GlobaLinks NewsWire » Canada

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Connects Canadian and Australian Universities for Degree Articulation Programs

Stacey — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:32:43 +0000

Vancouver, B.C.’s Langara College, with facilitation from GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, has formed a partnership with Australia’s Griffith University that paves the way for Langara graduates to pursue a range of related bachelors’ and masters’ degrees at Griffith University.

“We are pleased to be able to partner with Griffith University, which is considered one of Australia’s most innovative and influential institutions,” says Dr. David Ross, Langara College President and CEO. “This agreement is the first step in developing new opportunities for our students, graduates, and the Langara community.”

(L-R) Professor Ian O'Connor, Vice-Chancellor & President, Griffith University, and Dr. David Ross, President & CEO, Langara College, participated in signing ceremony between the two institutions. Chad DuMond, Director of Canadian Institutional Relations and Recruitment for GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, also attended.

Under the terms of the degree articulation agreement, graduates of certain Langara programs will be eligible for admission to Griffith University with full block-transfer credit provided all other entrance criteria, such as grade point average and admission requirements, are met. Students will also have access to a limited number of full-fee scholarships through Griffith University.

“The landscape of higher education is changing, and in Langara College, we recognize similar desires to diversify classroom opportunities,” says Professor Ian O’Connor, Griffith University Vice-Chancellor and President. “We are impressed by the quality of learning at Langara and look forward to establishing academic exchanges that create further opportunities for collaboration.”

At the institutional level, the partnership agreement supports several aspects of Langara’s strategic plan, including developing and diversifying opportunities for learners and enhancing the College’s international reputation.

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, a provider of international education programs in Australia, Asia, Europe, New Zealand and the South Pacific, initiated the Langara-Griffith connection and also helped develop the partnership between the two institutions, said Chad DuMond, Director of Canadian Institutional Relations and Recruitment for GlobaLinks Learning Abroad.

“More colleges across Canada are setting up articulation agreements to broaden their educational offerings,” DuMond said. “The agreements allow the institutions to respond to a growing need for skilled and globally savvy workers. They also bolster the college’s academic profile.”

Michelle Signer, a former College of the Rockies’ student, is a recent example of the benefits of such partnerships.

Signer recently completed her post-secondary studies at Griffith University, and was featured in a recent article by the Kootenay News Advertiser.

In the article, Signer said she always knew she would continue through to university after her time at College of the Rockies. Following a discussion with the Tourism and Recreation program coordinator about the possibility of studying in Australia, she decided to seek additional information.

“I received full transfer credit from Griffith for all of my previous courses,” she said. “After my time at COTR, I studied for a year and a half (3 semesters) and completed my degree.”

About Griffith University

Established in 1975, Griffith University is Australia’s ninth largest higher education provider. With multiple campuses throughout Queensland, the university is home to more than 43,000 students from 131 countries and offers over 300 degrees.

About Langara College

Langara College, located in beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada, provides University, Career, and Continuing Studies programs and courses to more than 23,000 students annually. The College’s expansive academic breadth and depth allows students to choose their own educational path. For more information, visit www.langara.bc.ca.

Medical School in Australia Leads Canadian Student to Prestigious Residency Back Home

Stacey — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:08:42 +0000

“Being able to study medicine abroad allowed me to experience medicine in a global context and afforded me the opportunity to enjoy a different culture for four years.”

Alison O'Hearn outside the Sydney Opera House near the Harbour Bridge.

Alison O’Hearn, a 29-year-old from Canada, stepped off a plane in Australia four years ago intent on earning a medical degree and fulfilling her childhood dream of being a doctor.

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad assists Canadian students applying to medical school in Australia. Learn more at http://www.degreesoverseas.com/popular-degrees/popular-degree-programs-in-australia/medical-degrees/

O’Hearn’s path to medical school in Australia began after her application to her home university’s medical school was deferred and she didn’t want to delay her plans.

“I was faced with the option of applying again the next year with an uncertain outcome or trying to apply further afield,” she says.

She gained new hope, however, when she read a newspaper article about the University of Wollongong’s new Graduate School of Medicine. She contacted a program advisor and was impressed by the quality of the curriculum and the friendliness of the staff. She decided to go forward with the program, facilitated by AustraLearn, a program of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad.

