Católica Porto Business School is a business school of Universidade Católica Portuguesa renowned for the development of professionals for a sustainable and global society. Over time, Católica Porto Business School has obtained the major international recognitions and accreditations. The school is part of a select group of three schools in Portugal which boast EQUIS and AMBA accreditations, and its programs are also included under Universidade Católica Portuguesa’s AACSB accreditation scope. These recognitions assert Católica Porto Business School’s excellence in all its activities, including Teaching, Research, and Societal Impact.

Innovative Pedagogical Approaches

For over 30 years, Católica Porto Business School has trained professionals in Management and Economics who pursue international careers. It boasts strong connections to practice, which enables a tight fit between skill development and market needs. Católica Porto Business School’s teaching is characterized by a close engagement with the students as well as constant innovation of programs and pedagogical methods. The school offers distinctive study and research programs that garner the academic needs of students while refining their career and development skills. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recognized Católica Porto Business School’s innovation in teaching as one of the “7 best practices” worldwide.

At Católica Porto Business School, students develop a global mindset through various approaches. These include pursuing courses in multiple countries and cultures through exchange programs or double-degree programs; participating in international weeks, engaging in teamwork with international students; or through the completion of the many courses taught in English by invited professors from Católica’s international partnership network.

Study Programs

Católica Porto Business School offers two Undergraduate Programmes—Economics and Management—and a Double Undergraduate Degree in Law and Management. Its undergraduate programs include the development of skills for immediate employability, as well as for pursuing postgraduate education in the best schools worldwide.

At the Masters’s level, the school offers 6 MSc degrees—Auditing & Taxation, Business Economics, Finance, Management, Human Resource Management and Marketing. It offers 2 Double Degrees, one in association with Lancaster University and the other with Aston University —developing expert professionals according to functional or industry areas.

In executive education, Católica offers general management programs, as well as  courses in specialized areas for lifelong learning. These include the Executive MBA, 19 Short Executive Courses, 8 Post-Graduate programs, 3 of which sectorial (Healthcare Management, Hospitality Management and Management for Lawyers). The teaching format is normally face-to-face, but during pandemic restrictions it has been blended, supported by modern classroom technology. In the last year, the school has also launched successfully 5 fully online short programs. Presently, the school offers programs in Portugal, Angola, Brazil, and Mozambique, while continuously working on its expansion to new geographies.

Research

The school is committed to advancing knowledge in Management and Economics through high-quality state-of-the-art research, with meaningful impact on businesses and society. Research activities are organized in different centers and labs, as follows:

CEGE– A research centre accredited by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, focusing on fundamental research;

S.Lab – A cutting-edge research centre with the objective of producing and transferring knowledge for increasing productivity, quality and innovation in service-related industries and tasks.

Lead.Lab – A knowledge centre with the objective of contributing to a more humane, virtuous and effective leadership;

CEGEA – Focusing on consultancy and development of national and sectoral policies.

Pivoted by a Comprehensive Leader

At Católica Porto Business School’s helm, Rui Soucasaux Sousa (Dean and Professor of Operations Management at Católica) leads the school with a clear mission to develop professionals for a global, sustainable and ethical society, and advance knowledge on management and economics – through connections with practice, impactful innovation and adoption of a global mindset.

With a comprehensive academic and leadership career, Rui Sousa’s research has received several international awards and has been published in leading international scientific journals.

Throughout his career, Rui Soucasaux Sousa has been a member of several high-level scientific organizations such as the European Operations Management Association, of which he is Honorary Fellow. He holds a PhD from London Business School, has taught at the London Business School and London School of Economics, and is invited lecturer of EIASM (European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management, Brussels). Rui has worked with a number of leading international organizations, including Rank Xerox, Siemens, Ministry of Finance of France, EDP (major Portuguese electricity utility), Sonae (largest Portuguese retailer), among others.

Balancing Academics and Extra-Curricular Activities

Acquiring a quality job has been a part of every student’s career objective. Moreover, other than academic proficiencies, there are transversal skills which are honed by employers that provide an additional competitive advantage to the students.

