August 2020

n Deciding what to do next can be excruciating exercise. There are a lot of options available, and each one of them looks equally impressive. With a change in the global work environment, there is a huge gap in supply and demand of specific job sectors. Pursuing these courses might increase chances for employment. So here is a list of top trending courses in terms of the job market: n n Artificial Intelligence n Artificial Intelligence is a course where Mechanical Engineering interacts with Software Engineering and Programming to create technology that interacts with humans and enhances human ability. Famous examples of AI include disease mapping- saving millions of lives, manufacturing robots, advancing artificial limbs in humans and animals, Amazon Alexa. There is a huge demand for engineers in this particular area. AI can nowadays also be applied to neuroscience studies, physics and astronomical sciences. Top countries for such courses are: n n Germany n USA n China and Hong Kong n UK n Japan and South Korea n n 2. Bio-Chemical Engineering n Biochemical Engineering is the study of living organisms like cells, viruses, proteins or other organic material to see how they interact with things around their surroundings under optimal conditions. These studies further develop products or processes. For sustainable development, countries are heavily investing in biochemical engineering to develop solutions for problems such as the shortage of drinking water, plastic pollution, and global warming. Industries that depend heavily on biochemical engineering includes biotechnology, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, water purification and food. Top trending countries for the course are: n n USA n Germany n UK n Canada n n 3. Business Analytics n This course helps existing businesses analyse risks and enhance their operational efficiency. It covers Descriptive, Predictive and Prescriptive analysis. The course has emerged as one of the most lucrative careers in terms of salary and growth. The best part, one can consider the course even without a background in business. Top countries for the course are: n n USA n Netherlands n UK n Ireland n France n Germany n Singapore n n 4. CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) n It is a ‘globally recognised professional designation’ offered by CFA institute that ‘measures and certifies the competence and integrity of a financial analyst’. Clearing rate of CFA is 40 Percent. CFA is cheap in terms of investment and return. One can apply for CFA exams in their final year or post-completion of Bachelor’s degree or post four years of professional experience. Moreover, there is no age limit for the exam. Studies have shown that more people in their middle ages prepare for this qualification. Top countries for the course are: n n China n USA n India n Canada n UK n Australia n Hong Kong n Singapore n n 5. Computer Science n One of the ‘never going out of the trend’ courses. It focuses majorly on ‘Software Engineering’, and with the world advancing more towards the technical side, the demand for ‘Software Technology Engineering’ is only going to increase. The course includes theory, design, development and application. Top destinations to study the course are: n n USA n UK n Canada n Australia n Cyprus n New Zealand n Germany n Hungary n n 6. Data Science n The course is a blend of Mathematics, Machine Learning, Algorithms and Processes. It aims to use raw data for analysing beneficial patterns for the growth of an organisation. The course requires strong interest and knowledge in the field of Statistics and Machine Learning. Top destinations to study the course are: n n Canada n Germany n UK n USA n n 7. Developmental Studies n It is an interdisciplinary course under Social Sciences stream. The course is offered at the Master’s Programme at various prestigious universities across the globe. The subjects cover various social issues based on demographics, anthropology, community studies, development communication, theory and diaspora. All these subjects equip one with the necessary tools and information to contribute towards the economic and social development of third world countries. Top countries to study the course are: n UK n USA n South Africa n Australia n Denmark n Netherlands n n 8. Digital Marketing n It refers to the use of digital platforms for adverse advertising and marketing of products and services. These channels may include eMails, Search Engines, Social Media Platforms, Mobile Applications and Websites. Aso, the demand for this course is only increasing with time. Top countries to study the course at: n UK n USA n Switzerland n Canada n n 9. Environmental Engineering n It is a branch of engineering that works towards protecting the environment and biodiversity from the adverse effects of human degradational activities. Top countries for the course are: n n USA n Switzerland n Denmark n Canada n China n Germany n Netherlands n n 10. Industrial Engineering n Industrial engineers apply sciences, analytical approach and advanced methodologies to complex systems for integration and operations. They try to optimise time, money and resources, for the same reason industrial engineers are often known as ‘Operations Managers’. Graduates from these courses can also end up in the roles of ‘Project Managers’. The top countries to pursue the course are: n n Switzerland n USA n Denmark n UK n UAE n Australia n n 11. Information System Management n MIS includes learning about ‘Programming, Network Engineering, and Computer Database Administration’. The subject includes a theoretical and highly practical component which follows the former. It is a data-driven report that helps businesses make the appropriate decisions. Top countries to study the program are: n n USA n Germany n Canada n n 12. Machine Learning n It is one of the fields which have been there since quite some time but only gained the popularity it deserves recently. It highly depends on AI- Artificial Intelligence. The jobs of Engineers in this area include programming codes for AI that produce similar results on interaction with the real world. In other words, it

