Many students today choose to pursue their university education overseas – apart from obtaining an internationally recognised qualification the exposure you get widens your horizons. However, it is a decision that must be considered carefully and with much thought and preparation. We had a chat with Goolbai  Gunasekera, Founder Principal of Asian International School, Educationist and Author, on facts to consider when applying to foreign universities. When choosing a University what factors should be considered when selecting the best place of study under the following categories.    

Q: COUNTRY?  UNIVERSITY?

Obviously, I would choose English-speaking countries first if I were advising children of Sri Lanka since they have a  knowledge of English. Even those from schools that do not teach in the English medium have a basic familiarity with the language. If cost is a problem for the students then we look elsewhere notably China and Belarus. I do not have personal knowledge of them naturally but some of my best students from Asian International School have done excellently in those countries and have come back to Sri Lanka easily passing the local exam to gain recognition to practice in Sri Lanka. Of all countries, I prefer the USA. To quote Buckminster Fuller “The Liberal Arts Colleges of the USA are America’s gift to the world.” They are indeed.

They offer a wide spectrum of subjects. They are holistic in approach. An artistic student can do an academic degree at the same time if he/ she so wishes. Also, the best professors are in the USA lured there by the salaries that the USA can afford to pay as against British Universities. These are found in many USA Universities which are not necessarily Ivy League colleges. Also, diverse  USA Colleges are known for being pre-eminent in certain subjects. They have specialised reputations.  Others have the best Master’s programmes in the world.

As Principal of Asian International School, and also because I was in the happy position of having an American Mother, I have visited many American Colleges on my frequent visits to the USA and have first-hand knowledge of them.

England is closer and cheaper. There are about 95 or so Universities in the UK. I recommend the top 50 to students because those familiar with British universities know that they are ranked from  No.1 downward.  Obviously, the top ones are headed by Oxford, Imperial, Cambridge, Bristol, Durham etc. Entry is hard and is based on AL grades.

The other Universities are easier to get into but may not have the same cachet as the top ones.  If a student wishes to study LAW then the USA is out because American law differs greatly from the Roman/Dutch Law practised in Sri Lanka. The Medical course takes 11 years in the USA. Obviously a ‘no-no’ for Sri Lankans. Sri Lanka is more allied to British systems. Australia is fast becoming extremely popular. There are about 30 or so Universities in Australia but I am not quite sure of the ranking. Standards there seem to be rising by the year.  Of these, eight are called ‘the Red Brick Colleges’ and are included in world classifications.

I have always wondered why more Sri Lankans do not choose to go to India. Again standards in India vary from appalling to superb. In spite of my American mother, I am myself a product of an Indian University. The Medical and Technical Colleges are excellent and furthermore, India is close to Sri Lanka and access is easy. Of course, studying subjects like Medicine and Technology in India is very expensive and highly competitive. Indian graduates from one of the four Indian Institutes of Technology are often regarded as being better than MIT in America and graduates from IIT  command fantastic salaries anywhere in the world the minute they get their degrees. I believe there are several Sri Lankan students at IIT and many others studying at good Colleges in India at this moment.

Q: WHEN SHOULD STUDENTS START APPLYING? To get into the USA one should start applying as soon as the AS results are out. America will make offers at that point once the AS-level grades are known. The USA used to give some amazing scholarships. Many students got into top Colleges as well as Ivy League ones. Other countries will require the final AL results before one can start applying. Doing the SAT exam proves English language ability. I am told that now this is not always necessary for the USA, but it is better not to take the chance. Do it.  The SAT exam sets a standard for many other English-speaking countries like Singapore, Malaysia and others.

Some countries do not have the same exam timetables and so results are not available at the convenience of foreign Universities. This matter is adjusted but sometimes a year may be lost. I used to check on this and begin getting students to do a little homework of their own before I started writing recommendations for different countries. For instance, The USA puts great emphasis on a rounded education. It prefers a holistic approach. One of my scholarship winners to Yale was also an excellent pianist. Others had extra-curricular skills which added to their academic prowess and aided them to get in.

