Online Education
Article | July 19, 2022
With so many competing districts and schools, getting an education grant can be a tough nut to crack. However, crafting an effective strategy can make the process simpler. Here are five strategies to adopt to ensure you’re on track to win that education grant your school needs.
Aligning School Needs with the Education Grant Funder’s Vision
When applying for an education grant, it is essential to be aware of the grant funder’s vision. Ask yourself, do you understand their mission and vision? Is the particular grant and ideal match for your school? Most people forget to take into consideration the funder’s vision when making a plan, making a critical mistake in the process.
Ensuring the Plan Conforms with the School’s Long-term Plan
Your school’s long-term plans must align with the project or plan you’re seeking the grant for. Providing a substantial basis for your grant request is bound to create the right impression. Funders want to know if their grant still makes sense for your school a few years down the line.
Defining the Outcomes that the Grant Will Serve
Your students are at the heart of your school and highlighting how the grant will benefit them, why it will benefit them, what type of students it is going to impact and the achievements and learning they will experience will help demonstrate your school’s desirability to be the grant recipient.
Outlining the Team Capabilities, Contributions and Expertise
The right team can make or break your proposal. This is because when you have the right people on the team, you’ll be able to make a better case for the support and tools you need to empower them to do their best. Emphasizing the right mix of people is an important part of a grant request, whether it's for financial help or tools for professional growth.
Highlighting How Technology Will Benefit All Stakeholders
Instead of focusing on the technology you need, give emphasis to your plans and their outcomes in the long run. Many schools make the mistake of preparing the grant proposal as a wish list instead of illustrating why they need what they need. Mentioning how the technology will support your plan leaves a lasting impression.
One Last Tip
Proceed with the grant criteria in mind when you craft the proposal. This will ensure that every plan you include addresses the grant’s goal and will bump up the chances of making a successful proposal.
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Education Technology
Article | July 20, 2022
Ukraine is an East European country with sophisticated infrastructure and a European cultural feel. Ukrainian universities offer international students the opportunity to pursue their dreams and realize their potential through quality education. The Ministry of Education and Science (Ukraine) recognizes and regulates medical universities and their courses. The six-year MBBS degree is one such course that is offered in universities in Ukraine to impart learning with a humanitarian touch.
The Medicine Course
MBBS in Ukraine is not only a course but an opportunity that turns novice aspirants into noble doctors. The six-year course pedagogy bestows students with the much-desired knowledge, skills, and clinical training that instills capability in them to think beyond excellence. The topmost universities provide an amicable ambiance for learning and holistic development.
Why Ukraine?
Student exchange programs in collaboration with healthcare institutions in the EU, India, and other countries make the admission procedure hassle-free. Ukraine has the upper hand over China, Russia, and other Central Asian countries in terms of living conditions, the medium of education, exposure to European culture, and affordability issues. For instance, in Ukraine, the medium of education is in the English language, while in some universities in Russia, international students pursue the degree bilingually (three years in English and the rest in Russian).
Eligibility for the MBBS Course
All universities have their own admission criteria, such as some universities have a requirement of 50 percent in Class XII (PCB), while others require 60 percent. The fundamental requirement for every candidate is to qualify for the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) exam. Indian citizens and overseas citizens of India can approach the Ukrainian universities for direct admission after clearing the NEET exam, which is valid for three years.
Essential Prerequisites
• A passport
• Mark sheets of Class X and XII (duly attested by the Ministry of External Affairs, India)
• Original copy of the birth certificate
• An official letter of invitation issued by a Ukrainian university
• Reports of HIV tests.
Points to Remember
• Every year more than 3000 (approx) students from India submit applications forUkrainian universities. Maximum admission inquiries are received in June, and the admission process is closed by August.The applications are entertained on a first-come, first-served basis and the minimum age is 17 years and the maximum is 23 years.
• The TOEFL or IELTS scores are not required.
• The fee structure ranges from $4200 (?3,10,800 to $8000 (?5,92,000) per year. There are options for yearly recurring payments.
• The average living cost per person is $180 - $200 (?13,320 to ?14,800).
Krok Exam KROK is a licensing exam that applies to Ukraine’s medical education system and it must be cleared by students to complete the MBBS course. The KROK -1 exam is conducted at the end of the third year, while the KROK-2 exam is conducted at the end of the sixth year to assess the overall progress of students. Failure in the KROK exam leads to disqualification from the MBBS course.
Recognition of the MBBS Degree
Ukrainian Medical Universities are registered with the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) and are listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS). All universities in Ukraine offer a legitimate degree that is recognized by WHO and ECFMG. The degree is approved by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Medical Council of Canada (MCC).
