An easier way to your dreams
Introduction: Twinning programmes cost less than a full-fledged course in a foreign institution, but manage to provide good international exposure to students.
Source: Vijay Times, VT Education -pg 1.)
Copyright © 2005 Puja Goyal
Education prepares and guides a student through the course, he wishes to pursue in his life. In this age, easy connectivity has encouraged different strategies to develop around the world… strategies and thought processes that we would have otherwise been oblivious of, if it were not for globalization.
There is tremendous need to show the raw minds the world before they get set in conforming attitudes and school of thoughts. It is important that they become part of a bigger picture so that they are better able to use their skills in a global set-up.
The Twinning Programme is one such facility where one sees the best of both worlds. Twinning is an innovative concept; it is a concept where the students gets an opportunity to study a part of his course in a host institute and the remaining part of his course in an affiliated university abroad. Here, Indian Colleges collaborate with a foreign University or college and the foreign university provides the course material, credits and degree. These courses have, offlate, begun to gain popularity, as more students are looking for affordable ways to study abroad. Priyanaka Mantri, a science student, initially wanted to be a Doctor but joined this course instead. The reason she says is the exposure to a foreign country that she will get. At present, twinning programmes are being offered by a few select colleges such as Christ College and MAHE atthe undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The Twinning Programme is essentially for students who have the desire to study abroad but are prohibited from making use of the opportunities due to financial constraints. The Twinning Programme would essentially cost much less than a normal foreign education, since he completes part of his education in India.
According to Prof. Phadke informs, Office of International Affairs, Christ College, "Here, the student pays his normal Christ College fees in the first two years of the Twinning Programme. Not only this, in a Twinning Programme, the transfer is taken care off by us, except the VISA. Therefore the students doesn't have to bother about processing about applying to the college, how to get his document ready etc… In all these matters, students are given proper counselling".
Twinning programmes offer a great alternative for students who have never been abroad in their lives, and whose parents are apprehensive about letting them go abroad for a full-fledged program. Prof. Phadke, and Dr. G.M.J. Bhat from MAHE agree that this insecurity and fear can be a very restrictive factor for a student's progress; it stops the student from exploring new avenues. Most students enter a Twinning Programme at the undergraduate level are 17 or 18 years old. They are young and certainly perplexed about the situation. a Twinning Programme helps them learn in a comfortable environment, make friends, and are groomed about what they should expect in a foreign situation. Chitra, who wants to pursue an MBA after she finishes her BBM from Christ College says, "I wasn't too keen on this programme, and it wasn't my decision to enroll, it was my parents. But now I know its value, at least I wouldn't get a culture shock when I go to Western Michigan University after two years."
Prof. Phadke adds that it is more comforting and exciting for students to go to a foreign institute together. "They make friends in their first few years and then plan and prepare together. This gives the students moral support, which is most important."
The certificate for the course is given by the foreign university, the students writes his exams, finishes his papers and assignments etc in conformity to the foreign university pattern. It is this aspect of a foreign degree that attracts students to Twinning Programmes, who rate these degrees higher than even the best Indian degrees. Priyaranjan, who is pursuing a Twinning Programme with University of Assumption, Thailand says, "The programme will offer me international exposure. I am financing it with the helps of loans that I have taken on my own expense. It was a personal decision to take up this course even though I got a 98 percentile in CAT at IIM." As far as recognition of the foreign university is concerned, colleges assure students that before the get into an arrangement with foreign universities, they thoroughly check up on their credibility.
The students who enroll in these programmes are very aware of what they want and what are courses they wish to take. It is easier and much more feasible for them to go to a foreign university through this medium. They do their research via the Internet, word of mouth and also call the Indian colleges to find out about the credibility of courses and foreign institutions. Dr. Bhat says that, "the best promoters of our Programme are the parents" while Prof. Phake on the other hand says that students play an important part in bringing their friends or acquaintances. Sumit Joshan another student at Christ College, explains that his friends recommended the programme. "My parents said that it was up to me to do what I wanted to do with my studies, but they are financing my course." For many others too, practical, useful advice often comes from seniors.
This system also aids students who have lived in India, but studied under the international syllabi. Sidesh Khaitani was in boarding all his life at Kodaikanal and has studied under the American board. He adds, "My parents wanted me to stay with them at least for some time before I left, and that’s why I joined a Twinning Programme. It is easier for me to cope with the American Board rather than an Indian Board since I studied through the American medium."
One of the primary questions that come to mind is, what if the VISA gets rejected? According to college authorities, the VISA is something that the student, needs to work out and apply for, on his own. Since the course has to be completed in the Foreign University with which the Indian University has a tie up with… it is imperative that the Student complete his course abroad, to obtain his degree The second half of the course cannot be completed in India. Therefore, getting the visa is an all important aspect. However, assure authorities, it is rare that a VISA gets rejected.
The colleges ensure this by taking care that the best student with good academic background and financial backing are admitted to the course. "A VISA doesn't often get rejected but if they do then they apply for a second time; it is a stray case where it gets rejected. Proper academic backgrounds are taken into consideration before the student is admitted so that he does not face these rejections. In 12 years, we have not seen a single visa rejected." Says Dr. Bhat.
The students have a variety of options in front of them after the course is over. An undergraduate student either pursues further education and completes his masters either in the foreign country or in India. Career opportunities, too, exist with both foreign and India companies. Most stay back and are recruited by an institution there itself, while some return to India.
