‘Bogus students problem’ persists even today

As the US, UK and Australia compete for international students, fears of bogus applicants abusing visa systems persist, but recent research suggests fraud risk levels could be low.

The owner of the Florida Language Institute and one employee pleaded guilty last week to charges of making false visa applications on behalf of students applying to study English at their school.

The school, in the suburbs of Miami, was raided in March following a 12-month surveillance operation by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As well as the arrest of the two defendants and seizures of $2.4m in assets, 81 students from 12 countries were also detained in the Miami area.

The defendants are alleged to have failed to report that the majority of the school's students did not attend classes regularly.

Cases involving suspected visa abuses linked to education and the threat posed by allegedly bogus students grab headlines in other countries. The US, Britain and Australia compete to attract students travelling abroad for study – numbers that, according to OECD estimates, exceeded 3 million in 2007. Institutions must be seen to be safeguarding both their national security and the reputation of their education sectors.

The first line of defence against bogus applications is the application process itself. In the US last year, more than a third of the 490,000 student visa applications made were turned down. The UK rejected a similar proportion of the 350,000 requests it received. Yet only Australia has published a detailed analysis of why students are being refused visas, and by doing so, it has shone a light on the scale and impact of student visa fraud.

The evidence from Australia is that fraud is limited and that the detection and prevention procedures currently used by the department of immigration and citizenship (Diac), which are similar to those used by the US and UK, are fit for purpose.

Countries targeted for scrutiny include India, Mauritius, Nepal, Brazil, Zimbabwe and Pakistan. China, where only government registered agents are allowed to dispatch students and which sent 18% of Australia's 2008 total, was held up by Diac as a model for other countries.

The UK is also keen to improve the quality of agents, who are responsible for placing one in five foreign students. A British Council-led initiative has brought together representatives from the main countries offering English language courses to work on co-ordinating policies.

However, a categorical assessment of the risk posed by student visa fraud will require greater transparency from immigration authorities. Otherwise it is not possible to erase these problems completely.

Courtesy guardian.co.uk

Let's talk About Technology.

Let's talk about Latest 'TOP FIVE NEWS'

Courtesy news.cnet.com

1.)As hacker claims, Soldier leaked Google attack investigation details

June 13 ,Sunday

An Army analyst jailed for allegedly leaking a video of a controversial Iraq air strike also allegedly leaked classified information about a U.S. investigation into cyberattacks on Google that originated in China, the hacker who turned in the analyst told CNET on Saturday.

U.S. Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning had confided to well-known hacker Adrian Lamo in e-mails and instant messages that he was the one who provided the 2007 video of a military helicopter gunning down journalists and civilians in Iraq, as well as other information, to whistleblower Web site Wikileaks, Lamo has said.

Along with leaking another video of an attack in which nearly 200 civilians were killed in Afghanistan in 2009 and leaking 260,000 classified U.S. diplomatic cables, Manning told Lamo that he leaked the code name and details of a government investigation being conducted regarding the attacks on Google, Lamo said.

Lamo said he could not say anything more or risk arrest for disclosing classified information.

The U.S. State Department complained to China about the cyberattacks, which Google announced in January and which helped push Google to withdraw its search engine from the Chinese market. More than 30 other companies were targeted in the cybertattacks, which appeared to target source code and, in Google's case, also Gmail accounts of human rights activists. The Chinese government has denied any involvement in the cyberattacks.

Any further details can be furnished by Government officials , however government officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Saturday night.

2.) Smart ForTwo electric minicar headed to U.S. cities

BROOKLYN--Fans of the Smart ForTwo can buff up their enviro-image with an electric drive version of the minicar coming to the U.S. this fall.

Smart USA offered test rides of the ForTwo Electric Drive this week here, where I got a chance to get behind the wheel and take it for a spin on the streets of New York.

Overall, the ForTwo fits the bill as a clever city car because its size makes it easy to maneuver through city traffic and park, provided that you don't have much stuff to haul around. The ForTwo Electric Drive smooths out the gasoline version's choppy transmission and lets minicar owners pull the plug on their oil habits.

Unlike other electric vehicles, the ForTwo is going after a niche audience of sustainably minded people and business owners who want a car that stands out in a crowd. But the design of the ForTwo Electric Drive is significant beyond its initial target customer because it represents a product category--small, electric city cars--with large potential but also clear challenges related to infrastructure.