Reinforcing prolific employability demands, Católica Porto Business School’s educational approach is based on an integrated development program. This program considers scientific, technical, and transversal competencies, providing students with a more comprehensive education. Meanwhile, the undergraduate programs in Economics and Management groom the students to meet the market demands. These namely include—Critical thinking and analytic skills; Effective organization of their work; Making use of learned techniques; Working in multidisciplinary teams; Being self-sufficient in problem-solving; Having an ethical awareness and exercise citizenship; and having a cosmopolitan view of the world and of the organizations they may work with.

In addition to academics, Católica Porto Business School also emphasizes the personal development of students for future benefits. Its goals are to promote ethical awareness (social and environmental) and the exercise of Citizenship for the world. Academic life at Católica enables students the possibility to participate in associations and initiatives promoted by the school. These include Associação de Estudantes da Católica Porto Business School (AECPBS) (Students Association), Católica Students’ Consulting (CSC), Católica Porto Investment Club, and “Tuna” male and female (Academic Music Group).

Career Development Opportunities

Católica Porto Business School focuses on the promotion of student’s personal and professional development, and the connection to the business community and the entire business alumni network through the Career and Development Office. Bringing together students, companies, teachers, alumni, and pre-university students, its goal is to contribute to the promotion of personal and professional development of students and graduates of the Católica Porto Business School while enhancing their employability. It listens and responds to the needs and expectations of the labour market initiatives.

Moreover, the office seeks to promote closer cooperation across a national and international network of strategic partners.

Encompassing Challenges and Embracing Trends

Católica Porto Business School faced significant challenges during the global pandemic, however, the community’s collaborative response helped it overcome them. The brand remained strong and it continued attracting good candidates. In its undergraduate and MSc programs, the school recorded a significant increase in applications while demand for courses in executive levels exceeded expectations.

In addition, there were various technological investments in classrooms to support the blended teaching model to provide learning resources to those who were unable to attend classes. With pristine awareness of technological domination and changes, the School remains updated with the trends. It has numerous digital communication channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and others), while also promoting traditional supports–brochures, newsletters, in order to ensure that its legacy remains ceaseless and cherished.

Garnering Students’ Employment Skills

Católica Porto Business School provides different ways for students to be in contact with the labour market during their education and allows them to leverage several benefits of the market. Aiming to strengthen the bonds with companies and other organizations, the School cooperates with companies, inviting representatives’ future trends and needs from the business world and other organizations to participate in seminars, present case studies in classes, share experiences, and participate as members of the jury in the project courses.

It also offers short-term internships to encourage students’ participation in short-term, national, and international internships—part of the strategy to make easier the access of students to the labour market. Additionally, Católica Porto Business School’s Final Project–an internship–corresponds to the curricular recognition of these experiences as long as the established requirements are fulfilled when it comes to the nature, duration, and evaluation of the internship.

Read Full Magazine: The 10 Best Media and Mass Communication Institutes of 2021

The post Católica Porto Business School: Broadening Career Opportunities with Distinctive Academic Approaches appeared first on The Education Magazine.

A Brief History

Southern Oregon University was founded in 1872 as Ashland Academy. In 1878, the school was first renamed Ashland Academy and Commercial College. It was renamed Southern Oregon State College in 1975 and received university status in 1997.

While Oregon lawmakers designated the institution in 1882 as an official state normal school – a teacher’s college – the state provided no funding. Today, the campus includes 175 acres with modern facilities, enrollment of more than 6,000 students, and more than 1,100 degrees conferred annually.

Comprehensive Academic Programs

SOU offers 109 majors, minors, certificates and micro-credentials for degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students. Some of the prominent academic programs offered by the university include:

• Majors: Art, Economics, Computer Science, Psychology, Mathematics, Management, Theatre, Music, Digital Cinema, Emerging Media and Digital Arts, etc.
  
• Minors: Applied Statistics, Communication Studies, Digital Journalism, Esports Management, Military Science, Philosophy, Latin American Studies, etc.
  
