Monthly Archives: May 2013

Can I Study Power Engineering Technology in Canada?

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Canada’s institutions offer some excellent Power Engineering programs.  To hold the title of a Power Engineer sounds impressive and it is for study programs in this field prepare students to work in a prestigious and well-paying job.

What is Power Engineering? – A power engineer is someone who works in an industry such as industrial power plants, chemical plants or commercial buildings and etc.; operating and maintaining energy components.  They may work with boilers turbines, steam condensers and other technically advanced machinery.  Power engineering is a highly advanced discipline where graduates work in a diversity of industries.

Where can I study?  You can study power engineering technology at a number of polytechnic colleges in Canada, but you will want to consider one of these public institutions.  For those wanting to get a student visa or remain in Canada, studying at a public institution is best.

  • Georgian College– Located close to Toronto, Canada, Georgian College is the largest co-op (work experience) college in Canada and offers 2 power engineering programs:
    • Power Engineering Technology – Graduates receive a 3 year advanced diploma with Province of Ontario certification. The program includes 2 work terms that gives you practical experience and exposes you to prospective employers.
    • Power Engineering Technician – This is a 2 year diploma with Ontario certification.  The program includes one work term.
    • NAIT – one of the best poly-technology institutions in Canada it offers a 2 year diploma in Power Engineering Technology.  NAIT is located in Alberta, an energy and industry rich province so work is easy to find.
    • SAIT – NAIT’s sister institution; also located in the province of Alberta, offers a similar 2 year Power Engineering diploma.  As in the other listed colleges you will receive practical on-hands training in well equipped labs.
    • BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology) – Located in beautifully scenic British Columbia, this college offers two programs one general and one advanced.

Work in Canada and Globally – finding work in Canada or globally for those who hold Power Engineering certification is not difficult.  Power Engineers are equipped to work in a diversity of fields and with a diversity of equipment; therefore they are in high-demand.  For example, they can find jobs in the petrochemical industry, hospitals, energy power plants and etc.

Salary – If you end up working in Canada, you can get a handsome salary.  The technical schools advertise that a Power Engineer upon graduation has a 94% chance of being hired and can make about $84,000 per year.  When you land your first job, you may work for  somewhat less, but the salary quoted is averaged.

So consider studying Power Engineering Technology in Canada; the rewards of studying in this dynamic and interesting field is well worth the hard work and expense of studying in Canada.  If you would like to find out more about Power Engineering Technology in Canada then contact your Canadian Representative in Pakistan at Alberta Rose Education Centre for more details and to avail their services.

10 Ways to Reduce the Cost of Living when Studying in Canada

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Living costs in Canada can be expensive for international students but it doesn’t say you should not study in Canada at all.  The cost of living in Canada is also dependent on the student and how diligent they are to not overspend on their finances.

Here are 10 good ways to reduce the cost of living in Canada while studying:

  1. Try to get shared accommodations – If you decide that you do not want a roommate, whether you live on campus in residence or off-campus in an apartment, your cost of living will be high.  It is much cheaper to live with some roommates and share expenses, especially rent and food costs.  Often apartments that are close to universities and colleges are furnished so you don’t even have to worry about buying furniture.
  2. Consider home stay – Home stay is a cost saving way to live while studying in Canada.  The International Centre at your institution will place you in a family where you will have a room and study area and you will have your meals with the family.  This is a package deal that can be cheaper than renting an apartment or living in residence and it gives you a home away from home.
  3. Eat In not out – If you do rent an apartment, don’t eat too much fast food or eat out at restaurants.  You will reduce your expenses considerably by eating as many meals as possible that you have cooked in your apartment.  If you live in residence, eat according to your meal package and avoid expensive fast foods and restaurants.
  4. Buy second hand – For textbooks, pots, pans, dishes and furniture, consider buying second-hand.  University bookstores carry used books and there are second hand and thrift shops where you can get used furniture, dishes and etc.  The cost will be much less than buying new items.
  5. Work part-time – The Canadian government has programs that allow international students to work on or off campus while they are studying.  Certain conditions apply as to hours, etc and some universities have their own limitations.  Check with the International Centre on your campus for full details.
  6. Find a host family – Most International Centres have a host family program where international students are paired with a Canadian family.  They will invite you for holiday celebrations, birthdays or take you to the zoo, or park, etc.  This is one way to have some fun without costing you lots of money.  You will also get to know about Canadian culture through your host family.
  7. Write home don’t phone – Phoning overseas from Canada can be expensive so be careful about your phone plan.  If possible, write emails home or set up a Skype account which is free for video calls.  Many computers today have built in webcams so you don’t even have to buy a webcam.
  8. Watch where you shop – Try to buy from big department stores like Walmart and Superstore and stay away from high-end shops and corner grocery stores.
  9. Use public transportation – Most major cities in Canada have excellent public transport systems and most universities include in their fees, a bus-pass charge at a reduced student rate.  So make good use of this pass, it will save you lots.
  10. Delay gratification – Work hard and save your money for necessary expenses.  It means that you will have to wait to enjoy life.  You can always spend money on entertainment once you graduate.

