Edinburgh Napier News

Rolling News

Archive for November 17th, 2008

Scotland Proves to Be the “Best” in Europe for Living and Learning

Posted by Dustin L. Gee on November 17, 2008

By: Dustin L. Gee

student-1When you hear the word “Scotland,” what’s the first thing comes to mind? Is it the world famous St. Andrew’s golf course, the rugged Highland Mountains, or perhaps it’s what lies underneath the famous Scotsman’s kilt!     

Either way, one thing is for certain, Scotland is growing in reputation and quickly becoming known for more than just a great holiday destination for tourists, but rather an inspiring place for talented individuals to pursue a wide range of higher education degrees.

In fact, according to a recent survey conducted by I-Graduate titled “Tracking the University and College Experience in Scotland: What do International Students Think?,” Scottish education institutions are without questions leading the way in providing the best living and learning experiences for International Students.

I-Graduate states, “the purpose of this study is to give a snapshot view of what international students in Scotland think is important and find out how satisfied they are with their experience.”  

A total of 5,680 student responses were received from seven participating universities and ten participating colleges, which represents approximately 14.1% of the international student body population in Scotland.

More so, the students who took the survey were asked questions that allowed them to reflect on their first impressions of Scotland upon arrival, the learning experience, the student support services offered at their institution, and the living experience.  

Each student response was then compared with results from a 2006 study and also against two groups of competitors; the rest of the United Kingdom and a European grouping that included: Germany, Belgium, Republic of Ireland, and the Netherlands.

The results are in and the British Council is pleased to announce that 86% of university students and 85% of college students in Scotland would recommend their educational experience to others. Of this group, 39% would actively recommend that others study in Scotland. This shows an increase from the 33% figure that was calculated in 2006.  

Researchers for I-Graduate, Neeta Barot and Felice Nightingale, stated in their summary of the survey, “91% of International Students think Scotland is a good place to be. This compares with 86% in the rest of the United Kingdom and 87% of students in Europe.”

In general, students rate learning and living in Scotland better than in the rest of the United Kingdom and Europe.  

Better yet, Barot and Nightingale noted, “90% of students claim they are satisfied with studying with expert lectures, feeling safe and secure, the surroundings outside the university or college, and course lectures.” 

Noticeably, Scotland has quite a lead on the rest of the United Kingdom and Europe, but this lead is earned, not owned, and others have the potential to catch up quickly.

For this reason, the survey was also meant to identify areas that Scotland universities and colleges need to work on to develop in order to retain and keep attracting students. The major concerns stressed bystudent-2 international students were issues with opening a bank account, accommodation costs, living expenses, and meeting students from Scotland.

The task now is for Scottish universities and colleges to work on addressing and improving these concerns and troubles for international students.

The web-site for the British Council assures all current and prospective international students, “ Scotland has been leading the way in education since the early part of the 15th century and though constantly evolving, our approach remains focused on the needs of the student, and is designed to create time and space for individual development for breadth as well as depth of study.”  

Overall, the survey provides valuable information and insight that Scottish universities and colleges can use in order to make sure Scotland remains the leader of the pack. 

Most importantly, universities and colleges should acknowledge and take pride in the fact that Scotland is ahead on most measures of the student experience, despite student expectations are changing, and that it is imperative for us to keep our eyes and ears open to student feedback and opinions.  

To learn more about this and other studies conducted by I-Graduate, please visit the British Council web-site at www.britishcouncil.org/scotland

Posted in Economy and Business, Life and Society | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Universities Face Major Change

Posted by jessicarodgers on November 17, 2008

University structure is facing major re-development in all areas, from grading to the lay-out of the academic year, according to senior academics.
University Secretary John Denham has announced a recent review of the higher education system which will cover all aspects of the traditional system including support for part-time students and flexibility of contracts for academic staff. The review is tied in with the 2009 analysis of tuition fees.
Christine King, vice chancellor of Staffordshire University says the traditional academic calendar is unhelpful to part-time students who also work. “Certainly traditional university systems, timetables and calendars are constructed with little reference to the world of employment,” Professor King said. She suggests a system where students receive ‘credits’ for completed modules, with the opportunity to return to study if they drop out during the year.
Suggestion of a reform of the traditional honours degree classification system was brought forward by Paul Ramsden, former pro vice chancellor of Sydney University and Head of the Higher Education Academy. He says a detailed report card would be more suitable than the traditional first, second or third degree classification. He also suggests more flexibility for academic staff who face lack of career structure within the university as a workplace.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) says that prospective students need more information about universities, for example possible career prospects that courses would provide.
John Denham says “The question of how we can ensure we have a world-class education system is one that everyone has a stake in.” However, university staff were not consulted in the review which took place earlier this year. University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Sally Hunt says “There will always be different points of view and it is imperative that the government takes them all on board.
“We find it astonishing that the secretary of state failed to ensure that those genuinely representing the people tasked with delivering government policy on the ground – the staff – were afforded the opportunity to contribute to, or review, the submissions.”

