Island School Higher Education

University of the Arts - December Interviews

2011-11-25T02:23:00.000-08:00

University of the Arts London

Interview Session in December 2011

NB: Prior reservation is a must as limited places are available; please contact their Hong Kong Representative Office: Chamberlain Educational Services Centre

Tel: 3426 8000, or e-mail to ualhk@chamberlain-edu.com

Session date:
15 & 16 December 2011 (Thursday & Friday)
Interviewer:
Ms. Wendy Anderson
Colleges applicable:
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Camberwell College of Arts,
Chelsea College of Art and Design, London College of Communication,
London College of Fashion, Wimbledon College of Art
Venue:
University of the Arts London,
- Hong Kong Representative Office,
(Chamberlain Educational Services Centre)
21/F, 10 Pottinger Street, Central, Hong Kong

Application Material: Portfolio (if applicable), Academic Transcripts, IELTS and/or TOEFL Result, Reference Letter, Filled Application Form, Personal Statement, Identity Card, Education Certificate, Passport Copy
Please submit your portfolio to the Hong Kong Representative Office at your earliest convenience for initial assessment and guidance.
If you want your portfolio to be better prepared for the interview, you can join Chamberlain's portfolio preparation course at International Creative Art & Design Academy (http://www.arts-edu.com.hk). Interested students should enrol early to reserve a place. (For reservation: +852 34268000)
For further information and reservation, please contact:
Telephone:
3426 8000
Fax:
3426 8108
Address:
Representative Office (Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong Province)
Chamberlain Educational Services Centre
    21/F., 10 Pottinger Street, Central, Hong Kong
Email:
ualhk@chamberlain-edu.com
Website:
http://www.arts-edu.com.hk
www.chamberlain-edu.com

EducationUSA Careers Day

2011-11-25T02:16:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong EducationUSA Advising Center and the Hong Kong Education Bureau are co-hosting a Careers Day on Saturday 26 November 2011, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm at EP 12, East Block, Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre, 19 Suffolk Road, Kowloon Tong.

To express an interest in attending

Contact:

Home-School Cooperation Section
Education Bureau

Ms Edith Yuen
Tel: 3698 4344

EducationUSA Hong Kong is setting up a Careers Day Panel Discussion to mark International Education Week. This event will create a platform for Hong Kong and Macau students to discuss and craft a study plan towards their career goals. U.S. educated speakers who are working in key fields such as ,Banking and Finance, other areas will participate in informal panel discussions. They hope to share with you real perspectives on the day-in, day-out reality of careers in their fields. They will also discuss how they have found fulfillment, achieved a work-life balance, and how their educational choices brought them there. A Presentation on Tips for Job Interview will be followed after all the panel discussion sessions. The seminar will be presented in both Cantonese and English.

EducationUSA Careers DaySpeakers:

Health Care Sciences: (9:30 am-10:20 am)

Dr. George Ku (顧小培)

1982-1985, Senior Scientist, Hoffmann La Roche

1985-1993, Senior Scientist, Merrell Dow Research Institute

1993-2008, Senior Scientist, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Bachelor of Science (1976), Bacteriology & Public Health, Washington State University; Masters of Science (1978), Chemistry, Washing State University; Doctor of Philosophy (1982), Microbiology & Immunology, State University of New York

JoJo Yin, Medical Technologist, Uni - Laboratory; B.S. Major in Medical Laboratory Science, Andrews University, Michigan,

Banking and Finance: (10:30 am-11:20 pm)

Alice Lam, Vice president, Nan Fung Investment Advisor; B.A. Major in Economics, Wesleyan University

Stephen Yuen, Portfolio Manager, LIM Advisors Limited; B.A. Major in CSS (College of Social Science) and Economics, Wesleyan University

Others: (11:30 pm- 12:20 pm)

Carmen Cheung, Secretary to President, Pretty City International Limited; B.A. Major in East Asian Studies, Wesleyan University

May Yang, Legal Assistant, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Mount Holyoke College

Presentation on Tips on Jobs Interview (12:30 pm -1:20 pm)

Alice Lee, Acting Director, English Learning Center, University of Macau;

B.A. in Ethnic Studies from University of California, Berkeley;

M.A. in Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL), California State University, Los Angeles; Doctoral candidate in the English program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

EDUCATION USA - INAUGURAL VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIR

2011-11-04T22:31:00.000-07:00

Join EducationUSA live on Tuesday, November 15, 9am - 2pm (HK Time) and on Friday, November 18, 9am - 2pm (HK Time) to meet admission representatives
from over 130 institutions across the USA at the:

EDUCATION USA INAUGUARAL VIRTUAL
COLLEGE FAIR

Check it out here!

