Canada has been a popular destination for a lot of Indians both in terms of higher education as well as getting a Job. The budget 2019 has made the pot even sweeter with a host of new benefits. While Trudeau repeatedly announced right from the beginning of this year that they were welcoming over 1 million immigrants this year, it has become evident with the release of the budget that the education sector has been given a lot of the moolah to ensure growth and productivity.

This budget seems to stand out especially because it is focused on the growth and development of the middle class. It also has a lot to offer to the elderlies of the nation. This is Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s fourth budget.

From the Education Point of View, there are four things that bring a promise of a very bright future. These things are:

• $3.25 billion to Indigenous Services for water quality, child welfare, education and other supports.
• Personalized Canada Training Credit of $250 a year (up to $5,000 lifetime) for job retraining.
• Interest rate on Canada Student Loans lowered to prime and will be interest-free for 6 months after graduation.
• Promise of high-speed internet for all Canadians by 2030.

Why more and more Indians are convinced that Canada is where they need to be?

Once you become a Canadian citizen, there are lots of benefits that you can enjoy. This government under Justin Trudeau has proved that they are extremely progressive in their thought process and are working dedicatedly towards the upliftment and wellbeing of their people.

This budget is a testament to that. The budget clearly indicated that their financial planning aims at taking several measures to help in boosting the skill level of Canadians. It has been made evident that the Canada Training Credit is envisioned to assist workers between the ages of 25 and 64 to pay for training charges. Each year, entitled workers would amass $250 in training credits, growing to a lifetime total of $5,000. Canadians could apply their amassed credit against approximately 50% of their training fees and claim their reimbursement when filing tax returns.

The budget also offers backing through the Employment Insurance program. This program will ensure that the appropriate workers could obtain up to four weeks of pay provision – paid at 55 % of average weekly earnings. This can be obtained every four years while the candidate is on training and without a consistent regular pay.

Hiring

National job vacancies have risen severely over the past couple of years. Most of the employers in Canada claim that they are more than willing to hire people but are finding it increasingly difficult to find the right candidates with the right kind of skill sets.

It automatically increases your chances of finding a good job after you have taken the right education and gathered all the knowledge that the people are looking for. The first step of getting to the final destination is the right planning and then subsequently, the right execution.

While you are still thinking about which courses you must pursue and what is the kind of degree or certificate you are looking forward to get from Canada, it is of utmost importance that you first understand the business and the work patterns there.

Study or Job?

Before you start working on your IELTS and other courses, your first step should be to clearly understand your own expectations from overseas education. Do you want to simply study there? Or would you like to work there after you finish your education?

Once you have made up your mind, it will be easy for you to understand how you want to proceed. If your interest is limited to studying there, then focus all your attention toward your course and go get it! But if you have work plans after word, then sit down with our counselors who can guide you to pursue the right kind of course which will in turn ensure that your prospects of finding a good job is very high.

Our counselors have years of experience in sending students away to their dream destination to pursue their dreams, so if you have any doubts at all or just need to have a simple conversation and throw your ideas around, speak to them.

At Rao Consultants, we pride ourselves in being able to hear our students hopes and aspirations properly before helping them achieve them.

A pot full of colors, mouth-watering delicacies, thandai, and togetherness with family, neighbors, friends and colleagues. These are the things that overwhelm our thoughts. Our celebrations. All these things attract a large number of foreigners who became crazy to visit India.

But if you have been planning to study abroad, chances are you are worried about losing out on our rich festivals and cultural heritage. Well, don’t worry! Indians know how to rock every country with their own colors and their own culture.

How is Holi celebrated across the world?

No matter where we go, Indians remain full of color and joy. Whether it is an Indian student studying abroad, or an established and successful Indian with an overseas work permit, Holi is celebrated with full pomp and splendor.

It’s a matter of pride to see an Indian festival has become the landmark of world celebration, where millions of NRIs and foreigners play, dance and celebrate with colors! The festival might have got its root in North India but has definitely touched the hearts of the world.

The USA:

The USA is home to one of the highest number of Indian population. The festival breathes an atmosphere of social merriment. It’s refreshing to see people are clad in red, green, yellow, blue, pink, orange, violet.

The liquid colors are prohibited in the US as the authorities don’t want people to catch a cold on account of the festival. Indian associations and college students mingle with local people to celebrate. The non-stop live music from great bands, dance, cuisines and the rains of colors are the main attractions.