These are some of the best ways to save money while studying.  But don’t think that you can’t have any fun while studying, you can.  Just be careful as to how much it is going to cost you and try to find cheaper ways to have some good times.

Why Reading Doesn’t Help You Get Good Grades

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Many students try to study by reading only to find that they can’t remember everything they need for the exam.  So the next time around, instead of finding a better study method, they read more and more with similar results.

Statistics show that when a student reads they retrain only 10% of the information.  That means that even if you read more you are still going to remember only 10% of what you read.  One needs to read to understand, not memorise and that is what happens when you just read you are trying to memorise information.  If you don’t understand or comprehend what you are readying you will not remember and you will not learn.

The problem when we just read we are passive learners and we learn less when we are passive than when we are active.

So if we only remember 10% of what we read and we don’t understand what we read, what is the solution?  We need to find a different method that works.  We need to become active learners.

Ask yourself questions – The first question you want to ask is why you are reading anyway.  What is the purpose?  They ask other questions such as what is the topic about.  What are the main ideas?

Read the headlines, subtitles, introductions and summaries first – Reading this first will give you the topic, main theme, main ideas etc.  It will answer some of your initial questions.  Reading headlines, summaries etc, will also help you ask more questions that you will want to find the answer s to.

Recall don’t memorise – Once you have read a section or chapter, close the book and see how much you can recall.  Answer the questions at the end of the chapter; answer the questions you have asked yourself.

Make notes and diagrams – While reading underline, highlight or make notes in a rough copy or in the margins of your textbook.  Draw diagrams and flowcharts of what you are learning.  By doing this, you are becoming an active learner and participating in your own learning experience.

Review – Once it is all done, review what you have learned.  By repletion and review, the information will become part of you and that means you will not forget it.  You will have understood and remembered.

So try out these active study methods, you will find that your marks will improve because you are now an active learner and not relying on passive reading to help you get good grades.

 

Why Study Energy Economics in Canada?

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Study economics or energy in Canada where energy is king, or study a collaborative program where economics and energy is combined; energy economics.  You will be glad you did because in provinces where energy drives the economy, the probability of graduates from one of these three disciplines working in Canada at a lucrative job with a rewarding salary packages is high.

What is Energy Economics?

Energy economics is an interdisciplinary study.  This field of study looks at the supply and demand of energy globally and the economics of energy production and consumption.  Although a subclass of economics, it stretches far beyond into the study of other disciplines such as agriculture, natural resources, petroleum & gas, forestry, sustainability, renewable resources and the environment.  What that means to the graduate from this program is that there are an almost limitless number of jobs available.  Finding a suitable job where you can work in your field of expertise and have a decent salary will not be difficult.

Opportunities to Work in Canada Abound

Whether you are a national or an international student in Canada, if you study energy economics or anyone of its collaborative fields, Canada needs you and wants you.  Canada is a growing country with great potential for natural resource and energy development.  That means we need engineers, economists, agronomic economists, analysts, energy savvy CEOs; the list goes on and on.  The Canadian government has a Post-Graduate Work Program specifically designed for retaining international students who have completed their studies at a Canadian institution.  Additionally, many provinces have their own programs which provide incentives for international graduates to work in Canada after graduation.  For example energy rich Alberta has such a program for international graduates who study in Canada.

University Requirements

If you are studying in Canada, or in your home country at the undergraduate level you may study one of many disciplines such as economics, engineering, agriculture or renewable resources or the environment.  These would be considered related disciplines for studying energy economics.  If you are starting your study abroad experience in Canada as a graduate student, then you may want to find a university that offers a Master’s or PhD in energy economics, sustainable economics, economics and the environment, and etc.  In all cases you should have 1st division marks or a GPA of 3 or more.

Where Should I Study?

Go where there is energy; that would be the best advice.  Here are only a few examples of universities that offer energy economic related study programs.

  • Memorial University – Newfoundland has off shore drilling so check out this university’s collaborative program.
  • University of Alberta – Alberta holds 90% of the country’s oil and gas reserves and also has a large forestry and agriculture industry.  A number of their departments have interdisciplinary studies with economics.
  • University of Calgary – This University is also in Alberta and has a number of related programs including an Applied Energy Program under the Department of Economics.