The UK is more ‘subject’ inclined. Choices of courses are less. Systems there tend to emphasise academics. Of course, the financial problems of Universities are always tight in most countries these days. One must seek the right advice when applying and know HOW to word that application. Principals of schools should have that knowledge and advise students accordingly. I know one brilliant student who failed to get into even ONE American College because he was ill-advised when applying. He got into Cambridge with no difficulty, however.

Q: WHAT DO UNIVERSITIES LOOK AT WHEN CHOOSING STUDENTS? They look at marks. They look at sports achievements. They look at letters from the Principal of the School and teacher’s recommendations.  If the teachers exaggerate,  then their credibility is ruined as far as other applicants are concerned. I am told that one local school applicant wrote his own letter of achievement for a scholarship and his Form teacher (who was poor in English)  actually signed it. The boy performed so poorly that the local school was blacklisted by that College and the scholarship was withdrawn. So it is better not to try to fool the authorities of Universities.

The better Universities have cut-off points for marks and grades. English-speaking Universities might want proof of this. Indian Universities might ask for an interview. These days, online interviews are possible so even British and American Universities may request them. One point is that all countries accept local exams as being adequate for entry. Language issues of entry to English-speaking Universities are dealt with by SAT, IELTS, TOEFL etc. Children who go to China and Belarus apparently pick up the language fast as they are taught in those languages. Methods of language teaching there are excellent and Sri Lankan students have so far coped well.

Q: HOW SHOULD  A STUDENT DECIDE ON A PROGRAMME OF STUDY? The advice I gave my pupils is totally redundant here. The world has changed unbelievably fast and subjects I used to recommend are now out of sync in the new world of education. With the advent of AI, many jobs are going to be redundant. I am told that many forward-thinking countries are meeting this challenge and are offering qualifications in jobs that CANNOT be done by AI or Robots. We have to rewire what we teach in Universities. Human skills like Masonry and Carpentry may be more in demand than doctors, engineers, dentists, architects et al.

Especially so, since medicine, accountancy, technology etc, are going to be handled by AI. Jobs needing human input will become the need of the hour. So how can ANY school Principal recommend study courses with the same authority as they used to do in the past?

Here are a few suggestions for School Principals who will prepare their pupils to face the challenges that await them in the new world that is coming. The following skills could maybe provide suggestions and be emphasised while kids are still in school.....Insurance, Cooking, Self Defence, Tax laws, Civic Behaviour, Personal Finance, Stress Management, Social Etiquette and Value Education (Ethics NOT Religion). Perhaps someone can think of others?

Arts subjects should become more popular. History will always be needed. I would like to think that Music will be always important as a course of study but the whole future is so mind-boggling it is impossible to really foresee to what extent AI will be allowed to function and to what extent education is going to change. But it will. Let us be in no doubt that education will have to change drastically. Survival skills need to be learnt NOW.

Prospective students will need to think out of the box these days. They will have to think of future employment and choose a programme of study that will ensure a job. How far will AI take away present well-paid employment? At this point in time, I would not dare to advise any student on the choice of a study programme.

Q: WHAT COMMON MISTAKES WOULD MAKE A STUDENT REGRET HIS CHOICE? As far as I know, that has not happened. Knowing the expense involved, I think applicants ponder thoroughly before opting for a course of study.

Now I would like to touch on the choices available in Sri Lanka. Many foreign Universities offer the first two or three years of study in Sri Lanka and only require students to finish their final year abroad. There are some excellent Institutes for this with impeccable credentials certified by the foreign University.

Doing an entire degree course in Sri Lanka needs a foreign exam at the end of it. For instance, the Royal Institute Degree Course graduate has a fully certified British Degree at the end of the course. Students from this Institute have done excellently well and Royal Institute graduates command much respect.

International Schools must, and do, offer their students guidance but children from local schools make the
mistake of accepting the spurious claims of some Local Institutes which do not possess an Internationally accepted rating.

Finally, I would like to tell ALL Parents NEVER to make decisions because friends' children are doing something. They MUST make their own decisions. After all, it is a new and very challenging world their children must face. Prepare them as best as you can.