Archive for December, 2010

Earning An Online Master’s Degree

Friday, December 31st, 2010

Online master degree programs are gaining much acclaim in the recent times owing to huge associated benefits in terms of flexibility and convenience to working adults. That’s why they are the reality, they are the not the sign of future, they are the future fulfilling the dreams of the Professionals to build their skills.

Today online master degree programs are available in a wide variety of fields as Degree and Certificate Programs, MBA Programs, Business Courses, Computer, IT and Web Training, Career and Vocational Training, language courses etc.

Earning an online masters degree is one way to improve your workplace marketability and salary potential. There are major benefits to earning your master degree online. An online master degree is a surefire way to get your employer’s attention.

However, continuing your education at an advanced level, like a master degree program, is much harder than pursuing an undergraduate degree. The courses are more focused, but also exponentially more demanding. Students pursuing this specialized online education degree need to be committed to learning, otherwise it’s difficult to succeed.

Online Master’s Degree School programs are plentiful, easy to find, and can help earn a Master’s Degree from home, in a library, or while at work. Curriculums are demanding and rigorous so that a Master’s Degree can be achieved in just months of online study. So, before you choose a program, check out these four hot online majors that lead to master’s degrees:

Master’s in Education – Teachers who are looking for a way to advance their skills and bring in more money often earn this degree. A master’s degree is a requirement to be an administrator in most primary, secondary, and college settings.

Master’s in e-Commerce – This relatively new degree is popular with students who want to excel in the virtual business world. Students who graduate from e-commerce programs generally aim to be hired at companies and organizations that need a business presence on the web.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) These online programs are a favorite with busy professionals who want to advance in their field of business. Business programs generally provide students with the information and skills to make informed business decisions. Fields of study may include finance, marketing, and management. Most programs require prerequisite coursework in business, but at some schools students can earn a degree in less than two years.

Master’s in Information Technology – This degree has the potential to fuel the careers of those who earned their bachelor’s degree in computer science, math, or a related field. Typical fields of study include: data systems, systems engineering, project management, software, etc. Students with extensive professional background in the information technology field may be able to qualify for accelerated programs.

Always verify the legitimacy of any school or program before you enroll for an online degree program. It is also wise to compare prices and course schedules of at least three schools before enrolling in an online masters degree program.

Make a list of all the masters degree online programs you are investigating and compare what you are getting. Price is definitely a consideration, but less is not always more. If you pay for a masters degree online program that is not accredited, you may well be throwing your money away. Future employers will be paying attention to where your degree comes from, so be sure to align your career goals and program accordingly.

You will also want to confirm which masters degree online programs will recognize your previous degree. The most important factor to be considered before selecting an online university is the see whether it is accredited or not. Apart from that a student should also check if the accreditation body is a state recognized one. There are many accrediting bodies that are not recognized by the state; and getting an online degree from such universities is a waste of time as the degree is not considered eligible.

Finding a good accredited Online Master’s Degree School that is just the right fit for pursuing an Online Master’s Degree is just a click away.

Health Care & Higher Education: Different Industries, Similar Profiles

Friday, December 31st, 2010

Introduction

Over the past several months, members of Phillips & Associates have remarked on a growing trend: mid- to senior-level managers and administrators are successfully making the transition between the health care and higher education industries when seeking new career opportunities.

We were curious about this phenomenon and decided to investigate further. We spoke with leaders who had moved between the two industries about their reasons for making the switch. We also talked with folks about the similarities and differences between the two industries.

We want to share with our clients the insights we are witnessing in the marketplace. We believe that this information will change some of the ways you look at recruiting, as well as the way you look at future career opportunities.

Health Care And Higher Ed: What Similarities Do They Share?

The health care and higher education industries share a similar profile and nowhere is that more apparent than in New England. In fact, some of the country’s leading universities are located in New England. Many of these colleges and universities also have prestigious medical schools, such as Tufts, Boston University, University of Massachusetts, Yale, Harvard, Brown and Dartmouth, and they are affiliated with the area’s top teaching and community hospitals. Gary Vassar, Director of Human Resources at Children’s Hospital, notes that the close affiliation between academia and health care also extends into the training of allied health professionals; now most nurses and other non-physician providers are trained in schools that are part of university or college systems. In addition, many of the instructors for these academic programs are also practitioners.