Today, there is a need to prepare students for an information-oriented economy. Twinning Progammes are a positive step in that direction.
Source: Vijay Times, VT Education -pg 1.)
Copyright © 2005 Puja Goyal
Education prepares and guides a student through the course, he wishes to pursue in his life. In this age, easy connectivity has encouraged different strategies to develop around the world… strategies and thought processes that we would have otherwise been oblivious of, if it were not for globalization.
There is tremendous need to show the raw minds the world before they get set in conforming attitudes and school of thoughts. It is important that they become part of a bigger picture so that they are better able to use their skills in a global set-up.
The Twinning Programme is one such facility where one sees the best of both worlds. Twinning is an innovative concept; it is a concept where the students gets an opportunity to study a part of his course in a host institute and the remaining part of his course in an affiliated university abroad. Here, Indian Colleges collaborate with a foreign University or college and the foreign university provides the course material, credits and degree. These courses have, offlate, begun to gain popularity, as more students are looking for affordable ways to study abroad. Priyanaka Mantri, a science student, initially wanted to be a Doctor but joined this course instead. The reason she says is the exposure to a foreign country that she will get. At present, twinning programmes are being offered by a few select colleges such as Christ College and MAHE atthe undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The Twinning Programme is essentially for students who have the desire to study abroad but are prohibited from making use of the opportunities due to financial constraints. The Twinning Programme would essentially cost much less than a normal foreign education, since he completes part of his education in India.
According to Prof. Phadke informs, Office of International Affairs, Christ College, "Here, the student pays his normal Christ College fees in the first two years of the Twinning Programme. Not only this, in a Twinning Programme, the transfer is taken care off by us, except the VISA. Therefore the students doesn't have to bother about processing about applying to the college, how to get his document ready etc… In all these matters, students are given proper counselling".
Twinning programmes offer a great alternative for students who have never been abroad in their lives, and whose parents are apprehensive about letting them go abroad for a full-fledged program. Prof. Phadke, and Dr. G.M.J. Bhat from MAHE agree that this insecurity and fear can be a very restrictive factor for a student's progress; it stops the student from exploring new avenues. Most students enter a Twinning Programme at the undergraduate level are 17 or 18 years old. They are young and certainly perplexed about the situation. a Twinning Programme helps them learn in a comfortable environment, make friends, and are groomed about what they should expect in a foreign situation. Chitra, who wants to pursue an MBA after she finishes her BBM from Christ College says, "I wasn't too keen on this programme, and it wasn't my decision to enroll, it was my parents. But now I know its value, at least I wouldn't get a culture shock when I go to Western Michigan University after two years."
Prof. Phadke adds that it is more comforting and exciting for students to go to a foreign institute together. "They make friends in their first few years and then plan and prepare together. This gives the students moral support, which is most important."
The certificate for the course is given by the foreign university, the students writes his exams, finishes his papers and assignments etc in conformity to the foreign university pattern. It is this aspect of a foreign degree that attracts students to Twinning Programmes, who rate these degrees higher than even the best Indian degrees. Priyaranjan, who is pursuing a Twinning Programme with University of Assumption, Thailand says, "The programme will offer me international exposure. I am financing it with the helps of loans that I have taken on my own expense. It was a personal decision to take up this course even though I got a 98 percentile in CAT at IIM." As far as recognition of the foreign university is concerned, colleges assure students that before the get into an arrangement with foreign universities, they thoroughly check up on their credibility.
The students who enroll in these programmes are very aware of what they want and what are courses they wish to take. It is easier and much more feasible for them to go to a foreign university through this medium. They do their research via the Internet, word of mouth and also call the Indian colleges to find out about the credibility of courses and foreign institutions. Dr. Bhat says that, "the best promoters of our Programme are the parents" while Prof. Phake on the other hand says that students play an important part in bringing their friends or acquaintances. Sumit Joshan another student at Christ College, explains that his friends recommended the programme. "My parents said that it was up to me to do what I wanted to do with my studies, but they are financing my course." For many others too, practical, useful advice often comes from seniors.
This system also aids students who have lived in India, but studied under the international syllabi. Sidesh Khaitani was in boarding all his life at Kodaikanal and has studied under the American board. He adds, "My parents wanted me to stay with them at least for some time before I left, and that’s why I joined a Twinning Programme. It is easier for me to cope with the American Board rather than an Indian Board since I studied through the American medium."
One of the primary questions that come to mind is, what if the VISA gets rejected? According to college authorities, the VISA is something that the student, needs to work out and apply for, on his own. Since the course has to be completed in the Foreign University with which the Indian University has a tie up with… it is imperative that the Student complete his course abroad, to obtain his degree The second half of the course cannot be completed in India. Therefore, getting the visa is an all important aspect. However, assure authorities, it is rare that a VISA gets rejected.
The colleges ensure this by taking care that the best student with good academic background and financial backing are admitted to the course. "A VISA doesn't often get rejected but if they do then they apply for a second time; it is a stray case where it gets rejected. Proper academic backgrounds are taken into consideration before the student is admitted so that he does not face these rejections. In 12 years, we have not seen a single visa rejected." Says Dr. Bhat.
The students have a variety of options in front of them after the course is over. An undergraduate student either pursues further education and completes his masters either in the foreign country or in India. Career opportunities, too, exist with both foreign and India companies. Most stay back and are recruited by an institution there itself, while some return to India.
Today, there is a need to prepare students for an information-oriented economy. Twinning Progammes are a positive step in that direction.
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