Following the Educational Path of Dr. David RP Almeida, HBSC, PHD, MD, MBA

Choosing a degree, or a combination of areas of study, can be a difficult task in itself. From areas of interest to career goals, there is a multitude of factors that will contribute to your educational path. Dr. David Almeida, a 2008 graduate of the Medicine department at Queens University (Kingston, Ontario), holds an impressive handful of degrees that complement his passion for medicine. Not yet 30 years of age, he holds a PhD and an MBA, in addition to his HBSC and MD. How did he decide that one just wasn't enough for him - and what path did he follow to attain these designations?

Women's-only universities and colleges are a vital post-secondary option for women. In 1993, Dr. Geraldine Clifford of Berkeley University in California wrote, "Gender. . . is one of the most potent forces in shaping human institutions, including education." Proponents of women's-only learning environments, academic research, and student surveys tout the benefits of single-sex learning environments.

Studying abroad is like a splash in the face with cold water, or at least the slow chill of unfamiliarity that creeps in upon realizing life isn't quite the same as at home. There's something refreshing about it that awakens the senses and a bit unsettling too. Ottawa native Christine Roschaert knows this cultural adjustment well, having traveled abroad for the first time at age 12. However, when she entered college, she chose to go abroad again - this time to be immersed in her own community.

"If you think that you're too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito." ~ African proverb

UNICEF Canada is calling out to all high school, college and university students to lend a hand in saving children's lives around the world. You can join UNICEF's work to help the world's most vulnerable children by uniting for one of the following campaigns:

Assistive technology (AT) is a generic term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities, and includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them.

Academic year: the time during which classes are taught. In most Canadian universities, the university year starts in September and ends in May. It is normally divided into three terms or two semesters and concludes with a long vacation. Some universities operate on the semester or trimester system and admit students in January and/or May as well as September. Many institutions also offer a limited number of courses and special programs during the summer session. See also intersession.

Bachelors degree: first degree awarded by a university after three or four years of full-time study. See also general, honours.

Bursary: a non-repayable cash award to help students pay for their university education. Bursaries are awarded on the basis of financial need and academic achievement.

Calendar: annual university publication listing key dates in the academic year, admission requirements, program requirements, rules and regulations, and course descriptions. The undergraduate calendar can be obtained from the university registrar; the graduate studies office distributes the graduate calendar.

Certificate: a qualification awarded upon successful completion of a university program which is usually one year in duration.

College: a college may be a university-level institution with the power to grant degrees. In some cases a college is a part of a university; either a residence or an academic entity in its own right, with the power to grant degrees, or a combination of the two. To differentiate between such institutions and community colleges, colleges which are part of the university system are sometimes called university colleges. See also university and community college.

Community college: a non-degree-granting institution which offers technical or vocational postsecondary courses leading to a diploma or certificate, or courses that can be transferred to a university.

Co-op program: allows a student to combine academic study with work experience by spending one term on campus followed by another term working full-time at a job related to their field of study.

Credit: the certification that a student has passed a particular course. Students can obtain one or more credits for each course taken and have to obtain a given number and type of credits to qualify for the award of a degree.

Credit course: a course which is considered toward the completion of a particular program. A student can obtain one or more credits for each course taken.

Curriculum: contents of a course or program.

Degree: a qualification awarded to a student by a university. A first degree (usually a bachelor's degree)
signifies the successful completion of three or four years of successful studies. A graduate (master's or doctorate) degree is awarded after further years of study.

Diploma: a qualification awarded on the basis of one or two years' successful study. Usually it is at less than degree level, but some diplomas are at the graduate level.

Distance education: involves the physical separation of teacher and student. Students and teachers communicate with each other by such means as correspondence courses, audiotapes, computer links, cable television broadcasts or satellite hook-ups.

Doctorate: a degree ranking above the master's degree and normally awarded after two or three years' study, although most students need more time to finish; the average for many is four to five years. The most common doctorate is the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) which can be awarded for research in any subject (not just philosophy). Doctoral degrees usually involve researching, writing, presenting and defending a thesis, in addition to course work.

Faculty: this word is used to indicate the teaching staff of a university as well as an academic subdivision of a university which is normally a larger unit than a department. For example, a faculty of science might include the departments of physics, chemistry and biology.

Fellowship: a non-repayable financial award to assist a graduate student with the costs of study.

General, honours: these terms are used primarily with reference to first (bachelor's) degree programs in arts and science. The general degree (also called a pass degree) is without a concentration in a particular field. The honours program is often a year longer, requires a higher standing for admission and for the maintenance of honours status, and the student specializes in a particular field. See also bachelor's degree.

