The United States And The Study Abroad Bug.

U.S. has caught the Study Abroad bug, 150 United States colleges have pledged to increase their

study abroad participation rates as part of a new national initiative, 'Generation Study Abroad!!'

The organiation that is spearheading the new incentive is The Institute of International Education.  The aim is to double the amount of American’s that study abroad; the goal is to enrol over 600,000 students by the end of the decade, that’s just under 10% of the undergraduates (they could do better than 10% don’t you think?).  

Over the past two decades study abroad has tripled making it 1-4% of the undergraduate students.  The objective is to expand the student's perceptions and to help prepare the student in this every changing globle economy.  This is good news and so, we need to prepare our young graduates with the tools to be successful in this very difficult economy.  I look forward to working with Generation Study Abroad!!!  

Bearla International Studies

Elizabeth Koukladas Director

A learning disability doesn't make you weird‏!!

Tens of thousands of college students are keeping their learning disabilities a secret compared to high school students. Only 17% of college students with learning disabilities are utilising the benefits of the disabilities services. Research states that students with learning disabilities are silently struggling as they feel ashamed at having a learning disability. Research also shows that 34% complete their four-year degree within eight years of finishing high school and that they are more likely to drop out of college.  

It’s a difficult one as there is a sense of pride in wanting to do it on your own but please don’t chance it, seek help to make it happen and to make life easier on yourself,  I know because I have a learning disability and when I was going to high school you were just labeled: mentally retarded (forgive me for the term but that’s what they called me). Teachers told my parents that I would never graduate from elementary school HA!!!  I have my MBA in finance and my undergraduate degree in vocal performance, what did they know.  I didn’t have help until the last two years of university, I wish I had gotten help sooner it was way worth it.  So put your pride aside and just do it, no one with think less of you, I don’t! 

Bearla International Studies

Elizabeth Koukladas Director

President Obama’s 2015 budget calls for extending tuition tax credit and tax relief to student loan borrowers.

President Obama’s 2015 budget calls for extending tuition tax credit and tax relief to student loan borrowers.  The credit will provide an average benefit of $1,110 to 11.5 million families.  The benefit provides up to $2,500 in partially refundable tax credits for tuition.  Obama also proposes recipients of the Pell Grant tax credit rules be simplified  in calculations to see a reduction in their taxes or an increased tax credit.

House Republicans called for an American Opportunity Tax Credit in addition consolidating numerous higher education tax breaks.

Obama also seeks to make those exempt from taxation with student loan forgiveness.  This provides borrowers after they have made payments for at least a decade through income-based repayment programs.  Other income-based repayment programs forgive outstanding debt after 20 to 25 years.  I personally do not think that these proposels go far enough as people are strapped with student loans they cannot pay because of the current economic troubles in our country.

So please President Obama, help us help ourselves by making education affordable and by giving out of work university graduates a break on their loans, the only way forward...

Bearla International Studies

Elizabeth Koukladas Director

Mobile Strategy Webinar: Is An App The Right Way Forward For My Career And My Business?

Paul Canetti.

Are you an entrepreneur, a student, or a budding business professional crying out for a better understand of the ever growing world of apps? 

Are you thinking about investing in an app, but you are not quite sure if it would be the right way to go for your business?

Well, this blog is designed to help you with exactly that...excellent!

Very late last night I attended a Webinar given by Paul Canetti who has worked on over 700 Apps. Paul is the founder and CEO of MAZ, a publishing platform for mobile and tablet devices. MAZ works with over 175 publications, including Forbes Magazine, to create and distribute digital content.

Paul provided excellent information and some interesting facts. To begin he described the differences between a Native app and a Web app:

Native app: Is a software app (one which you would download from the app store) in which the user is able to make payments through (subscriptions to magazines or bumping up your lives in a game to name just a couple). The app adapts to the phone it is being used on-hense the name 'Native'. These apps need to go through approval from Apple (if you are considering producing one of these app, bare in mind that it has the possibility of being rejected). The Native app is more expansive to produce than the web app. These apps can be used off-line. 

Web app: Special websites, written in web language, accessible through a web browser and therefore unavailable off-line. These apps do not need approval from Apple, the web app is cheaper to produce and does not have a payment ability integrated. 

Paul talked us through whether your business needs an app. For example if you take a look at you websites Google analytics and see that the majority of your hit are coming from potential clients using their mobile phones to view your website-then its a pretty good chance that your business will benefit from having an app. 

Another interesting point was that, the app you produce for your business does not neccessarily have to be the same as your website. He used an example from a Art Gallery, there website was pretty basic and functioned exactly how your would imagine, however when they produced the app, they designed it so that it had picture recognition. Meaning that you could point your phone at a painting and the app would tell you who the Artist is, plus with a wealth of information on the Artist too. This app was far more beneficial to the business, the user and it also brought much attention to the Art gallery as the app was so unusual and innovative.

Paul stated that you should ask yourself three main questions when you are thinking about producing an app:

1) What problem are you trying to solve? This does not need to be complicated, the example Paul used was, say you wanted to solve the problem of being boredom in the doctors waiting room-the solution is to create a game app to play whilst you wait. 

2)What market is your app aimed at? 

3)Which category are you intending to enter? 

