The Best Places for Academics in the World

Academics play a vital role in every individual’s life. And most of us look for the most well recognised institution to enroll for our study courses. It is pretty obvious on our part to look out for the best of the lot. There are in fact countless institutions all over the world offering education facility to millions of learners.

Numerous educational faculties in the world are ranked according to the quality of education they provide to the students or learners. The faculty of the institution in fact is solely responsible for the fame these institutions get. The ranking is based on the international examinations result or outcome i.e. taking into consideration the graduation or post graduation rate in the world per year.

Michael Barber, a chief education adviser comments “successful countries give teachers a high status and have a culture of education.” United Kingdom is known for the high quality education it provides to the students. Thus it falls under one of the top ranking academic faculty in the world.

The top ranking countries in the field of education includes Finland and South Korea. Finland in fact holds the first position followed by South Korea. The other countries known for their education system according to their ranking are:

• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Singapore
• UK
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Switzerland
• Canada
• Ireland
• Denmark
• Australia
• Poland
• Germany
• Belgium
• USA
• Hungary
• Slovakia
• Russia

The top two renowned countries compete with three of the Asian educational system i.e. Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.

The Program for InternationalStudent Assessment (PISA) helps researcher and politicians as well as policy makers to judge and compare the various educational systems in the world. However it is one of the most convenient methods of judging educational pattern differences in the world.

Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia are the lowest ranking countries in terms of educational facility. In diverse subjects exam had been conducted that figured out that there have not been much improvement in their educational pattern from the past few years.

Certain factors that determine the role in global academic ranking:

• Quality of teachers or instructors

It is essential for the institutions to have quality staffs and teachers. Now if you consider school level education, it will be found that UK stands at the top, whereas Finland and Korea are comes under the low level category and Singapore surpasses them in terms of academics. Another important factor is the high payment of the teachers has no connection with their high performance. Teaching skill technique is endowed in them.

• Data significance

The data analysis on academics gives us a clear view about the best academic institutions in the world. It had been estimated that the education standard had gone up at the end of 1990 and beginning of 2000 but again it went down. But the long term investment and workforce has brought about a massive transformation in the educational system of UK.

However, it is one of the leading countries in the educational sphere; all other nations are still struggling to make it to the top. Hence the department of education all over the world is putting their efforts in giving it a high profile shape for the benefits of the students.

UNESCO to honour Malala's stand for Education by celebrating an International Day

Both genders, men and women, are meant to be equal.But, In male dominated, economically weak societies and countries, women are suppressed and are made to submit to male dominance. This had been the way of the world and in some countries it still is. Women are deprived of a voice. They are ill-treated and kept far away from the world of education, law and politics. However, as times are changing, women, all around the world need to be given rights that have been kept away from. And the winds of change are blowing in their favour. They are now given importance, a voice and power to match up to the “dominant” gender.

Deprivation of education- A violation of human rights

The first and most important step that needs to be taken is to provide girls and women in “poor” or economically unstable countries, with education. Every human being is said to be equal and every human being regardless of their gender, has a right to education. This right has been taken away from the “weaker gender” so that they remain in the dark. The deprivation of education is also a violation of human rights.

Women are deprived of the knowledge of law so that men can continue assaulting them, physically and mentally. As women do not know of the steps they can take against violence and assault they succumb to it without voicing their opinion. A fourteen year old girl, MalalaYousufzal, was brutally attacked for wanting to claim her right and that of other women, to education. A girl was faced with brutality and violence because she voiced her opinion and wanted to claim her right to education. She wanted to take what was hers. Her brave step and its consequence, brought to the forefront the torture womankind, in less developed countries, have to go through.

Was the protest a risk worth taking?

The case of Malala Yousufzal was an eye opener to the world. It proved that violence against women still prevails in the world. UNESCO wants to salute Malala’s courageous act by promoting education among girls. They will also,“ stage a high-level advocacy event aimed at mobilising ‘deeper commitment’ to educating girls and celebrating the “courage of young girls like Malala Yousufzai”

(Source: thenews.com.pk)

The Director-General, UNESCO, Irina Bokova, made this announcement marking “International Day forthe Elimination of Violence against Women, 2012”. The UN General Assembly allocated November 25, as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The aim of this day is to raise awareness about violence and torture against women. This day historically came from the day the three Mirabal sisters, were brutally assassinated on the orders of Rafael Trujillo of the Dominican Republic in 1960. 

Fallacies of the Present US Education System

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 was developed in the United States of America with the aim of generating a far more academically inclined youth. Recently we have seen how Barrack Obama’s education policies seem to have turned the tables and the votes in his favor. Now that the votes have been counted and the results speak volumes for itself that the people of America have chosen their leader. So is it the time to rejoice or get to see the larger picture about how the present education system is in the US? Education has to be dealt with a lot of seriousness because education designs the future of the present.