Besides sharing a close connection from an academic perspective, health care and higher education institutions share many similarities in terms of organizational structure, philosophy or mission and personnel needs. These similarities open the way to increased career opportunities for seasoned organizational leaders, especially during these times of strong demand coupled with a limited supply of professionals. For this reason, many employers are seeking to hire people from similar industries, rather than requiring specific industry experience.

Health care and higher education organizations are service providers. Their success depends on their strong reputation and the satisfaction of their customers with the quality of the service provided. Quality is determined through consumer feedback and success rates. This contrasts with many other industries, which are sales-oriented and product-driven in nature.

Health care and higher education organizations have to compete mightily for customers, requiring these institutions to invest in the resources that will help them be more qualityoriented, more cost-conscious, more customer service driven and more innovative than their competitors.

Higher education and health care attract individuals with similar profiles. “The service mission of both health care and higher education tends to attract people who are engaged in a social cause,” according to Laura Avakian, Vice President of Human Resources at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and former Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and CareGroup, Inc. “Employees at all levels have social good as an important cause in their daily work.”

Both health care and higher education are labor-intensive industries, employing a widely diverse population, in terms of ethnicity, job function and level of education. As Avakian explains, “You have highly educated people at one end of the spectrum, such as doctors and professors. On the other end of the spectrum, there is a large population of culturally diverse individuals whose first language is often not English. These are the dominant ends of the spectrum with specialized folks in between, providing an interesting organizational structure, which significantly affects policy making. This is of particular importance since these industries are complex, labor intensive organizations, where salary and benefits account for about 50% of the operating budget. Compare that to the airline industry, for example, which may be at 20%. In health care and higher education, you need hundreds of people with specialized skills at all different levels to make the place run well.”

Most health care and higher education institutions are long-standing, not-for-profit organizations with rich traditions dating back one hundred years or more. Over time, they evolved into complex organizations, where decision-making involves input from a variety of key constituencies with a variety of viewpoints. For example, hospital administrators must involve physicians who may be reluctant to embrace the changes required to respond to dynamic marketplace conditions. In academia, the president requires input from faculty members. With decisions made by committee, change can come slowly. In these dynamic industries, however, it is imperative that organizations move quickly to mitigate risk. In addition, the administrators of higher education and health care facilities must deal with a unique group of service providers, physicians and professors, who are often independent, entrepreneurial, and somewhat autonomous.

The types of roles in which people have made successful transitions from one industry to the other are varied, including support services, development, information systems, facilities and finance. Having worked in both industries, Cheryl Hoffman, former Chief Financial Officer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and now Finance Dean/Chief Financial Officer of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences at Harvard University, provides this view: “The leadership structure within the departments is very similar between the two industries. For example, the departments on the medical side are often divided along clinical lines, such as pediatrics and surgery, with a chief heading each; on the faculty side, the structure is divided along department lines such as humanities and social science with a department chair of each. If you look at the roles and titles of administrators between the two industries, you will see that health care and academia have parallel responsibilities: for example, both may have a vice president in charge of plant and facilities or a vice president of finance.” Another example in the finance area is the controller or trust fund finance position that is similar in both health care and higher education, especially given similar cultures, missions and operations.

Transitioning Between The Two Industries

The fact that there are so many similarities between health care and higher education is good news for professionals in both industries. Many people have successfully made the transition from one industry to the other. The skills required for mid- to senior-level administrative positions are complementary and applicable to either industry. The cultures are similar, as are the roles within the operations area, often leading to a smooth transition for the new employee.

MIT’s Avakian believes that the essential skills for many roles, such as human resources, purchasing, facilities management, budget, and audit are easily transferable between industries. “The nuts and bolts of the job are similar. I have a friend in HR at a manufacturing firm; she spends a considerable amount of time dealing with incentive compensation and other for-profit issues. My job requires more time dealing with labor/employee relations and management structure issues in higher education, just as I did when I worked in health care. Similarly, in the specialty fields, a research biologist here at MIT also could work in health care.”

