A guide to smart project management for all departments


Today's universities are enterprises in the true business sense. Perhaps more than commercial organizations, the actions, plans, and management of universities come under the microscope of alumnae, donors, trustees, parents, activists, and the press. This scrutiny underscores the need for tools and methodologies that facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing and oversight among the various work groups and communities within universities.

Project and Portfolio Management software is one such tool. If projects are the currency of getting things done in today's enterprise, managing multiple projects involving groups of people and resources spanning the university grows in importance.


With their complexities, interdependencies, resource constraints, and time limits, projects are costlier, riskier, and more mission-critical than ever before. But, contrary to most peoples' perceptions, project planning is not the key to success. An estimated 80 percent of a project's life cycle is spent in execution, arguably the measure of a project's success or failure. Things rarely go wrong in the planning stages of a project; they go wrong while the work is being done. Project requirements may change unexpectedly-- budget cuts, zoning requirements changed, resources lost. The impact of changes must be quickly analyzed and communicated to project stakeholders. Decisions need to be made, change reports written, project plans updated and distributed. In most projects, it is not long before even the best plan is rendered obsolete by events on the ground.
Universities are beginning to address these challenges with project and portfolio management applications that enable departments within universities--such as planning, facilities, IT, and other cross-functional support organizations--to consolidate project planning, workflow, and collaboration across departments. Standardizing on PPM enables thes

e groups to consolidate tools, relieving dependence on expensive, proprietary project planning, CRM, and organizational tools. A number of universities are improving project success with PPM tools that help project managers move beyond the plan and focus on execution. A new breed of enterprise open source PPM application is also available today that integrates easily within existing IT systems and can be easily customized to suit the unique needs of diverse functional groups across university departments.

• The student who is seeking for educational loan should be Indian national
  



• The student should have secured admission to foreign university/institution

• Institution Fee
  



• Hostel Fee
  



• Examination Fee
  



• Library and Laboratory Fee
  



• Purchases of Books
  



• Equipment and Instruments
  



• Caution or Refundable Deposit



• Travel Expenses

• Mark sheets of the last qualifying examination for school and graduate studies in India.
  



• Proof of admission to the course.
  



• Scheduling of expenses to the course.
  



• Copies of letter confirming the scholarship.
  



• Copies of foreign exchange permit, if applicable.
  



• Two passport size photographs.
  



• Bank statement for the last six months of the borrower.
  



• Income tax assessment order not more than two years.
  



• Brief statements of assets and liabilities of the borrower.
  



• If you are not an existing bank customer you would need to establish your identity and give proof of residence.

Decision of International Education is highly expensive one. When the students go to study abroad they are on the threshold of their career. Thus the decision needs to be well thought.

The important factors that should be considered for International Education are listed below:

Course
The decision of the course you choose to study should be of the utmost importance. While choosing the programme students should keep in mind your present qualification and the future career. There are two types of programme

• Specialist Programme: Specialist programme means pursuing further studies in the same field and acquiring specialized knowledge on your present qualification eg A Student has studies BSc Chemistry and is going abroad to study MSc in Chemistry
  
• Conversion Programme: It means changing your field and doing your Masters in a subject which is different from your Bachelors eg If you have passed your BSc IT qualification and now planning to go for MSc in Business Management. A conversion programme is generally available in the field of Business, Management, Computing and IT only
  

University Ranking
While choosing the University the student should keep in mind the ranking of the University. Further to this the student should not forget his or her percentage also. They should understand that higher the ranking of the University higher will be the admission criteria (entry requirements) as well as the fees structure.

Budget
International Education can be very expensive as sometimes you tend to spend more than you intended to. Usually when the students go abroad they have an illusion that they will be able to recover their tuition fees by working part time which is not true. The student should keep in mind that when you go to study abroad they will have to bear the fees for the university. Thus the student should fix a budget and look for Universities according.