During Obama’s first tenure he has implemented the Race to the Top to increase the academic standards of the youth of America. The Race to the Top was all about awarding certain points to the States for successfully accomplishing certain educational policies.

But unfortunately there have been flaws in the educational system in the US for the last couple of years and these flaws still continue. In spite of so many attempts to revive the academic standards of the people of America all the efforts have gone in vain because all the acts that have been implemented in the recent years have fallen short in some way or the other to meet the criteria of providing quality education.

Though it can be constantly seen that Barrack Obama who is serving his second tenure as the President of the United States of America has extensively said time and again, “we know that education is everything to our children’s future. We know that they will no longer just compete for good jobs with children from Indiana, but children from India and China and all over the world. We know the work and the studying and the level of education that requires.”

So much said already, it is time for people to design their education system just like the youth wishes to design their future.

11 Ways How You are Unknowingly Hurting Your Career

Sometimes many of us wonder how we can keep our vocational life stable and unaffected by any kind of mishap. But none of us ever escape from the darker side of things. At some point or the other we all get subjected to ill fate in our professional life. However, you must remember your efficiency and sharp skill plays a major role in your job.

So, pros and cons are always a part of one’s career. No matter how much you want to avoid such a situation some day you will fall into its grip that will disrupt your working pattern. Mostly it could happen owing to your own negligence and carelessness.

But you must be acquainted with the various factors that affect your career. The 11 specific ways of ruining your career are as follows:

• End of academic life is not the end of learning

You must remember learning has no end, one can continue to expand their knowledge through various resources throughout their life. Even when you enter into the world of profession you actually learn through your work that allows career growth.

• Unsuccessful in accepting new things

You must be mentally prepared to clinch new changes and challenges. There are possibilities that you may face obstacles in your career pathway. You must not be afraid to shift careers whenever in need.

• Idleness

People who are lethargic and lazy can never achieve their goal in their working space. They lack the energy and faith and do not give hundred percent to their task.

• Be stern and alert

This is one of the most essential functions of an employee. You may fall prey to a bad person so to avoid any such circumstance be on your guards. Do not let anyone else persecute or intimidate you.

• Awful bonding with your superior

You must be aware of the fact that your boss plays a major role in your life. As an employee you must keep on mind that you have to perform according to his or her instruction. You must never get into any controversy with your senior as it is sure to give you a bad name in your office. You may even end up losing your job.

• Not realizing your occupation is just the first step

You are bound to come across many jobs in your professional life. The job that you possess right now may be temporary; there are chances you could switch over to another company. So never take anything for granted and look ahead for better opportunities.

• Thinking your present job is going to last forever

You must have seen that there are many reputed organisations and companies that had flourished in the beginning but later collapsed or split up owing to some problem. So there is sudden fluctuation in the economy of the world. Hence you must never rely on the job that you are engaged in but always keep choices in your mind.

• Must devote yourself

You should never give up on polishing your chief working skill and talent. The knowledge that you have acquired may not be sufficient as the working scenario keeps changing with time.

• Neglecting network

You must have good networking with others. You may feel you do not need it right now but later you will definitely require so it is important to build contacts with others.

• Absence of social media

You must make use of social media in your career. In this highly advanced technological platform one cannot function accurately without the involvement of media. So you must understand the importance of media.

• Depending on others

You generally believe that your professional life is depended on your employer but that is absolutely your wrong notion. This leads to a big time career crash.

11 Shocking Truths about World Education

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

- Nelson Mandela.

We can hardly under play the role and importance education has in one’s life. But then many of us are unaware of the shocking truths about world education. Many of us, cannot imagine the hardships, the others undertake to receive mere basic education. Illiteracy is a burning issue even in this 21^st Century.

Some of these shocking truths about World Education are mentioned below:

• 1 out of 5 adults in this modern world cannot read or write. They have not received the basic education and hence remain illiterate.
  
  
• Majority of the Illiterates are Women. Though most of the developed and developing countries proclaim about “Women Emancipation and Empowerment” but the hard fact is illiteracy rates among women exceed 70%.
  
  
• About 115 million children don’t have basic primary education, as they are not admitted to schools due to various reasons.
  
  
• About 226 million children, drop out after completion of their primary schooling and hence doesn’t have secondary school qualifications.
  
  
• Many of the children, who have somehow completed their secondary level, do not even have the basic reading and writing skills as their schools lacked proper teachers, books and study materials as well as the infrastructure require to give a proper education.
  
  
• Many children miss out on the basic education as their parents are not financially stable to bear their education cost. Moreover they are made to work somewhere, so that they start earning from a very young age and can start contributing to the family income.
  