4)What is your business model? 

Another priceless point was that if your clients are viewing your website on their phones, rather than a desktop, then when your website is being designed-it should be created with this thought in mind. The site should not be too busy and would be easy on the eye if it were a little more spaced out. The result on the desktop would be a slightly characutured site, but on the mobile-it would be easy on the eye and a pleasure to read. Check out http://mashable.com for an example of this. 

Pauls last words of wisdom where that you should be careful when you are deciding who to take on board as your app designer and creator. I for one believe this advice is gold dust-after the disastrous experience we had with the appalling Toolkit websites. I ONLY work through recommendations now, this is a rule I will abide by forever. Elizabeth and I were stung very painfully by this company, we are only now-a year later becoming free of their disgraceful workmanship. So, USE REFERRALS! You can always login to the American Express Open Forum and ask business professionals or simply ask your friends and family. 

Now for the grand finale...how much does it cost to have an app produced for you? 

Well...it depends really! Annoying I know, but true. As a rough guide: The simplest of apps start at $15-20k. Gasp! Yes this is a substantial amount of money but...when you compare this to the $19 billion that Whatapp (a basic app used for sending free text and making free phone calls) sold for, then potentially, it is one of the best investments of all time!

Make sure you are investing your time and your money into a idea you believe in, ask your friends, family or even professionals in the industry their opinion (be careful who you seek advice from too, as you do not want anybody stealing your idea). You can ask  @paulcanetti on Twitter questions you may have. This is a website to teach yourself code/how to build an app etc: http://www.starterleague.com

And, here is a website giving you additional information on app statistics: http://blog.flurry.com/?Tag=Usage%20Statistics

I would like to say a big Thank You to Paul and his lovely assistant Dana. And, I hope this information has been useful, it certainly was for me. 

Happy apping peeps!

Amber Williams
Bearla International Studies.

Yearning For Education?

John Burbank of Seattle based liberal policy analyst and executive director of the Economic

Opportunity Institute suggest that education be free...well close to!  Burbank's proposal for universities to no longer charge students upfront, but to instead have the students pay a only small part from the students near future income.  This idea is very similar to the United Kingdom's system, but you still have some cost.  Students at Portland University started a project in the fall of 2012, which they presented to law makers in Oregon, the lawmakers like the idea so much so that they have passed legislation to study the “The Pay Forward, Pay Back program”

“House Bill 2720 would create the Pay it Forward program, which would allow students to skip tuition if they sign a contract agreeing to later pay a small percentage of their income for a set number of years.”

Basically, two years after graduation or discontinuing the university, students would begin to repay the state, this would mean that the fees would not accrue any interest. Fees would be paid back as follows: 5% for universities and 3.5% regional colleges and 2% for vocational schools, throughout a 25 year period.  This would mean that either the state government or the federal government would pick up the rest of the tab!

I love this idea, as it would enable us to make sure all economic levels could go to school regardless of their finances and it would seem to me that it would also level the playing field for all (I wish they had done this when I was in school)….

Elizabeth Koukladas

Bearla International Studies. 

He Who Opens A School Door, Closes A Prison: Projections of Education Statistics to 2022

Projected Growth for the Next Decade 

Washington has estimated that there will be nearly three million more people enrolled in American colleges and universities by 2022.  These figures were contained in a report from “Projections of Education Statistics to 2022” released by the National Centre for Education Statistics.   The expected growth is 13.9% from 2012-2022 and that’s actually a lower percentage compared to the last decade of growth, they are estimating a slight decline from the last decade.  From 1997 to 2011 the growth was nearly 45% but keep in mind that the youth population grew 21% 18-24 year olds, that number is now declined by 4% leaving the 13.9% still significant growth.  

Regardless, it would seem a great time to go back to school, so hop on board the educational train, cheesy ugh.

Elizabeth Koukladas

Bearla International Studies

The Broadcasting Trade show 2014, Featuring Elliott Grove.

Elliott Grove and I at the BVExpo 2014.

I had a fantastic time at the BVExpo at the ExCel Area in London on Thursday. 

The Trade Show was extremely beneficial, not only to people in the broadcasting industry, but for business owners too with plenty of tips on marketing and allowing your business to reach its full potential by recognising and providing your customers with what they want and need.

There were writers, producers, film directors, cinematographers and every technological company in the country there-or so it felt!

There were over 300 speakers, the seminars given were outstanding and it was fabulous to have the opportunity to speak to professionals in the broadcasting field who you would never normally have the chance to. I listened to a talk on marketing for film given by Elliott Grove- founder of the Raindance Film Festival. Elliott gave great tips and of course touched on the importance of social media. I took the opportunity after the talk to ask to have my photo taken with him (I did a selfie!) for my twitter account. He looked great. Thank you Elliott!

UKTI-United Kingdom Trade and Investment had seminars running throughout the day. If you are setting up a business and are planning on, or are already trading overseas-then these guys are going to be extremely helpful,  just send them an email and reap the benefits of their professional and experienced advice! http://www.ukti.gov.uk/home

Tickets are free if you register in advance, students admittance is on the last day of the three day event. I believe 2015 dates run from the 24-26th February. See you there!

Amber Williams
Bearla International Studies.