18 Ağustos 2014 Pazartesi

MBA IN SINGAPORE

Year-on-year, Singapore is becoming a more and more important MBA destination.
While for the past two or three decades Asia dominated the manufacturing sector, it is now that the region is strengthening its overall business strategies, with local business dominating both local and international markets.
As a result of Asia’s heightened business needs, the role of locally based business schools, serving international needs from an Asian location, has never been more important.

International Business Schools

INSEAD, the self-styled ‘business school for the world’, boasts campuses in France and in Singapore, and its MBA program recently placed first in two regions in the QS Global 200 Business Schools Report, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Its graduates can expect to earn the fifth-highest salaries out of all full time MBA graduates surveyed; more than nine in 10 will find employment within three months of finishing their studies; and all this is offered at a price of around 80% of the average tuition fees demanded by the other top business schools worldwide.
Traditionally speaking, Asia has always been a cheaper place to study than Europe, but question a prospective MBA student today about where the jobs are to be found after graduation and, now perhaps more than ever, they may argue that it is the Singapore campus that is closer to the vibrant job market than France.
Much like with the markets themselves, perception is crucial to the decision concerning which country to study in and, presently, popular opinion seems to be that the Asian tigers are where the jobs are. Several years of crises have seen the reputations of the US and EU somewhat shattered. Western economies certainly do remain perilous, and confidence in a recovery is still low.

An MBA in Singapore

Singapore, which combines long-term relations with the West, extremely high education standards and yet has close geographic and economic ties throughout Southeast and East Asia then, arrives in a great position to attract a wealth of graduates hoping to study an MBA in a region that is still enjoying economic growth.
“It could be argued that there is a correlation between GDP levels, general economic conditions and the demand and supply of MBA holders in Singapore,” says Robert Maguire, country managing director of Singapore at recruitment consultancy Antal International.
Since 2010, he says, there has been a sharp increase in the demand for MBA holders. “Companies [in Asia] are far more confident in the economy and, as there is substantial value placed on the skills that individuals develop [from their] MBA courses, there is an interest to explore the situation, resulting in increased hires.”
There have been some ups and downs that led to the perhaps preferable position Singapore currently finds itself in.
As the first wave of the US-led housing crisis hit, the number of international students applying to study an MBA in the city-state dropped, either through a personal lack of confidence in the potential jobs market or due to companies cutting spending on staff development.
“Initially there was a fall in [applications to study an MBA] as the impact of the crisis was felt,” says Scott Goddard, director of postgraduate programs at Nottingham University Business School.
“This was contrary to previous experience as demand has usually increased in times of economic difficulty. The fall was probably the result of companies reducing their support for staff development, as this is a fairly discretionary spend that can quite easily be reduced to assist cash flow.”

MBA Applications to Singapore Rise

Between 2010 and 2011 though, Goddard adds, applications once again rose dramatically.
“In the last year the demand has increased considerably, both from corporate sponsored and self-financing applicants. The number of students starting the Nottingham MBA in Singapore in 2011 is more than double that of 2010.”
When stood up against other Asian cities in the heart of China or India, one reason Singapore remains attractive to many international MBA students may well be the city’s impressive grasp of the English language.
Thanks to Singapore’s mixture of cultures, English is the lingua franca and MBA students are unlikely to find themselves hindered by a lack of Chinese, or indeed any other language. It is also one of the most developed cities in the world and, while some complain that this translates as a little boring, it at least means streets are clean, safe and air conditioning is never too far away.
The city is nevertheless small, and local employees are under constant pressure to improve their own CVs by obtaining more qualifications even while at work in full time positions. This positive pressure on schools could force the level of education to continue to evolve and offer ever better degrees - or face pulling out of the market, Goddard explains.
“High quality education is very important in Singapore...[but] the size of the market is limited,” he says. “The institutions with the highest reputation are likely to prosper, especially those with international accreditation such as EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA, and good positions in international rankings. Some institutions may well pull out of the Singapore market.”
Positions at schools may be becoming more competitive then, but there have also been some changes in the demands made by Singaporean employers, when looking for MBA graduates.

MBA Work Experience

Maguire notes that, in Singapore since the global financial crisis, “companies are now looking at the number of years’ experience an individual has, as a qualifier for good management skills, soft skills and emotional intelligence.”
These skills, he adds, were previously uncommon in the MBA holders who, despite having “impressive technical skills”, had only one or two years’ experience in a management or work environment.
Despite changing standards however, there are certainly jobs to be had in Singapore.
Almost three in four (73%) companies in Singapore hired senior level employees throughout 2010, one Antal study showed. “More companies are looking to expand internationally then ever before,” explains Maguire. “[This] requires employees who are open to international business cultures, styles and are strategic.”
This marks a significant increase in hires from the year previous, and very much aligns with Maguire’s theory that strong GDP attracts both business confidence and the confidence of highly skilled talent, which will typically choose to study in the world’s economic hotspots.
However, with such confidence in Asia’s economy worldwide, and with Singapore a small state that is highly sought after for its education, competition for both spaces in Singapore’s MBA schools and for the jobs available following graduation will of course be tough. And of course, as well as international applicants there will be local applicants fighting for spaces too.
It is unlikely, Maguire says, that local residents will look abroad to study their MBAs when the level of education, economic growth and low costs still remain in Singapore although regional career opportunities that require relocation within Asia are described as popular.