Graduate/postgraduate: graduate, sometimes called postgraduate, programs lead to advanced degrees, diplomas and certificates for which a first degree is a prerequisite. Students in graduate programs are called graduate students.

Internship: supervised practical training period for a student or recent graduate.

Intersession: a break between terms which generally serves as a vacation but in which courses may also be offered.

Lecture: teaching method in which the teacher or professor presents information orally to the students who take notes and ask questions.

Major/minor: type of degree program; a major indicates specialization with a number of courses drawn from one particular subject area; a minor indicates a lesser degree of specialization, with only a few courses drawn from one particular area.

Masters degree: a degree sought after the student has received a bachelor's degree which may be achieved by taking courses and examinations and in some cases by conducting research and presenting a thesis.

Ombudsman/person: a university official empowered to investigate grievances.

Orientation: a program offered at the beginning of the academic year to new students to familiarize them with the campus.

Prerequisites: courses necessary to successfully complete before taking specific higher level courses.

Registrar: a university official concerned with keeping academic records, approving course selections, and sometimes, counselling. The registrar's office is responsible for student admissions, records and the university timetable.

Scholarship: a non-repayable financial award to students to help finance their studies. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of outstanding academic achievement.

Study permit: a document giving an international student permission to reside in Canada for the purpose of study at the indicated institution therein.

Trimester: a few universities in Canada operate on a formal trimester system, with three terms of equal length and admission to any of the three terms.

Undergraduate: undergraduate programs of study include those leading to a bachelors or first professional degree as well as to diplomas and certificates below degree level.

Source: http://www.aucc.ca/can_uni/student_info/can_student/glossary_e.html

Language Proficiency Tests

English

ACT Australian Comprehensive Test
AEE Academic English Evaluation

The International Association of Universities maintains on the unesco.org site a database with general information on the education system in over 180 countries.

To find out about the education system in any country please go the unesco website and chose the country of your choice.

http://www.unesco.org/iau/onlinedatabases/

Accreditation

Definition: To officially recognize the degree designation from an educational institution or professional body in accordance with a prescribed level of competency associated with performing a function or job associated with the degree on the basis of objective standards that are fairly applied.

You may find it difficult to plan for the future, but this does not mean that you are not motivated or driven to achieve. It could be that you are trying to establish who you are, and part of this will include developing an understanding of your own interests, values and aspirations. Your aspirations may also tend to be more short term rather than having a longer term focus, so you may find that you are thinking about passing a test in the next few days, buying the latest cell phone, or planning for the next social event with friends, as opposed to making decisions about future choices likes a career or a savings plan.

Some people think that university education is disconnected from the everyday realities of real life. They say that college professors are locked in an ivory tower where they make up a world as remarkable as a Disney princess in an animated film. Others accuse universities of being stuck in the past because old, white-haired men have been talking at students in lecture halls for more than 400 years.

Truth be told, the traditions of university education are quite similar around the world. Students take courses in classrooms large and small; they learn by reading textbooks and listening to professors; they are tested with exams – often multiple choice. This is the way it has always been, but it is not the way of the future. Recently, teachers have been working hard to change the face of higher education by taking learning out of the classrooms and tests out of bubble sheets. These instructors teach "service learning" classes.

What is Service Learning? It is not a major or the name of a particular course; it is the way a class is taught. The teacher looks for real-world applications for the material studied in class. For example, in a computer class on how to build websites, students could work with non-profit organizations in the community to help update and improve their website. In an English class, students might write letters to the local newspaper to raise awareness about a new recycling program. A theatre class might work with an after-school program to teach students about HIV/AIDS through dramatic skits.

Everyone knows the importance of volunteering. Not only is it a résumé builder, it is a way to get involved, make friends and have fun. We also know the importance of a college education. It prepares you for a good job and a good life. Service Learning tries to combine these two things: volunteering and education. It is a way of teaching a university class which incorporates service in the community with the subject being taught. It is easy to see that service learning is great for the local community since schools, non-profits and other organizations benefit from skilled student volunteers. It is also very good for the students. By practicing the skills they are learning in class they actually learn the material better and remember it longer.

There are various universities that are dedicated to service learning, with instructors who incorporate volunteering into their classes. Service Learning spans many departments such as Education, Nursing, and Psychology, among others.

Both the sciences and the arts benefit from service learning classes. You should make sure that service learning is part of your education because it makes a difference.

By Rehema Clarken
Northern Michigan University
www.nmu.edu