INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
By Roger Bartholomew

Roger Bartholomew spends his life talking with students - both as a teacher and as a counselor. His position as president of International Education Specialists, Chairman of Southville Foreign University and Director/Teacher at Southville International School all involve listening to students and parents and advising them on their studies and careers. He is a frequent speaker in schools, colleges, universities, public forums and focus groups. He can be reached at rogerb@inter-ed.com.

30 YEARS IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

Another Christmas come and gone; Another New Year to resolve. What to do with all those presents which really were not what you wanted, but added together would have bought an iPhone. What to do with all the credit card debt which takes the whole year to pay off. What to do with the added inches on the waistline that will take months at the gym to work off. Do you feel like Asia’s biggest loser, or like American Idol?

For International Education Specialists, it’s a time of wonder and reflection. As a company, we turn 30 years old, and 4,000 students old. Four thousand students placed overseas for school, tech/voc, bachelors, masters and even doctorate programs; students who now have their own children coming to Inter-Ed for placement. And today Inter-Ed does so much more than just place students for studies: skills migration to Australia, Canada, and New Zealand; career mapping and counseling; specialist training; education fairs; consultancy; and even writing columns for JobsDB.com! There is never a dull moment, and with specialist registration programs for nurses in Australia and New Zealand, 2010 is going to be another ultra busy year.

What’s happening right now? Students are trying to beat the Jan 15th deadline for UCAS forms for undergraduate entry to UK universities. Inter-Ed is currently helping scores of students to get this form completed in time for all kinds of degree programs: Operations and Logistics; CSI Forensic Science; Human Resource Management; Architecture; Business Management; Psychology; digital gaming; Marketing; etc. not to mention the graduate programs. All degrees in the UK give students the option of a two-year work permit after graduation.

Another thing that’s happening right now is the visa processing for Australian & New Zealand student visas for those students leaving in February. Will it get done in time; will the housing be ready; will the university really pick me up at the airport; how much is the Australian dollar worth?…. You can’t be serious! Can I take my dog to Australia with me? Is it true that Qantas has never crashed?

It never stops. Every year thousands of students leave the Philippines for the adventure of a lifetime and a new beginning. And it’s always worth it, whatever experiences happen along the route. Study and travel broaden the mind (and sometimes the waistline) and create opportunities that just don’t happen from sitting at home and doing more of the same.

Through all this there is a common thread….. International Education Specialists, making it all happen. Make it your New Year resolution for 2010 to call us (819-1001), text us (0918-904-1282) or come and visit us (2/F Trafalgar Plaza, 105 H.V. De La Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City), to find out what could lie ahead for you. Despite everything going on around us, it’s still “a wonderful world.”