Education
Students loan begins Jan 2024, no need for lobby – Gbajabiamila
Students loan begins Jan 2024, no need for lobby – Gbajabiamila
Efforts are underway to ensure the commencement of the Students’ Loan Scheme in January 2024, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said.
He also said Nigerian students would need no lobby to access the loans “to fund their educational aspirations”.
He spoke in Lagos on Friday while delivering a lecture titled, “Empowering Nigerian Youths in the Present Day Economy” at the 35th convocation ceremony of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH).
Gbajabiamila said to make the process seamless, “applicants will apply online, be verified online, and be credited based on the verifiable documents and credentials they have submitted.”
He said, “Earlier this year, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR signed the Students’ Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act, establishing the Education Loan Fund and creating a new legal framework to provide education financing through interest-free loans to Nigerian students. “
“The application system for the student loan programme is being designed so that there is no interface between the loan administrators and the beneficiaries,” he added.
The CoS said, “Applicants will apply online, be verified online, and be credited based on the verifiable documents and credentials they have submitted. Nobody will need to know anybody to qualify for these loans, so that access to this financing will be genuinely egalitarian.
“The student loan system answers part of the question of how to fund a quality public tertiary education, but it doesn’t answer all of it.
“Any serious conversation about the future of tertiary education in Nigeria must include a thorough consideration of the ways and means of addressing the funding needs of public tertiary institutions beyond government subvention.
“In this regard, we cannot for much longer avoid the simple truth that tertiary education costs money, and the best institutions worldwide succeed, amongst other things, because they can generate significant sums through fees, investments and other means.
“The simple truth is that for our institutions to compete favourably, we need more resources than are currently available to address the dangerous decline in the quality of scholarship and academic output and the graduates we produce from many of our institutions.”
He said in a perfect world, access to education would be a fundamental benefit afforded to every individual from basic through tertiary.
Gbajabiamila said, “Our learning centres will be majestic citadels of research and innovation, open to all who seek knowledge, regardless of means. But this is not a perfect world. In this real world, education is a commodity and a quality education even more so.
“Therefore, the central public policy challenge is the conflict between the competing objectives of access and quality. How do we fund a quality tertiary education without imposing costs that make access to quality education impossible for most people?
“We require a programme of aggressive and sustained investment in education. Not only in the physical infrastructure of classrooms and lecture halls but in technology hardware and software to facilitate information exchange and innovation.
“In this new world, we have found ourselves in, nothing has changed as drastically as the nature of work and how we measure productivity. Today, many skills that guaranteed employment and a healthy income for previous generations have been made redundant by technological advances.
“This generation will not only be competing with one another for opportunities, but they will also be competing in a global marketplace, against students from all over the world, and against technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, blockchain and financial technology tools that are increasingly replacing the human function in the workplace. We must prepare them with these realities in mind.
“To do this effectively, we need to develop a new understanding of the changing nature of work and the future of employment.”
Rector of the college, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, said the institution focused on youth empowerment through its various programmes.
“To show how committed we are to the empowering of our youths, the management established Industry Advisory Committee to enhance her dynamic role of producing technical manpower for the Economic and Social development of Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, the college has been in the forefront of manpower development, technological advancement and youth empowerment.
Some of the initiatives targeted at youth empowerment put in place by the school as highlighted by the rector are the Quadruple Helix Collaboration Scheme for Youth Empowerment; the establishment of Centre for Technology Marketing and Product Development; YCT Industry Alliance Group (YIAG) Programme; the Students Work and Study Scheme, among others.
Education
Canadian province opens 2025 government internship programs for international students
Canadian province opens 2025 government internship programs for international students
The Government of Prince Edward Island (PEI), a Canadian province, is inviting applications for its 2025 Internship Program.
This opportunity allows international students and recent graduates to gain experience working within the provincial government.
The internship program, which is a one-year temporary job assignment, offers participants the chance to build skills and gain professional experience in various PEI government departments.
According to the Prince Edward Island, the program also provides access to workshops, networking events, and other professional development resources to help interns grow in their careers.
The PEI internship program is set to begin in May 2025 and runs for one year. Interns will have the opportunity to work in multiple government departments, participating in workshops and professional development activities. These include career planning, conflict management, emotional intelligence, and training on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), as well as anti-racism in the workplace.
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Additionally, the program provides a platform for;
- Networking,
- Helping interns to connect with government professionals and
- Build valuable relationships within the public service sector.
