The partnership of IL Institute with Stevenson College in Edinburgh, Scotland, allows students to take their first semester in social care in the Philippines and finish the course in Edinburgh.
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Jorge Perez de Tagle, IL Institutes chief executive officer and founder, explained that while studying in Scotland, the student can earn from part-time work and from full-time work during school breaks.
This was after IL Institute was granted authorization by Stevenson College of Edinburgh to act as an agent partner “for the purpose of recruiting students” for academic programs of the college.
De Tagle said it was not to be confused with an overseas contract working program.
Cookie Engwa, the institute’s national vice president for operations, said they have
already sent 89 students to Edinburgh and 20 percent have brought their families along with them.
She said most of them were at the top of their classes.
By August, Engwa said they hope to reach their 120th mark by sending 35 more students to Edinburgh and other batches in November and April 2012.
Academics from Stevenson College said they welcome the addition of Filipino students into their school, saying this would add to the cultural diversity of the college.
Marie McArthur, associate principal of the college’s health and social care department, said that from their two-year program in social care, students can further their studies by proceeding to courses such as sociak work, sociology, community education and public services.
She said careers in social care are not limited.
Engwa said social care in the United Kingdom and other western countries did not just mean taking care of elderly.
She said this also meant that they will be handling persons with disability, teenagers who get pregnant and persons who have HIV and AIDS.
Engwa said many of them earn higher than the minimum wage. While the minimum wage is £5.50 an hour, she said many of their students who have part-time jobs earn up to £6.50 an hour on weekdays and as much as £11.50 an hour on weekends.
Engwa also said that unlike employment placement agencies, they assist their students
in their visa applications for free by making sure that they pass their assessments and have all documents in order. They are also assisted in pre-departure and in airport pick-up arrangements.
De Tagle said those who want to consider this option should have the interest in pursuing a career in social care and be adventurous enough to life in a city like Edinburgh.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 08, 2011.