With this initial roll-out in the U.S., Smart USA expects that about 80 percent of the customers will be businesses, which generally will have the luxury of a place to charge the cars at night. With its unique look, the electric minicar will be a "rolling statement on environmental awareness and oil dependence," said Derek Kaufman, the vice president of business development for Smart USA, which is based outside Detroit.

Daimler, which owns the Smart brand and manufactures the ForTwo, will start volume production in early 2012 and sell it as a 2013 model year car in the U.S.

3.) Probe returns to Earth after asteroid landing

Five years after touching down on a distant asteroid, Japan's Hayabusa space probe returned to Earth on Sunday, landing in the Australian Outback after a spectacular fireball.

Officials at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) aren't sure whether the probe managed to collect samples from asteroid Itokawa after its three-month rendezvous with the small space rock in 2005. They would be the first samples returned from the surface of an asteroid.

The probe burned up on reentry, streaking through

the night sky (see pic here), and Hayabusa's heat-resistant container landed with the aid of a parachute in South Australia's Woomera Prohibited Range.

Earth photographed by the asteroid probe Hayabusa before reentry.

(Credit: JAXA)

4.)World Cup pushes Internet to new record
Akamai's metrics from Friday.

(Credit: Akamai)

World Cup fever pushed the Internet to a new record on Friday, according to measurements from Akamai.

Traffic to news sites globally started a steady climb about 6 a.m. Eastern time and peaked six hours later at noon, reaching nearly 12.1 million visitors per minute.

The day's traffic far exceeded the previous record of 8.5 million visitors per minute, which was set when Barack Obama won the U.S. presidential election in 2008.

As of Saturday afternoon, Web traffic to news sites was still heavy at 5.7 million visitors per minute.

Solar light bulb to shine on developing world

Here's a bright idea for the planet. A Hong Kong-based company has introduced what it bills as the world's only solar-powered light bulb with the hope of reaching millions of people with little or no access to electricity.

5.)Nokero's N100 solar LED light bulb

The Nokero N100 solar LED light bulb is meant to replace kerosene lamps as a lighting source in the developing world. The company says 1.6 billion people still lack sufficient access to electricity, and many burn fossil fuels for light, which can be dangerous and expensive.

The N100 solar bulb is about the size of a standard incandescent bulb and has four small solar panels in its rainproof plastic housing. Five LEDs and a replaceable NiMH battery inside provide up to four hours of light when the device is fully charged. People hang it outside during the day and then turn it on at night.

The life of the N100 is basically 5 to 10 years, according to Nokero representative Tom Boyd.

A single bulb is $15; a case of 48 costs $480. The company offers a "significant" discount when buying a thousand or more. It adds that the bulb pays for itself within months when used in place of a kerosene lantern

CAMBRIDGE students are elegible for CLAT

Now, a Class 12 Cambridge student can appear for Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), for admission to any of the 11 national law schools in India.On Thursday, the National Law Institute University in Bhopal confirmed that students affiliated to University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) are eligible to sit for CLAT. The test will be conducted on May 9.

“Cambridge students are already eligible to sit for medical and engineering entrance tests in India, and so I am delighted that the path has been opened for them to sit for CLAT,” said Ian Chambers, CIE regional manager, South Asia. “The legal profession is a popular career choice for Cambridge students, and this new ruling will open doors for them to study law in India.”

In India, more than 230 schools are registered with CIE. The Association of Indian Universities recognises Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International A-Level as equivalent to Class 10 and Class 12 level respectively.

Courtesy hindustantimes.com

MBA without GMAT in USA!

MBA in USA

MBA from the United States is perceived by many to be the most valuable in terms of career development and salary. It's no secret that an MBA degree can increase your earning power. A recent survey by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) reports the potential for an immediate 40 percent increase in annual salary, depending on students' current and future jobs.