Australia’s top MBA programs

ROSE-ANNE MANNS

TOP 10 MBA PROGRAMS

  • Melbourne Business School
  • University of Queensland Business School
  • Monash University Department of Management
  • QUT Graduate School of Business, Queensland University of Technology
  • Australian School of Business: AGSM
  • Victoria Graduate School of Business, Victoria University
  • University of Western Australia Business School
  • Bond Business School, Bond University
  • University of South Australia International Graduate School of Business
  • University of Adelaide Business School
It’s the kind of experience that can help cement months of classroom study. Ten MBA students from the University of Queensland Business School and 10 from Philadelphia’s Wharton School team up as consultants to work on market entry strategies for Brisbane-based sports wear company Lorna Jane and OneSteel subsidiary Australian Tube Mills. Over seven months in 2010 and 2011, they collaborated and had devil’s advocates challenge their thinking, then they spent intense days working to finalise the pitch on campus in Philadelphia, meeting fellow students from around the world.
Pat Howard, chief operations officer with Cromwell Property Group, who participated in the consulting practicum, says it was a massive amount of work but invaluable experience. “You have to go from academic pieces to genuinely making it commercial and getting an outcome … It’s absolutely broadened my network at the same stage, a fantastic way to finish off the MBA.”
This is an example of the type of program Australian business schools have been developing to juice up the value of their master’s of business administration offerings. And as our 2011Financial Review BOSS MBA survey and rankings show, practical business experience and global reach are increasingly what count with students.
The biennial BOSS ranking of Australian MBA programs shows a rise in the proportion of schools offering students the chance to study or work overseas since the last survey, in 2009. Three-quarters of schools now provide this, and the remarks from graduates indicate they love it.
For Melbourne Business School, programs such as these helped it retain top billing.. Improvements at other schools also led to plenty of reshuffling.
Two northern universities have lifted their national rankings. The University of Queensland’s Business School jumped five places, coming in second. The school scored highly with alumni, is well-accredited and maintains high entry requirements for students and tough qualifications for teaching staff. It also generates a strong output of research papers per staff member, second only to Melbourne Business School.
Another good all-rounder, the Queensland University of Technology’s Graduate School of Business, rose from 10th in 2009 to fourth. QUT was the only school with three internationally recognised accreditations: EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA. Monash University dropped just one spot to third.
In at fifth spot was the Australian School of Business: AGSM. Its MBA has dropped one spot since 2009. This is largely due to a dip in satisfaction scores among alumni (55 per cent of the ranking formula). However, this year – the first time we’ve invited schools with executive MBA programs – Australian School of Business: AGSM’s EMBA ranked first.
The biggest drop was experienced by MGSM – long considered one of Australia’s top MBA providers. It slid from number three in 2009 to 12th this year. This was partially due to negative feedback from alumni after internal changes. It also lost its EQUIS accreditation after staff numbers fell briefly last year. The top five schools in 2011 have at least two international accreditations.
Increasingly, MBA programs perceived as most in touch with the real world lead the rankings. Students repeatedly expressed a desire to be taught by “pracademics” – teachers who have spent more time working in business than in academia. “We need to learn how to face real problems and make decisions; a theorist is not going to work,” one student argued.
At Melbourne Business School alumni praised faculty. “Teaching staff are well connected with industry and government and willing to offer advice. There are abundant opportunities to network with alumni, which enriches reputation,” one alumnus wrote.
The most effusive comments in this year’s survey related to action-oriented learning. Students revelled in being thrown in the deep end. “Just get us to run a company for a year under the tutelage of the school!” one alumnus suggested. “Experiential tours are fantastic,” said a Deakin University graduate. “What a great way to learn. Better than pure, cold algebra any day.”

SATISFACTION

The biggest crowd-pleaser among our 19 participants, as judged by our alumni survey, was the University of South Australia’s International Graduate School of Business, followed by Bond University’s Business School. At the same time, MGSM and Australian School of Business: AGSM suffered on the customer satisfaction score, after scuttled merger plans and internal restructuring, respectively.

BENEFITS OF DOING AN MBA

After all the hard slog of study, there is a pay-off. Almost half of all respondents said they moved to a new job with higher pay as a result of completing their studies – a particularly welcome result considering some of this cohort graduated during the financial crisis (2008 to 2010).
The main reasons people gave for going into their course were to expand their career options and obtain higher remuneration. And it seems most came out the other end satisfied they had accomplished those aims. The main benefits alumni cited afterwards were expanded career options, greater self-confidence in their work and capacity for doing their jobs more effectively. Some were more blunt about their motivation for doing an MBA. “It was a vanity project,” one graduate said. And then there were the unexpected benefits, such as the woman who said her MBA “helped me mount a successful discrimination claim against my employer following return from maternity leave demotion”.
Some respondents expressed concern that their expectations hadn’t been met with regards to content on corporate governance and ethical decision-making. At the time our surveyed cohort was graduating, business schools were scrambling to review their curricula following criticism in the wake of the GFC. And even those programs that made an early start integrating responsible management principles were still settling in, as one Griffith graduate attests: “Disappointed that I enrolled at Griffith because of its espoused ESG [environment, social, governance] values and because there was to have been a sustainable enterprises specialisation. This is now in place, but did not come online in time for me to take it. Furthermore, while the corporate level of the faculty is committed to ESG, the teaching staff were definitely not, most paying only lip service and some overtly denigrating it.”