We all know about the big Canadian dream in the eyes of many Indians but what we do forget is the struggle behind fulfilling that dream. The story we bring you forth this week is of one such young lad, Harman Singh Manocha,(Btech in IT from GTBIT, IP University) whose efforts are real and relatable. nn Harman is a highly motivated, smart and intelligent student who never dreamt of moving to Canada. Still, his father was highly motivated to send him abroad for further studies. It was not until the third year when Harman finally decided to own his father’s dream. n n “Shortly after the third year, I started shortlisting various universities in Canada, and my friends who were already living abroad helped and advised me frequently on the same. My first advice to all the students planning to study overseas, please work on your grades, because when I kicked in to grade up, the stakes were high as I already lost marks in the first two years of Btech. n nn I wrote IELTS in the fourth year of Engineering. You won’t believe this. I forgot the test date and had a mini heart attack when I got to know the exam time via an email reminder on the exam day itself. However, still, thankfully, I managed to reach the examination centre on time. Later, I cleared the exam with a pretty decent score and in my final year started applying at institutions in Canada. I had shortlisted a few universities and colleges including Concordia University, Université de Montréal, Concordia University of Edmonton, Lambton College, Georgian College and University of the Fraser Valley for four courses which were: n n Cyber Security n Cloud Computing for Big Data Analytics n Information Systems Security (MEng) n Data Analysis n nn Out of all these, I finally chose to pursue a Post-baccalaureate in Data Analysis at the University of Fraser Valley, British Columbia. The course structure is divided into four parts which are Data Extraction, Data Loading, Data Crunching, and Analysis. (Majorly focuses on Data reporting and Statistical reasoning). The course is highly practical with immediate implications in real scenarios, and interestingly, the course is in high demand and worth 1045 Billion Canadian Dollars. nn I landed up in Canada on the 15th June 2019 and soon became a patient of smallpox, and by 17th evening the sickness was significant. My luck didn’t shine bright on arrival as I hadn’t availed the health insurance while leaving for Canada and ended up spending $100 CAD per visit to the doctor. I would highly recommend the students planning to move to Canada to get travel health insurance before leaving the country, especially for the ones not taking a direct flight to Canada. Also, this did not end here. On arrival, I already had an Airbnb accommodation booked wherein I fell victim to ill-treatment for being sick. The host’s behaviour wasn’t comforting, so I planned to leave in the middle of the night and a day before my length of stay at Airbnb. Imagine being in a foreign land where you do not know people and get ill-treated. It is a horrible feeling. Later, luckily, I found accommodation quickly befriending a student of the same university and sheltered myself to experience the less stressed upcoming Canadian mornings. nn nn I hardly have attended the walk-in classes at the university for about six months. Since last December I’ve been taking online classes earlier due to heavy snowfall and later due to COVID-19 outbreak. I miss walking to the university, and I am pleased finding friends like family here in Canada. Also, now, I’m fully equipped to deal with whatever comes my way. I am even trying to ace my scores, to challenge my brain with what’s new and adapt to the lovely weather of Canada. I miss home a lot, ‘Meri Delhi’ n immensely. No place in the world can ever have food like in Delhi. nn My one advice to you all would be try and be self-reliant financially. Canada has a lot to offer in terms of job opportunities. Yes, the pandemic has affected the job market a bit, but it’s not too bad. Also, one important tip for all my Sikh friends planning to study or work in Canada, please carry spare Baaj, Beard and Hair accessories if you use any, to groom yourselves as you won’t find time to get this stuff here initially”. nn

“Hi, I’m Sunena Kharbanda, working as a ‘Technology Associate’ at Goldman Sachs and an Ex-student of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). I initiated my journey for Hong Kong quite accidentally while I was preparing for JEE Mains. HKUST was introduced to me by someone in my coaching and whimsy; I decided to apply for a BEng in Computer Science which is for four years duration. The application process was pretty simple, and my marks of class 10th, 11th and 12th were considered. My parents and especially my father were not very convinced initially to send me abroad for further studies and till the last day he had a ‘why’ on his face, but I always gave back a smile and said I’m just a five-hour flight away from you. My deep desire to study abroad and to make a better living for myself got me to Hong Kong. n While planning my education abroad, tuition fee again was another challenge as I belonged to a middle-class family. But by God’s grace, I scored a scholarship of 50,000 HKD with my admission offer letter and also received a ‘Huawei Maitree Scholarship’ for 10,000 USD per year (Its renewal every year is based on specific GPA requirements). The most significant credit for this goes to my mother, who has been a regular newspaper reader, information provider and also, my constant source of inspiration. She has motivated me throughout my journey to do better in life and become an even better human being. nn Survival in Hong Kong for an Indian Student is not too difficult, especially if you’re planning to study in HKUST. There are three reasons for the same. First, the medium of instruction is primarily in English, secondly to my amusement, food has never been a problem. You have ample of Indian food joints available in and around and thirdly, before the commencement of your program the university provides you at least 15 days to adapt to a new environment and also, allots international students with a mentor’s group who take you around the city tour and guide you the basic things like how to open a bank account, etc. These 15 days are known as ‘Orientation period’, and they act as a catalyst for students to settle and adapt to the new changes. Also, Hong Kong is a small yet well-connected country. So, travelling is not a problem. They have road signs in English, but one is most likely to face an issue with finding the right kind of accommodation as the country is densely populated. n I was too scared like any other student to travel alone, manage everything from, food, studies and finances all by myself. It was a colossal task initially as in an Indian family you are highly dependent on your parents for menial tasks. Also, my entire family had their doubts about sending a girl all alone to a foreign land, but I made sure I made them proud. I