• Certificates: Applied Finance & Economics, Cultural Resource Management, Holistic Education, Sustainability Leadership, Transgender Studies, etc.
  
• Graduate Degrees: Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration (Arts Management Concentration-Evening Program), MBA, Master of Science in Environmental Education, Master in Management, Master in Interdisciplinary Studies, etc.
  
• Micro-credentials: Network Technology, Digital Security, Social Media Strategy, Foundations in Professional Writing, etc.
  
• Online Degrees: Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Innovation and Leadership, etc.
  
• Undergraduate Studies: Learning Foundations, Learning Explorations, Honors Seminar, etc.
  
• Pre-professional Programs: Medical Technology, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, etc.

Navigating the Modern-day Challenges

The biggest current trend in media is the ambiguity audiences are feeling regarding large social media platforms. While audiences are concerned with serious problems that are aggravated at a national scale including disinformation, political discord, and harassment and privacy concerns, many are still dependent on platforms to stay connected with friends and family and for news and entertainment.

SOU offers several courses including COMM195, Digital Life; COMM203, Media Literacy; COMM323, Strategic Social Media; and COMM482, Media Ethics & Law to help students navigate the social and ethical challenges of social media.

Career Preparation and Academic Success

SOU emphasizes career preparation and academic success for its students in conjunction with its comprehensive academic programs. The Office of Career Connections provides resources to assist students from all academic programs and class years identify and achieve their individual career goals to lead lives of purpose.

SOU welcomes all students and embraces opportunities to collaborate with employers, graduate and professional schools, faculty and staff, student organizations, parents and alumni to provide the highest quality service to students. The university also provides a Tutoring Center which offers a Writing Center and a Math and Science Lab.

Customizing the Educational Experience

SOU strives to provide learners with the ability to customize their educational experience. There is something for everyone at the university. Students with a love for the outdoors are often inclined toward SOU because of its unique location in one of the most diverse bioregions in the world and its easy access to renowned natural attractions such as Crater Lake, Mt. Ashland and the Rogue River.

The new Esports program at SOU—the first university on the West Coast to combine both an academic program and competitive Esports team—has proved enticing, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. State-of-the-art technologies and facilities, and an evolving, innovative curriculum at SOU give students access to hands-on experience and a broad array of classes that speak to industry needs. “SOU students are at the forefront of an industry that is poised for continued and lasting growth,” says Dr. Neil Woolf, VP of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at SOU.

Expanding Access to College Education

Dr. Woolf earned his bachelor’s degree in government and business administration from Eastern Washington University, master’s degree in public administration from the University of Utah, and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Prior to joining SOU, he led enrollment management and student affairs efforts in Wisconsin, Washington, and Nevada. His chief interest is expanding access to college education and expanding student success and graduation while enrolled.

Combating the Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted SOU to pivot the delivery of coursework to fully remote in spring 2020 with little more than two weeks notice, in the interest of safety. Heeding the crisis, SOU’s staff mobilized immediately and formed the Incident Response Team. The team is responsible for communicating safety measures to campus and creating and executing action plans as the situation has evolved.

The university faced another monumental crisis in September 2020 as a result of the Almeda Drive Fire—which burned through neighboring towns Talent and Phoenix. Many SOU staff, faculty and students lost their homes in the fire. SOU provided emergency housing for affected community members and opened facilities to the public to provide a badly needed respite from the hazardous air quality conditions.

Toward Hybrid Learning Experiences

The university is looking forward to returning to a sense of normalcy as soon as it has been determined to be safe for the campus to resume in-person classes, however, safety is its foremost concern. “If 2020 taught us anything, it is to expect nothing and appreciate everything,” Dr. Woolf says.

“We plan to offer more hybrid learning experiences—a mix of in-person and remote course delivery—beginning spring 2021, depending on Jackson County’s public health status,” Dr. Woolf says. SOU’s Ashland campus offers several beautiful outdoor locations where classes can consider meeting, provided the students can safely social distance and everyone is masked in accordance with an order from the Oregon governor’s office.

SOU promises to continue making every possible effort in the coming years to deliver the high quality education students expect and deserve.