GOOD VALUE

Price isn’t the main indicator of perceived value for money, survey results show. The two most expensive schools placed at either ends of the list for best value for money. MBS, which charged $64,000 in tuition fees in 2011, was among the top five in this category. But the Australian School of Business: AGSM, which charges an almost identical fee, placed at the bottom. Griffith Business School alumni were convinced their mid-range, $37,020 price tag represented top value for money. The most inexpensive MBA in our survey was the $19,140 distance program by Chifley Business School, which placed third in our value for money table.

COMPLAINTS

We hear the same line a lot: MBA means Marriage Breakdown Ahead (or even more brutal assignments). One third of respondents nominated their loss of work-life balance as the main negative aspect of their study. The next biggest gripe was the cost, followed by language barriers with classmates. While exposure to international students may be highly valued, it depends on the calibre of peer group. One University of Adelaide graduate said: “The huge burden carrying students whose first language was not English detracted from the learning experience. Although diversity is an admirable concept, it is hard to say it enhances a learning experience if the culture is one where speaking up or expressing an opinion is not natural for a student.”
Business schools actively chase the international student dollar, even harder now that the Aussie dollar is so strong. In some schools – such as University of Southern Queensland, Bond, Australian School of Business: AGSM and La Trobe – international students make up more than half the cohort. One respondent warned: “In high education’s race to the bottom, full-fee-paying international students are watering down the quality of the student body. Networking and peer learning is one of the most important aspects of any MBA … Money talks and therefore MBA balks.” However, Australian School of Business: AGSM, where international students make up 63 per cent of the MBA cohort (and 2 per cent of the EMBA group), got fewer such comments because its entry requirements are more rigorous: its incoming students in 2011 had, on average, seven years of experience; and foreign students’ average English literacy score was 8, higher than the minimum of 6.5.

ECONOMIC VOLATILITY

More than 90 per cent of respondents said their MBA had prepared them well to manage in a range of economic conditions, including the GFC. Perhaps this was because the cohort surveyed were living through it at the time they were studying. This was an increase from our 2009 result, where a smaller proportion, 85 per cent, felt their course had prepared them for the downturn. Even among the 10 per cent this time around who said their studies hadn’t prepared them, many didn’t blame their schools.

WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT

The assumption that employers don’t give a toss about an MBA certificate is an oft-expressed sentiment among survey respondents, but is it true? Researchers at RMIT set out to discover what MBAs are worth to employers. Their preliminary research found that unless the MBA is a certain type and has international accreditation, businesses aren’t impressed.
Braithwaite Steiner Pretty recruiter Tony Grierson says clients still take note of the big brands. Harvard is impressive on the CV, as are MBS, MGSM and AGSM, although he notes the latter lost momentum over its muddled rebranding exercise with the Australian School of Business.
The RMIT research, led by Michael Segon, also examined what qualities employers expect of managers they recruit, and how that lined up with the qualities MBA graduates possess. “Practising managers see critical interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, change management and ethics/CSR capabilities as major developmental needs in current managers,” Segon says. “Practising managers see these same critical capabilities as lacking in MBA programs. Traditional courses such as finance, economics, marketing received low scores, yet dominate MBAs.”
These findings are reflected in the global 2011 Corporate Recruiters Survey, which also showed that the most important skill employers want in MBA graduates is communications. An international survey of 1500 people in 900 companies in 51 countries, conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council, found that the top five criteria sought were, in priority order: strong communications skills, initiative, professionalism, motivation and integrity. With this in mind, BOSS asked schools to identify new subjects they had introduced that focus on interpersonal communications skills.

REPUTATION RULES

The top ranked school in our list was also the No. 1 institution nominated when we asked which Australian school respondents would attend if money and location were not issues. Perhaps more surprising was that 2.2 per cent of people named Sydney University, even though it didn’t participate in our survey because it has only just launched its MBA.
Sydney Uni’s Global Executive MBA began at the start of 2010, and is pitched at the premium market. The $84,240 fee covers tuition and materials. Another $21,000 is recommended for flights, hotels, meals and local transport, as the program includes stints in Bangalore, Silicon Valley, London and Languedoc, France.


Women not flocking to MBAs

CATHERINE FOX
There are few local MBA programs that can boast anywhere near a 50/50 split between women and men. In some cases, the number of women enrolled has gone down since 2009.
Women make up 30 per cent of full-time MBA students at MBS and 40 per cent of part-timers. The school recognises boosting numbers as a challenge. And Prior adds that the renewed focus on gender equity in business, with corporate targets driving up demand, makes this a perfect time for women to study an MBA.
Chris Styles, Australian School of Business deputy dean and Australian School of Business: AGSM director, says an alumni forum last year on why more women aren’t in MBA programs raised three main concerns: cost, lack of role models and worries about workforce re-entry.
Some schools are having more success changing the gender mix. Just over half (52 per cent) of the MBA student intake at Swinburne University of Technology is female, says Julian Lippi, director MBA at Swinburne’s Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship.
The school has introduced more class flexibility, broadened its catchment of students, including those without undergraduate degrees, and encouraged word-of-mouth recommendations.