Holi celebrations are famously celebrated in the city of New York. Traditions meet trends. Bollywood actors also take time out to celebrate Holi with the people of the USA. Dance performance, fashion shows and music concerts further add to the festive spirit.

Canada:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “This happy holiday is an opportunity to renew friendships and celebrate peace, but it is also a time to reflect on traditional notions of good and evil, and the ultimate triumph of light over darkness.”

Holi in Canada is not only celebrated by NRIs or Canadians but also by the immigrants across the world. The beautiful nature and the climate of Canada add a feeling of merriment with the arrival of Holi. They decorate their homes with colorful sights.

Be it the younger generation or the section of some older people, they all get covered with vibrant colors of green, yellow, red, silver and black. You can see people dancing and singing in the streets and having fun with each other. Dance groups take part in dance-drama to highlight the story of Holika Dahan. Canada’s peaceful nature gets mingled with the excitement of Holi.

(Image) Holi for the first time in Canada Parliament

The UK:

Indians are the second largest ethnic minority in the UK.  Leicester is the mecca of every Indian festival. Holi is celebrated in the UK since many generations. Like the US, here too, Holi parade is taken out. In the evening people visit their friends and relatives to exchange greetings and sweets. They also apply tilak to mark the traditional joy. Celebrating festivals helps them feel close to their families and cultural roots.

In the evening people visit their friends and relatives to exchange greetings and sweets. Celebrations last for 2 days with a large bonfire lit on the first night and the colors are thrown on the 2^nd day. Like the 31^st night celebration in Indian cities, NRI club owners and socialites host Holi celebrations with various themes Bollywood, Rajasthan, and Holika Dahan myth are the three most popular Holi party themes during Holi in the UK. Songs and dances, refreshments, and loads of colors rejuvenate the ambience and excite people.

Australia:

The celebration of Holi in Australia is similar to that of the UK and the US. Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan is responsible for managing the entire event. Holi is celebrated in the most prominent locations such as Darling Harbor in Sydney. The two-day festival at Tumbalong Park at Darling Harbor gives visitors the chance to enjoy performances and delicious Indian vegetarian food and craft stalls.

Indians in Australia take pleasure in celebrating this festival of colors. NRIs in Melbourne get indulged in the colorful affairs with the diverse multicultural communities of Melbourne. NRIs in Australia bring enthusiasm through the paintings of the rainbow of colors.

New Zealand:

In New Zealand, the popularity of Holi has been growing supremely over the years, as people with different backgrounds and communities take part in this colorful festival. Last year, the New Zealand Parliament celebrated Holi for the first time. The New Zealanders are very warm and friendly when it comes to welcoming Indians. The Parliament welcomed guests who were dressed in colorful traditional Indian attire in front of the presence of Honorable Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Holi is majorly celebrated in Auckland. People gather at the ISKCON Temple at Kumeu.

This is how Holi is celebrated by millions of NRIs across the world. The cultural extravaganza helps the new generation discover their roots. If you have been worried about how you would celebrate when you are in a foreign land, then put your worries to rest. Go happily to study overseas and enjoy every festival, especially Holi in all its colorful spirit.

Are you planning to study in Switzerland? Your dreams will come true, once you get to know about a few important things about getting into a good university in Switzerland.

Things to Note before you study in Switzerland

Lindt chocolate, Rolex watches or gorgeous landscapes are enough to bring you to the magical world of Switzerland! From the great psychologists like Jung and Piaget to the world-renowned physicists like Einstein, the country has cultivated the path-breaking records in the field of innovation. Strategically located in the heart of Europe, Switzerland is the paradise of beauty where you can explore three countries in only one afternoon! Raise your international learning experience to the next level. If you want to study in Switzerland, just go ahead.

Higher study in Switzerland:

The Indian postgraduate studies are similar to the Master’s studies in Switzerland. In Switzerland, Master’s programs are quite similar to our MBA programs. If you want to pursue an MBA degree in Switzerland, you need to have prior work experience, preferably in a managerial position. You can get admission if you hold a Bachelor’s degree in any field of studies.

Language requirements for Swiss university application:

German, French and Italian are the three official languages of Switzerland. The language of instruction depends on the university. Though many universities offer a wide range of programs in English, international students apply for either English, French or German degrees in Switzerland.

The instructions of the language vary from one university to another. Due to the increase in the number of International students, most universities in Switzerland offer a wide range of programs in English. If you want to study in English, you need to go for IELTS or TOEFL. If you don’t hold a language certificate, you may need to take a language test at the university.