Mark Kostegan, President of the Healthcare Foundation of Cape Cod, hired several professionals with higher education experience into positions he supervised while at Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary. “I looked into the academic pool for talent in the area of development and concluded that if you can raise money successfully in academia, you can transfer those skills to health care, and vice versa. It’s the same skill set, tactics and process. Basically it’s a service-based environment with a strong social cause. There are few obstacles to prevent someone from transitioning from one environment to another. With the right skill set, you can be successful in either arena.”

Keene Metzger, Dean for Administration at Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and former Vice President of Finance at Somerville Hospital, acknowledges that switching industries can be worrisome. One may be concerned with the different skill base and knowledge needed for the new industry. As a financial officer for the third time, but without experience in academia, Metzger had this to add: “The key is to listen to the advice of those who have been in the industry for a long time. There is a wide range of opportunities and if you listen to others you can benefit from their strengths and knowledge. Keep your eyes and ears open.” Cheryl Hoffman agrees, “Be open minded; learn and begin to understand the organization before you move forward with changes. New blood and new perspectives can be very healthy for the organization as well for the individual.”

This article is drawn from Phillips DiPisa’s Thought Leadership Library. You can find more perspectives on managing today’s complex healthcare organizations on our Web site at www.PhillipsDiPisa.com.

Phillips, DiPisa & Associates

62 Derby Street

Hingham, MA 02043

telephone: 781-740-9064

www.PhillipsDiPisa.com

Copyright (c) 2007. Phillips, DiPisa & Associates.

Online Casinos Playing your very entertaining

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

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How is Education Abroad Related to the College/university Mission Statement?

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

It is important to draw justification for a study abroad program from the college/university mission statement. Look for excerpts from mission statements and senior level administration for internationalizing the curriculum, developing students with a global perspective, preparing students for a global workforce, etc.


Write a mission statement for study abroad that makes it a priority to integrate international education services into the foundation of the college/university mission. A study abroad office mission includes an academic enhancement role and student support services. It is essential to include with your mission statement, some measurable intended outcomes for study abroad. Your statements of intended outcomes will guide your policies and practice.


It is also important to understand that every institution invests dollars and staff in endeavors that support and enhance the institutional mission and outcomes. Just as we see different levels of support for campus housing on various campuses, we also see different levels of support for international education.


Study abroad has long been considered an elective or “luxury” experience and thus has not been tied to the core values (and therefore finances) of most institutions. The closer you correlate study abroad with institutional priorities, the more leverage you will have in gaining support for your endeavors.


An example of a campus mission statement that is easily identifiable with education abroad.


Mission Statement:

We educate students to put the liberal arts into action as citizens in a global society.


And they go on to describe their core values as:

Academic Excellence, Diversity, Equity, and Shared Governance, Education of the Entire Person, Adherence to Common Ethical and Moral Standards Community Service and Global Citizenship, Environmental Stewardship.


This makes it easy to integrate study abroad into the core values of the institution.


Another example of a university mission statement is:

Our mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of the diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world.


However, some university mission statements require a little more work to integrate international education into the core values. For example consider the following mission statement

Our mission is to discover, create, transmit, and apply knowledge to address the needs of individuals and society. This mission is accomplished through instruction, which communicates the knowledge and values and imparts the skills necessary for individuals to lead responsible, productive, and personally satisfying lives; through research, scholarship, and creative activities, which advance knowledge and enhance the educational process; and through public service, which contributes to the solution of societal problems and enriches the quality of life in the State.


And yet other university mission statements do not lend themselves easily to integrating international education as a core value.

Our mission as a multipurpose public institution is to develop educated persons of inquiring, creative, and disciplined intelligence to be competent in careers that are fulfilling and to be socially responsible contributors to society. This University strives, therefore, to graduate people on the bachelor’s and master’s level who have had sound education in the arts and sciences and relevant specialized training built upon that base.


A study abroad office mission statement can also come in many diverse forms and visions. The following mission statement is an example of a diverse vision:

The Office for Study Abroad promotes opportunities for global education to all eligible students in order for them to gain an understanding of other countries, regions, languages, and cultures through direct overseas experience.