Global mindset

ROSE-ANNE MANNS
Macquarie Graduate School of Management
Traditional cross-cultural training prepares individuals for working in a particular country. But MGSM’s new Global Mindset course is different because it aims to prepare students for work anywhere in the world, says subject co-ordinator and senior lecturer in management Steven Segal. “It’s a set of learning skills you can take with you to a strange or uncomfortable situation. You can pick up on where you don’t fit in.”
The subject was offered for the first time earlier this year to 65 students at MGSM’s Hong Kong campus.
They were first asked to undertake a mindset inventory of sorts. With the help of an internet-based tool, they determined their tendencies to be either individualistic or interdependent; egalitarian or status-seeking, etc.
The objective was for the students to self-assess the gaps between their own style and the style of the country they might be assigned to.
The students then undertook a series of role-plays to close those gaps – for instance, helping an Australian with a strong independent mindset who is sent to China, where interdependence is valued.
It’s a tool that works both ways, as reserved Asian students are pushed out of potential initial awkwardness when dealing with the open nature of interaction in Australia.
The subject is an elective for MBA students, but Segal says it enjoys strong support from MGSM dean Robert Widing, who brought the subject with him from his previous job as senior vice-president of the Thunderbird School of Global Management in the United States.

Audacious Leadership

ROSE-ANNE MANNS
Deakin Graduate School of Business
There’s not much pointy-headed theory spouted in Deakin University’s sailboat adventure for aspiring leaders. It’s all hands on deck – literally. Students on the Audacious Leadership course head out to sea for eight days of four hours on, eight hours off, working the 24-metre boat with pro sailors.
“The ship is a metaphor for any type of system where people work together,” senior lecturer John McWilliams says. “It only works through collaboration, timing, safety and taking responsibility for cleanliness and meals.”
At the end of each four-hour shift, teams debrief in the saloon, probing what they learned about themselves and teamwork.
“The aim is to have an adventure,” McWilliams says. “To take people beyond what they consider their normal capabilities. It’s a Napoleonic idea – that audacity in commanders. One of the qualities of leadership is doing things they wouldn’t normally think of doing.”
And what of those prone to seasickness? Not to worry. They have the option of organising their own adventure – work at an orphanage, canoe the coast of Australia, climb Mt Everest. The optimum is to work with your cohort, McWilliams says, but the important objective is to have an adventure that teaches leadership qualities.
Audacious Leadership is a core unit for students studying for a master’s of contemporary leadership, and an elective for MBA students. It was offered for the first time earlier this year. The second offering, this semester, is booked out, with a waiting list for places on the sea voyage.

The samurai game

ROSE-ANNE MANNS
Bond School of Business
Bond University students will wrap up their studies this year with a two-day workshop that will transport them back to 16th-century Japan. To be run for the first time in December, Bond will require all its MBA students to participate in the Samurai Game. It will start with instructions on the finer points of samurai philosophy: notions of nobility, falling on their swords, thinking beyond themselves.
“It’s a double-edged sword – if you’ll forgive the pun,” says subject co-ordinator and assistant professor of management Jane Murray. “It’s not just about your own survival; it’s about the team.”
During the game, students are divided into teams that wage a series of battles. Challenges range from physical tasks (such as who can endure a yoga pose the longest) to intellectual pursuits (such as a poetry competition).
Participants take on the personas of different characters. “There’s a god character whose role is to be capricious, unfair – like life sometimes,” Murray says. “Rules change. As in a real-life organisational situation, sometimes you have to adapt or die.”
The team left standing wins. But for all participants – even those who “die” during the cut and thrust of battle – the outcomes are about teamwork, decision-making and self-reflection. The stated aims of the new project reflect traditional samurai qualities, such as “remain positive and calm under pressure; manifest bold, dignified and decisive action in the face of uncertainty; evoke respectful and honourable behaviour from self and others”. All – presumably – with minimal bloodshed.

Executive MBAs ranked

This year, for the first time, Financial Review BOSS began asking business schools to decide whether they wanted their standard MBA or executive MBA programs assessed. While 11 universities in Australia offer executive MBAs, only three generated enough alumni responses to be ranked – the proportion of standard MBA students nationwide is much greater. The EMBA at Australian School of Business: AGSM was the stand-out. It had the highest proportion of teachers with PhDs and current business experience. It also had the most rigorous entry requirements for students: they have six years of management experience on average, and international students have a high average English literacy score. In 2011, 254 students enrolled, compared with 46 in the regular MBA course. The school’s EMBA alumni highly rated its reputation, alumni network, availability in other capitals and capstone final year.
UTS Business School’s EMBA alumni rated the relationships built through a smaller cohort as a strength. At RMIT, a number of alumni said they appreciated the practicality of the course.
The line between an executive MBA and a part-time MBA sometimes gets blurry. Essentially, the target student group is one of the main differences. Students enrolled in executive MBA courses are typically those who have been in the workforce for a few years.
They are an older cohort, with more experience, and there are fewer international students. Classes are smaller, with less face-to-face teaching and more time devoted to syndicate work.

