More young people in the Caribbean diaspora must be encouraged to pursue their undergraduate degrees at top ranking universities outside the UK.
Already, several ambitious Caribbean teenagers are discovering that they can enjoy a more stimulating educational experience, an improved lifestyle and superior facilities at world class universities in North America, Continental Europe, Australia and elsewhere – at the same or a lower cost than a UK university.
Harvard University. Photo courtesy wwp.greenwichmeantime.com
These forward looking kids are not just enriching their lives and building self confidence; they are developing key 21st century jobs skills that the best companies now want and need: a global mindset, adaptability, cultural awareness, languages, initiative and leadership.
Harvard’s Jeff Neal stresses that British families with “low and middle incomes will likely pay no more to send their students to Harvard than to a UK university”. Several other world class, well funded universities in North America have generous scholarships and means tested bursaries on offer.
Language need not be a barrier. In continental Europe, up to 4,500 courses are now being taught in English, providing ample opportunity for finding a high quality university experience for a fraction of the cost of a UK degree.
Leading universities such as Politecnico di Milan, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the University of Amsterdam, to name a few, all teach in English.
And do explore the benefits of studying in the West Indies – the British Foundation of the University of the West Indies would be happy to tell you more click here:
In our globalised and highly competitive world, studying overseas can undoubtedly deliver a lifetime of personal and academic benefits. Moreover, in a saturated job market, it can be a great way to stand out in the crowd.
This is the third article in the six part “Jobs and the Future” series by the CADSTI Future Think Project, an initiative of The Caribbean Diaspora for Science, Technology and Innovation (UK). Email: [email protected].
©Future Think August 29th 2013
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