FOR FOCUS ISSUE -- April 4 -- Overseas Study<\/p>\n
Caution necessary when considering overseas education<\/p>\n
Simon Marcus Gower,
\nExecutive Principal,
\nHigh\/Scope Indonesia School,
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Nobody would question the statement \"we live in a competitive
\nworld\". It is, and indeed has long been, a growing reality that
\ncompetition influences, and to a considerable degree determines,
\nthe way we live our lives.<\/p>\n
Globalization has probably added to and speeded up this
\nprocess. Ultimately we have, then, become competitors in the
\nworld. There are those that do not accept this process --
\nantiglobalization activists have become a familiar sight all over
\nthe world, but competition has infected almost every conceivable
\naspect of human existence.<\/p>\n
It is probably an uncomfortable reality for many people that
\ncompetition has also infected the world of education. High ideals
\nfor altruistic endeavor in the name of educating others do not
\nsit well with notions of competitiveness and money-making.<\/p>\n
However, it is an observable reality that competition and
\nbusiness practices are now part of educational institutions'
\nconstituent elements.<\/p>\n
It certain ways this can be seen as appropriate and
\nacceptable. Any endeavor that incorporates the bringing together
\nof people has to be organized and has to be carried out under
\ngood business practices in order to achieve its mission. However,
\nthe aspect of this process that is most troubling for even the
\nmost casual of observers is the danger that education is going to
\nbe run as a purely money-making venture. Rather than being an
\naltruistic, nonprofit-making affair, education can become a hard-
\nnosed, profit-orientated venture in which the educational
\noutcomes being achieved are only marginally considered.<\/p>\n
Commentators have expressed concern about this in this
\nnewspaper, fearing that education in Indonesia is increasingly
\npredicated on and premeditated toward making money for owners and
\ninvestors. In this sense, Indonesia is effectively following a
\npattern that is being exhibited the world over. It is, therefore,
\na pattern that is well-established and is unlikely to go away
\nanytime soon. In fact, on the contrary, it is only likely to
\nincrease.<\/p>\n
This does mean, then, that we need to be aware of it and be
\nwise to the game that is going on here. It demands that people
\nentering into the world of education as users or students have to
\nbe evermore vigilant and circumspect in their consideration of
\nwhat they want from an educational institute and what that
\ninstitute can offer to their future prospects, both in terms of
\neducational development and career options.<\/p>\n
In a very real sense, (and perhaps there are those that would
\nbe appalled by this but it is the reality), students have become
\ncustomers. As such it is important that they exercise their right
\nto determine what is best for them. As noted, there may be those
\nwho would be appalled by the notion of students as customers but
\nthen again, looking at the reality of what is actually happening
\nin the world of education today will confirm this point.<\/p>\n
There is now an effective circuit of exhibitions and fairs
\nthat colleges and universities send their representatives to in
\norder to promote their courses and programs. Universities have
\noverseas representatives and agents that work on a fee basis in
\ngathering students for those universities.<\/p>\n
In short, for many, many universities being able to gather
\noverseas students as enrollees is lucrative and highly beneficial
\nto their profiles and their finance departments.<\/p>\n
This leads to a veritable mass of education institutes vying
\nfor students, and students in our globalized world may come from
\nliterally any corner of the world. Indonesia is no exception, as
\noften the \"education bandwagon\" of exhibitions and fairs rolls
\ninto this country with institutions eager to sign up students.<\/p>\n
This, then, is where students should be proactive, cautious
\nand vigilant.<\/p>\n
All manner of marketing and customer relations tricks can and
\nwill be used by education institutes to attract new students (or
\nis that customers?). From discounted sign-up fees to attractive
\nglossy brochures, a variety of marketing ploys can and will be
\napplied to attract the attention.<\/p>\n
Educational institutes (or perhaps it should be stated,
\ncertain institutes) will even stoop to quite shallow tactics that
\nhave nothing whatsoever to do with the courses or programs of
\neducation that they are offering. For example, during one
\nexhibition an institute was prepared to entice students
\n(customers) to its display with the promise of a free pop music
\ncompact disc for all those who were willing merely to give their
\nnames and addresses for further information to be sent to them.<\/p>\n
Tactics such as this really do need to be very carefully
\nscrutinized, as often they may be covering up the weaknesses and
\nshortcomings of such an educational institute. The above example
\ndoes illustrate this point. At the time that this ploy was being
\nimplemented many teenagers could be seen signing up and showing
\ninterest in what was being offered, but looking at the brochures
\nthese people were distributing tended to suggest that a very
\nsmall and probably quite inadequate institute was on offer.<\/p>\n
The program information was very limited and much of the sales
\npitch revolved around the institutes' geographical proximity to a
\nworld famous city and world-renowned landmarks and buildings.<\/p>\n
Any student (customer) considering an overseas education is
\nentering into a vulnerable time in their lives and an
\nincreasingly volatile and competitive marketplace. This makes it
\nall the more vital that caution and care are exercised. It is all
\ntoo easy to be duped and have short-term benefits and goals
\nthrust upon you that suggest that the right choices are being
\nmade, only to find later on that the wrong direction has been
\ntaken and long-term goals and benefits will not be met.<\/p>\n
Obviously, there are great benefits to be gained from
\nexperiencing an overseas education and there are truly great
\neducational institutes that have so much to offer potential
\nstudents in both the short and long terms.<\/p>\n
But the competitiveness of the twenty-first century demands
\nthat the selection process of where to go, what course to study
\nand which institute is best equipped to meet your specific needs
\nmeans that a great deal of forethought is required.<\/p>\n
If for no other reason the considerable expense involved in
\ngaining a good education heightens the need for a careful
\nselection process.<\/p>\n
To a considerable degree then, a great deal of study before a
\nstudent even begins studies at an educational institute will go a
\nlong way. Doing research and investigating an institute before
\nsigning up is an astute and appropriate course of action; to do
\nboth meets short-term needs and longer-term goals.<\/p>\n
The thoughts expressed above are personal.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/for-focus-issue-april-4-overseas-study-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }