and has outstanding academic achievements, as well as having at least three years of teaching experience. To prove yourself as an outstanding professor or researcher, you must submit evidence such as major prizes which you have won, membership of senior academic associations which require achievements for entry, or published materials in journals or books. In addition, you must have a job offer for a tenured or tenure-track position, or the equivalent research position. This is an extremely competitive and difficult to obtain visa, and as such is suited only to the most ambitious and outstanding of candidates. The Application Process In order to apply for an EB-2 visa, you will need a Labor Certification – that is, an assurance that you as an immigrant will not be displacing an equally qualified US worker. This is a step that is typically undertaken by your employer, who must demonstrate that there is not a suitable US candidate for the position offered to you. There is extensive documentation which your employer must provide in order to be successful in applying for the labor certification. However, most universities or institutions which employ senior academics have experience with visa applications and will support you in the application process. For EB-1 visa application, you do not need a labour certification. <11an>limit:2;categories:jobs|courses|conferences;countries:United States;disciplines:General Economics (JEL A)</11an> Retaining your Green Card If you are successful in obtaining a visa to work in the US, it's important to remember that you must meet certain requirements to retain it. If you move to another country to live permanently; if you remain outside of the US for more than one year at a time; or fail to file the correct tax returns, then your visa can be rescinded. So bear this in mind when you make travel plans or consider future career options. The visa process can be cumbersome, but the good news is that most institution will have experience with academic visa applications and will be able to support you in this.
If you're an academic looking to extend your career and find the right next position for you, many opportunities are available in Northern America. For postdocs and junior lecturers especially, it's important to be able to relocate to the best lab or department that you can for your work. For many disciplines, some of the world-leading institutions and researchers are based in the US, so many academics choose to spend some time working there in order to gain the best experience possible.
Get started early It's important to get started early. The best internships get snapped up quickly, and generally speaking, the larger and higher-profile the company, the earlier they start looking for interns. So start looking out for companies where you could do your internship as soon as possible. Where to find an internship: at your university Credit: COD Newsroom Your university will almost certainly have resources to help you find an internship which you should take advantage of. Start at your university's careers office, and see if they have a job listing website that you can check. Often, university careers departments will be in touch with local employers and have listings for internship possibilities before anyone else. Another great resource is the network of alumni from your university. See if you can find an alumni network or mailing list, and look for anyone working in your field. If you contact an alumni and mention that you are attending their former university, they can be more inclined to help you find an opportunity. Also, find out if your university is running a careers fair or internship fair. These events give you the chance to speak to representatives of large numbers of companies who are looking for students to recruit, for internships and/or jobs. Be prepared for these events to be busy and somewhat overwhelming, so make sure you're organised in order to make the most of them. Take notes about everyone you speak to, and remember to get business cards or contact information from the representatives so that you can get in touch with them later. Where to find an internship: online Of course, there are many companies who advertise for internship positions online, and there are a number of websites which have listings of internships which you can peruse. Here at INOMICS.com we share the latest internship opportunities on our job listings pages. You can also look on sites which specialise in internship listings, such as internships.com or internmatch.com, or on general job sites like indeed.com. Or if you are looking for an internship in a non-profit organisation specifically, you can try idealist.org, which connects those looking to volunteer or work in the non-profit sector with the companies that suit their profile. Also, don't forget to look on other business networking sites if you use them, such as LinkedIn or Glassdoor. Contacting employers directly Finally, don't forget that you aren't limited to only those internships which are listed in adverts. If there is a business or organisation which you are really keen on interning at, you can always contact them directly. Try to find the contact details of their hiring manager, or personnel manager if they have one. Then email them with a brief bit of information about yourself and let them know you're interested in interning. Make sure you tell them what skills you have to offer, what kind of work you'd be able to do, and what time frame you'd be working in, and attach your CV. You might just be able to land your ideal internship! Good luck with your search for an internship for 2016! Header photo credit: Juhan Sonin
An internship can be a great opportunity for you to get experience in the working world and to learn the skills you'll need in order to find a job once you graduate. But with so many students looking for internship opportunities, there can be fierce competition for the best internships and it can be hard to find the right setting for you. You want to make sure that the internship you choose gives you useful real-world training and the chance to get to know people working in your field and to network with prospective employers. A good internship can go a long way to selling your CV to employers once you have graduated and started job hunting. Internships are clearly important, but how can you find the one which is right for you? Today we're discussing how to find the internship you want for 2016.