Now, four years later, she has returned to Canada to live out that dream of practicing rural medicine, a dream made true after receiving a residency match in British Columbia in aboriginal medicine.

“This was a very prestigious match as it is a specialist Aboriginal Family Medicine position at the University of British Columbia based in the city of Victoria on Vancouver Island,” said Lyndal Parker-Newlyn, Associate Professor of Medical Education at the University of Wollongong. “She will do most of her hospital rotations in Victoria itself and then much of the family medicine rotations in rural British Columbia with First Nation communities.”

O’Hearn took some time to answer questions about her experience earning a medical degree in Australia and her return home to Canada.

Alison O'Hearn with one of Australia's iconic kangaroos.

Q: In what ways have you benefited from doing your medical degree in Australia?

Being able to study medicine abroad allowed me to experience medicine in a global context and afforded me the opportunity to enjoy a different culture for four years. I was able to travel to many interesting places such as China, Tibet, and Vanuatu while in the Southern Hemisphere. I obtained solid medical training, which will no doubt enable me to fit well into the Canadian healthcare system.

What were the top aspects about the University of Wollongong’s Graduate School of Medicine program?

In my opinion, the cornerstone of the University of Wollongong Graduate School of Medicine program is the yearlong rural community placement, which spans the third and fourth years of the program. I spent a year in Narrandera, a rural New South Wales town with a population of 5,000 people. During this time I was placed in a rural general practice clinic with three full-time general practitioners and two registrars. I spent my time working alongside these doctors in the clinic and also in the 24-bed GP-run hospital in town. My days were spent on hospital ward rounds, assisting with c-sections and delivering babies, seeing patients in the emergency room, performing minor procedures and surgeries, and seeing patients in the GP clinic.

The breadth of clinical experience offered during this year solidified all the medical facts and skills acquired during the previous yearlong city hospital-based rotations. The learning curve was steep, and I walked away from that year with skills and confidence, which I believe wouldn’t have been acquired in a more traditional medical course curriculum.

This experience also introduced me to the type of practice I want in my future.

Q: How challenging was it for you to secure a match back in Canada, and what does this residency position in Family Medicine with the University of British Columbia mean to you?

Securing a residency training position in Canada is a huge challenge for IMGs (international medical graduates). I had to start planning my path home during my second year of medical school by organizing electives in Canada in order to get strong letters of reference from Canadian physicians. I also begin to prepare early for the MCCEE (Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination), which I wrote in the final months of my degree. On top of performing well in medical school, these are the two most important steps for a successful match into a Canadian residency position.

Matching into the residency position in Family Medicine at the University of British Columbia was a great milestone for me. I am passionate about rural healthcare, and the program I matched into is the Aboriginal Family Medicine Program based in Victoria, which will allow me to train in both a city and in rural settings such as Inuvik and the Queen Charlotte Islands. I feel the training I received at the Graduate School of Medicine has prepared me well to be involved in this Aboriginal family medicine program.

At first glance, it seems hard to imagine how medical experience in one country could apply to another country given the different medical systems. How did your experience in Australia prepare you to work in family medicine in rural British Columbia?

Medicine is a universal field, which is practiced similarly in most areas of the world. There are minor differences in drug names and treatment protocols, however, the similarities between how it is practiced in Australia and Canada outweighs the differences. I was pleasantly surprised by how easily I fit into the Canadian system during my electives in my final year of medical school in rural Newfoundland and Whitehorse.

The rural experience I had during my third and fourth years at the GSM has prepared me for rural practice with a focus on our First Nations people. I have developed a passion to work towards a solution to the problems we face with rural healthcare, whether in Canada or Australia. Both countries have higher rates of chronic illness and shorter life expectancies in their respective indigenous populations, and I will strive to work toward a solution to these issues in Canada.

What did you learn or gain from being a part of the Australian culture during your time there?

I believe it’s a privilege to live in a different country and learn about a new culture. I enjoyed experiencing all Australia has to offer for four years. It’s a beautiful country with an incredibly diverse flora and fauna with activities to appease any taste.

It also helped me appreciate all the wonderful aspects of living in Canada, and so even though I was sad to say goodbye to all my Australian friends and experiences, I was thrilled to move home.

What advice would you give to prospective medical students in Canada when it comes to graduate school options in Australia?