- Interns will also receive support to help them understand eligibility for government jobs and navigate potential future opportunities in the public service.
Eligibility and application requirements
To be eligible for the program, applicants must have completed a;
Post-secondary program within the past 36 months. Additionally,
- Candidates should be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible for a Canadian work permit.
- International students who meet these requirements are encouraged to apply.
Applications are currently being accepted, and interested candidates must submit their applications through the official PEI Internship Program Portal.
Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held on March 4th and 5th, 2025. The internship program will begin in May 2025.
How to apply and important dates
Applicants can apply online through the official PEI Internship Program Portal.
Additional details, including position descriptions and participating departments, are available on the official website of the Government of PEI.
Canadian province opens 2025 government internship programs for international students
Education
Two ex-VCs, JAMB registrar to attend Prof. Ibraheem UNILAG inaugural lecture Wed
Two ex-VCs, JAMB registrar to attend Prof. Ibraheem UNILAG historic inaugural lecture Wed
- History beckons as Mass Comm alumnus delivers inaugural lecture Wed
History will be made this week Wednesday December 18, 2024 at University of Lagos when an alumnus of the university’s Mass Communication Department, Ismail Adegboyega Ibrahim, professor of journalism and communication studies, will deliver inaugural lecture as a lecturer of the department.
Ibraheem, a 1990 graduate of the university, returned to the institution in 2011 as a lecturer.
It is the first time a former student of the department will be delivering an inaugural lecture 58 years after its establishment.
Ibraheem, director of International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects at the UNILAG, will speak on “Casino Journalism and the End of History.”
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, will chair the event, according to a statement from the institution.
Two former vice-chancellors of the university, Professor Rahamon Bello and Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, are expected to grace the lecture along with the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, among others.
The lecture is scheduled for 4pm at the J.F. Ade. Ajayi Auditorium, UNILAG, Akoka.
Members of the University Community and general public are invited to join the lecture physically or virtually via Zoom Meeting ID:862 1255 2361.
Education
Austria offers scholarship grant for int’l postgraduate, research students
Austria offers scholarship grant for int’l postgraduate, research students
The Republic of Austria is offering an opportunity for international postgraduate students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers through the Ernst Mach Scholarship 2025.
Managed by OeAD-GmbH, Austria’s agency for education, this scholarship aims to support talented individuals in advancing their academic and research careers in Austria.
Details of the scholarship program
According to OeAD, the Ernst Mach Scholarship is open to students and researchers from various academic disciplines. This includes areas such as;
- Natural sciences
- Technical sciences
- Human medicine
- Health Sciences
- Agricultural sciences
- Social sciences
- Humanities, and arts.
The scholarship provides funding for semester or one-year grants, with research grants lasting from one to nine months, making it accessible to a broad range of applicants.
Benefits of the Ernst Mach scholarship
The scholarship offers numerous benefits to successful applicants.
- Recipients will receive a monthly stipend of €1,300 for the duration of their stay in Austria.
- Accommodation assistance is available, with affordable housing options ranging from €330 to €800 per month.
- OeAD will also provide administrative support to help applicants find suitable housing.
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Grant holders will receive guidance on obtaining health insurance accepted in Austria, with a cost ranging from €55 to €200 per month. The scholarship also waives tuition fees at public universities, further reducing the financial burden on participants.
A travel subsidy of up to €1,200 is available for applicants from eligible developing countries, with travel invoices required for reimbursement. Moreover, recipients will have the opportunity to build valuable connections with top researchers and institutions in Austria, which can significantly enhance their academic and professional networks.
Eligibility criteria for applicants
The Ernst Mach Scholarship is open to early-career academics who are passionate about advancing their research. To be eligible, applicants must be;
- Postgraduate students pursuing a PhD outside Austria or postgraduates and postdoctoral researchers looking to conduct research in Austria.
- Additionally, postdocs employed at universities outside Austria are also eligible to apply.
- Applicants must be 35 years old or younger (born on or after October 1st, 1989) and should not have lived, studied, or worked in Austria for more than six months prior to applying.
- Proficiency in English or German is required to ensure effective communication during the research process.
How to apply for the Ernst Mach Scholarship
To apply for the Ernst Mach Scholarship 2025, interested individuals must visit the official OeAD-GmbH website.
The application deadline is February 1st, 2025. Applicants should ensure that they meet the eligibility requirements and submit all required documents before the deadline.
Austria offers scholarship grant for int’l postgraduate, research students
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