Location
If you have any CLOSE relatives in a particular location and you are planning to stay with them than studying at a University near to their place would make sense. This will save a lot of money which you would be spending on accommodation as well as on travel. The student should also understand that knowing some one in the UK is different from living with them. So the student should make an informed decision regarding staying with the relatives and also look for other location if it is not feasible.
These are the major points any student should consider for International Education. Further to this it would depend on the student which of these is important for you to make an informed choice regarding your Education Abroad.
For the same thing the student should keep his or her options open while deciding Country choice and University choice.

Foreign education is a booming business today as students from many lands dream and aspire to pursue higher education abroad. The United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand happen to be the most popular destinations.

Why Study in Abroad?

Some Good reasons to study abroad.

• Multilingual and Multicultural environment : Studying abroad gives you a golden opportunity to be a part of the multicultural environment and also learning new foreign languages. It gives you a first hand feeling of different cultures and its origin.
  
• Makes you more techno savy : The education system abroad happens to be very different than what prevails in India. It lays lot of emphasis on the practical aspects of education thus making the students techno savy and more practical.
  
• Value of Degree :A foreign degree enhances your chances of employment and gives you the returns on your investments.This is one good reason why you should not take it as an expense but an investment.
  
• Importance of Hiring Foreign Education Consultants :
  Foreign education consultants play a vital role in fulfilling your dreams. They act as navigators to the whole process. There are lot of complexities involved in the whole process of studying abroad.Hiring a good consultant becomes very very important here.They are the ones who make your dreams turn into reality.Indepth knowledge is absolutely essential while taking such vital decisions.A good higher education consultant would not only help you accomplish the task but also see that it is being accomplished in the right direction. It is about the students’ future and that is the reason utmost care and awareness is required from the beginning.

Selection of the right kind of schools plays the most important role in the whole process.Selecting a good and accredited school ensures your future prospects of recruitement and also the value of your degree.

Why Study In USA?

Introduction to the country :

• Multi-cultural population
  
• World’s largest economy
  
• Less than 5%unemployment ratio
  
• Largest number of MNCs
  
• Highly technical and flexible education system
  
• Strong links between educational institutions and corporate world
  
• The unique OPT feature providing stay back options
  
• More than 300 courses to choose from
  
• States with well developed education system-PA, NY, NJ, MA, CA, IL, TX, AZ, MI and FL
  

Types of Student Visas :

1. F1 Visas-Given for Full time degrees M1 Visas-Given for Part time courses and vocational degrees
   
2. Thus the student should fix a budget and look for Universities according.
   

Three main areas to be proved for bagging the student visas :

1. Serious academic student
   
2. Intention of return
   
3. Financial Capability
   

The Unique OPT Feature :

• You can get legal work permit called the OPT for upto 1 year after the course completition. The company can than sponsor your H1 B visa which is a legal work permit visa. It is to be held for 6 years in order to apply for a greencard.
  
• The breakeven is attained by availing the OPT feature. It also gives a platform for gathering exposure and experience of an international market.
  

WHY Study In UK?
Britain has long been a popular destination for Indian students to Study in UK. With more than 150 institutes of higher education to choose from. U.K. is one of the few countries that allows international students to work even outside the campus. Students can work upto 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during vacations.

Various degrees offered by UK educational institutes :

• Bachelors degree- It is for a duration of 3-4 years.
  
• Sandwich Courses-This gives an option to the students to do one year of commercial training after first 2 years of bachelors degree and then returning to the third year.
  
• HND-is awarded by Vocational and technical Educational Councils.The duration is 2 years.
  
• Postgraduate degree-They are normally for a duration of one year thus saving costs and living expenses.
  

Why Study In Australia?
Australia is one of the best places to live.It is a young, vibrant and friendly country.It also has a unique kind of education system which offers and provides paths to suit particular academic requirements.
In 2000, Australia introduced the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000. ESOS ensures that, in order to enrol international students, institutions must first meet requirements for registration. All institutions which meet registration requirements are listed on the publicly available Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
The ESOS legislation provides consumer protection. This means you will receive the tuition for which you have paid, and your fees are protected by law.Under the skilled migration program , international students get an opportunity to stay back in Australia thus giving them the returns on their investments and also assuring a better lifestyle.