How we did it

BEVERLEY UTHER
Financial Review BOSS conducts its rankings of Australian MBA programs every two years. Research for the 2011 rankings was conducted by Financial Review Business Intelligence, based on data collected from April to August 2011. Results are based on two components. An alumni survey, worth 55 per cent, is based on satisfaction, improvement and value for money. A school score accounts for the remaining 45 per cent. In keeping with other international rankings, criteria includes accreditations, entry requirements and faculty qualifications, with an emphasis on academic degrees, current business experience of faculty, and research.
In contrast to some global MBA rankings, BOSS does not award points for salary increases, due to the high variability in pay nationally.
More than 1600 alumni who completed their MBA or Executive MBA degrees in 2008, 2009 and 2010 completed the survey. EMBAs were included for the first time in 2011 (see tables, page 36).
Just over half of all respondents were in their 30s when they completed their MBA. Twenty-one schools participated; 19 made it into our rankings. An overview of all the participants can be found atwww.afrboss.com.au.

Giving Voice to Values

ROSE-ANNE MANNS
University of Western Australia Business School
Moral muteness is a condition that afflicts many people confronted with an ethical dilemma, University of Western Australia Business School assistant professor Mark Edwards says. “The major ethical issue in organisations is not that people are unaware of problems, it’s that they don’t know what to do.”
The compulsory Giving Voice to Values course for MBA students is designed to push students beyond the ‘what’ of right and wrong, into the ‘how’ of resolving issues.
“Our approach to ethics is about implemention,” Edwards says. “In the past, the usual approach was to raise awareness of issues – rules and codes. It essentially looked at a decision-making approach, whereas from the first moment of the first class [our students] have made a decision to act – what do you do from there? It’s about the how of business ethics. It’s very different in that sense.”
Example: an accountant starts work with a charity, and is disturbed to discover the organisation has not been accounting properly for the value of donations received. Students workshop the conversations the accountant must have with a variety of audiences – the CEO, staff, colleagues. The role-play focuses on the sort of obstacles to acting that often come into play: “Don’t be a troublemaker”, “We’re not here to do ethics; we’re here to do business”. Edwards says imagination in overcoming the dilemma is encouraged. Instead of taking a ‘thou shalt not’ line, the emphasis is on innovating to come up with possible solutions that improve the business, not limit it.

14 Ağustos 2014 Perşembe

5580 SAYILI KANUN KAPSAMINDAKİ ÖZEL OKULLARDA ÖĞRENİM GÖRECEK ÖĞRENCİLER İÇİN VERİLECEK EĞİTİM VE ÖĞRETİM DESTEĞİ UYGULAMA e-KILAVUZU



5580 SAYILI KANUN KAPSAMINDAKİ ÖZEL
OKULLARDA ÖĞRENİM GÖRECEK
ÖĞRENCİLER İÇİN VERİLECEK EĞİTİM VE
ÖĞRETİM DESTEĞİ UYGULAMA
e-KILAVUZU

http://ookgm.meb.gov.tr/meb_iys_dosyalar/2014_08/08111210_eitimveretimdestei.pdf

13 Ağustos 2014 Çarşamba

KUŞADASI


Kuşadasını sevmiyorum artık. Bu kanıya yaklaşık 5 sene önce varmıştım. Ancak belki fikrim değişmiştir diye tekrar gittim bu sene. Tatilimin çok küçük bir kısmını sadece 2 gece kalmalı şekilde Kuşadasına gittim. Yol zaten İzmir'den yaklaşık 90 km civarında olup yolun büyük kısmını otobandan geçiyorsunuz ki gayet rahat bir yol. Kuşadası'na gelmezden önce bir seyir tepesi vardır Pamucak sahiline bakan en çok orayı özlemişim. O kocaman sahili ve alabildiğine mavisiyle güzel deniz görüntüsünü. Eskiden yaklaşık 20-25 yıl öncesinde Kuşadasın'ı gezmeye doyamazdık. Milli Park, Güvercin ada, Kadınlar denizi, çarşısı ile tatilinize anlam katarlardı. Güvercin ada hala duruyor ki geldiğimde buranın İstanbul'da sıradan bir semt olmadığını hatırlatıyor biraz da olsa. Yeni yapılan Setur Marina AVM adı altında bir alışveriş sokağı da tam bir hayalkırıklığı. Restaurantların ise kalitesi gerçekten düşük. Fast food restaurant bölümünden de bahsetmiyorum ayrıca. Onlarla ilgili de ayrıca yazacağım yazımın devamında. Açıkçası yeni yapılan Setur Marina AVM adlı Kuşadası limanının yanı başındaki alışveriş merkezini baltalamış. Orada bir kahve içmiştim üç sene önce zar zor yer bulabilmiştim. Ancak bu sene neredeyse virane gibi olmuş, dükkanların çoğu kapanmış, bakımsızlık baş göstermiş. Maalesef zaten beğenmediğim bir yer, beğenmediğim bir başka AVM'ye kurban gitmiş. Bu AVM'lerle bir zorum yok yanlış anlaşılmasın bende herkes gibi AVM'lerden alışveriş yapıyorum. Yıllarca İstanbul'da yaşayan bilir zaten her sokak başında AVM'nin olduğu bir şehirde başka alternatifiniz de olmuyor. Yeri geliyor bir süt almak için bile AVM'ye gidebiliyorsunuz. Ancak ben tatil beldelerinde AVM'lere karşıyım. Hemde çok karşıyım. Kaldı ki Kuşadası'nın çok güzel ve oldukça büyük bir çarşısı da var. Kuşadası hala yabancı turist konusunda bir çok tatil yöresinden daha şanslı. Eskiden daha çok Avrupalı turistler varken şu an Arap asıllı, Ortadoğulu turistlerin çoğunlukta olduğunu görmekte mümkün. 