Read Full Magazine:- The 10 Best Media and Mass Communication Institutes of 2021

The post Southern Oregon University: An Institution fostering Creativity, innovation, and Success appeared first on The Education Magazine.

Standing out as one of the leading universities with its artistic-oriented curriculum, the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (MUK) is committed to the further development of music and the performing arts as well as their freedom. Being an autonomous university for music and performing arts, the MUK is a place for the practice of arts and education and offers artistic, artistic-scientific, and artistic-pedagogical studies and courses. It also engages in active dialogue with society on relevant issues and current challenges.

The MUK’s establishment dates back to the 1920s. Several private stakeholders and the public administration of Vienna put efforts to provide access to high standards of art and music education to people of varied backgrounds on artistic and educational levels. In 2005, the MUK received its accreditation with the City of Vienna being its sole owner. This has made it possible for many students from around the globe to access artistic education which is not only contemporary and highly demanding on an international level, but also financially viable and in accordance with the principles of the Bologna Declaration of the European Union.

An Insightful Curriculum

The MUK follows a distinctive strategic curriculum which focuses on two crucial aspects:

Development and exploration of the arts as a core mission

The MUK develops and explores both the traditional and contemporary art forms while developing innovative concepts for arts education. The contemporary artistic trends are equivalent to the focus of teaching and research as historical-artistic practice and theory. One of the central concerns of the university is complementing discipline-specific education with interdisciplinary, cross-faculty work and transdisciplinary projects. Teaching and art development encompasses the areas of interpretation and creation, scholarship and research, as well as mediation and participation. Additionally, researchers from the fields of music, theatre, and dance studios as well as pedagogy contribute to the generation and dissemination of knowledge in many forms on an international level, and as a part of an academic community which is excellence-oriented.

Focus on talents and competencies

For students and teachers, access to the MUK is based on criteria of excellence in terms of both artistic talent and professional aptitude. To achieve this, the comprehensive education and development of the independent artistic personality of students and teachers at the MUK is of central importance. In all the art forms represented, the MUK sets itself the standard of international artistic competitiveness and presents these to a critical public in regular events.

An Array of Study Programs

The MUK offers the following courses and programs:

• Conducting and Composition (Bachelor’s / Master’s Program)
• Keyboard Instruments (Preparatory Course / Bachelor’s / Master’s Program)
• String Instruments (Preparatory Course / Bachelor’s / Master’s Program)
• Wind and Percussion Instruments (Preparatory Course / Bachelor’s / Master’s Program)
• Jazz (Bachelor’s / Master’s Program)
• Early Music (Bachelor’s / Master’s Program)
• Voice and Opera (Bachelor’s / Master’s Program)
• Musical Theatre (Bachelor’s Program)
• Drama (Bachelor’s Program)
• Dance (Preparatory Course / Bachelor’s / Master’s Program)
• Cross-faculty program: Master of Arts Education (MAE)

The study programs encompass over 30 Bologna-compatible bachelor’s and master’s programs in music, musical theater, dance, and drama, along with preparatory courses (for exceptional young talents) and non-degree University courses (extra-occupational education focusing on one area of expertise). Additionally, the ‘Certificate of Performance’ offers tailored, high-level professional training to musicians who are looking to acquire an additional qualification suited to their needs.

Currently, many students are provided the opportunity to develop artistically within the university framework along with over 300 professors, lecturers, and administrative staff. More than half of the students come from abroad and no more than 150  200 out of 1500 applicants are admitted to the university. These students are assessed on the basis of technical and artistic aptitudes during the rigorous admission process. Approximately 850 students from over 50 countries come together in Vienna and create an open-minded and progressive atmosphere. The MUK offers international students a campus flair at three locations in the heart of Vienna.

Robust Members at the Core

The MUK faculty is distinguished into the ‘Faculty of Music’ (comprising reputable soloists, orchestra musicians, and many more), and the ‘Faculty of Performing Arts’. Owing to the university’s international partnerships and connections, the students can avail regular opportunities to participate in exchange projects and concert tours in major countries such as the USA, China, and many more.