Postgraduate loans for taught Masters courses in the UK
The new funding system involves maintenance loans of up to £10,000 a year for taught masters degrees in all subject areas and disciplines. This does include MBAs, but does not include PGCert (postgraduate certificate), PGDip (postgraduate diploma), or PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) certifications. The maximum amount of time which a course can take to be eligible is 2 years full time or 4 years part time. These loans will be for students who have been residing in England for at least three years before beginning their studies, and who will be studying at any degree-awarding university within the UK (which includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland). Students who are from the EU may be eligible for the same loans as domestic students under this scheme too, providing they meet certain criteria. The loans will be available for both part time and full time masters degrees, as well as distance learning courses. This is good news for part time students, who have traditionally not received much in the way of funding or support in the UK. This new system recognises the increasing number of students who wish to both work and study simultaneously, or those who have caring responsibilities in addition to their studies. Part time students will receive support for both fees and maintenance for the first time under this new scheme – they will receive the same amount of money as full time students, but it will be divided across the longer time frame of the part time masters. Previously, when they were announced in Autumn 2014, the government's proposals for postgraduate loans had specified that the recipients must be under 30 to qualify for maintenance grants. However, a report from a group of top UK universities [pdf link] found that those who chose to return to academia over the age of 30 were often from disadvantaged groups, such as those with a disability, those who had formerly been carers, or those who currently had caring responsibilities or young children. These students take longer to progress through the educational system, and so they are on average older than other students when they reach the postgraduate level. Capping the age requirement at 30 would have excluded these individuals who were most in need of support in returning to education. The government therefore agreed to raise the age requirement for maintaince loans to 60, in the hope of widening access to higher eduction. One further issue of concern with the previous postgraduate funding structure in the UK was that students who already had an advanced degree were not eligible for support if they wanted to return to studying at a level which was equal to or lower than the qualifications which they already had. So, for example, if a student already had a masters degree in history, they would not be eligible for funding if they wishes to peruse a bachelors or masters degree in biology. This has been changed under the new system, so that students will have funding available to them to study a second degree, providing that the new degree is in a STEM subject (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics). The UK government projects that it will spend a total of £1 billion on the new scheme by 2020, covering around 250,000 students. The repayments will be income-contingent, so students pay back at a rate set by their current income, at a a rate of 6% on income above £21,000 per year, with interest at a rate of RPI+3%. However, the scheme has received significant criticism from student groups for placing so many future students into debt. The general secretary of the University and College Union, Sally Hunt, said that the scheme “appears to be extending loans and loading more debt onto students... This approach will lead to the poorest paying most for their education.”
The UK government has recently announced its plans to change the way in which postgraduate study is funded. The new system, which will come into effect in the 2016-2017 academic year, involves a system of loans for those wanting to take a taught masters degree. There is a separate proposed scheme for students embarking on a research masters or PhD, which we are covering in another post. Here, we'll describe the new scheme for the funding of taught masters degrees and how it will effect students who are planning to study at a postgraduate level in the future.
Funding Postgraduate Study: new UK loans scheme for PhDs and Research-based Masters
The new loan scheme will make loans of up to £25,000 available to postgraduate research students, in addition to the existing forms of PhD funding which are currently available. There may be variations in how much money is available for PhD courses versus research-based masters courses, and variations due to the length of the study period. These details will be forthcoming in the future. Also still to be revealed is whether there are subject criteria specifying whether the new loans are available for all subjects, or just for specific targets subjects such as STEM areas (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics). The government has specified its interest in increasing science funding in particular, so it has been speculated that the loans may be targeted towards science subjects, to encourage students to take up science PhD positions. Other factors are yet to be revealed about the scheme: for example, whether the loans are available to all students studying within the UK, or only to UK residents. Also, whether the loans will have an age limit or other eligibility criteria. This is a pertinent question as the taught masters loan scheme only covers students who live in England permanently, and previously it had only applied to those students who were under age 30, so it may be that the PhD/research masters scheme will follow similar requirements. One fact that has been revealed is that repayment of the loans will be on an income-contingent basis, meaning that the amount to be paid back per month will be based upon the amount of income which the former student is currently receiving. However, the time after which studies are completed and payment must commence, as well as the interest rates to be paid on the loans, have not yet been announced. As these plans are slated to take place over the next several years, they are still in development and are lacking in concrete details of how the scheme will operate. A review will be launched into how to best implement funding changes in postgraduate research positions, and the exact details of the loan system will likely be determined by the review's findings. The government has stated that it will be working with research councils, universities, and industry to examine how the loans scheme should be designed in order to complement existing funding possibilities while minimising public subsidy of PhD studies. Previously, in March this year, the government had promised loans of £25,000 for UK students studying for PhDs. It was influenced to do so by a report from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills which estimated that one in seven jobs in Britain will require postgraduate qualifications by 2022. This demonstrates the clear need for postgraduate study to be available and affordable to the public, for Britain to be successful in economic aims. But the government has received widespread criticism for its educational finance policies, as university tuition fees have shot up in recent years. The then-leader of the opposition, Ed Miliband, said it was unsurprising to him that the UK had seen a much slower growth of postgraduate students than other countries like the US or Australia, as “the next generation has seen wages plummet and tuition fees treble”. Whether the new loans scheme will be successful in encouraging more British students into postgraduate studies will depend in large part on the findings of the review and the exact details of the scheme, which are yet to be announced.