Otel anlamında Kuşadası gayet zengin alternatifleri olan bir yer. Ancak otel konforu anlamında bir çok otel sınıfta kalır. Benim kaldığım otel çok konforlu ve güzel bir oteldi. İsim vermeyeceğim çünkü birkaç tatsızlıkta yaşadım bu yüzden reklam etmeyeceğim. Sadece şunu söylemek isterim, havuz başında 10 tl'ye içtiğiniz kolayı otelin herhangi bir barından 7tl'ye içiyorsunuz. Havuzdaki bar ile diğer bar arası 30 metre. Sanırım aptal yerine koyuluyoruz. İsmi çok bilinen bir otel. Ancak onun dışında gerek personel, gerekse temizlik 10 üzerinden 10 alırdı. Ancak diğer otelleri de araştırınca şanslı olduğumu farkettim. Gerçekten konfordan çok uzaklar. 

Kuşadası tatil için maalesef iyi bir alternatif değil. Umarım en kısa zamanda eski haline kavuşur.  

PHD STUDY IN THE UK (PHD STUDY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM)

PhD Study in the United Kingdom (UK)

by the University of Sheffield International Office

Why the UK?

The UK offers students the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised and respected academic qualification, whilst at the same time experiencing life in a culturally rich and diverse environment.
UK higher education is renowned for the quality of its teaching and research. Many of the leading UK universities boast world-class research facilities and produce research of the highest standard, enabling both taught and research students to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of some of the world’s most acclaimed specialists. To find out more about the UK higher education system, click here.
British universities encourage students to think creatively and independently in a stimulating learning environment, providing them with the confidence, knowledge and ability to excel in their chosen career. Employers across the world recognise and value the quality of a UK university education.
Studying and living in the UK also provides international students with an excellent opportunity to improve their English language skills, further enhancing their future employability.

Quality assurance

The quality of teaching in UK universities is rigorously assessed by the British Government's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). Subject areas and departments at each university are assessed on criteria such as curriculum design, assessment, student support, learning resources etc. Subjects are then given a rating of 'Excellent', 'Satisfactory' or 'Unsatisfactory', and departments are given a score out of 24 (with anything over 22 considered as excellent).
The strength of research activity in UK university departments is assessed in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). The latest assessment results were published in December 2008 by panels of independent experts from universities, industry and commerce. Research is rated on a scale of “Unclassified” – “4*”, with definitions of each category as follows:
4*Quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
3*Quality that is internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour but which nonetheless falls short of the highest standards of excellence.
2*Quality that is recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
1*Quality that is recognised nationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
UnclassifiedQuality that falls below the standard of nationally recognised work. Or work which does not meet the published definition of research for the purposes of this assessment.
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) will replace the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and will be completed in 2014. The REF will be the new system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions (HEIs).

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements differ at each university. Typically, those universities with higher rankings will have higher entry requirements. For entry onto taught Masters programmes, most universities will require a good first degree. For a PhD, you may be required to have a Masters degree in addition to your undergraduate one. In addition, you will be required demonstrate that you have a good command of English (see below).

English requirements

Masters programmes in the UK are intensive periods of study and as such as are not an opportunity for students to learn English whilst studying. You’ll certainly improve your English language skills but you will be expected to have a good level at the start.
Students who have not been educated in English would usually be required to have an internationally recognised English language qualification such asIELTS or TOEFL before joining the university. The exact English requirements will depend on the university and the course, but typically range from IELTS 5.5 to IELTS 7.5 (TOEFL 525-625).
Students who have been educated in English are often able to submit high school English qualifications (e.g. GCSE or O-level) instead of IELTS or TOEFL. Most universities would require the equivalent to a grade C at GCSE level to satisfy these conditions.

English Language preparation programmes

Students who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option of taking an English language preparation programme. Many universities offer intensive English language summer schools, specifically designed to help students to reach the required English level for their chosen academic programme. These courses usually range from four-16 weeks. Alternatively, there are several private English language schools across the country which offer English preparation courses. Students taking these courses should check that this will be accepted by their chosen university.