It is important to realize the challenges faced as an international medical student and graduate. It obviously requires a big financial commitment and also means a big move away from family and friends. I feel it is very important for anyone considering studying medicine abroad to research the options and have a solid understanding of the challenges they will face in securing a job after they graduate. The number of medical graduates in Australia has more than doubled in the past ten years, and unfortunately the number of internship spots has not. This means that it is very unlikely that international students will be able to be placed as interns in the Australian system in the future. Consequently, any Canadian or American students traveling to Australia need to do so assuming that they will have to return to North America for internship and residency.

It is not all doom and gloom, however! I believe the education in Australia is top-notch and the match rates for Canadians who studied medicine in Australia are better than any other region in the world, according to the match results recently posted on the CaRMS (Canadian Residency Matching Service) website. This means if you feel studying medicine abroad is the right choice for you – then Australia is a great option. The education is fantastic, the opportunities to enjoy a great work-life balance abound, and the chances of getting a job back in Canada are better than in other regions of the world.

So when will you actually return to Canada to begin your residency?

I am back in Canada now. I graduated in December 2010 and returned to Canada soon after. I spent much of February and March interviewing across Canada for residency positions. My residency begins July 1st, 2011, in Victoria, British Columbia.

Canadian Law Students Graduate From La Trobe

Stacey — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 03:48:18 +0000

La Trobe Law this year is seeing its first group of Canadian law students graduate.

The Canadian law students at the Melbourne campus.

The seven students attending La Trobe University – Shali Peiris, Elmira Haj Imani, Konstantine Ketsetzis, Ryan Findlay, Ljubica Durlovska, Pooja Sethi and Alessandro Colonnier – all started the three year Graduate Entry program in 2008.

‘I enjoyed the opportunity La Trobe gave me to get hands-on legal experience. From offering the Court Experience Program (where the student shadows a barrister from a top tier Melbourne law firm) to final year legal work (where a student can apply for work at a nearby law firm to substitute elective classes), I felt like I had real opportunities to work within the legal profession. La Trobe was constantly trying to offer its students more opportunities to integrate themselves in the Melbourne legal community, and I am grateful for all the experience I was able to garner while still studying,’ says Alessandro Colonnier.

See remaining article from the La Trobe website here.

Australia’s Griffith University Partners With College communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick

Stacey — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:02:33 +0000

CCNB Is Griffith University’s First Francophone College Partner In Canada

Griffith University in Australia has signed an articulation partnership with Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) in Canada.

Mr. Yves Chouinard (L), Executive Director of Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB), and Mr. Chris Madden (R), Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) for Griffith University, participated in a special signing ceremony April 28 marking a new credit transfer partnership between the two institutions to benefit students in earning their bachelor's degrees in Australia.

The partnership, initiated by GlobaLinks Learning Abroad (AustraLearn/AsiaLearn/EuroLearn), will allow CCNB students to earn transfer credit toward their bachelor’s degrees at Griffith University in Australia, with a particular focus in the area of business.

Through the new partnership, CCNB students can earn their bachelor’s degrees in as little as two or three semesters after successfully transferring their diplomas to Griffith University.

CCNB is the first Francophone college partner in Canada for Griffith University, which has a long and successful relationship with Canadian institutions.

Such degree-conversion programs, depending on degree types and details of individual partnership agreements, provide students a predetermined path that gives them up to two full years of academic credit for their diplomas and the option to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree by adding an additional year or more at a partner international university.

Such inter-country qualifications are a valuable asset in today’s competitive careers market.

The partnership was solidified on April 28 when Chris Madden, pro-vice chancellor (International) for Griffith University, and Yves Chouinard, executive director, CCNB, signed a memorandum of understanding. In addition, Madden presented Chouinard with a gift of framed aboriginal artwork.

University Highlights: U of Auckland Children’s Study, University of Sydney’s Medical School in Canada, University of Adelaide’s Research On Space Vehicle

Stacey — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:44:26 +0000

University of Auckland Study Aims To Improve Lives of New Zealand Children

A new study is underway at the University of Auckland that will follow a group of 7,800 children from birth until they become young adults to provide information that can help improve the lives of all New Zealand children.

Called “Growing Up In New Zealand,” the study is being led by the University of Auckland. It is designed to collect information about raising happy, healthy children so the lives of all New Zealand children can be improved.

