Monday, January 2, 2012

The Benefits of Getting a College Education in Another Country

Choosing the right college and degree, is a constant pre-occupation of millions of people throughout the World. But what if you are making another decision- whether to study abroad or in your home country?
Traditionally there has always been a high percentage of students who choose to study outside their country, and this number has steadily increased in an era of globalization.
In the early 2000's, this movement was towards the developed countries, which were mainly Australia, Britain, Canada, Germany, Japan, and the USA. But as the global economy changed, there were also regional educational hubs like Egypt, India and Singapore.
Students went to these nations to primarily study, perhaps also work to pay for their degree, with a plan to probably stay permanently after graduating. Students on government sponsored programs usually came to gain knowledge, and establish a relationship between both countries.
Economic events, and the need to pay more for an education have changed this recent trend, towards a potential student focusing on studying where they can still find work, and perhaps after graduating stay and do business/or work.
This has led to a trend where the best Universities in Australia, Asia, Europe and North America still attract paying students, but middle income students are focusing on growing regional hubs like Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, and Singapore.
So what are the advantages of studying abroad?
It really all depends on what you expect from studying in another country, whether it is the experience of living in another place, the specialized skill's you learn, or the affordability of a degree compared to an equivalent university course in your home country.
A Vietnamese student could benefit from studying management in a Malaysian or Singaporean University, because there is a pressing need for specialized Asian managers in their home country. And there is always a chance they can work for a regional multinational, after graduating.
Students from the once affluent Europe and United States, also are slowly choosing the option of being educated in some of these regional hubs. One reason is the lower cost, but another is that they could be connected to local businesses that are expanding globally.
Language students on the other hand benefit greatly from studying in a country were the first language is the choice of study. Many students study in Chinese and Japanese Universities, because they become more fluent and develop a cultural understanding of the language. The same applies for undergraduates who study in English speaking countries.

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