+ Higher Education Options for Expatriate Children Frouke Gerbens - PDF document

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 + Higher Education Options for Expatriate Children Frouke Gerbens Marilyn Stelzner + Outline  Introductions  Key characteristics and key differences in systems of higher education  Expected challenges when changing educational systems  A gap year – a good idea or a bad idea?  Evaluating an institution’s quality and fit  Useful websites and resources Leman Events 2 26 March 2012 1


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 + Objectives of presentation  Overview of a huge topic  Starting from the secondary school diploma  Provide objective, independent information  Raise issues so no big surprises  Alert you to areas that might be changing  Provide input to guide the process  Point to resources for more information Leman Events 3 26 March 2012 + Trends in higher education  Bologna harmonization  Masters as the terminal university degree  Governments raising fees, reducing their share  Globalization – more students getting degrees abroad  Increasing number of English language Bachelor’s programs in non-English speaking countries  Need to train students for a succession of careers Leman Events 4 26 March 2012 2


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 + Higher Education in Europe - The Bologna Accords  Process started in 1999; currently 47 participating countries  Comparable and compatible academic degree standards throughout Europe  Free movement from one country to another (within the European Higher Education Area) for further study or employment  Promoting Europe as a destination for study and work  Greater convergence between the U.S. and Europe Leman Events 5 26 March 2012 + Major study destinations for foreign students in higher education (Source: OECD, Education at a Glance 2011 ) Leman Events 6 26 March 2012 3


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 + International students in higher education (Source: OECD, Education at a Glance 2011 ) Leman Events 7 26 March 2012 + Higher education in Switzerland 3 rd cycle Doctorate - PhD Professional activity Further 2 nd cycle education Master 1 – 2 years CAS > 10 ECTS 90 – 120 ECTS DAS > 30 ECTS MAS > 60 ECTS 1 st cycle Bachelor 3 – 4 years 180 ECTS Leman Events 8 26 March 2012 4


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 + Swiss terminology English French German Academic baccalaureate Maturité gymnasiale Gymnasiale Maturität Federal vocational Maturité professionnelle Berufsmaturität baccalaureate Specialised baccalaureate Maturité spécialisée Fachmaturität Certificat fédéral de capacité Federal VET diploma Eidg. Fähigkeitszeugnis (CFC) Attestation fédérale de Federal VET certificate Eidg. Berufsattest formation professionnelle University Haute école universitaire Universitäre hochschule Federal institute of Ecole polytechnique Eidgenössische Technische technology fédérale (EPF) Hochschule (ETH) University of teacher Haute école pédagogique Pädagogische hochschule education (HEP) University of applied Haute école spécialisé (HES) Fachhochschule sciences (UAS) Professional education and Ecole supérieure (ES) Höhere fachschule training college (PET) Leman Events 9 26 March 2012 + The Swiss education system Leman Events 10 26 March 2012 5


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 + Swiss statistics Upper secondary education Tertiary education General education 7% Maturité Universities gymnasiale of applied 21% sciences 28% Universities 51% Higher Maturité vocational professionnel education le 2% 21% Vocational education 69% 343,297 students enrolled in 2009/2010 250,073 students enrolled in 2009/2010 Source: Education Statistics 2010 , Swiss Federal Statistical Office Leman Events 11 26 March 2012 + Entry rates into tertiary education (Source: OECD, Education at a Glance 2011 ) Leman Events 12 26 March 2012 6


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 Swiss universities + 1. Universität Basel 7. Université de Neuchâtel 2. Universität Bern 8. Universität Zürich 3. Universität Freiburg / Université de 9. Universität St. Gallen Fribourg 10. Università della Svizzera italiana 4. Université de Genève 11. ETH Zürich 5. Université de Lausanne 12. EPFL Lausanne 6. Universität Luzern Leman Events 13 26 March 2012 Swiss universities + of applied sciences Public: Private: 1. Bern University of Applied Sciences 1. Kalaidos University of 2. University of Applied Sciences of Northwestern Switzerland Applied Sciences 3. University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland 2. University of Applied 4. University of Applied Sciences of Central Switzerland Sciences Les Roches- 5. University of Applied Sciences of Zurich Gruyère 6. University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland 7. University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland Leman Events 14 26 March 2012 7