University of Sydney Medical School Working With AustraLearn In Canada

The University of Sydney Medical School and AustraLearn are now working together in Canada so that Canadian students can apply directly through AustraLearn for entry into the University of Sydney Medical School for February 2011 entry.

Applications are now open for the University of Sydney Medical School for February 2011 entry. Interested students can apply direct through AustraLearn. For more information on the University of Sydney Medical School program please visit DegreesOverseas.com’s “Medical Degrees in Australia” page.

University of Waikato Engineering Student Finds Multiple Options After Graduation

Bhanu Sharma, a University of Waikato graduate in engineering, found multiple opportunities after graduation.

Bhanu Sharma finished her Waikato University engineering degree and found herself spoilt for choice. On the same day, within ten minutes, she was offered two jobs (in the same company but at different sites) and a place at Monash University in Australia to study for a PhD.

She chose one of the jobs, which came with company car, phone and laptop, according to a university news article. Sharma is now working for Sita Environmental Solutions in Melbourne which takes care of and recycles organic waste for the northern region of Australia’s second largest city.

Her Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) degree was in Biochemical Engineering and included a practical component where she worked at Fonterra in their Te Awamutu waste management plant.

“Definitely my degree and the work experience would’ve helped me to secure my new job,” says Sharma, who applied for the job online from New Zealand. “My job title is technical supervisor, so I’m dealing with any technical problems the site is having. The main job deals with analyzing the soil and compost and getting them up to Australian standards. I have to ensure that the site is running under occupational health and safety standards, carry out risk assessments and ensure all operators on site follow proper procedures.”

University of Adelaide In Space Flight Research Program

University of Adelaide researchers will help design a hypersonic aircraft as a first step towards cheaper satellite-launching space vehicles.

The University of Adelaide team is part of an international consortium granted $5 million under the Federal Government’s new Australian Space Research Program.

The partners will investigate and develop hypersonic scramjet propulsion technology for a future scramjet-based “access-to-space” industry, rather than just conventional rockets, according to a university news article.

Student Snapshots: Alumni Photo Contest, Canadian Student Featured By Edith Cowan University and More

Stacey — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:36:00 +0000

Don’t Forget: Vote for Your Favorite Alumni Photos by Friday, April 9

Here's one photo entry - by Tyler Stern of the 2009 Fijian Tertiary Champs - that's one of 400 being voted on now in the 2010 AustraLearn Alumni Photo Contest.

AustraLearn has received more than 400 submissions to this year’s Alumni Photo Contest from all over the world. It’s asking everyone’s help to choose a winner.

All photos are posted on the new GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Facebook Fanpage. There are 5 albums – each album corresponds to a category.

Directions on voting: Simply “LIKE” your favorite photos. You may “LIKE” and comment on as many photos as you want – the more the better! If you think a photo is great or interesting or funny, “LIKE” it and tell the photographer by commenting. The more you vote, the more everyone else will vote too. Keep in mind that ANYONE can “LIKE” photos in the photo contest so invite your friends and family to vote too.

A winner will be chosen in each category and named “Best of Category” based on the number of “likes”received. Once AustraLearn has all of its “Best of Category” winners, it will open voting on those 5 photos and choose a grand prize winner.

The deadline to vote for the “Best of Category” is Friday, April 9th.

AustraLearn Degree Student From Canada Profiled On Edith Cowan University Web Site

Chris Devauld from Seneca College in Toronto, Canada, is featured on the web site for Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia, where he is earning a master’s degree in professional communications through AustraLearn’s degree program.

Devauld is able to do the program because of an articulation agreement between Seneca College and Edith Cowan University that allows him to turn his Graduate Certificate in Corporate Communications from Toronto into a Master of Professional Communications at ECU in only one semester.

During Devauld’s studies at ECU, he won a one-year internship at the Canadian High Commission in Canberra, working as a Public Affairs and Academic Relations Intern.

The internship involves writing speeches, creating media kits, organizing study-in-Canada campaigns and international events, as well as basic office duties.

“It was a good way to put the frosty finish on my studies once and for all and it got me where I wanted to go,” he said in a university news article. “The professors were very helpful and encouraging and the Master of Professional Communications helped me find closure. Overall, ECU is a great place and gaining education there was a wonderful experience. I am glad I went.”