To study in English at your favorite university in Switzerland, you may need proof of English proficiency and IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Although IELTS is the most popular test, you can also appear for other English proficiency tests such as the PTE (Pearson Test of English), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), CAE (Cambridge Advanced English).

How to prepare for IELTS tests?

The reading section of the IELTS Test assesses your English reading skills. It consists of 3 texts and 40 questions which you have to answer within 60 minutes. Don’t worry! You won’t need any specialized vocabulary. Even though the text may look ‘scientific’, the questions won’t test your scientific knowledge! Here are some tips and tricks that will help you be successful on the test day.

The examination is conducted in two separate sessions. The first day tests the student’s listening, reading and writing skills, this can go on for three hours, with each module having a specific timeline. The second session, held within the next seven days, will test the student on their speaking abilities and this test could take up to 30 minutes.

The IELTS assesses your abilities in 4 categories- listening, reading, writing and speaking in less than three hours.

Listening and speaking sections are the same for both tests, but the Reading and writing sections differ depending on which test you take.

The Listening, Reading and Writing sections of IELTS tests are completed on the same day, with no breaks in between them. The test lasts for 2 hours and 45 minutes.

These are the following ways you can prepare for the IELTS test.

Listen a lot. Read a lot. Speak a lot. Write a lot.

Listen a lot:

• Listen to international news channels like BBC, CNN for the appropriate pronunciation.
• Listen to the commentators during a soccer match or cricket.
• Know how to start a conversation. Know when they pause. Follow their tone when they get surprised.

Read a lot:

If you want to study in Switzerland, read a lot of books, written by international authors. Read novels, short stories etc.

Speak a lot:

If you don’t speak English, start speaking from today!

Write a lot:

Write whatever comes to your mind in English – blogs, letters, stories – anything! Just express yourself.

How can Rao help you study in Switzerland?

We represent more than 100 universities and institutes from around the world. We send you to these top educational institutes and universities in Switzerland. When registering for the IELTS exam, inform our administrator about which module you are appearing for. There are up to 48 test dates available every year. Choose the most suitable date for you.

Happy Journey and Happy Studying!

When you are getting some of the best learning experiences in Switzerland, why wait? If you are planning to study in Switzerland, you don’t need any other degrees in the world. With its best-in-class infrastructure, amiable culture, and the world-class learning experience, Switzerland is far ahead of other education destinations.

Studying abroad is a dream that quite a few people hold in their minds. While everything seems perfect in the beginning, things sometimes quickly fall apart because you get a little confused so as to how to approach the topic.

• What is the first step?
• Are you doing something wrong?
• Is there something that you could have done to make your chances higher?
• Are you making a mistake somewhere?

If these questions are haunting you, then probably the best thing for you to do is to take the help of an Overseas Education Consultant. Essentially, one has to understand the need for a consultant before they actually hire one.

Why Do You Need A Professional Consultant?

When you talk about studying abroad you are basically talking about migration. This is a cross border movement of an individual and therefore may get really complicated. Please note that when a national moves to a different country for any reason, there has to be an elaborate procedure to be followed through the channels of the government.

Every country has its own set of rules and regulations. Some countries are warm towards Indians while others have significant issues in accepting Indian immigrants. In order to ensure that you have everything in place and your movement and transition can be as seamless as possible, it is important for you to make sure that you go through the right conduits.

An overseas education consultant will be able to help you in the best possible way. They will be able to guide you at every step to ensure that you do the right thing at the right time so that you can increase your chances of getting an admission at the right institute.

How To Find The Right Overseas Education Consultant?

A simple internet search can help you find a list of all the different overseas education consultants in your area. However, how would you know which one of these is the right one for you?

Look for the following things to make sure you take the right call for your entire future:

Company Establishment

Honestly, there is no doubt about the fact that there is a whole lot of money in this industry. So, a lot of newbies have entered this domain to capitalize on the vast potential of the business. But can you rely on them? Even if they mean well, the only way you can get a good admission is if the consultancy that you go through has access to a number of good universities and colleges and chances are that a newbie will not have the right kind of connections to make that possible.

Make sure that you only rely on an established company which has had a history of at least 95% success rate in getting their enrolled members admissions in decent universities. Go through their website to see their affiliations, their success rate and the number of students that they have sent across to various colleges across the world.

Government Affiliations

It always helps if the overseas education consultancy that you have decided to go with has a board member affiliated in some form with the government or has a certification of sorts. We, at Rao, are very pleased to inform you that one of our directors is a member of the ICCRC and therefore it ensures that we can make the whole process of immigration an absolute breeze.

