A AustraliaThe city, which is now multicultural, has a wide variety of schools specializing in exchange programs and welcomes more and more international students.
With a choice of higher education courses, the Kaplan Business School - with more than 70 years of history and around 1 million graduates annually worldwide - is one of the most recognized institutions in the country.
According to Academic Dean James Adonopolous, "one of the institute's main products is the Bachelor of Business," he said. "Students can choose between different specializations such as: Accounting, Marketing, Hospitality and Tourism and/or choose a general program - where the subjects are open for choice."
Master's degrees have become one of the most popular options among exchange students. After the course, the graduate can apply for a 2-year visa (485 - Temporary Graduate Visa) - with the right to work full-time. The idea is that graduates use the time to gain experience in their chosen field. "When it comes to postgraduate studies, our most popular option is the MBA (Master of Business Administration) - which follows the standards of our American course," comments the Rector. "The program comprises 15 subjects - covering quantitative topics, such as business and data analysis, and qualitative ones, such as communication and strategic human resources management," adds James.
Kaplan also offers postgraduate degrees in Accounting, Master of Professional Accounting (12 subjects) or Master of Accounting (16 subjects). All courses are offered in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. "We have the same options in different parts of Australia and, if the student wishes, they can take the program on any campus," says the rector.
Even though it is an international school, the institution's courses are first recognized in Australia. "Each country has different standards, so you have a specific qualification in Australia that may not be valid in a different country," he explains. "However, as we have more than 1 million students every year around the world, the global community that knows and trusts the Kaplan brand is very large," he adds.
Each nation demands specific attitudes from institutions - which are sometimes impractical in a different location. According to James, in addition to these requirements, the school "is committed to maintaining the quality of the global methodology," he says. "We teach Australian accounting, for example, with subjects such as financial management, where we take a global perspective," he explains.
The school's idea is to offer an environment where students can understand not only local but also international contexts. "We talk about interest rates around the world and how they influence business decisions, the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of various countries, their risk factors and how a decision made here, in an Australian office, can affect your company in Asia or vice versa," he comments.
For the rector, higher education in Australia is positive because of the reputation of Australian educators - the government's demand for quality is strong. "We are closely monitored, we have ongoing reports and we are constantly audited - which means that we create the best possible experience for students on a daily basis," he said.
Diversity is also pointed out by James as one of the main factors when choosing to study in the country. "You're forced to interact, study and work with people who are nothing like you, which is beneficial for any professional as it helps develop adaptability," he explains.
With the new Bachelor's program, the institution is betting on more practical classes. What's new are more classroom activities, more discussions, games, videos and quizzes. All focused on creating a practical and interactive learning environment.
All degrees have at least 8 core subjects. Students looking for specializations need to choose the elective subjects that fit their course. "If your intention is to focus on Marketing, most of your subjects should deal with Marketing," explains James.
The school claims to be careful when choosing academic staff. "All our speakers are qualified and many still work in the industry. We always look for professionals with a Master's degree, if possible a PhD, but more importantly, people who have practical experience, who can share stories of success and failure and who have the authenticity that only personal experience in the field brings," comments the rector.
It's worth remembering that if students have problems adapting - both with the subjects and with their English - Kaplan offers help with the "Academic Success Center". The team's role is to assess the situation and create a joint plan to help students if they are missing classes or have problems with activities.
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