AustraLearn Student Earns Scholarship To Bond University

Ashleigh Reuter of Southern Methodist University has received a Dean’s Scholarship from Bond University for the Master of Criminology program, commencing in September through the AustraLearn program. The scholarship provides a 25% discount on tuition.

Canada’s Acadia University Expands Study Abroad To Include University of Newcastle

Stacey — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:01:00 +0000

Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada, is expanding its Study Abroad Exchange Program to include Australia’s University of Newcastle, one of AustraLearn’s partner universities for study abroad and full degrees.

Ray Ivany, David Wise and Tom Herman ink a new study abroad agreement between Acadia University and the University of Newcastle.

“This new partnership opens up a world of opportunity to undergraduate students both here at Acadia and at Newcastle,” said Ray Ivany, Acadia’s president and vice-chancellor, in a university news article. “Participation in the Study Abroad Exchange Program provides students a chance to experience diverse educational systems and cultures in a seamless and supported manner.”

Generally, Acadia partners with institutions that have an existing Acadia connection in order to provide personal insight and advice to students considering the program. Dr. Anna Redden, director of Acadia’s Centre for Estuarine Research, was a professor at the University of Newcastle, which is located just two hours from Sydney and has a student population of more than 30,000. “The university and local community will offer Acadia students outstanding learning opportunities and truly memorable Aussie experiences,” she said.

The University of Newcastle is research intensive with a reputation of excellence that is reflected in its consistent ranking in the top 10 Australian universities for research effort and outcomes.

“This partnership between our two universities reinforces the strong relationship that exists between Canada and Australia,” said David Wise, Newcastle’s partnership and international coordinator. “I am sure our mutual ambassadors, both students and faculty, will ensure this memorandum of understanding will lead to a dynamic and exceptional partnership between Acadia and Newcastle.”

EuroLearn Expands Study Abroad Offerings With Four New European Universities

Student Snapshots: Bond University Awards Scholarships To AustraLearn Degree Abroad Students, CBC Radio Airs Segment On College Degree Transfer Programs

Stacey — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:32:46 +0000

Two AustraLearn Degree Students Awarded Dean’s Scholarships from Bond University

Two American university students enrolling in full-degree programs at Bond University via AustraLearn have received Dean’s Scholarships toward tuition on degree abroad programs beginning 2010.

Bond University campus.

Bond University is one of the leading Australian universities according to the Good Universities Guide rankings, has a strong international student mix, and features two-year Bachelor’s Degree programs and one-year Master’s Degree programs. The Bond campus is located on Queensland’s Gold Coast, considered one of the most desirable places to live in the world.

Jesse Towne, who attended the University of North Dakota and is from Moffit, N.D., has been awarded the scholarship for a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) covering 40% of her tuition fees.
Jenna Voigt, who attended Asbury College and is from Normal, Ill., has been awarded the scholarship for a Master of Journalism covering 25% of her tuition fees.

Canada’s CBC Radio Program Features AustraLearn Degree-Transfer Student Attending Australia’s Griffith University

CBC Radio recently aired a segment about new degree-transfer options at Champlain College St. Lawrence and included comments from student Florence Leclerc.

Leclerc, 19, is currently in her third year in Business Administration Technology (Accounting and Management) and will transfer from her three-year Champlain St. Lawrence program in either February or July into a Bachelor of International Business at Griffith University, with five campuses in the Gold Coast – Brisbane region of Queensland, Australia.

Griffith University is only the fifth university in Australia to receive accreditation for all its business programs from the leading international business education accreditation body, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

Via the degree-transfer pathway between Champlain St. Lawrence and Griffith University, Leclerc will be able to finish her bachelor’s degree in two semesters (one year).

Survey On Impacts Of Studying Abroad Wrapping Up This Week

Stacey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:32:46 +0000

Did You Study Abroad? The Foundation for Asia Pacific Education Wants Your Input Via An Online Survey

If you’ve previously studied abroad, there’s still time to complete the Foundation for Asia Pacific Education’s “Who Are You Now” online survey of study abroad alumni.

“It’s doesn’t matter when, where, how long or with whom you studied abroad,” says Ashley Borden, project consultant for the Foundation, a non-profit organization in Denver whose mission is to create global citizens and leaders by helping students gain cultural and academic experiences in the Asia Pacific region. “If you are from the United States or Canada and studied overseas, then we want to hear from you about how that experience has impacted your life today.”