Along with 280 lecturers – including many who enjoy the highest artistic and academic reputation beyond their teaching profession – young artists are a part of the MUK community of competence and innovative strength. This is constantly driven forward through the individual promotion of teaching and through intensive research.

The management team, small yet efficient, provides administrative support incorporating the latest technological developments. It is actively involved in the development of educational formats – comprising 450 public events annually among other things.

The close consultation between the university leadership and the lecturers, students, and administrative staff, has seen that a new structure is developed for the young university. This will, in particular, reposition the master’s degrees in terms of future artistic and academic requirements. Furthermore, the contemporary artwork forms the thematic reference point – completing the circle of the founding ideals of the past.

A Plethora of Additionalities

The MUK offers programs that are based on current trends in music and art life. It also considers the current research conducted in the concerned area such as questions of historical performance practice or technical innovations in the field of (live) electronics. This characteristic has enabled the university to collaborate closely with renowned non-academic, as well as valuable cultural partners, and organizes regular workshops and masterclasses to complement its courses.

Effective Crisis Management

To prevent any further outbreak of COVID-19, the MUK transitioned to distance learning and online training until the lockdown was lifted from the City of Vienna. The teachers maintained constant contact with the students and supported them, while the university utilized the pandemic as an opportunity to improve on technical forefronts. It conducted online events and streamed performances for a large audience for the very first time since its establishment.

Adaptable Perspectives

The MUK supported the students according to their special talents and personal visions to help them develop professional identities on the basis of the competencies acquired during their studies. The student-centered education focuses – in addition to the established professional profiles in particular – on the individual development of the students in their respective artistic work. To achieve this goal in the best possible way, teachers and students work together in individual and group lessons, in teams and in ensembles, applying the principles of co-determination, co-creation, and co-responsibility.

Spearheading in the Present Time

The MUK assembles musicians, performing artists, and researchers from all over the world and offers them the opportunity for artistic and academic development in a cosmopolitan, appreciative, and innovative atmosphere. Regular cooperation with domestic and foreign partners is an integral part of its own self-image.

The university has made a virtue out of necessity and is currently even more digitally fit. It is confident about the future and plans to conduct both physical and online classes using cutting-edge technology, science, and its artistic professions. It plans to offer online applications for study places in the future (especially auditions), to streamline content for international students in particular.

Read Full Magazine:- The 10 Best Media and Mass Communication Institutes of 2021

The post Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna: Educating Artists with modern methodes appeared first on The Education Magazine.

Although technology is imperative to business success today, it is nothing without the people who understand and develop it. Cultivating the tech-geeks of the future, Algebra University College offers modern and up-to-date study programs in Design and Digital marketing that help them become a part of a digitally-transformed world. The university strives to acquaint its students with the importance of technology in today’s business environment, as well as teach them how to manage people that use this technology.

A Robust Institution

Algebra University College was established in 2007 as a private, not-for-profit educational institution by the Algebra Education Group—the largest national provider of adult and lifelong learning. Soon, it became recognized as a part of the official higher education system of the Republic of Croatia. Presently, Algebra is ranked first in the Republic of Croatia in respect to the overall quality of the programs and institution, according to the National Agency for Science and Higher Education for Quality Assurance System. It also was the best educational organization in the world among 3200 organizations as evaluated by Microsoft in 2014.

Algebra is a co-founder of the Leading Learning Partners Association (LLPA) which was recognized as the winner of 2020 Microsoft Learning Partner of the Year. Moreover, it is the only institution in Croatia that has met the quality requirements of the Dutch-Flemish accreditation agency NVAO. Besides, MIT chose Croatia and Algebra to co-organize the first European MIT Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Croatia in 2020—which was postponed to 2022 due to the pandemic.

Applied Digital Study Programs

Algebra offers a plethora of modern and applied digital study programs. After two years of intensive preparations and initial accreditation, in January 2015, the university received its initial accreditation to start the new undergraduate and graduate study programs in digital marketing—the first of its kind in that part of Europe.

