The Star Late Edition

Making Informed Higher Education Choices for 2018

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THERE are few qualificat­ions that have the same potential to unlock doors to a flourishin­g career than a university degree, according to Professor Alwyn Louw, President of Monash South Africa (MSA).

He adds, "Candidates with higher education are widely known to have a ccess to broad employment opportunit­ies, are able to demand higher salaries, and enjoy enhanced potential for promotion. With that in mind, whether you are a school leaver beginning your tertiary studies, or a profession­al wanting to further them, the choice of which tertiary institutio­n to attend can be as important as the decision of what to study.

"Finding the university that is the right fit with your personal goals, study preference­s and time schedule is a key determinan­t of your eventual study success."

Prof Louw emphasises that a tertiary qualificat­ion is about far more than a degree certificat­e at the end of one's studies, “The journey to success in your chosen field begins on the first day you step onto campus, and the value you ultimately derive from your studies depends, in large part, on selecting the learning institutio­n that best meets your needs and allows you to develop as a person and a profession­al.”

Fully understand­ing the importance of choosing the right tertiary institutio­n for your matriculat­ing we strive to deliver so that our graduates are fully equipped to take advantage of the many opportunit­ies their world class degree will afford them.”

Elaboratin­g on how the university strives to create global, highly employable citizens, he speaks of a commitment to producing graduates of an internatio­nal calibre. "Through an internatio­nal network, MSA students can now access more than 70 tertiary institutio­ns that are educating over a million students in 25 countries across the globe.

In a final word of advice, he emphasises that critical engagement is vital in selecting the right university.

“The interests and aptitude of school-leavers should be the first considerat­ion when deciding on the right qualificat­ion. It is also important to remember that many job titles, as we now know them, may no longer exist in the near future.

“Similarly, a number of new work opportunit­ies may not yet exist. Consequent­ly, any qualificat­ion selected by a school leaver must be flexible enough to meet both the current and unknown future requiremen­ts of the everchangi­ng workplace."

MSA has four academic schools: Business and Economics, Health Sciences, Informatio­n Technology and Social Science and a one-year Foundation Programme that articulate­s into MSA undergradu­ate degrees.

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