All details for registering are on the EducationUSA website, including:

- how to register for each day

- which universities are involved

During each 5-hour event there will be 13 different institutions presenting every half hour. Even if you cannot catch all the universities or colleges you are interested in live, don’t worry. EducationUSA will be recording each presentation and making these sessions available on their website later this year, as well as podcasting each session on iTunes!

University of Toronto - Scholarship opportunities

2011-10-28T02:53:00.000-07:00

The University of Toronto (Hong Kong) Foundation offers a scholarship programme to enable selected Hong Kong students to pursue their undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, Canada.

The University of Toronto Hong Kong Scholarships are among the largest undergraduate scholarships offered at the University of Toronto, ranging from C$13,000 to $22,000 per year, and have been created through the generosity of alumni and friends living in Hong Kong.

Scholarships are awarded to excellent students who:

are HK permanent residents
do not hold a passport for a country outside HK
want to study overseas but do not have the family financial resources to do so.

Application is made online. Scholarships available are:

The University of Toronto (Hong Kong) Foundation Scholarship (one award each year)
The Dr. Cheng Yu-tung Scholarships (two awards each year)
The Fung Yiu King Memorial Commerce Scholarship (one award each year

Successful applicants automatically gain admission to the program of their choice at the University of Toronto. The scholarships website has more information.

There is also an information session on Tuesday 15 November 2011 commencing at 6:30pm in the Hong Kong Central Library. Register for this session here.

This November ... UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS LONDON - INTERVIEW SESSION IN NOVEMBER 2011

2011-10-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

University of the Arts London - Interview Session in November 2011

NB: Prior reservation is a must as limited places are available – contact Tel: 3426 8000, or e-mail them to secure a place.

Interview Date: 14 & 15 November 2011 (Mon & Tue)
Interviewer: Ms. Karen Heard

Colleges: Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Camberwell College of Arts, Chelsea College of Art and Design, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion, Wimbledon College of Art
Venue: University of the Arts London - Hong Kong Representative Office (Chamberlain Educational Services Centre) 21/F, 10 Pottinger Street, Central, Hong Kong

What should you bring?-Application Material: Portfolio (if applicable), Academic Transcripts, IELTS and/or TOEFL Result, Reference Letter, Filled Application Form, Personal Statement, Identity Card, Education Certificate, Passport Copy

The Hong Kong Representative Office suggests you submit your portfolio at your earliest convenience for initial assessment and guidance. They note that, if you want your portfolio to be better prepared for the interview, you can join their tailor made portfolio preparation course at International Creative Art & Design Academy. Interested students should enrol early to reserve a place. (For reservation: +852 34268000)

For further information and reservation, please contact them - see number and email link given above.

Worth watching (and tuning in)...

2011-10-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

International and US Colleges – Information At CollegeWeekLive

Check out the CollegeWeekLive virtual open days, international college fairs online and information sessions online.
They are running a number of sessions of interest over the next few months.
See their website for more details and to sign up! All events are on Eastern Standard Time.

Coming up...Canadian University Fairs...27 October & 5 - 6 November

2011-10-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

Canadian Universities Fair:

The Richard Ivey School of Business / The University of Western Ontario, invites students and parents to a Canadian Universities Fair on October 27, 2011.

The event will take place at Ivey’s campus in the Hong Kong Convention Centre with welcoming remarks by Ivey Asia’s Dean, Jan De Silva and official opening by the Canadian Consulate:

Date: Thursday October 27, 2011
Time: Session One: 7:00-8:00pm
Session Two: 8:00-9:00pm
Venue: Richard Ivey School of Business
Rm S321, Level 3, Phase One, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai

Agenda:
Overview of Canadian Student Visa Process
Student Financial Services in Canada (BMO)
University Rooms/Booths
This will be a great chance for school faculty, students and parents to speak with university representatives from some of Canada’s leading schools and learn more about the education experience abroad. There will also be partner organizations covering the student visa application process as well as financial services available for students and families targeting Canada as a university destination. The following schools are participating:The University of Alberta, The University of British Columbia, The University of Calgary, Carleton University, Dalhousie University, McGill University, Queen’s University, Trent University, The University of Victoria, The University of Western Ontario, York University.