So far, more than 1,500 people have responded to the 15-minute survey, and the Foundation hopes to surpass its goal of 2,000 completed surveys by Sunday.

The survey, while not a scientific study, is designed to gather input on how international educational experiences influence participants’ educational choices, lifestyles and careers, among other areas.

“The surveys so far are yielding some valuable responses,” Borden said. “For example, more than three-fourths of the respondents who are out of school and have at least one year of work experience said their overseas study has had an impact on their choice of career path.”

Among responses so far to the question of how experiences abroad most significantly impacted them professionally are:

“It has given me a stronger sense of self. While this may seem entirely personal, I’ve found a stronger sense of self has allowed me to be both a better leader and a better team player.”
“The language skills I gained have helped to qualify me for jobs that other colleagues were not eligible for.”
“It gave me tremendous confidence in business relationships with the ability to understand how others are critically thinking.”

Among responses so far to the question of how studying abroad has most significantly impacted participants are:

“Studying abroad was one of the most significant experiences of my life – opening up my eyes to new possibilities and helping me form new goals for my future education and experience.”
“I am more aware of what’s considered necessity and what’s considered want.”
“It got me hooked on traveling, and I have done a lot of packpacking and traveling since.
“I learned how to adapt quickly to unexpected circumstances.”

To take the survey and contribute to the conversation on the impacts of studying abroad, visit the “Who Are You Now” survey.

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Named 2009 Small Company Of The Year By Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce

Several Canadian Colleges Sign Degree-Transfer Partnerships With Australia’s Griffith University

Stacey — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:49:40 +0000

Degree Transfer Partnerships Arranged Through AustraLearn Provide Students With More Options For Converting Diplomas To Degrees

More pathways recently opened for Canadian college students to earn their college diplomas in their home country yet go on to earn bachelor’s degrees in Australia.

Representatives from Montreal's John Abbott College, Australia's Griffith University and AustraLearn gather for a signing ceremony for their new degree-transfer agreement.

The options expanded recently through new degree-transfer partnerships – also known as articulation partnerships – between Griffith University in Australia with Montreal’s John Abbott College and Champlain Regional College, a three-campus system that includes Champlain Lennoxville, Champlain St. Lambert and Champlain St. Lawrence. AustraLearn assisted in the development of the partnerships.

“This partnership between Champlain Regional College and Griffith University is the very first partnership of its kind between a college in Quebec and an Australian university,” said Chad DuMond, manager for Canadian Development for GlobaLinks Learning Abroad’s AustraLearn / AsiaLearn / EuroLearn programs. ”

In addition, Griffith University also is partnering with Holland College in Prince Edward Island to provide degree-transfer options for its students.

“This also is the first partnership of its kind with an Australian university for Holland College as well,” DuMond said.

Griffith University is considered a flagship institution in creating these partnerships, having articulated more than 30 colleges in Canada and attracting more than 150 students annually, DuMond said.

Depending on degree types and details of individual partnership agreement, degree-conversion programs can provide students a predetermined path that gives them up to two full years of academic credit for their diplomas and the option to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree by adding an additional year or more at a partner international university.

Representatives from Australia's Griffith University, Montreal's Champlain College Saint-Lambert and AustraLearn attend a signing ceremony for a new degree-transfer partnership.

For students, such partnerships may allow them to earn a bachelor’s degree in less time than the traditional four-or-more years at a university, add global experience to their resumes and begin their professional careers earlier and start earning paychecks faster. In some cases, earning a degree in Australia can mean lower education costs overall.

In addition, many students gain valuable insight from living and learning abroad and gaining exposure to other cultures and business practices, DuMond said.

Degree-transfer/degree-conversion options continue to grow via new partnerships between educational institutions both inside and outside Canada. Shorthand descriptions for these agreements include a “2+1,” a “2+1.5” and a “2+2” and refer to the two-year college diploma plus the additional time needed to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a partner university.

For more information on getting degrees overseas, visit GlobaLinks Learning Abroad’s www.DegreesOverseas.com site.

Student Snapshots: EuroScholar Reflects On Netherlands Experience, AsiaLearn Video Blogger’s First Glimpses In Thailand, King’s College Circus Student Makes Local News, Canadian Degree Student Recognized By Bond Uni For Academics