Pre-Masters programmes

Students who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements for their chosen course may have the option of taking a pre-Masters programme. These programmes are designed to prepare students for postgraduate study in the UK. Some universities run their own pre-Masters programmes, while others may work in partnership with specialist colleges.

MBA IN FRANCE


Masters in France

by Dr Nathalie Mather-L’Huillier

Doing a Masters in France – Quelle bonne idée!

French higher education is based on the "LMD system"—licence, master, doctorate (one leading to another)—now used throughout the European Union and also referred to as the Bologna system. This system includes a credit transfer system (ECTS – European Credit Transfer System) which is designed to facilitate student mobility within Europe and around the world.
A Masters in France is normally 2 years in duration, although unlike UK Masters which are delivered over 12 months without a break, Masters in France are delivered over two 9-months periods with a summer break (often used, however, for professional experience). The academic year begins in September or October and ends in May or June, depending on the institution and program. The two semesters are divided by a short break during the Christmas holidays with examinations taking place at the end of each semester.
The 2-year Masters can be an advantage if you come from a country where recognition of a 1-year Masters is difficult (like India or Norway). French Masters are equivalent to 120 ECTS credits obtained through modules taken over 4 semesters.
Masters students are assessed in two ways in French higher education:
  • Continuous assessment
    Learning is measured continuously through tests, including lab-based practicals and essays throughout the year.
  • Final examinations
    These measure student learning in all subjects over a period of several days.
At the master's level, two types of programmes are available: "research" masters, which are typically for those considering doctoral studies, and "professional" masters for students who want to enter the job market after graduation, the latter being the most common.

Why Study A Masters degree in France?

From philosophers Voltaire and Monstesquieu, mathematicians Descartes and Laplace, writers Zola and Dumas, artists Cézanne and Renoir to film-makers Godard and Besson, intellectual pursuits have always been part of the fabric of French society. The French Higher Education system is well known for its long tradition of excellence. A country of Nobel Prize winners (4th in the world), its academic institutions are today well placed in the rankings and are an important element of European research and academia. The French Government, whatever the party it is led by, has always had education at the forefront of its priorities, with the largest proportion of public spending (around 20%) being dedicated to it. Overall, Higher Education represents 1.2% of the country’s GDP (87% of it from public funds) or the equivalent of nearly 11,000 Euros per student every year while research spending represents 2% of the country’s GDP.
Two of France’s leading universities, Ecole Normale Supérieure and Ecole Polytechnique feature in the top institutions in the world. Academic excellence, coupled with some of the cheapest tuition fees, makes France an attractive proposition for Masters study.

Internationalisation: La porte est ouverte!

With 278,000 international students making up 12% of the student community, France is the fourth most popular destination for study abroad (long-term or short-term) after the USA, the United Kingdom and Australia. International students in France come from within Europe, but the country is a popular destination for students from all around the world, notably from Morocco, China, Algeria, Tunisia and Senegal. France has an egalitarian policy when it comes to international students and the same regulations are applied to French and international students. This is one of the most prominent marketing messages of the agency CampusFrance (equivalent of the British Council) which represents the Higher Education sector abroad. Of note: in public institutions, tuition fees (which are actually more aligned to registration fees) are the same for all and all students wherever they are from have access to social security and accommodation bursaries.
Doing your Masters in France is also the opportunity to learn the language or improve your French, the official language of the Olympics, the United Nations and the European Union institutions.

The French Higher Education System

Compared with other countries, France has a higher number of institutions which are relatively small in size. These tend to be more or less specialised and for example a medium-sized French city, such as Grenoble or Nancy, may have 2 or 3 universities (focused on science or social science), and also a number of specialised higher education establishments. In the Parisian region, there are 13 universities, covering the whole range of disciplines (Yes, even the Sorbonne!) while a large number of smaller institutions such as Télécom Paris Tech or Science Po are highly specialised.

Reform and modernisation of Higher Education in France

In the past 5 years, the French Higher Education sector has undergone some very ambitious (yet controversial within the sector and trade unions) reforms aimed at modernising and maximising collaboration in academia and research. The impetus for these changes was the fact that French institutions were considered to be lagging behind their peers in terms of research capacity and quality. Billions of euros are being invested to create critical masses of excellence and to support partnerships between France’s public universities, Grandes Ecoles (which are smaller and more specialised) and research centres. The aim is to create larger, more comprehensive higher education institutes called Pôles de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur, in which high quality teaching and research exist in closer proximity (physical or virtual). A small number of collaborations have been selected to be “transformed” into French versions of the US Ivy League institutions. Other projects involve the creation of a super campus in Paris to rival some of the top science and research organisations such as Harvard and MIT.
The Higher Education in France comprises Grandes Ecoles, public universities and groups of both types of institutions.

Universities

There are 83 public universities in France, all funded by the Government. The Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche is the body which accredits ALL national qualifications through a very strict quality assurance mechanism. State subsidies are the reason why higher education remains so affordable.

Grandes Ecoles

Grandes Ecoles are a unique type of higher education establishments found exclusively in France. At undergraduate level, most of them are accessed after an exam or strict selection two years after high school and offer “graduate school level” qualifications in a range of areas but most notably in engineering, business and the arts. They are widely regarded as prestigious and traditionally have produced most of France's scientists and executives. Almost all of them offer Masters programmes, increasingly delivering postgraduate education in English and are well connected to relevant industries and private sector partners.