Some universities have taken the approach of being very explicit about their connection to the institution’s core values:

In support of the University’s mission to “promote the process of lifelong learning from both global and integrative perspectives,” the Office for Study Abroad offers international education opportunities to students through the University’s overseas study centers, international exchange partners, and affiliated organizations. As an extension of the University’s academic program, we promote academic excellence and provide access to high quality international education programs in expanding geographic destinations to serve a diverse student population representing a wide array of academic disciplines. As educators, we facilitate the academic, personal, professional, and intercultural development of students through the programs and services we provide.


And one more example of a carefully crafted mission statement that not only integrates international education into the university core value, but also sets criteria and objectives for policy:

We are a world leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. Many hands – at home and abroad – make it so, and many benefit. Study abroad is one of the ways in which our students and others build and benefit from our University’s international engagement.


Our mission is to provide and facilitate a range of study and education opportunities abroad consonant in breadth and quality with on-campus curricula, offered for short or long duration according to curricular objectives and in consideration of students’ obligations, at a range of costs and with opportunities for scholarship or subvention such that study abroad opportunity is available to all students in good standing. Attention to students’ health, safety, and well-being abroad underlies all other considerations.


Our intention is that through study abroad we and our partners prepare students for global citizenship, guiding them to a greater understanding of world and domestic cultures and encouraging them to share that understanding with their hosts abroad and communities at home; that students gain or enhance area, linguistic, subject, and cultural knowledge and competence; that students contribute to their host communities; and that students emerge wiser and more engaged citizens

 

An Online Doctorate Degree – Get Yours Today

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

When you enroll in an online doctoral degree university, you are not far from the best option of getting your doctorate degree qualification while you still do your normal work or personal assignment. There are diverse doctorate degrees courses you can study. It depends on your research, ability and discipline to get the accredited institution. Online education gives you the chance to study any course you like from online degree universities or institutions, for instance, online doctorate degree, online masters of education degree, online learning programs, education online college degree, online masters’ degrees, doctorate online, online doctorate degree in education and online bachelor degree.

Doctorate courses require hard work and time. If you want to be successful, you have to study hard and do your research work thoroughly. If you are doing an online doctorate course, you should prepare your schedule on how you can attend classes at your convenient time. Accredited online education program is the best way you can earn your doctorate certificate.

You may consider doing on line doctoral courses in any discipline. You can dedicate your time and effort to enroll in several online colleges or universities program. You can also do your doctorate degree at your own leisure time and you don’t need to attend traditional classes on schedule, you decide on the convenient time to study.

Doctoral programs involve serious work and when you do online doctoral degrees, you don’t have problem with class attendance or administrative issues. You can do online classes at any time or place with the help of internet connections. Whether you are on vacation, you can continue studying your online doctorate degree. Online doctorate programs are preferred to campus based universities courses due to perfect online resources and faculty that they offer. You can meet with other online doctoral students. When you do your doctorate online program you can choose to write exams in your own time, you don’t need to go by regular students time table.

While doing your doctoral degree course, you needed practical experience and theoretical knowledge. For example, learning from your practical experiences at work and in research, you can put the knowledge in your online doctoral degree thesis. Online education transcends social, economic and political difficulties and makes education acceptable worldwide.

Finally, if you want to do online doctorate degree program, it is important you consider an accredited online doctoral degrees awarding institutions because there are recognized by relevant authority.

Renowned International Scholarship Programs

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Acquiring a degree may not be the ultimate aim of some students who would like to quench their thirst for a higher education. This is quite justified in today’s competitive world, where a mere degree may not fetch high returns in the race for employment. Therefore, some of the students who would like to do their masters degree, PhD or even a post- doctorate degree, would only be willing to study them even abroad.

But this may be highly expensive and when a student is unable to meet the expenses, international scholarships offer a helping hand. International scholarship opportunities are found in the internet and open a new world for those who frantically search for them in order to get a PhD or a post doctorate degree. The university, from which the student graduated, can also offer some information regarding international scholarships, as they would have a special department that deals with exchange programs. They may also have advisors who could guide them in finding the international scholarship.

International scholarships not only offer monetary assistance but also allow opening new vistas and opportunities to meet new people and get to know the new country and their culture. But there are certain rules to apply for international scholarships. While pursuing a post doctoral position, it is better to apply for an international academic research scholarship through an institution, as some companies and institutions would be willing to pay a grant to a young researcher similar to the field they are currently engaged in. So, they would be more willing to pay international scholarship and may even offer a job in their own company, as a post doctoral researcher.