The Standard of Education
The experiences of the current students reveal that there is a good and strict academic atmosphere. There is no room for indiscipline, and the successful completion of the course requires strenuous and sincere efforts. It is not just medical education that is a prime concern in universities; rather, they focus on the overall development of students. The educational standards incite students to partake in extramural activities, international seminars, and conferences. One more positive aspect is that universities are reforming and upgrading their syllabus to match the syllabus of the USMLE (the United States Medical Licensing Examination).
Myths
There are rumors prevalent regarding educational standards, exams, classes, and academic pedagogy. But all such rumors are baseless because the educational standards and the pedagogy are unique in themselves. For example, a concept of “rework” widespread in universities requires every student to pass the daily tests that are conducted based on previous lectures. If a student doesn’t qualify within the stipulated duration, then he/she bears a penalty.
List of Universities
32 top-class universities offer affordable quality education to international students. Out of these, 16 are approved by the Medical Council of India. The top 5 universities are –
1. Lviv National Medical University – It is one of the oldest universities in Ukraine (Estab. 1784)
2. Ivano Frankvisk National Medical University
3. Vinnitsya National Medical University
4. Denipro State Medical University
5. Zaprozhiya State Medical University
Living Conditions and Safety
Ukraine has a cold temperate climate. The Climate certainly plays a crucial role in adaptability for many candidates especially for Indians because they are accustomed to the hot, humid, and seasonal climate. The safety of the child is a major concern for Indian parents especially when it comes to unexplored international locations. But the experiences of the students and alumni reveal that Ukraine is even safer in general for students and in particular for girls than India.
Future Prospects of MBBS Graduates
Alumni of Ukrainian Universities can pursue their careers either at international locations or in India. However, to start their medical practice in India students have to qualify for a licensing examination - NEXT (National Exit Test). Students are anxious about these licensing exams and they fear that whether the international MBBS degree would be accepted in India or not. But all such apprehensions are baseless because these licensing exams are qualifying and are compulsory for all students.
Parents and students can placate their apprehensions and clear their doubts by reaching out to info@ukraineeducation.org. This is the official channel via which all the legitimate information, guidance, and cooperation can be received.
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Education Technology
Article | August 4, 2022
Virtual reality and augmented reality, or AR/VR are making waves when it comes to creating immersive environments for people to learn, play, meet, and experience. And what better application of AR/VR than for learning purposes? AR/VR is known to make education more engaging, interactive and most importantly, to enable longer retention of information. The immersive experience allows students to be more present and learn multiple concepts hands-on. Implementing AR/VR in your school can be expensive, but there are applications that allow schools to get the most out of it without blowing their budget. Here are five free tools to consider adding to the AR/VR roster while waiting to win an education grant.
SkyView
The SKyView app is a winner among children who love space. The app requires users to use a smartphone and point it at the sky. It provides a real time view of the constellations and planets in the part of the sky that is being viewed through the phone. The app is especially great at night to view the placement of stars, satellites, and planets and identify them.
Berlin Blitz
Not all screen time has to be destructive. AR/VR apps make for a great way to enhance history lessons and make them more interesting and vivid. The BBC offers a 360-degree virtual learning experience that is free for all and can be accessed through a web browser on any device. Berlin Blitz lets users ride a bomber plane that was flown over Berlin by a camera crew and a journalist.
Froggipedia
Science classes are not complete without dissecting a frog. However, it can be too brutal for some classes or simply time-consuming and costly. This is where Froggipedia comes in. The app uses a virtual frog and displays the frog anatomy as if there was a frog on the desk. Not only is it safer but also cleaner and more animal-friendly. The app demonstrates how a frog’s body works in real-time without having to actually dissect a frog.
Google Expeditions
Google Expeditions lets users take a trip around the world from their screens. The initiative is part of Google’s Arts and Culture website. Learners can take expeditions across timelines and geographies. In addition, the classes come with follow-up materials for educators to do a class based on the trip.
Sandbox AR
Created by Discovery Education, the Sandbox AR app provides a comprehensive AR experience that lets students build a virtual world in any room. This allows for educators to move classes and take interactive sessions. For instance, students can discover the wonders of ancient Rome in a school auditorium.
To Conclude
At a time when remote learning has become an essential aspect of education, interactive and immersive apps are the best ways to ensure that education is fun, meaningful, and beneficial to students. These free resources ensure that schools are able to make the most of AR and VR technologies without having to invest in expensive hardware and paid applications.
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Article | April 27, 2020
Education Technology, or EdTech as it is colloquially known as is a term that refers to the practice of deploying technology to impart education. As it is highly adaptive and progressive; the education industry has always adopted new technologies, quite readily. Many types of education are already commonly used for educational purposes. These include search engines, live webinars, video streaming, and even specialized training applications.
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