BUSINESS WEEK TOP USA MBAs RANKING:
	School name	Country

1	University of Pennsylvania  Wharton	US
2	Northwestern University  Kellogg	US
3	Harvard University	US
4	Massachusetts Institute of Technology  Sloan	US
5	Duke University  Fuqua	US
6	Columbia University	US
7	Cornell University  Johnson	US
8	University of Virginia  Darden	US
9	Stanford University	US
10	University of California (Los Angeles)  Anderson	US
11	New York University  Stern	US
12	Carnegie Mellon University	US
13	University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill)  Kenan-Flagler	US
14	Dartmouth College  Tuck	US
15	University of Texas (Austin)	US
16	University of California (Berkeley)  Haas	US
17	Xavier University  Williams COB	US
18	Indiana University (Bloomington)	US
19	University of Rochester  Simon	US
20	Washington University  Olin	US
21	University of Southern California  Marshall	US
22	Purdue University  Krannert	US
23	Georgetown University  McDonough	US
24	University of Maryland (College Park)  Smith	US
25	Emory University  Goizueta	US
26	Michigan State University  Broad	US
27	Georgia Institute of Technology  Dupree	US
28	College of William and Mary	US
29	Arizona State University (Main Campus)	US
30	Boston University	US
31	Ohio State University  Fisher	US
32	Pennsylvania State University  Smeal	US
33	Babson College  Olin	US
34	University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)	US
35	University of Wisconsin (Madison)	US
36	University of Pittsburgh  Katz	US
37	University of Notre Dame	US
38	University of Iowa	US
39	Rice University  Jones	US
40	University of Georgia  Terry	US
41	University of Florida	US
42	University of California (Irvine)	US
43	Southern Methodist University  Cox	US
44	Thunderbird School of Global Management  Thunderbird	US
45	University of California (Davis)	US
46	American University  Kogod	US
47	University of Washington	US
48	Boston College  Carroll	US
49	University of Tennessee (Knoxville)	US
50	Brigham Young University  Marriott	US
51	University of South Carolina  Moore	US
52	University of Miami	US
53	Clark Atlanta University	US
54	Syracuse University	US
55	Rutgers University (New Brunswick and Newark)	US
56	Texas A&M University (College Station)  Mays	US
57	Tulane University  Freeman	US
58	University at Buffalo (SUNY)	US
59	George Washington University	US
60	University of Arizona  Eller	US
61	Case Western Reserve University  Weatherhead	US

How to join MBA college in USA without GMAT?

Almost 80% of the USA universities require GMAT for entry into MBA program. 20% USA universities accept students without GMAT scores in MBA program. The student is advised to research each institution and acquire an understanding of their entrance requirements.

MBA Programs With No GMAT Requirements
For those not eyeing for an MBA in top Business school, there are well known programs that do not require GMAT scores. For example, National University does not require any test scores at all for any baccalaureate degree holders with a 2.5 GPA or better. Test scores will be helpful for those with a lower GPA. University of Phoenix simply requires a 2.5 GPA with no test requirements for any of their graduate programs. Monroe College in New York requires 3.0 GPA in the Bachelor’s degree. Liberty University in Virginia requires 2.5 GPA and admits students with low level of English skills in their ESL program. Stevens-Henager College, Globe University, Eastern Washington University, Western International University and Stratford University are few of the institutions that do not require GMAT as the pre requisite for admissions into their MBA program.

Students who are considering MBA programs that do not require a standardized test should look carefully at each program's accreditation, academic rigor, and reputation. In general, there should be a minimum undergraduate GPA requirement to make up for the lack of a test requirement. Also, students who do not perform well on tests in general should note that graduate programs always require at least a 3.0 GPA for graduation. Anything below would be grounds for academic probation or dismissal.

Work Experience for GMAT

Some top Business Schools in USA accept students with work experience without GMAT Score for their Executive MBA (EMBA). To be eligible for EMBA program, one should have 5+ years of work experience. You will also have better chance to get admission into MBA program if your company is sponsoring you. Further, adult learners with regular jobs and busy lives – feel that their hard-earned money would be better spent on tuition and living expenses, and their valuable time on studying, work or family. GMAT score requirements are lower in the Business schools for their part time MBA programs.

Online MBA Degree with No GMAT Required: Program Overviews
The question arises in the mind- which schools offer online MBA degree programs and do not require GMAT for Admission? There are some schools, however, that do not require the GMAT for admission. In some cases, MBA programs that do not require the GMAT, administer entrance exams of their own. Below are 5 schools that offer online programs without GMAT.