Why Study in New Zealand?
Perhaps the most important reason to choose New Zealand is the absolute guarantee of getting a student visa if you are a genuine student and the great student policies that are friendly and very, very helpful. If you have the above you will be termed a ‘Positive Profile’ student by the student visa team of Immigration New Zealand. All these visa officers make rational judgments rather than whimsical decisions based on ‘mood’.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT UNIVERSITY

Location : The location should be selected keeping in mind various factors like cost of living, safety , placements, weather, etc.For eg. London happens to have the highest cost of living.So if funds are important to a student, he might not select a school based in London.

Accrediation and Ranking :The universities in UK are ranked by various bodies .The rankings are based on the quality of education provided, student satisfaction ,etc.

• Course Accreditaion : It is also important to check how accredited is the degree with the particular university that you want to pursue your education from. There are certain courses which are accredited by certain bodies in the UK which should be considered.
  
• Bursaries and Scholarships : Different universities offer different scholarships which in turn helps in reducing the cost of education for international students.
  
• Research Facilities : The research facilities and the laboratory facilities should also be kept in mind while selecting the correct university.

Studying in Australia offers international students more than academic achievement and a globally recognised qualification. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience through which a student can develop independence, maturity, an understanding of other cultures, and the ability to see issues from different perspectives. Study in Australia better prepares a student to work in today's global marketplace. This is why several foreign companies recruit directly from Australian universities and vocational institutes. Many international organisations and companies employ overseas students with Australian qualifications because their exposure to the outside world gives them greater independence and maturity. With international trade barriers disappearing, great opportunities exist for those with the skills, experience and knowledge to seize them. In Australia, international students can gain this experience in a safe, friendly environment and at an affordable cost.

Education in Australia

Australia is the third most popular study destination in the English-speaking world, with more than 200,000 international students in Australian institutions across all education sectors: higher education, vocational education and training, English Language colleges, and schools.

Australia's universities have made important breakthroughs in modern technology and science while Australia's vocational training system, which is based on industry standards, is used as a model for other Asia-Pacific countries.

There are universities in all major Australian cities and throughout regional areas of the country ranging in size from around 3,000 students to 50,000 students. About 20 percent of students enrolled in Australian universities are from overseas.Many international students also study in vocational education and training colleges and institutes across Australia. These institutes offer qualifications that recognised in the workplace.

The Australian Government ensures the quality of Australian institutions and courses in a number of ways. Institutions must be accredited and courses offered to international students must be approved and listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Qualifications offered to students must fit the Australian Qualifications Framework The staff at Australian institutions is also very experienced in helping students from other countries, and there are well-established support systems in place for international students.

In a nut shell Australia is a dynamic and vibrant country with a great deal to offer students looking for international education. Australia has:

• Dynamic and progressive education programs with a reputation for excellence
  
• Globally-recognised courses and qualifications
  
• A relaxed, enjoyable and safe lifestyle
  
• Cheaper study and living expenses compared to many other countries
  
• Vibrant, appealing and multicultural cities
  
• Great weather
  
• Amazing and diverse landscapes and scenery
  
• Unique and wonderful flora and fauna.
  
• Great employment opportunities in International Companies after passing out from any Australian University.

Often called 'the land of opportunities and hope', 'technological foundry', and 'the land of adventure', United States of America needs no formal introduction. The climatic and geographic variations, the cultural diversity, the commitment and dedication to the development of new technologies, a flourishing and strong economy with a liberalized education system make USA an ideal country for international students.