Registration is required

Canadian Education Fair

Co-organised by the Canada China Culture and Education Association (CCCEA) and the Consulate General of Canada, there will be a number of universities present at the fair to answer your questions as well as seminars on points of interest such as studying in Canada, visa information, and how to write a personal statement for your university application. There will also be an opportunity to hear from Canadian university alumni about their respective university experiences.

Date: Saturday November 5 and Sunday November 6 2011
Time: 12 - 5 pm
Venue: St Paul's Convent School, 140 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, (Causeway bay MTR Station Exit F)

Free Admission

Visit the CCCEA website or call 3743 0850 for more information.

Demystifying the Chinese Economy - Talk at HKUST on 2 November 2011

2011-10-24T21:11:00.000-07:00

Demystifying the Chinese Economy

Prof Justin Yifu Lin
Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of The World Bank
Founding Director and Professor of the China Centre for Economic Research at Peking University

2 November 2011 (Wed)
4:30 - 6:00 pm
Citi Lecture Theater (LT-A),

HKUST

Abstract for this talk:

Before the 18th century, China was the largest and one of the most advanced economies in the world. But it declined precipitately and degenerated into one of the world's poorest economies by the late 19th century. Despite generations of efforts for national rejuvenation, China did not reverse its fate until it introduced market-oriented reforms in 1979. Since its resurgence, China has been the most dynamic economy in the world. In this talk, the speaker will provide a consistent framework to analyze the causes behind those dramatic changes in China and draw some lessons from the Chinese experiences for other developing countries. His perspectives challenge many tenets of conventional neoclassical theory and show how naive applications of some of its principles had catastrophic consequences for many transition economies.

About the Speaker:

Justin Yifu Lin is a world renowned development economist and an authority on the Chinese economy. He has been the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank since June 2008. In his current position, Prof Lin guides the Bank's intellectual leadership and plays a key role in shaping the economic research agenda of the institution. Prior to joining the Bank, Prof Lin served for 15 years as Founding Director and Professor of the China Centre for Economic Research (CCER) at Peking University. He had also been teaching at HKUST from 1995 to 2005.

Prof Lin received his PhD in economics from the University of Chicago in 1986 and is the author of 18 books, including The China Miracle: Development Strategy and Economic Reform and Economic Development and Transition: Thought, Strategy, and Viability. He has published more than 100 articles in refereed international journals and collected volumes on history, development, and transition. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World and a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy.

Prof Lin was a deputy of China's People's Congress, Vice Chairman of Committee for Economic Affairs of Chinese People's Political Consultation Conference and Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce. He served on several national and international committees, leading groups, and councils on development policy, technology, and environment.

The lecture is free and open to the public. No registration is required. Seating is on a first-come first-served basis.

Find out more at:

Institute for Advanced Study
URL: http://ias.ust.hk
Enquiries: ias@ust.hk / 2358 5912

If you are interested in art & design and you are going to be in the UK...

2011-09-17T02:39:00.000-07:00

... you might be interested in attending the UCAS Design Your Future workshops.

DESIGN YOUR FUTURE 2011

Are you in Manchester: Manchester Central Convention Complex: 28 - 29 November 2011 or London: Olympia: 6 - 7 December 2011? And interested in Art & Design?

The Design your Future event offers pre-applicant students a fantastic opportunity to talk directly to course leaders and subject based admissions staff from over 85 higher education institutions from around the UK offering a range of courses within art, design, media, architecture, ceramics, jewellery making and related creative subjects.

Features include:

- A wide selection of exhibitors including institutions from all over the UK and beyond.

- A stimulating exhibition environment specifically tailored to pre-applicant students looking to study, creative courses at Further Education / Higher Education

- Workshops covering a diverse range of subject matters including UCAS Applications.

- Village Green where you can watch films of current students work.

- The opportunity to learn about the course content and structures, fees, and other aspects of student life.

Find out more and book attendance go to their website. Groups and individuals welcome, there is a £2 per person entry fee. Event runs from 10.00 - 15.30 each day.