Auburn University: Auburn University, in Auburn, Alabama, offers an online MBA program for doctors that does not require admissions testing. The Physicians Executive MBA at Auburn University was developed for experienced medical professionals who want to increase their skills and specializations; the online program takes longer than the on-campus program. Over 1,100 students have graduated from Auburn University's online MBA program.

Oklahoma State University:Oklahoma State University, in Stillwater, OK, offers an online MBA for dentists that requires the Dental Admission Test, but not the GMAT. The dental MBA program is a 36-credit program designed to help dentists better manage their offices and finances. The program benefits dentists who need to work full-time while taking classes.

Northeastern University: Northeastern University, in Boston, Massachusetts, does not require the GMAT, but the program does require students to have several years of business work experience before applying. Northeastern University's executive MBA program is a part-time program that can be completed entirely online. Students can specialize in a number of areas, including finance, general management, health care management, high technology management, innovation entrepreneurship and international management, among other areas

Colorado State University: Located in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University grants GMAT waivers for students with at least eight years of career experience and a minimum 3.0 GPA during the last half of their undergraduate college program. In the Colorado State University online MBA program, the on-campus classes are taped and mailed to students the next morning, allowing them to experience the course as if they were in the classroom. Students receive the full lecture, PowerPoint slides and class discussion and students can complete the class in anywhere from 21 months to 5 years.

No GMAT? No Problem, Harvard Says (Source: Business Week)

Harvard Business School (Harvard Full-Time MBA Profile) announced that it will no longer require MBA applicants to submit GMAT scores. Starting with the applications for admission to the Class of 2012, HBS will allow applicants to submit either GMAT scores or GRE scores. The news makes Harvard the latest in a series of top tier business schools to make the change. In 2006, both Stanford (Stanford Full-Time MBA Profile) and MIT’s Sloan School of Management (Sloan Full-Time MBA Profile) permitted the GRE for applicants to their MBA programs. The policy, while common among Executive MBA programs, is still the exception at top-ranked full-time MBA programs, although it’s unclear just how much longer that will be case now that Harvard has made the change. Harvard’s acceptance of the GRE is a big win for the Educational Testing Service, which administers that test. About 18 months ago, ETS took aim at the lucrative business school market dominated by the GMAT, launching a marketing campaign suggesting that switching to the GRE would result in more applications. The GMAT, which generates about $80 million a year for the Graduate Management Admission Council, is used by more than 4,000 graduate management programs worldwide. Deirdre Leopold, managing director of admissions and financial aid at HBS, said the GRE was allowed to make the application process easier for applicants considering graduate programs other than the MBA. Since many HBS applicants are also considering graduate programs besides the MBA, there is now no need for them to take the GMAT if they have already taken the GRE. We believe that both the GMAT and the GRE meet our expectations of what a standardized test can tell us about a candidate's ability to thrive in our MBA program. From the test-takers perspective, one big advantage the GRE has over the GMAT is price: the GRE costs just $150, versus $250 for the GMAT. But applicants haven't exactly been clamoring for a lower-cost alternative to the GMAT. From the schools perspective, the GMAT has a lot of research backing up its claim that it's a good predictor of success in a graduate management program, whereas the GRE is in uncharted territory. So will more schools opt for a GMAT-optional approach? ETS is predicting the floodgates will open now that Harvard has taken the plunge. David Payne, an ETS vice president, says the Harvard news, along with a new "no cognitive evaluation" section of the GRE that will be available in July (it measures teamwork, ethics, persistence, and creativity) will convince many other business schools to accept the GRE. Payne notes that over 220 business schools accept the GRE for MBA applications already, including 5 of the 10 top internationally ranked programs. About 25 new programs signed on in the last month alone, he said. Here's his take on the impact of the Harvard news: I think that number [220] will go through the roof over the summer and into the fall. Harvard is going to help us reach that tipping point. Other schools will say, 'If it's good enough for Harvard then it's good enough for our institution.'

You do not worry if you have scored less GMAT scores. Irrespective of your scores or whether you take these tests, you can still seek admissions in not only Kampus Landing partner universities but many other USA universities. But, unfortunately majority students do not know of these universities which accommodate students without TOEFL/GRE/GMAT and others.

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