Foreign education consultants act as navigators in the process of converting your dreams into reality. Lot of expertise is required to get through the entire process of admissions and visas in USA. There are lots of do's and dont's involved in the whole process. One single step can make or break your dream. Through years of experience and with the firsthand feedback from students, foreign education consultants help you make :

RIGHT CHOICE OF UNIVERSITY

Higher Study in USA is quite different from the system offered in our country. There is no federal or central education system in USA. Degree-granting institutions in the United States can be called as universities, colleges, schools or institutes. As a general rule, colleges tend to be smaller and usually offer only undergraduate degrees, while a university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. An institute usually specializes in degree programs in a group of closely related subject areas, so you will also come across degree programs offered at institutes of technology, institutes of fashion, institutes of art and design, and so on. Within each college or university one will find schools, such as the school of arts and sciences or the school of business. Each school is responsible for the degree programs offered by the college or university in that area of study. Studying in an accredited school ensures you of bright career opportunities ahead. So this is the first step one needs to take in the right direction. The higher education counselor can assist you in selecting a career option keeping in consideration of your aptitude, academic background and future plans. Once a decision regarding the course is made, the counselor can research the appropriate university that offers the programme. Particular state preferences, financial budget, ranking of the university and test scores are also taken into consideration while selecting a university for the students

PRE APPLICATION PREPARATIONS

USA applications are believed to be the most tedious and time consuming compared to any other country. Lot of backend work is involved before a student makes his final applications. Higher education consultant would know exactly how the documentation should be done and thus ensuring admissions in universities for the student. They help you prepare various creative documents like the statement of purpose, resume, recommendation letters etc. These documents play a vital role in admissions and therefore it becomes necessary to keep a watch over the flow of statements, contents and the language used. Professional help would ensure you the proper making of such documents.

VISA PREPARATION

The final step in the whole process is visas and it is very important to present the visa file very professionally. Education consultants help you channelise your finances in the right direction as per the norms of the US High Commission. Also they help you present the papers in the right manner and preparing you and grooming you for the interview a student is required to face at the Mumbai embassy.Certain things in life related to career and education cannot be done by a trial and error method. So it becomes very important to take proper guidance from experienced leaders and fulfill your dreams.

States which accept funding from the ARRA must commit to four reforms:

• Increase teacher effectiveness and ensure an equitable distribution of qualified teachers;


• 
  
  Progress towards the implementation of college- and career- ready standards and high-quality (this has opened up the debate on national standards – see below);


• 
  
  Turn around the lowest-performing schools;


• 
  
  Develop and use of pre-K through post-secondary data systems.
  

The higher education in USA is a buyers market. You can actually demand, and get, what is best for you. American society is enormously diverse and complex. Important differences exist between geographical regions, between rural and urban areas, and between social classes.

In addition, the presence of millions of immigrants who came to the United States from all corners of the world with their own culture and values adds even more variety and flavor to American life. Come study in top universities in USA through Global Opportunities - your international education consultant based in India. Nearly 600,000 students from all over the world came to the United States last year to study at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Without a doubt, America offers very high quality post secondary education. There are more than 4,000 public and private colleges, community colleges and universities in the USA, including over 600 public four-year colleges and universities and over 1,650 private four-year colleges and universities. These traditional institutions enroll nearly 15 million students.

In addition, more than 6,250 other non-collegiate postsecondary institutions offer specialized vocational and technical training.Any student can find an appropriate program within the rich and diverse higher education system. This is true whether you are seeking career-oriented vocational and technical training from a community college, a liberal arts education from a small private college, an undergraduate science degree from a prestigious research institution, or one of a variety of programs offered by a multipurpose university. High quality educational programs are offered in all types of institutions at prices that vary as much as the programs and institutions themselves.

The United States also offers limitless opportunities for sports, recreation, and entertainment. Cities large and small offer numerous indoor and outdoor opportunities. Almost every city or town in the United States with college and university students will likely offer those students ways to kick back, run around, and have a good time.World class learning institutions with cutting edge technology, endless study choices, worldwide recognition, a diverse mix of people and culture, flexibility in terms of course schedules and hours, and a globally focused course curriculum, all make the US one of the most attractive student destinations in the world.

• High graduate employment rates
• Job Shop for temporary work
• State- of-the-art learning facilites
• High-quality courses
• Free English language support in most of the popular universities
• Sports centre in the university itself