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 + Fields of study at the universities of applied sciences  Business, management and services  Engineering and information technology  Social work, psychology  Design, music, theatre and other arts  Health  Architecture, building engineering and planning  Chemistry and life sciences  Agriculture and Forestry Leman Events 15 26 March 2012 + Study opportunities in English  At traditional Swiss universities:  many opportunities to study in English at Master level  no programmes in English at Bachelor level  At Swiss universities of applied sciences: opportunities in English at Bachelor level in the areas of:  Business, Business Administration, Management  Hospitality Management  Tourism  BFH, FHNW , HES-SO, HSLU, ZFH Leman Events 16 26 March 2012 8


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 + Admission criteria Swiss universities Secondary diploma Swiss universities EPFL + ETH Swiss maturité Diploma Diploma gymnasiale Swiss maturité Diploma + additional exam Diploma + additional exam professionnelle 38/42 (without bonus points) International 32/42 (without bonus points) maths + one science + one Baccalaureate maths or one science at HL language at HL 3 A-levels (incl. maths or one 3 A-levels (including maths + science) chemistry or physics + one British A-levels + 1 GCE AS + 2 GCSE language) + 4 GCSEs; no grade below C no grade below B High School Diploma + 5 AP High School Diploma + 3 AP exams, exams (including calculus, 1 American High School including calculus + 1 science + 1 science, 2 languages, 1 social Diploma language; min. grade of 3/5 for science); a min. grade of 3/5 for each AP; + entrance exam each AP exam Remarks: • National aptitude exam to apply to study medicine in a Swiss university • IB diploma: please note that Swiss universities do not recognise math studies • IB, AP, AL: Swiss universities do not recognise non-traditional subjects (e.g. visual arts, theatre, environmental science, etc.) Leman Events 17 26 March 2012 + Admission criteria Swiss universities of applied sciences University of applied science Maturité Maturité Maturité spécialisée gymnasiale professionnelle (specialised (academic (federal vocational baccalaureate) baccalaureate) baccalaureate) Direct access (for some institutions provided that “maturité” is in same field as intended programme of study) One year of preliminary professional work experience required; work experience may be integrated in institution’s programme of study Please note, institutions whose programmes are in high demand may be selective Leman Events 18 26 March 2012 9


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 + Hotel Management education in Switzerland  More than 30 hotel schools in Switzerland  Many programmes in English  From certificate to diploma to Bachelor to Master to PhD  From public to private  From CHF 1,000 to CHF 50,000 annual tuition  From easy access to highly selective  From vocational to corporate finance If you are considering a hotel school  visit each school and do your research! Leman Events 19 26 March 2012 + Expected challenges when changing educational systems e.g., from CH to UK or US  If people don’t know about it, it cannot be as good  Cultural differences (e.g., ranking students)  Different timelines for applications  Applicant must provide documentation supporting worth of foreign qualification  Individual institutions have discretion about how to evaluate a qualification Leman Events 20 26 March 2012 10


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 + Recognition of the Swiss Maturité Outside of Switzerland  Many universities are unfamiliar w/ Swiss secondary education  >1 “Matu”, and many differences between them  Maturité federale (private) or Maturité gymnasiale (public)  Cantonal education systems with national standards, all give same university access within CH  Cantonal maturité exams use internal examiners  No official data on how students perform relative to each other  10/11 subjects averaged into a single number  Timing of results Leman Events 21 26 March 2012 + University in the UK  The Russell Group  20 (soon to be 24) universities – most prestigious, research-focused  Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, LSE, UC London, Bristol, etc.  Also the 1994 Group, Million+ Group, University Alliance Group  Or, the Ancient Universities, 19 th Century Universities, Plate Glass Universities, etc.  Rankings called “League tables”: e.g., Times Higher Education  Length is typically 3 years for bachelors, 4-5 year combined masters  Few assessments, students must be self-directed  £9000/year for fees in 2012-13 (if “home” status) Leman Events 22 26 March 2012 11