Normally, international scholarships are awarded by multinational companies that have subsidiaries in more than one country so that they have enough funds to finance the research. The results obtained through this research would be utilized by them to bring about a change in their products.

Searching for an international scholarship on the internet is a bit harder as compared to other scholarships because of the lesser number of the scholarships and the availability of less number of students aspiring for them. Students find it very hard to get a proper supervisor who could influence their activity and often are a source of encouragement and this is one of the reasons for the lesser number of post doctoral candidates.

It is highly advisable to utilize international scholarships because the expenses involved are not only the fees and educational expenses but more than that, they have to bear the travel expenses, accommodation, materials and so on. International Educational Financial Aid (IEFA) is the scholarship search engine that is a good source for scholarships for international students wishing to study abroad.

Get Your Accredited Online Masters Degree In Nursing While You Work

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Get your accredited online masters degree in nursing while you work, at home or even on vacation. You can get the degree comfortably right from home without much effect on your usual schedule, daily activities or family responsibilities with the help of a computer and internet connections. Online post graduate nursing program is convenient, flexible, cheap and affordable.

You can do online certificate course, online diploma program, online associate degree, online bachelors degree, online masters degree or online doctorate degree in various fields like engineering, public health, management, sociology, criminal justice, international relations, law, accounting, computer science, public administration, theology, paralegal studies, etc.

If you want to get to the top on health management or medical profession, online masters degree in nursing is the best option for you. You don’t need to spend money and time going to attend lectures in the college or university campus. You don’t need to go to another city or country to rent an apartment to study nursing masters degree. You can be doing your circular job and at the same time doing your e-learning program.

Distance learning graduate programs eliminate age, race and geographic barrier. You can arrange the course work to suit your personal or business activities. It is convenient for working adults, family Mum, people nursing sick parents and people with busy schedule.

Finally, online Nursing education is one of the fast growing. The flexibility nature of online masters degree in Nursing make the program  to achieve success. The students are mainly family women that have children at home who want to increase their earning or get promotion in their respective hospitals.

Getting Masters Degree in Education

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

If you are an educator, and want to further your career and create a chance for increasing your salary, then you may want to pursue a Masters degree in education to enhance your qualification and knowledge. Within the Masters Degree in Education, you can also specialize in the subject you want to become an expert in, so that you can work in the area where you find it most enjoyable to work in.

If you want to further your prospects in the career of Education, you may consider getting a Masters Degree in Education. Within this degree, you can specialize in subjects such as Teaching, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction, and so on. You will have an in depth study of your subject using a number of research methods, discussions, reading and sharing experiences regarding the practical applications of the methods you have learnt in the classes. You will have to study a lot of material regarding classroom management skills so that you understand the curriculum and the students in a better fashion.

With your Masters Degree in Education, you will be able to understand the learning concepts and the study modules for your grade speciality. You will also learn about the early childhood education theory and understand the different principles of supervision, diversity issues, and many other trends and teaching methods which are popular with the teachers and educators. All this will enable you to relate better with your students, get their respect and effectively control the classroom. You will also be in a better position to improve your students learning and understanding of the subject. All of this will, no doubt, benefit both you and your students.

With a Masters Degree in Education, you can easily increase your salary by ,000 a year, making the range of annual starting salary you can expect between ,000 to ,000. Apart from the increase in salary, you can also expand your career options. You can educate students at post secondary colleges and universities. You can also work in administrative roles within an educational institution. Roles such as that of an Assistant Principal, Principal and Superintendent become open for you. Thus, depending on your years of experience and the role you perform, you can have an annual salary that can range from ,000 to 0,000.

Thus, with a Masters Degree in Education, you can chart your career in the field of Education towards a more promising and fulfilling future. You can thus take part in the process of educating children and creating the future – which can be an intellectually stimulating and very rewarding profession.

Educationmajorsu.com offers complete information on top education schools providing masters degree in education in United States and Canada.  Also find latest information on education degrees like certified programs, associate degree, bachelor degree, diploma programs and more.