believe it’s equally difficult for a male or a female to make a career anywhere in the world. It purely depends on one’s hard work and dedication. I believe behind every girl’s success; some parents trust her instead of society, relatives and friends! My parents have never differentiated between their son and daughter, and I believe if all parents start doing that we will see a lot more girls in the STEM industry making their dreams come true, outperforming males in any industry. n It’s been almost eight years in this country, and I am amazed at the potential it has to offer. If you’re from a Commerce background and are interested in the finance industry, Hong Kong is the place for you. It has Asia’s headquarters for many financial companies, and it holds even a better potential to grow in the future. The average salaries are enough for you to manage all your expenses and still save an ample amount to cover any of your travelling expenses. I didn’t know when Hong Kong became a home. I miss my parents and sometimes also feel pressured to return to India and settle. As a woman, I believe it takes double the convincing for Indian parents, but it is all worth it. I dare all the women to dream big and work hard to turn your dreams into reality. Be fiercely bold, powerful, a bread maker as well as a winner”. nn n Team MOWE, on the 75th Anniversary year of United Nations, takes a pledge to promote Gender Equality and Women Empowerment on the lines of Sustainable Development Goal Number Five: To promote Gender Equality and empower all women and girls. n

Do you have a passion for exploring new careers, nationalities, people? If so, then you’re going to love Aashim’s story. A guy belonging from a small town in Punjab, believed in his passion for exploring new lands, learning new things and always dreamt of living in big cities. The best part, absolutely nothing could stop him from achieving new heights in life. n “I started my journey from IHM, Bangalore in 2010 and always had a knack for travelling across the globe, learning new things, interacting with people from diverse cultures. As a result, in 2013, right after my graduation, I got a chance to join Taj Exotica, Goa. It is a lush green property spread out on 56 acres of land facing Benaulim beach including golf and tennis courts. My time working over there gave me an altogether exquisite experience and further even added to my taste for travelling and exploring new countries. n Within a short period, I found a job in Boston, U.S.A. at a French and Japanese Restaurant- ‘UNI’, earlier known as ‘CLIO’. Honestly, it was one of the best decisions I ever made as the learning curve was huge. Moreover, the U.S.A is, in reality, a melting pot. You will encounter people with different nationalities exchanging cultural values, food, styles, adapting and accepting the differences that ultimately unites everyone. Also, coming from the Hospitality sector, I believed that ‘food unites us all’ and our love for various cuisines and species is the first step towards cultural acceptance. Thanks to the USA, I experienced it all. n Being a traveller at heart, you can’t settle at a place for long. So I had already decided to explore Canada as my next destination. Initially, I went there in 2016 on a tourist Visa (The process was simple, easy and quick). I did not have any intention to study or work there but still wanted to explore my options. I went through some of the Courses at Canadian Colleges and decided to investigate further but later found the country to be a bit ‘Desi’ as per my requirements of learning. Although I did visit Canada twice, something was always missing. Maybe the College experience was not meant for me, or I did not share the Canadian dream as almost everyone around me. So, I went back to India and stayed there for quite some time. n Still, my zest for the ‘International exposure’ wasn’t over. In 2018, I decided to pursue a Masters in Management at IMT Business School (Institut Mines-Télécom Business School), France. The programme helped me enhance my managerial skills along with an opportunity to explore new streams matching my potential.n Also, France, as a destination, brought new kicking challenges to my life and gave me a chance to stay back in the country for two years post Masters. Moreover, I was attracted to the French culture and wanted to experience French wine as a significant part of the culture and my love for sports, especially Tenis. The first time I visited a Winery, I was awestruck and even planned to explore Wine trading soon. n A barrier anyone is most likely to face when in France is the language. It was easy for me in the USA and Canada. Still, in France, it is challenging to even land a part-time job without knowing proficient use of French, but again, I got lucky because of my previous experience of Hotel Management. One thing that is the most added benefit of working in France is the post-education employment process is simplified and easy. Also, France is famous for its employment law and firing an employee is notoriously tricky. There are two types of employment contracts for International students: n CCD (Contract Duration Determinée)– It is a fixed-term contract or temporary employment contract. It is issued for six months, during which the employment laws are stringent for employees.nCDI (Contract Duration Indeterminée) – It is essentially an open-ended contract or permanent employment contract that offers job insurance. It makes it difficult for an employer to let you go on a simple note. n As far as study options in the country are concerned, the technical courses offered in the country are very cost-effective and require good knowledge of the language. Also, the state provides quite the right amount of scholarships, particularly in the STEM section. My institute too (IMT Business School, France) comes under ‘Charpak Master’s Program’. This scholarship is for one to two years, (September – June, ten months per academic year) of studies in France at the Master’s degree level for all streams and fields of education. They also offer a living allowance of 700 Euro/month. I wish I knew about it at the time of admission. Still, anyway, I have enjoyed my experience in the country and don’t regret a thing. However, I’m not sure for how long I’ll stay here, but my biggest advice to all out there would be to explore, explore and explore! One should travel, learn, engage with other nationalities, and adapt to new surroundings. These learnings reflect on your personality immensely, and I wouldn’t want to trade my entire journey so far for anything”.