What’s more, we keep having regular fairs to ascertain that students can directly interact with the different universities from all over the world and decide for themselves which option is the right one for them.

Dedicated Guidance Counselor

It is also important that the overseas education consultancy that you hire must provide you with a dedicated guidance counselor. This dedicated resource will be able to provide you with the proper guidance that you might need at every step. This also means that you will definitely know what are the things that you must focus on to increase your chances of being accepted by reputed institutes.

Better yet, if you already have a university in mind and are working hard towards getting into it, a dedicated resource will allow you to make sure that you can focus your training, your band preparation for IELTS and GRE, etc. in a way that is extremely narrowed down or targeted towards that particular institution.

On the whole, one has to make sure that they don’t stop following their dreams. IF you are an aspiring student or a parent who wishes to secure their child’s future by ensuring that you can get into a reputed college overseas, stay alert and work hard.

While getting guidance is all too good, it is of utmost important that you follow the guidance given to you and do not lose the way. With dedication and hard work and the expert support from our team, you are sure to find success.

When it comes to dreaming big and making a career that will guarantee a comfortable life, many Indians prefer to go to study in Germany. But what is it that makes this country such a powerful destination for your education? Let us try to fathom that by understanding the answers to some of the most asked questions by students who are approaching higher studies in Deutschland.

Why choose Germany for higher studies?

Well, if it isn’t already obvious, Germany is a country that has some of the best and the most esteemed colleges and universities in the world. The Germans already have a reputation for being perfectionists and what could be better than studying and training at a place that sets the tone for the rest of your career trajectory with a background of attention to detail and perfection?

Germany’s education system is also known as the “Dual education System” which lays equal emphasis on apprenticeship and academia. This means, their focus is not limited to just teaching with the help of books or theoretical knowledge, but also relies heavily on practical learning on the job.

More importantly, most universities in Germany offer programs and degrees that are recognized all over the world and aren’t limited to a particular region. So, if you wish to come right back to India after your studies and start your business here or get a good job, your degree will not only be valid but hold a very high value.

Can I study in English in Germany?

Well, of course! Just because you wanted to get access to their universities doesn’t mean that you have to know their language at the back of your hand! It definitely helps if you can speak and comprehend German, but every university doesn’t expect you to appear for your exams in the German language.

There are many courses that are taught in the English language or have a provision for you to appear in exams in English till you can acquaint yourself with German. However, if you have set your sights on a course that is exclusively taught in German, then please note there are many language programs before and during the course that you are undertaking.

For high value international degrees such as an M.Phil or a PhD, you can most certainly choose to finish your course in English. If you have any other queries regarding the language or foreign language training, feel free to contact us for further guidance.

Can I legally work while studying in Germany?

Germany is a very progressive country and does, by all means, enable people to make their livelihood while pursuing their studies. So, as an Indian citizen studying in Germany, you can easily find a job there and support yourself. However, please note that you may not work for more than 120 full days or 240 half days in a year.

If you wish to work for more than this duration, you will have to get in touch with the German authorities and get permission for the same. Do note that even voluntary work is considered as a job. So, regardless of whether you get paid or not, you are only allowed to legally work for the mentioned number of days. Also note, you will not be permitted to set up your own business or undertake freelance work in that duration.

Other queries

As an Indian student pursuing education in Germany, it is natural to have certain inhibitions. The thumb rule to establishing yourself in another country is to first research all that you can about the place. It’s not only the education system that you have to focus on. Make sure that you read up all about their culture, their festivals, their general economy and politics.

While our consultants and dedicated guides will always be there to provide you with all the relevant information, you must make sure that you are undertaking a fair bit of research from your end as well. Knowing a country well before getting there is the smartest thing to do. If you get bored of all the reading, watch a couple of German movies!

That is one of the most creative and fun ways of understanding their cultural background, their trends, hopes and fears! Try to analyze the movies in terms of recurrent themes, what is considered good there and what are some social taboos. If you do your homework right, study in Germany should be an absolute cakewalk for you!

The blog talks about the role of Artificial Intelligence on the education industry and how the top universities in the USA are making Artificial Intelligence more useful for the teachers and the students.

“The greatest single human gift – the ability to chase down our dreams.”

Remember the movie Artificial Intelligence where David, an advanced robotic boy, wishes to become a human child so as to regain the love of his mother and he embarks on a journey to make his dreams come true?