IVY LEAGUE COLLEGES ALUMNI FAIR

2011-09-17T02:32:00.000-07:00

The fourth annual IVY LEAGUE COLLEGES ALUMNI FAIR is
on Wednesday 28 September at Island School.

Come along and find out about these colleges and
what it's like to study there...

Hong Kong Calling ...

2011-09-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year when the Hong Kong universities hold events and open days to inform students (and parents) about courses and programmes on offer. They are well worth attending for anyone considering higher education in Hong Kong as an option. The 2012 intake will be an interesting one as there will be a double cohort of students from the local system and students will be commencing both three year and the new four year degree programmes. This is the last year in which entry to a three year degree is offered. After next year all applicants will be applying for the four year degree programmes.

We will keep updating this post - so keep checking back for more information on Hong Kong universites' information days...

2011 Open/Information Days are as follows:

HKU— 29 & 30 October 2011, website

CUHK—8 & 9 October 2011, website

HKUST— 24 & 25 September 2011, website:

CityU— 15 & 16 October 2011 (website coming at the end of September)

Baptist—15 & 16 October 2011 (website coming at the end of September)

Lingnan- 22 & 23 October 2011, Enquiries: 2616 8989, website

PolyU– 17 & 18 September 2011, website

Events in October ...

2011-09-08T21:03:00.000-07:00

- October -

Discover the University of Southern California
An opportunity to discover USC's exciting academic offerings and vibrant campus life
USC is hosting its annual Discover USC Asia reception in Hong Kong in October. At this event, students and parents will have the opportunity to meet members of the Undergraduate Admission Office, as well as admission staff from various departments, including the Marshall School of Business, Viterbi School of Engineering, and Dornslife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. It is a good opportunity to find out more about the academic courses offered, campus life as well as discuss the application process and requirements.

When & Where
Sunday, 16 October 2011
2-4 PM
J W Marriott Hong Kong
Pacific Place 88
Queensway

RSVP via the USC website

PLANNING ON BEING IN THE UK AT MID TERM BREAK?

'COMPOSE YOUR FUTURE'

Learn about the range of courses within performing arts, drama, broadcast and multimedia plus much more ...

17 October 2011,
Manchester Central Convention Complex

For further information, including how to register, see the website .

SCAD DAY - HONG KONG
SCAD Days are special visitation days that enable you to tour facilities, talk to admission representatives, meet other prospective students and much more!
The SCAD Day in Hong Kong offers
• Tours
• Opportunities to meet students, faculty and staff
• Portfolio counseling
• Portfolio preparation presentation
• Admission, financial aid and scholarship information
• Refreshments
Register online here.

When & Where
Saturday, 29 October 2011
12-5 PM
292 Tai Po Road, Sham Shui Po

EVENTS this September ...

2011-08-30T00:35:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of higher education events coming up in Hong Kong over the next few months. We will post details and links to further information on these as they come to hand - so check back regularly for updates!

- September -

CAMBRIDGE ADMISSIONS PRESENTATION
Information on applying to Cambridge for students and parents
Dr Andrew Murray will be giving a presentation for year 12 and 13 students and their parents on applying to Cambridge and the admissions process.
When & Where
Monday, 19 September 2011
7 - 8:30 PM
Leo Lee Arts Center, Canadian International School
36 Nam Long Shan Road
Aberdeen

Please let the HE office know if you are intending to attend. In order to maximise space for students it is requested that only one parent attend per student.

PLANNING A GAP YEAR? - TUNE IN TO A WEBINAR ON TRAVEL AND VOLUNTEERING ADVICE

AVENTURE a gap and volunteer experience company is offering a series of 30-minute 'Webinars' on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 September. These online presentations will cover a variety of topics around volunteering in the developing world and travel safety. They are designed to provide you with useful information for anyone thinking of taking a gap period/year out.

To take part in a webinar,register via the links below. All you will need to watch the presentation is access to the internet and a computer with sound output.