The bachelor’s programs offered by the university include—Software Engineering, System Engineering, Multimedia Computing, Digital Marketing, Visual Communications Design, and 3D Modeling. It also offers Master’s programs such as Software Engineering, System Engineering, Game Development, Data Science, Digital Marketing, Design & Communications Management, MBA, and e-Leadership.

Constant Academic Improvements

Algebra organizes several activities for its students, teachers, employees, as well as international students and experts who share its values and mission. Through these activities, the university aims to provide its students with high-quality education and improvement, as well as the wellbeing of the wider social community. The university is continuously monitoring technological developments as well as the real needs of employers, which has resulted in academic program improvements.

Recognizing the advancements in education worldwide, Algebra was the first institution in Croatia to apply a modern qualification framework approach in the design of its study programs. Teachers at the university ensure students reach their full academic potential by holding regular consultation hours as well as remaining available for individual sessions to all students that need further assistance with the topics covered in class or express a desire to learn more.

Lucrative Career Opportunities

The Career Center at the university emphasizes building a career for every student or alumni. Students seeking employment during studies or Algebra’s recent graduates seeking a transition from education to a labor market are aided by the Career Center as the initial point of contact between students, Algebra, and potential employers. Algebra’s staff guides students as they explore and further understand their career options, gain valuable experience, and develop as professionals.

The Career Center is available from the moment a student considers studying at Algebra and even after completing it. While studying at Algebra, the Career Center has an advisory role for all areas of the students’ needs—learning aids and support, expert psychological assistance, supplementary and additional teaching, planning and realization of professional practices, career counseling and counseling on further academic development, employment assistance, and development of additional skills.

Blending Academics and Extracurricular

Algebra’s students have lectures and laboratory experiences at the university several times a week in the morning and afternoon. Since its numerous master level students wish to combine studying and working, the university has adopted the schedule to give students more free time during the regular working hours. The university places considerable emphasis on creating a balanced student life.

At the PE class, students often practice outside. For instance, they go jogging by a lake or hiking in nearby mountains. During their study time, students can study at the library or use all necessary equipment on the university premises. Algebra has also developed a Buddy Program which offers students a variety of extracurricular activities—such as field trips, museum hopping, pub crawls, movie nights, and international cooking contests—while at the same time connecting them to their peers from all around the world.

Rising above the Challenges

“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought us many challenges; however, these circumstances have also shown us once again that humanity and togetherness guide the way towards a brighter tomorrow, even in the most difficult situations,” states Mislav Balkovic (Dean at Algebra University College). The university has been adapting to epidemiological measures daily. Mislav mentions that the primary concern for the university is to provide its students with the maximum quality in teaching—regardless of the method of conduct. To preserve the highest quality, Algebra introduced online lectures via online educational platforms and organized onsite labs for students under strictly controlled epidemiological conditions.

Furthermore, the university made sure to remain available to its students at all times with an open invitation to contact regarding all possible difficulties or challenges they may encounter. The Student Office and Student Counseling Center, alongside Algebra’s Vice Dean for students and the rest of the staff, are ready to help students at all times to make sure their mental health is observed and addressed accurately. Approaching the post-covid era, the university is vigilant and is prepared to offer students the possibility to attend hybrid teaching in order to protect the wellbeing of students as well as teaching staff.

Anticipations for the Future

As the world gradually returning with accepting all the changes happening around, Mislav expects that 2021 will give fresh wind to students’ interests, whether this is as part of the Erasmus+program, study abroad, or short Winter and Summer School programs. Heeding this, Algebra University College is working on developing new program options for its students and refreshing its existing ones.

Additionally, as both students and lecturers have become accustomed to the hybrid mode of teaching, Mislav anticipates that 2021 will bring more flexibility in this area. Students will be able to choose how they attend lectures so that it best suits their circumstances and provides them with a top-quality study experience tailored to their needs. “Overall, we expect more international students and the end of the pandemic,” concludes Mislav.

The post Algebra University College: Cultivating Next Gen Tech-geeks of the Future appeared first on The Education Magazine.