Science fiction movies have been the greatest inspirations for youth around the world. Sci-fi writers, technologists, and moviemakers are the talk of the town when it comes to Artificial Intelligence popularly known as AI. Today AI has slowly become an integral part of our lifestyle. Artificial Intelligence is widely used in Government, military, healthcare, automotive, finance, economics, audit, advertising and art.

The top universities in the USA are the active users of AI. From drones in military and defense to self-driving cars, from computer games like Chess to Google search engine, from image recognition techniques in photographs to targeting online advertisements, Artificial Intelligence is here to enhance our lifestyles.  If you want to study abroad, as your foreign education consultant and visa consultant, we will help you choose the best universities in the USA that are the prominent AI users.

What’s Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence is the ability of a computer-controlled robot to perform tasks associated with intellectual capabilities of human beings such as the ability to reason, discover meaning and learning from past experience.

The goal of AI is to create technology that allows machines to act as intelligent agents. According to Kaplan and Haenlein, AI is the system’s ability to correctly interpret and learn from external data, and to utilize the learning to achieve specific goals and tasks through flexible adaptation.

The Advantages of Artificial Intelligence over Human Intelligence

• Artificial Intelligence ensures tremendous speed. What a scientist can do in 10 minutes, AI can do more than a million at the same time.
• AI is tireless and can work 24/7 hours.
• AI can have access to more information.
• AI ensures accuracy.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Education:

Artificial Intelligence has brought revolution in the education industry, changing the way we learn. It makes learning more personalized and convenient for students. It helps in increasing the amount of time spent on each individual student. Artificial intelligence is likely to make a revolutionary impact on education in the following ways.

• Administrative Tasks Will Be Easy and Cost-Effective

AI has potential in automating complex administrative tasks for both academic institutes and teachers and professors. Teachers spend the most times in grading homework, evaluating essays and giving value to responses of the students.

AI helps evaluate tests in order to spend more time with students one-on-one. AI can automate the processing and classification of paperwork. AI is believed to deliver more value than this. Software developers are finding ways to written responses and essays. It will reduce overhead costs and create the way for a smaller staff to operate effectively.

• Digital Curriculum Will Be the Next Big Thing

Robots can empower their grammatical strength and create digital content. Virtual content such as digital lectures and video conferences are also the new inventions of AI. The digitalization of content has already reached the classroom.

AI can help digitize textbooks or create customized learning interfaces that apply to students of all age ranges and grades.  Cram101 is one such system that produces digital content through chapter summaries, practice tests and flashcards. There is another platform called Netex Learning. It allows lecturers and professors to outline a digital curriculum across video, audio and an online assistant.

3) AI Application Will Act as a Bridge Between Students and the Tutors 

Interaction with teachers or professors becomes easier if education institutes adopt AI. So does your learning. Students generally cannot reach their tutors beyond classroom hours or emails. However, smart tutoring systems use data from a particular student or a group of students in order to work with them directly and give them feedback.

However, this AI application is still in its nascent stage. Technologists believe that it will perhaps work as a full-fledged digital professor and help students with their educational needs without any hassle. AI will help us develop new ideas and problem-solving skills.

4) Virtual Learning Will Be Exciting

Believe it or not, technologists believe that the original lecturer in the classroom will no longer be a human and will soon be replaced by a robot. Augmented reality too will be part of the classroom. Virtual human guides already respond to humans through gesture recognition technology.

If you want to study in top universities in the USA, Institute for Creative Technologies of The University Of Southern California (USC) would be a good option for you since the university is already developing a more digital learning environment. The organization uses AI, 3D gaming and computer simulation techniques to create social interactions.

We Hope AI Will Accelerate Lifelong Learning

We may not see humanoid robots acting as teachers within the next couple of years. However, the top universities in the USA are already creating this interactive experience. If you are planning to study in Canada, as a foreign education consultant and visa consultant, we can help you send those universities in Canada that will ensure you the best learning experience.

“AI is likely to be either the best or worst thing to happen to humanity,” said famous scientist Stephen Hawking. Technologies are getting upgraded to the next level. In this fast-paced environment, the mindsets of people are changing gradually. The users of AI have to be very careful. Many education-related Artificial Intelligence applications are developed for mentors and learners.

However, as a foreign education consultant and visa consultant, we can say that the education field might be a bit slower to the adoption of artificial intelligence but we believe that be it kindergarten or higher education, the technological impact on the education sector will exist.