Tuesday 17 March 2015

Advantages and Challenges facing students from Kerala seeking overseas education


The state of Kerala has never been completely isolated from the rest of the globe. Kerala was established as a centre for spice trade far back in time, around 3000BC and has ever since been connected to the global stage. This international connection brought traders, explorers, scholars and philosophers from far and wide to the state and affected the dispersal of Malayalis around the world. Today, in the 21st Century, no single region on Earth has as widespread a reach of its expatriates as Kerala does. But what’s remarkable isn’t just the geographical range but also the social proliferation of malayalis into the various echelons of professional and public life in all the places they settled in. These unique circumstances might be part of the reason why the idea of overseas education is as popular in Kerala as it is. If you happen to be considering going abroad for a degree or a masters’ degree and you are weighing your options, here are a few points for you to mull over:

Education Consultant: 

The role of an education consultant in helping you pick a university and a course to enrol in is paramount. A good overseas education consultant can match your requirements and eligibility to the best possible university in the country of your choosing. This includes providing you with as many options as possible, educating you about the admission process, assisting formalities such visa application and loan purchases. Your overseas education consultant can greatly ease the strain on you and provide solutions for any complication that might rise on the way. However, there are dubious agents who may unethically take advantage of you – the worst of this is convincing you to enrol in uncertified programmes. Be sure to chose your consultant well and be wary of anyone who pushes you to choose a particular university or course. Click Here to know more  details about Overseas Educational Consultant in Kerala. 
         

Culture Shock

Studying abroad gives you an opportunity to explore and indulge in a foreign culture. While this point is often chalked up as one of the premier advantages of overseas education, it can also turn out to be restrictive. Living in another culture calls for open mindedness and coalescence. We Malayalis tend to be obstinate about our preferences and end up losing a lot of valuable experiences due to our narrow mindedness and inability to move out of our mental comfort zone. A big part of your advantage of studying overseas is lost if you miss out on the native lifestyle. 

Learning Experience: 

It is no secret that the highly competitive academic scene in Kerala’s schools churns out competent pupils but we also follow a somewhat dated and bookish approach to education. International Universities always employ the most modern approaches in teaching. Course structures allow for a flexible range of modules, and allow you to explore subjects unrelated to your core course. Education is aimed at being interactive and requires the engagement of students; this comes in stark contrast to what we are taught at our own schools where only silent compliance is valued. Being the quiet, unobtrusive student in the class, who never has a question to ask or a suggestion to make might lead the faculty to consider you uninterested.  


Independence: 

Independence always comes with the burden of responsibility. For an overseas student this responsibility means taking care of your own health – eating right, sleeping adequately, seeking a doctor when you fall ill, etc - and managing your finances – this includes picking up part time work to support yourself. Depending on your previous life experience, this can come naturally or become a nightmare to manage. Remember that no one starts out having it all figured out; it’s always a learning curve. Sometimes, your overseas educational consultant in Kerala can help you in finding accommodation and part time jobs. One more important thing to keep in mind is that de-stressing also becomes your responsibility. 

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