Planning your year out Travel safety tips Volunteering abroad and Volunteering with AV:
Webinar Schedule - Sept 2011 (All times are BST)

Wednesday 21 September
09:00 Planning your year out Register here
12:00 Travel safety tips for your year out Register here
15:00 Volunteering abroad and improving your career prospects: help others to help yourself Register here
16:00 Volunteering with AV: a typical project from start to finish Register here

Thursday 22 September 2011
09:00 Volunteering with AV: a typical project from start to finish Register here
12:00 Planning your year out Register here
15:00 Travel safety tips for your year out Register here
16:00 Volunteering abroad and improving your career prospects: help other to help yourself Register here

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Applying to UK universities: How to stand out from the crowd!
Applying to the UK for study next year or thinking ahead for 2013? Exeter is running this session for you. It will have a particular focus on:

the personal statement
what Admissions Tutors look for when considering an application via UCAS

When & Where
Saturday, 24 September 2011
6 - 9 PM
Empire Room 1, The Empire Hotel
33 Hennessy Road
Wanchai

RSVP as soon as possible to the HE Office - attendance is by rsvp only.

IIE US - Higher Education Fair
Meet admissions officers from over 60 accredited US colleges and universities
Also on offer are presentations on:

the value and lifelong rewards of US higher education
how to choose and apply to suitable US institutions
how to apply for a student visa
TOEFL and GRE seminar

When & Where
Sunday, 25 September 2011
12-4 PM
Conrad Hotel Grand Ballroom
Admiralty

Admission is Free. To pre-register and view the college list visit iiehongkong.
----
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Meet the admissions officer from UPenn and learn more about this university
When & Where
Monday, 26 September 2011
7- 9 PM
HKFC, Sports Road
Happy Valley

Pre-registration is essential. You can pre-register by email.

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME - DISCOVER NOTRE DAME TOUR
Find out more - 26 September 2011

When & Where
American Club
Monday 26 September 2011
7 - 9 PM

Register before attending if possible.

LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
Learn more about LSE, programmes offered and Admissions
Rosemary McAlonan, Student Recruitment Officer at LSE, will be conducting an information session for prospective LSE students in Hong Kong. This session will cover both undergraduate and graduate admissions and will provide an opportunity for you to learn more about LSE and to pose any questions you might have about the application process, studying at LSE or student life in London. This event is free of charge but requires registration in advance.

For more information see the flyer.

When & Where
Tuesday, 27 September
7 - 9 PM
Room 309 3/F, British Council,
3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty

For enquiries call 2913 5100 or e-mail. To rsvp complete the online registration form

SHAW PRIZE LECTURE 2011
'Spacetime Geometry and the Einstein Equations' and 'Hot Geometry'
The Shaw Prize honours individuals who have achieved significant breakthroughs in academic and scientific research or application and whose work has resulted in a positive and profound impact on mankind. The Shaw College is part of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Professor Demetrios Christodoulou and Professor Richard S Hamilton were awarded the Shaw Prize for their highly innovative works. Come and hear them speak on 29 September 2011
When & Where
Thursday, 29 September 2011
5 PM
Shaw College Lecture Theatre
Chinese University Hong Kong

Admission is Free. RSVP by 9 September is essential. RSVP by email or by ph 3943 8538
----

Doing your research into universities and colleges?

2011-07-15T23:28:00.000-07:00

The following links and site references are ones that you may find useful in your search for information. It is not an exhaustive list!

It goes without saying that a good starting point is always the actual university or college website.

Happy researching...

UK calling?

The place to start looking for information on UK universities. The Universities Colleges and Admissions Service website (known by everybody as UCAS) is more than just an applications service – it is also a useful source of knowledge on UK universities and courses they offer.

For international students, there is a lot of helpful information here at the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) site.

The Guardian also has a good site for information on higher education in the UK.

Virtual tours and research opportunities are often available via Education UK . The UK government also has an official university comparison site and this site, which goes through the basics of considering courses. In addition to university options it looks at other courses of study – great if you are looking at an alternative to university or a gap year.

Want to know if a university is having an open day? Have a look here - the site will you lots of information on what you can expect from an open day and handiest of all, a calendar listing all open days on any given day. So if you are going to be in the UK – check out the calendar and see if there is an open day near you.

Financial assistance information may also be useful. A first point of contact will always be the university directly. Other information can be found in respective UK country sites:

• England: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

• Wales: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

• Scotland: www.saas.gov.uk

• Northern Ireland: www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

• Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man: www.gov.gg www.gov.je or www.gov.im.