  
• In many developing schools, public school is not free of cost. In order to attend classes, one needs to buy books, uniform and pay tuition fees which the families can’t afford and hence their children has to skip education.
  
  
• Many children drop out from school as they are discriminated on the basis of racial and ethnic minorities, members of Indigenous communities and migrants.
  
  
• In spite of being in the 21^st Century and claiming to bridge the technological divide through the growing access to Internet, the hardcore fact remains Social traditions and deep-rooted religious and cultural beliefs still prevent girls from attending schools.
  
  
• Whenever the parents face some financial issues, they stop sending the girl child to school. This is not so in case of boys. As many as two out of three out-of-school children are girls.
  
  
• Research shows Educated girls and women are more aware of HIV infection, molestation, human trafficking. They marry at a much later stage and have fewer children who have higher chances of going to school and these educated women also make handsome contributions to family income.

Why Stick to a Single Career throughout your Entire Life?

“I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Michael Jordan

Many of us desire to give wings to our dreams of doing something creative and quench our thirst for creativity. But very few take the plunge and shift from the current job fearing less pay in a new venture and do what we love and then there some amongst us who throw caution to the winds and take that plunge.

One such person is Morgan Jensen. She is a practicing chiropractor for the past 20 years but she wanted to give wings to her dreams and become a product designer. But her profession was not letting her use her skills. But then one day, while treating her patients, she decided to design a backpack that is going to relieve people of their backache. It was her most challenging patients that gave her the idea to combine her practice with her passion and she came up with this ergonomic and more importantly a stylish backpack.

But the fulfillment of every dream comes with its share of hurdle. Morgan was 55Years when she came up with this idea. She was at a loss as how to promote this bag and raise money for its marketing? That's when she decided register to Kickstarter, a crowd funding site to display and test the demand for "the City Bag" (her backpack). The amazing feedback she got and the money she got from the crowd was enough to make her realize that it was time to shift careers.

Aimee Gilbreath was in a similar scenario as her passion and profession were poles apart. After completing her MBA, she started working as a consultant with Boston Consulting Group. Though the job was very satisfying, her heart was somewhere else. Having grown up with cats, dogs, horses, she always wanted to do something for animals. Hence she joined the local pet adoption center. But soon her hopes crashed as she realized people out there were more concerned with internal politics rather than adopting and caring for the animals. So she left.

However, a few months later, she chanced upon an advertisement on the newspaper looking for an Executive Director at the pet adoption center. Aimee wasted no time and called them up. Soon she realized that both shared the same vision and interests. After a bunch of successful interviews, she is now associated with the center. Though her current salary is less compared to her previous one, but she has no regrets. Under her skills, the adoption center has grown from a staff of 2 members to 40 employees and takes care of more than 90,000 pets.

Changing careers is a very big decision and more often than not, success rate is slow. But research shows that most people regret not because of what they have done, mainly because of what they did not do. Lost chances and not taking the risk is the major regret factor rather than trying and failing. So take that plunge and go for the career change which you have been longing for quite some time. After all if there is a will, there is a way!

Learning has to Conquer Many Obstacles in its Path

“A liberal education is at the heart of a civil society, and at the heart of a liberal education is the act of teaching.” - A. Bartlett Giamatti

The public discussion on education in relation to how it has been depicted in the media has often De-generated the discussion into a debate. The public education system is indeed in a crisis. Efforts have to be taken by the educational institutions, parents and governments to bring about the required change. Many countries are coming up with ideas to cope up with the situation. For-Example lets discuss about South Africa and its education system. What South Africa currently needs is an all encompassing education dialogue exchange between all the stake holders. This will help in a better understanding of the prevailing obstacles and the reasons for why they exist. The dialogue should focus on solutions and seek to build the desire to take collective action.

Issues that create Obstacles in the Path of Learning:

With the ever increasing poverty, some of the core needs of children are not adequately met at home and invariably it gets dragged to the school. In many case, children’s coming to school didn’t have a proper breakfast to eat and are in poor health and have lack of proper physical development and hence are unprepared to learn and often display behavioural problems in class. The schools and educational institutes too have to take additional responsibility. Their concern should not be limited to provide the mere education.

In addition to this, is the lack of proper educational infrastructure and payment of the teachers on time. A proper educational setting has to be there to give proper and adequate education to the child so that it contributes to their overall development. These conditions cannot be overlooked nor should they be confused with lack of commitment factor on part of the teachers.

Measures to curb the prevailing situation:

So why do we need this dialogue? Because the existing problems in education system are complex and many-sided. What is required is a collective effort on everybody’s part so that it leads to the proper overall growth of the child.

What is striking about these dialogues is that the participants don’t suffer from helplessness but are eager to confront and overcome the challenges faced. The desire for a better education system and a brighter future of the country is what drives their conversations.