Of course you are not limited to study at these universities as most Canadian provinces have energy, mining, forestry, etc; therefore their universities will have research interests in these areas.  If you think you would like to study energy economics or a related discipline in Canada, and you would like some advice or assistance, call a Canadian recruitment agency today, Alberta Rose Education Centre to start your study in Canada process.

How Your Learning Style Might Affect Your Grades

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We are all different.  This statement is not profound because it is something you already knew; I didn’t have to tell you so.  But what you might not know is how this difference might be affecting the way you learn and thus affecting your grades.

What does Learning Style mean?

Simply put, it means the way you acquire and process information best.  We all have a natural ability for something, or a natural interest in something.  This may well mean that if this part of us is stimulated, then we learn better than through other stimulants.  For example, if you are musically inclined, learning through the use of music, rhythm, etc might be the best way to learn and get those good grades in even maths and the sciences.

So if you spend hours and hours poring over your school notes and textbooks, but your efforts don’t produce high grades maybe the problem doesn’t lie with you but with the way you are being taught.  If your teachers or tutors use only one method of teaching, for example lecture style, then they are not allowing all of their students to maximize their potential to learn.  Not everyone is an auditory learner.  Certainly some students in the class learn well when they hear information, but remember we are all different and some of us have to see things, we are called visual learners.

Even though we may be different kinds of learners, we often are not just one kind.  We will be a combination of two or three styles with a one or two being higher on the scale.  So see yourself as a multi-facet person; complex.

What Should You Do?

If you are taught under a rote learning system where the teachers at school deliver lectures with little other teaching methods used, then there are two things you can do:

Chance Schools – Unfortunately for many, this is not an option; the schools that use a constructivist teaching methods may be unattainable due to unavailability or too costly.  But if you do have the opportunity to attend such a school, the teachers will use a variety of different teaching methods so ALL students can understand their subjects.

Change your Study Habits – This might be your best option regardless of the school you go to.  Here are some things you can do to change the way you learn:

  • Construct your own knowledge – don’t just memorise the facts but try to make sense of the information.  Ask questions such as:  How does it relate to me?  Is there something in my surroundings where this exists or is used?  How can I use this knowledge now or in the future?  For example, it might be as simple as figuring out how the electricity in your house works .  Now that is science!
  • Discuss it – Some statistics show that we retain 50% of the information we discuss.  So find a group of friends or a family member where you can discuss what you are learning.  Some of the best maths students at universities in Canada work on a buddy system for studying.
  • Teach someone else – It is reported that our retention rate when we teach someone is 90%.  Therefore try to find someone you can teach; a younger brother or sister, a schoolmate that isn’t doing so well or underprivileged children who cannot go to school.
  • Add dimension to your study methods – Incorporate diagrams, acronyms and other aids into your school notes and studies.  Don’t just limit your notes to the written word.  Try learning the different branches of science by making a tree and adding ‘science’ branches.

So, don’t get discouraged if you are not doing so well at school – it might not be your fault entirely.  Do try some of these different study methods into your weekly routine and you will see a difference in your marks.  And for those who are not studying as hard as they should, take these lessons here and set up a study program now.

The Cost of Poor Physical Education Programs in Schools

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Few schools have an adequate physical education program as part of their school curriculum.  Although some elite schools for the echelons of society have some physical education program, for the most part, they are non-existent or mediocre at best.  This is particularly true of developing nations such as Pakistan.

This lack in a nation’s education system becomes pronounced at a time when children are spending more and more time behind walls for security reasons or tucked away in the house behind a computer game.  The cost of inadequate physical activity for our students is proving to be alarming and will only escalate as time passes.  The bottom line is that our students are not getting necessary physical exercise either in the school or outside.  This is costing nations like Pakistan big time by producing a population that is neither healthy nor productive due to unhealthy lifestyles.

Although promoters of physical education are at work trying to bring physical education into the school curriculum, they face a strenuous campaign.  Existing schools may not have facilities or grounds to accommodate a physical education program in the curriculum.  But even where the physical dimensions exist to provide an adequate playing ground, resistance abounds.  It is found in the following areas:

·         Lack of funding from the ministries of education – schools cannot bear the cost alone.