Pôles de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur (PRES)

Les Pôles de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur (PRES) comprise of universities, specialist institutions and research bodies, allowing them to share of expertise, facilities and funding and to be competitive at on the international scene. There are around 20 PRES scattered around France which act as a promotional tool for their constituent institutions. PRES are also involved in student life providing welcome services, accommodation advice and social student activities.

Fees, finances and scholarships

Tuition fees

Compared to its other study abroad rivals, France can be a very affordable option. For public institutions, Masters tuition fees are set by the French Government. For 2012-2013, this was €350 (relatively more for Ecoles d’Ingénieurs at 596 euros). However, tuition fees can be more in private institutions. Universities may also levy administrative fees (frais de dossier) but these remain in the tens of euros. You may also have to pay for extra-curricular activities like student’s associations if they exist. Health insurance for students costs €200 a year and covers most of the medical expenses.

Scholarships

  • CROUS bursaries provide funding for accommodation and living costs. These are needs-based and generally around 750 euros.
  • Eiffel bursaries are a prestigious award based on excellence and aim to attract international students. Bursary holders receive a monthly allowance worth €1,181. In addition, bursary holders are eligible for other expenses including return trip, health insurance and cultural activities. Scholarship holders might also be eligible for additional accommodation allowance. Eiffel bursaries do not cover tuition fees but institutions who host Eiffel bursary holders are asked to apply to best financial tuition packages. Application for these bursaries is normally in January annually. More information here.
  • Bursary from the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) for international Masters students who wish to study in an institution in a country member of AUF, other than their own. Bursary for up to 10 months are available. More information here.
  • Regional scholarships
    Most regions of France will offer scholarships to attract academically excellent international students to their midst. The best thing to do is to check the website of the Conseil Régional of where your university is.
    The Ile-de-France  region (that’s the region where Paris is) offers around 200 scholarships annually for students new to France. The annual amount was €10,500 in 2009-2010, which includes accommodation at the international Cité U in Paris. The Ile-de-France  region scholarships are open to candidates from all EU countries as well as from a number of non-EU countries. More information here.
  • French Government bursaries available through French embassies in the following countries: Albania, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, India, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. If you are from another country than listed, it is worth checking with the French Embassy in your home country as new schemes are created.
  • Industrial/private sector scholarships: Private sector organisations and their charitable foundations (where they exist) also provide scholarships for Masters programmes which are of interest to them. For example, the Fondation Renault (the car manufacturer) provides scholarships to students from Japan, Brazil, South Korea, India, Iran, Morocco, Romania and Russia on the Master in Transports and Sustainable Development offered by the Grande Ecole Télécom Paris Tech. More information here.
  • Joint-Masters and Erasmus Mundus.

How to apply

All holders of a Bachelor degree (“Licence” in France) are eligible to apply for admission onto a Masters degree, although each university is free to set its own criteria and makes decisions on an individual basis. In a number of institutions, notably the Grandes Ecoles, admissions for masters programmes can be highly competitive.
In Grandes Ecoles, candidates’ applications will be reviewed by a panel and shortlisted candidates are likely to be invited to an interview.
The national closing date for applications in public universities for all candidates (this may be different in Grandes Ecoles and other private institutions) is January 31st. You do not need to have completed your Bachelor degree at the point of application but if you do not have it already, you will need to be studying for one at that point.

Language requirements

Minimum French language requirements are set individually by institutions. Candidates generally have to sit a test of French proficiency (test de connaissance du français) unless they have studied in a country where French is one of the official languages, if French was the language of instruction for previous studies or if candidates already have a proficiency certificate such as DELF or DALF. In countries other than France, these tests will take place towards the end of February in French embassies, Instituts or Alliances. If you are in France, the test will take place from the end of February to the beginning of March.
For entry onto a Masters course, French proficiency will be required for programmes delivered in French. For programmes delivered in English, basic French competencies will suffice. It is advisable to check with the institution you are applying to. If English is not your first language and you are planning to apply for a programme delivered in English in a French institution, you are likely to be asked for an English Language proficiency certificate.
If you do need to show evidence of French proficiency, you may wish to read our article on French language tests. However, whatever the requirements of your institution, some knowledge of French is almost essential if you want to be able to communicate and to fully experience the French cultural and way of life. Some people in France may be linguistically competent in English and other languages but they will appreciate if you may an effort in their own language. Most institutions will offer French courses and you are advised to take full advantage of them.

Careers

Masters training offered by universities are becoming increasingly focussed on employability and on exposure to a working environment. In science and engineering Masters, placements (also called “missions” or “thèse professionelle” are a full part of the programme and students will be going to private and public sector partners. In other subjects, placements, research- or desk-based projects will be a requirements of most programmes. Universities now will have an office (Bureau d'Aide à l'Insertion Professionnelle – Office for Employability) specialising in helping students finding placements opportunities and to help them at the end of their study with job searches. Grandes Ecoles and universities will often host employers on campus or organise job fairs.