This week, the UK government has introduced its new scheme for funding postgraduate study, through a loans program for PhDs and research-based masters degrees. The government hopes that this new system will simplify and streamline the process of applying for, receiving, and paying back loans which are taken out in order to fund postgraduate research. This will have major changes on that finances of postgraduate students in the UK, from the time at which the new system is introduced in the 2018-2019 academic year. Here we will review the changes and how they will affect students who are hoping to study at a postgraduate level. There is also another scheme for the funding of taught masters programs which will be covering separately.
Livemocha Livemocha is a site which specialises in connecting native speakers of different languages, so that you can learn directly from someone who has a native understanding of the language you wish to learn. If you enjoy a more personal and friendly approach to learning than a standardised list of terms to learn, then Livemocha might be for you. The structured program includes elements of reading, writing, speaking, and listening, which you practise alone first and then with others. You can even book a private tutor if you need extra support. Although some services are paid, you can earn credits for the site by tutoring others in your native language. This can bring an unexpected advantage – there's no better way to understand your own learning needs than to experience teaching others. BBC Languages The languages website offered by the BBC (the public-service broadcaster of the United Kingdom) offers a huge amount of free information on over 40 languages, including English. The site focuses on helpful factual information rather than flashy imagery, with a no-frills approach to sharing the basics. The strength of the site is in the lessons offered on learning a specific language – choosing from French, Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese, Portuguese, or Greek – which are comprehensive and easy to follow. The site also offers pages aimed at children who are learning a language for fun or for a school test, which is great if you have a family and would like to learn together with them. Duolingo & Memrise We already discussed Duolingo and Memrise in our Top Apps for Learning a Language post, but it's worth noting that both companies have a free to use website as well as their mobile apps. You can practise your reading, writing and listening, and if you have a microphone plugged into your computer you can even practise your speaking and pronunciation too. Duolingo is great for those learners who like to pick up a little bit of information at a time, fitting their learning in around other commitments. Memrise is perfect for visual learners, who find images and visual representations to be helpful in remembering difficult foreign words. Google Translate Whilst many people use Google Translate for quick translations of online texts, not everyone realises how many features it offers which can be helpful for learning a language. One such feature is that you can click any word to see not only the word which it is translated to, but also to see alternative translations, which is helpful when you're trying to understand the nuances of an unfamiliar word. There is a also a listen function which will read the translation out loud to you, so you can get used to the sound of the words. You can also offer your own suggestions for how to improve specific translations; so if you disagree with the translation given you can put forward your own improvements. Busuu Busuu is another website which specialises in connecting learners with native speakers. With over 40 million registered users, it is one of the largest online language-learning communities, so you are sure to find someone who has extensive knowledge of the language which you want to learn. Basic learning takes the form of flashcard exercises to get you familiar with the essential vocabulary of a language. But the more advanced learning is based on assistance from other users, who generate and review the teaching content. The advantage of this approach is that you learn the language as it is used by real-world people in real situations, and you can gain confidence for using the language for your everyday needs.
When you're looking to learn a new language, there are all sorts of websites which can help support your learning. Some have lists of vocabulary, interactive games, or practise scenarios which you can work on. Others can use your computer's speakers and microphone to help you with your listening and speaking. Below we're listing some of the most useful websites for learning a language.