It is always hard to predict what life has in store for you, but one thing is for sure that it is going to be a roller coaster ride. The next story we bring you forth is on a very similar line. n A lot of changes in a short period can be exasperating. However, still, for Alisha, these changes were quick and based on smart decisions. n “I completed my schooling in 2014 and decided to move to the US as my family was based there. I started searching over the internet for options related to studying in the US and found out that traditional US universities were highly expensive. If I chose to study with them, I’d be buried under a huge debt. As a result, I decided to try my luck with Community Colleges and got admitted to the Delaware County Community College, Pennsylvania. Within two years, I completed an Associate Degree in Computer Science at Delaware. Completing a degree is not a compulsion as a student can join the community college to get General courses at a low price compared to other prominent universities. n In the US Education system, everything works on your academic transcripts. So, whatever modules I was pursuing at Community College were accepted by other US Universities, and I did not have to pay any extra penny for those modules. This way, I ended up saving at least two years of tuition fees! Also, whenever you plan to join any of the Community Colleges, be ready to witness a different culture and lifestyle. The American TV Shows we have watched growing up have created an unrealistic reality about High Schools and Universities. At Community Colleges, you’ll find people coming from extremely different walks of life. It does get pretty lonely at times as everyone is highly engrossed in their lives. In my opinion, the key to surviving in any foreign location would be to be as interactive as possible with the people around you and also to try making friends. nn From this, one of the best things about Community Colleges is that they all have state-appointed Counsellors and Advisors. They work with you to find out the best route for your further education. My Counsellor too played a crucial role when I decided to pursue ‘Accelerated Bachelors and Masters of Science in Computer Science’ (BSMS) at Drexel University, Philadelphia. BSMS is a unique course where you can complete two degrees at the cost price of one and also save a year or two (including two six month Co-ops) if you did two degrees separately. Also, I earned 89 credits through my Associate Degree, which, in return, saved me a lot of time and money while studying at Drexel. nn So, pursuing the BSMS with Drexel University meant that after completing about four years, I’d pass out with both Bachelors and Masters degrees. Also, while pursuing my Degree at Drexel, I stood a chance to avail ‘Co-Op’ twice. Co-ops are traditionally full-time, paid positions and usually refers to a multi-work term agreement with one employer; traditionally with at least three work terms alternated with school terms. They even fetch you credit scores at University and specifically help an International student to learn how things run in the real professional world. nn Presently, I’m working as ‘Software Developer’ with ‘OSIsoft’ from the previous six months and earlier even worked with ‘IPipeline Inc’ for a year. nn To the students planning to study in Philadelphia, food is not at all going to be a problem. There are plenty of Indian eating joints available in and around the campus. Still, the major challenge you might face would be related to finding the right kind of accommodation. For that, I would recommend you to search for university accommodations or search on Facebook for any student sublet. If planning to study in or around Drexel University, you can try the ‘Drexel University Housing Sublet’ or ‘Craigslist’- an American classified advertisements website. n n On the other hand, if travelling within Philadelphia is concerned, you may try the SEPTA App or ,,http://www.septa.org/ by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Also, as an international student, one is allowed to work 20 hours a week and can earn around $8 an hour. The universities too offer excellent work opportunities to work on the campus. nn Any change (even a replacement for the better), is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts. You might take time to absorb these changes or come to terms with them but always be ready with open arms up for what happens next. It is how life makes us grow and learn things in life”. n