Prepare for Success is an interactive web learning tool for international students who are getting ready to come to the UK for study in further or higher education. It contains learning resources which are activity-based to help you find out about different aspects of academic life in the UK and the skills needed for effective study.

Bound for the USA?

A good starting point for all things higher education wise in the US is the EducationUSA site. It is worth keeping a check on this site as they have useful webinars that they run from to time Another government site that is useful is college navigator which has a useful search tool. For financial aid, especially if you are a US citizen, you should start your research at FAFSA .

For a website that offers insight into freshman to sophomore retention rates as well as graduation rates of colleges and universities see collegeresults.

Also useful is unigo which features comments from students and faculty of colleges and allows you to look beyond brochures to gain another insight into universities and colleges.

Another useful site where you can get comments on what people really think about a college or follow other people’s queries about a university you are interested in is collegeconfidential.

Canada beckoning?

Notes for citizens on planning post-secondary education and option can be found at canlearn and notes for non-citizens can be found at cic.

For more information see studying in Canada.

Australia & New Zealand inspiring you?

Australian universities and colleges have an excellent reputation for quality international education. Studylink, australian-universities and idp sites give you not just information about the universities and courses offered but also information on Australia itself.

New Zealand has seven universities - find out more at New Zealand educated, study in New Zealand and universitiesnz.

World wide References…

YouTube has many college clips giving you a flavour of colleges around the world. This one from Yale should make you smile.

One of the best sites, with comprehensive and useful “sister” sites is i-student advisor which has information on the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It also allows you to make comparisons, research courses around the world, provides an excellent e-magazine and more.

(We have also made every effort to make sure the links we've included here are live and useful - but we do not make any guarantees.)

'A Pre-College Summer To-Do List' and 'Now That You’ve Gotten In'

2011-06-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of interesting blog entries/articles from the New York Times education section here on preparing for college and making the most of your summer. Also, advice on what you need to focus on now that you've got your college placement sorted...

Alumni Panel Evening - 9 June 2011

2011-06-20T07:09:00.000-07:00

The Alumni Panel evening was a great success ...

On June 9 we held another successful Alumni panel evening with two panels, one from the US and the inaugural alumni panel from the UK. The US panel had graduates from Yale, Dartmouth, Fordham, USC, George Washington, Smith College and Northeastern and the UK panelists were graduates from UCL, Kings College London, Edinburgh, Manchester, York and Warwick.

We received some great feedback from a parent of a Year 12 student:

“…they all felt that this kind of information was what they could really relate to..." and "[For the panelists] To take time off like they did from their busy lives to talk to a bunch of students with such
disarming candour and honesty was why, in my opinion, this panel was such a such a success.”

Our sincerest thanks go out to all our panelists for their thought-provoking comments and anecdotes. We look forward to welcoming US and UK alumni to Island School again next year.

Some of the photos from the event are below:

Don't miss the Alumni Panel Event next year...

Yes It's Back! The Alumni Panel Evening...

2011-05-30T19:02:00.000-07:00

To RSVP click here!

Performing Under Pressure - Mock Seminar brought you by the University of Exeter

2011-05-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

Performing Under Pressure: Pre-shot Routines and Visuomotor Control
by Dr Mark Wilson, Sport and Health Science

Ever wondered how the mind affects performance ... are World Cup penalty problems "all in the eyes" ... ?

Are you considering studying Sport Science or Psychology in the UK or Wondering where a degree in Sport Science or Psychology could take you?

This seminar, for all ESF students, could help you find the answers - or get you thinking further about what you want to study!

When: This Thursday 19 May, 4pm - 6pm
Where: Sha Tin College

Yew Chung Community College - Information session

2011-05-08T18:10:00.000-07:00

Yew Chung Community College offers a University Foundation Diploma Programme and Associate Degree Programmes. The college is holding two information evenings to provide information about their 2011-2012 course offerings:

20 May 2011 (Friday), 5-6pm (English supplemented by Cantonese)
17 June 2011 (Friday), 5-6pm (Cantonese)

We have brochures on the programmes offered in the Higher Education Office. Both events require an rsvp. For the 20 May event, come and see us by Monday 16 May 2011 or email us.

Just in case you can't wait till this week's HEN for summer course updates...

2011-05-02T18:40:00.000-07:00

Over the break we received some information on HK based summer courses. HKU is offering courses on:

Arts & Humanities
Effective Leadership
Engineering
Journalism and Media Studies

and more....

We have one copy of the brochure on the HKU summer programme in the HE Office to give away. First in gets it! There will also be a copy here which you can view.

Studying in the USA - financing your studies

2011-04-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

EducationUSA is holding a series of webinars this month on the topic of financial aid....You can join EducationUSA live online to gain insights into finding and securing financial aid, scholarships and grants. Participation is free. Sign up here.

Sports Scholarships

Elizabeth Hughes, EducationUSA

April 14, 2011
830am-930am (HK)

Undergraduate Financial Aid

Clarice Tan, Central Washington University

April 28, 2011
10pm-11pm (HK)

HKUST 20th Anniversary Presidents' Dialogues

2011-04-03T20:26:00.000-07:00

HKUST is holding 2 Presidents' Dialogues as parts of its 20th Anniversary celebrations - these are on "GLOBAL HIGHER EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT - Changes and Challenges"

The first of these is a Dialogue between Professor Jean-Lou Chameau, President of California Institute of Technology & Professor Tony Chan, President of UKUST.
Details: 7 April 2011 (this Thursday), 4:30-6pm, Citi Lecture Theater (LT A), HKUST

The second is a Dialogue between Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice Chancellor, University of Cambridge and Professor Tony Chan, President of UKUST.
Details: 13 April 2011 (Wednesday), 3-4pm, Citi Lecture Theater (LT A), HKUST

The Presidents' Dialogues will explore the changing global higher education arena and its future development in US, Europe and Asia.

If you are interested in attending RSVP now - directly to HKUST ph 2358 6173 attn Miss Lam.

PARTY * PARTY * PARTY

2011-03-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

The fabulous cake was made by Ms Cook. It was absolutely AMAZING!

This week we celebrated all the hard work, a very successful round of applications and year 13's new pathways. Food for thought was provided in the form of Steve Job's commencement speech to Stanford in 2005.

We also gave out some great awards - Star awards for being organized, quick with responding to emails, networking and more... Also on display were some wooden spoon awards - gently jibing those in year 13 who were tardy in responding or applying, who left the paper work up to their parents etc. It was a great celebration. You will be missed Class of 2011!

Timothy Rodgers cut the cake on behalf of the Year 13s.

Fly Me To The Moon...

2011-03-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

One that has just come in ....

If you are interested in moon landings, how NASA scientists "used mathematical magic and simple, creative solutions to put 12 American astronauts on the moon", and in some of the space-age technology that is "quietly making your life better in a hundred dozen different ways" THEN... You should go the HKU Centenary public lecture being by Dr Tom Logsdon.

28 March 2011
7pm
Loke Yew Hall, Main Building, HKU

It is free admission but online registration is required.

The Hotel School Sydney Magazine in the Careers Office now ...

2011-03-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of this magazine has arrived. We have a few copies so come down and get one. It's free!

BTEC Students take note!

2011-03-02T20:04:00.000-08:00

ESF ADVANCED DIPLOMA FAIR!

Next week is the ESF Advanced Diploma Fair. It is being held at West Island School on Wednesday, 9 March 2011.

This event showcases Higher Education Institutions/Universities from around the world who accept the BTEC qualification. There will also be specific presentations on pathways and recognition in the UK, Australia, Hong Kong and the USA. See the brochure on what’s happening there…
Year 11 and 12 BTEC students should attend – take your parents and learn about future study and career opportunities!

Important details:

Fair runs from 4:30 – 7:30
West Island School, 250 Victoria Road, Pok Fu Lam. For details on Location of the school click here.
Parking is limited so taking public transport is advised.

Gap Years

2011-03-01T20:01:00.000-08:00

Year 12 - yesterday’s presentation on gap years was a useful way to start your thinking. Don’t forget to review the resources we listed in our brochure.

Year 11 and 13 – feel free to come and get a copy of the gap years brochure from the HE Office. You might also be interested in the youtube clips we showed the year 12s in our presentation. The first was from a student at Macquarie University, Australi a talking about his gap year and the second was a short video produced by Birmingham University, UK discussing gap years from a university viewpoint.