·         Lack of universal policies regarding the incorporation of physical education into the public and private school system and the lack of enforcement where physical education provisions are not met

·         Lack of interest on the part of staff, students and parents.  Often the “three Rs” (Reading, writing and Arithmetic) are seen as essential studies and physical education is not important for an education or for furtherance of a career

This indifference to physical education’s importance has already taken its toll on developing societies.  Take for example Pakistan which now has a high rate of obesity among the well-to-do, chronic heart diseases, hypertension and diabetes.  All of these diseases can be drastically reduced by the introduction of a good physical education program in the schools.  And of course, poor health leads to a loss of productivity at school and in the workplace.  Absenteeism due to disease means lower achievements and losses to the nation as a hole.  It costs a nation in health care and unproductivity.

A good physical education program in the schools is worth the initial cost of investment because the returns are:

·         It is a link to good health.  The learned healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and healthy eating will stay with a student throughout their lifespan

·         Preventive medicine as it reduces obesity, hypertension, chronic heart diseases and diabetes in children and into adulthood

·         Develops motor skills and hand-eye coordination

·         Promotes academic achievements:  Physical exercise improves circulation of blood and oxygen throughout the body and also to the brain.  This increases a student’s attention span so they have a higher concentration and absorption of information.

·         Builds personal character in the areas of self-esteem, team players, cooperation and sportsmanship on and off the field.

In nations where there is a lack of physical education programs, the country’s education authorities must initiate this necessary component of education into the national curriculum.  They have to look around and see the damage that has already been done by the lack of it, see what it is costing them in losses and move towards a curriculum that includes physical education which will benefit them in the long term.

Studying in Canada: Is Private Better than Public?

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For an international student who wants to study in Canada, making a chose as to the right college or university for you can be overwhelming.  There are numerous options; college versus university, private versus public.

There are several factors to consider when choosing the place of study:

Will the Institution give me what I want?

You have to know what you want.  Do you want a degree, diploma or certificate?  What program do you want to study?  Will your documents from this institution be recognised internationally?

Universities are high on degrees and low on diplomas and certificates.  Their study programs are often theoretical versus practical, although many universities in Canada now offer co-op work experience and internship programs.  If you want mainly practical hands-on work experience, you might be better off studying at a college.

Some of Canada’s smaller universities offer mainly undergraduate programs as opposed to graduate programs but that doesn’t make them any less a qualified university.  For the most part all of Canada’s public universities have a set standard which they all must meet to get public funding.  So, a public university or college is probably your best place to study in Canada, although not necessarily so.

The cost:

Cost is a major factor when considering which university or college to study at in Canada.  There is a great deal of variation in cost whether the institution is public or private but colleges generally are cheaper than universities.  For example one public college in Canada promotes in its international student brochures that a student can save $4000 per year by studying at their college for the same courses they can take at a major university.

Do I want to work after Graduation?

This is a very important factor to think about when considering a private educational institution over a public one.  Immigration Canada has some very specific guidelines once it comes to their Post Graduate Work Program.

·         Whether a person graduates with a degree or a diploma or some other certificate; if the graduate has gone to a public college or university, he/she will be able to participate in the government’s PGWPP.  In this case what is important is the fact that the institution is public.  So for example if you study for a PG Diploma in Telecommunications, make sure you get it from a public college so you can get the necessary Work Visa for the program.

·         If the graduate graduates from a private college or university and does not graduate with a degree, he/she will not be able to join the PGWPP.  Therefore the only way you can participate in the government work program after graduation from a private institution is if you graduate with a degree.  The government will not recognise diplomas, certificates etc other than a degree from a private college or university.  So, using the same example, if you graduate from a private institution with a PG in Telecommunications you will not be able to take advantage of the PGWPP.

·         If you study in Canada to obtain a degree, it doesn’t matter if the institution is public or private; you will be able to participate in the Post-Graduate Work Program.

·         If you graduate from a private institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution (applies to Quebec only).

How does Immigration Canada view the institution?

Immigration Canada will issue a Study Visa to a student whether they have admission to a private or public institution as long as these factors are met:

·         The private institution in Canada is recognised provincially and federally.  See the list of acceptable private institutions.

·         The duration of the program should ideally be for 2 or more years.  Although this is not compulsory, your changes for getting your Study Visa for Canada are higher if you have a long enough study period.

·         The program you are registered in is an upgrade to your current educational status.  For example a B. Sc student will want to register in a post-graduate program such as a Master’s degree or a post-graduate diploma.

All in all, choosing a public educational institution has some definite advantages over private institutions.  So when making your choice, don’t ignore the private ones, but you better option might be a public institution.

Alberta Rose Education Centre is located in Lahore Pakistan and provides international recruitment services to students who want to study in Canada.  Their #1 consultant is a Canadian and knows Canada and its education system very well.