Let’s Go Canada

Kenya Govt. to help students join foreign universities

Over The Counter

RMIT University staff not trained, says Govt. audit

Abroad Perspective

900 SAT Scores Cancelled in Korea

Globe Tipping

Laptop repair

1) LET’S GO CANADA – Kenya Govt. to help students join foreign universities

The Government of Kenya is going to help its own people leave the country for studies. Due to a distinct shortage of seats at local institutions, the Government will help students get admission into foreign universities.

Kenya’s public universities have been increasing their cut- off points each year, with the increasing numbers of students applying. During the release of last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination results, the Government indicated that more than 53,000 students who cleared the examinations would be unable to secure university places locally.

While the Government contributes between Kenya Shillings 50,000 ($ 840 Cdn.) and Kenya Shillings 100,000 ($ 1,680 Cdn.) to students in foreign universities, it has plans to increase scholarships to help poor students. Higher Education Assistant Minister, Dr Kilemi Mwiria said the Government was looking out for partnerships and collaborations with foreign institutions.

Source: “Kenya: Govt to Help Students Join Foreign Universities,” Allafrica, Mar. 8, 2007

2) OVER THE COUNTER – RMIT University staff not trained, says Govt. audit

Australian universities continue to come under fire for the integrity of their academic programs. A State Government audit has revealed that nine instructors at Australia’s RMIT University do not have the relevant qualifications for the course they are teaching. The TAFE instructors teach international students courses that lead to a diploma of business and an advanced diploma of translating and interpreting. Overseas students are charged up to $12,480 ($ 11,629 Cdn.) for the one-year courses. The audit, conducted last June, also concluded the university was not compliant in providing teaching staff with appropriate qualifications and experience.

Source: “University staff not qualified,” Herald Sun, Mar. 15, 2007

3) ABROAD PERSPECTIVE – 900 SAT Scores Cancelled in Korea

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) is once again facing the compromise of its examinations. ETS has cancelled the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores of all 900 students in Korea as an unknown number of students are reported to have seen the test before the exam date on Jan. 27 this year. Students will be able to retake the test or get a refund.

Instances of cheating during ETS’ tests are not uncommon. In the early ’90s, Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores were cancelled across India and in 1992, 10,000 Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores were cancelled in China. Four years ago, Chinese and South Korean hackers are reported to have broken into the ETS database, stealing and posting tests on a number of websites.

Source: “South Korea: 900 Sat Scores Cancelled,” The New York Times, Mar. 13, 2007

4) GLOBE TIPPING – Laptop repair

If your laptop is on the blink during your next overseas trip, here are the links for global computer repair of leading brands. You will have to select the country you are in, and type in the machine’s serial number (in some cases) for contact numbers of support staff.

Toshiba: http://pcrepair.toshiba.com
Compaq: http://hp.com
IBM: http://ibm.com/
Apple: http://apple.com/support/contact/ phone_contacts.html
Dell: http://dell.com