Speaking of interesting, this article on gap years is another one we came across this week. Also interesting is the clip from the US talk show The Today Show where US university admissions staff discuss what makes an application stand out. Obviously, the discussion is about students applying from within the US. Basically, it’s pretty important to get the best grades you can. And as a general rule, we don’t suggest you do a DVD with a comedy routine to accompany your application!

Time is March-ing on...

2011-02-25T05:54:00.000-08:00

A reminder about the University Planning Calendar for Years 11-13
Year 12 - Remember the planning calendar you were given at the start of year 11? Well, the March - June entry is:

Evaluate Higher Education Destinations (with help from parents, HE Counsellor & teachers) and decide broadly WHERE you want to study post-school.

March is also a great month to ...

Update your Gateway comments! For Year 12 - add your ideas and information on what you are considering in terms of higher education and careers. For Year 13 - make sure your information on applications and offers is up-to-date.
Write your CV. Ask around now to see if you can line-up some work experience during your breaks... There is also a talk coming up on how to write a resume - keep an eye on the bulletin for details.
Think about university visits you might be doing while out on the Easter/End of Term break - what questions will you ask? Come to the Higher Education Office for help - we have lots of resources to get you thinking.
Attend the university presentations we have on here at school. - Check out the weekly Higher Education News for details of who, what, where and when!

ESF University Fair 2011

2011-02-25T04:56:00.000-08:00

ESF University Fair 2011 - The Final Report!

The Fair was held at Island school on 27 January. 106 universities from around the world were represented and more than 600 ESF students and their parents attended.

A real part of the success to this event can be put down to YOU the students! The great student volunteers, thoughtful and considered questions and general enthusiasm made this a hugely successful event again this year.

Key highlights included:

The increasing interest in the Fair by North American universities – at the Fair this year there were 31 universities from the US and Canada, including 3 of the 8 Ivy League Colleges;
Representation by 47 United Kingdom universities, with a range of specialties that included Veterinary Sciences, Medical Schools, Sports and Sports Management, Oriental and African Studies, Engineering, Business, Law and Liberal Arts to Creative Arts. The breadth of possible areas of study represented was impressive;
The excellent preparation and well thought out questions that students and parents asked. In a survey of representatives, the overwhelming comment was that students were very focused and enthusiastic - students were described by reps as "very motivated", "ready to take on challenges" and "serious about where they are going when they finish their studies"; and, as noted above,
The tremendous help given by the 70 year 12 student volunteers. Many of the representatives commented on how well Island School was portrayed by the helpfulness of the volunteers. For example the representative for Emory wrote “The student who met us at the entrance was a fantastic representative of the school.”

The Fair has now become an established annual ESF event hosted by Island School and we look forward to hosting the University Fair again in 2012.

UK University Roadshow - 28th September

2010-10-04T19:04:00.000-07:00

The UK University Roadshow held on 28th September was a great success with 18 UK universities in attendance. They were Aberystwyth, University of Arts London, Canterbury Christ Church University, University for the Creative Arts, East Anglia, Essex, Exeter, Glasgow, Kent, Kingston, Leeds, Middlesex, Royal Holloway, Southampton, Surrey, Swansea, UWE and Warwick.

Each university had representatives to speak with our students and parents about the issues they wanted to discuss relevant to the university.

A special addition to this year's roadshow were 2 seminars:

1. Studying Law in the UK - presented by Southampton University

2. Art & Design in the UK and how to prepare a portfolio - presented by University of the arts.

Simone Salier
Higher Education Counsellor

The Inaugural US Graduate Forum (May 19th)

2010-05-27T22:53:00.000-07:00

Six U.S. University graduates from Princeton, Yale, Emory, UCLA, UC Berkeley and Amherst shared their college and post-college life experiences with over 60 parents and students at Island School on Wednesday evening, May 19th. They talked about the highlights and lowlights of their college experience and advised students how to choose the right university for themselves. The Q&A session had parents and students ask many interesting questions with valuable and insightful advice given. The forum was undoubtedly a success and will become an annual event in the Higher Education Calendar. Some comments from the Forum:

I spoke at the University Forum with some trepidation, because I was an undergraduate many years ago, and was deciding on colleges even earlier. I found, to my pleasant surprise, that the recent graduates and I were conveying similar messages. I would encourage other parents to become involved, even if their children aren't immediately facing the higher education dilemma - Susan Finder

The speakers were very articulate. It was a good crowd and good questions from the audience - parent