Posted in Life and Society | Leave a Comment »

Properties

Posted by dawnleckie on November 17, 2008

Over 5,000 people, 500 of these registered as homeless, are currently on waiting lists for housing. With property prices within the Scottish Borders increasing rapidly.

Housing within the Borders has recently become very difficult to purchase with the ever inflating prices rocketing, otherwise known as the ‘property boom’. This means it is close to impossible for house seekers, especially first time buyers to put their feet on the property ladder, let alone actually reach the top.

To house those who are currently listed for awaited shelter will take up to 13 years, not including the thousands that will be added within the next few years – even though there is already a massive 568 people with the priority of being homeless.

In some circumstances people have actually listed as homeless just in hope that they may get lucky at finding a home.

James Bremner, 20, said: “I need a place quite urgently and as I wasn’t getting on very well, I listed myself as homeless is hope to get somewhere quicker. Even now I am still waiting, despite waiting for months, it’s ridiculous!”

Despite local criticism there is still a homeless hostel standing unused in the town of Galashiels due to lack of parking and garden facilities, even though there is in fact over 135 people left homeless within this very town.

If housing is so desperately needed, it is extremely unlikely that it will matter about such minor details as these.

Laura Stewart, 26, argued: “I want a roof over my head, not a parking space for a car I don’t have!”

Another home seeker, Stuart Lothian, 22, said: “It’s a huge building, and using this for housing would be perfect, but no, they won’t. Making it a completely pointless building.”

It is still unknown what exactly will happen to this site, as discussions are still underway. In the meantime the building has been a target for severe vandalism and crime. Leaving a possible opportunity as nothing more than an empty, useless waste of space.

Posted in Life and Society | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

UK Students March Against Child Abduction

Posted by jessicarodgers on November 17, 2008

British Jewish students have staged a protest march in Jerusalem against the shocking rate of child abductions in Uganda. The rally was organised by ‘Gulu Walk’ campaign, an organisation raising awareness for the plight of children in Uganda.

Over 100 walks were held worldwide this weekend, in honour of the 30,000 children abducted over the past twenty years in Uganda, a shocking statistic provided by a United Nations report. The report also stated that after their abduction, children were normally forced into child soldiers, forming what is known as The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), an army of children who go from village to village terrorising families and destroying huts and crops. Another fate for abductees is to be sold into the sex slave trade.

The British students, all aged 18-19 belong to RSY-Netzer Reform Judaism youth movement. They are spending a year in Israel learning about Judaism, Zionism and youth leadership. Although most of the other 100 marches were taking place on Saturday, the Jewish group chose to hold theirs on Sunday, so as not to violate the Shabbat.

One student, Deborah Blausten, 18, stressed the importance of the march in relation to Jewish principles. “Judaism says you mustn’t stand idly by while your neighbour’s blood is being shed. Even more so now, when we live in a global village-it makes their plight even harder to ignore. We have no excuse for not knowing,” she said.

Missing children in Uganda do not receive the same amount of support from the government or police as in Europe or the USA.  In the areas of Acholi and Lango, nearly every family has lost a child as their village was attacked. In Britain, if a child is reported missing, it has potential to become a national, if not an international campaign to reunite them with their family. Obviously the Madeline McCann case springs to mind. But for the average villager in Uganda, where almot half the population live in poverty, it is commonplace for oung children to be snatched in daily raids by the LRA. Citizens distrust the government, who remain powerless to stop the unwavering forced of destruction cultivated by Uganda’s warlords.

The ringleader of these atrocities is Jospeh Kony, head of the Lord’s Resistance Army, responsible for the staggering rate of violent deaths and dissapearances in Uganda. He leads an army of child slaves, brainwashed into believing they are invincible, that their sticks and stones are magical weapons, and that killing is the only way to survive.Children as young as eight are ‘recruited’; their initiation ritual involves killing a family, sometimes their own. Then begins a life of terrorising innocent villages, rape, torture and muder, all based on a twisted version of the ten commandments which somehow, in Kony’s mind, permit these barbarious crimes.

Joseph Kony, originally from Acholi, Uganda, supposedly bases his theories behind his brutal campaign on the Ten Commandments. His reasoning is inexplicable however, as his tactic usually rely on the use of children as soldiers to carry out his horrific regime. The outcome of 20 years of guerilla warfare has resulted not only the disappearances of over 30, 000 children, but also the attacking of villages in Uganda, resulting in the deaths and displacements of countless thousands of innocent people, forcing them to flee to major cities which are now becoming overcrowded.

Posted in World In Depth | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »