ISC-UKEAS and DTiNews are holding an online exchange entitled “What are the hot programmes?”, with a panel answering practical questions for students and parents about choosing the right course when study abroad.

The panel includes Ms. Rachel Scannell, Assistant Head at Bromsgrove School, Kristi McFarland, International officer at University of Durham, Carl Owen, Country Manager of ISC-UKEAS and Le Ngoc Mai, a former student who received a master's degree from University of Leeds.

The event is aimed at helping students in choosing the right course when study abroad as well as provide experts’ predict on the “hot” programmes and careers in the next few years. Any readers who have questions on this topic are welcome to participate by entering their questions here.

The diversity in education system in the UK may pose many difficulties to students, to be able to choose the right course and develop can bring long-term benefits to students. The panelists will be available to help those interested navigate the world of higher education in the UK.

Bromsgrove is a “remarkably impressive and exciting school driven with imagination and dynamism by an exceptional head.” (The good schools guide 2013).  An OFSTED “Outstanding” School which, according to the Good Schools Guide, “inhabits the academic stratosphere”, Bromsgrove achieves its sensational performance (87% A* - B grades at A level and an average IB score of 35 with a quarter of all candidates achieving over 40 points in 2012) through adding value, not by ruthless selection in the first place.

Rachel Scannell

Rachel Scannell is Assistant Head at Bromsgrove School, working alongside the Headmaster and Bursaries, her role encompasses the admissions, marketing and communication functions across all three of the Bromsgrove Schools (senior, prep and pre-prep). A teacher by profession, Rachel is a natural communicator and travels the world recruiting pupils for the School.  She oozes the feel of Bromsgrove and is passionate about allowing all the young people who attend the School to have a happy and successful time at the School. Rachel is interested in the on-going development of education and the educational needs of young people.

As the third oldest University in England, after Oxford and Cambridge, Durham University has been a leading European centre of learning for 1,000 years. Ranked in top 5 UK University in several publications such as The Sunday Times University Guide 2013, the complete University Guide 2013 and The Times Good University Guide, Durham University is an excellent destination for outstanding students.

Kristi McFarland

Kristi McFarland is an International Officer for Durham University managing recruitment and marketing in East and South East Asia. Durham University is the third oldest university in England and is located in historic North East England. Kristi has been working at Durham for 2 1/2 years. Prior to being an International Officer, Kristi worked in marketing at a university in the United States.

Carl Owen

Carl Owen has lived primarily in Asia since 1991. Owen worked for UKEAS in Taiwan from 2005 to 2008, and has since taken the position of country manager in Vietnam for ISC-UKEAS. With over 10 years of experience in this particular field, Carl is passionate about improving the services ISC-UKEAS provides their students. “Overseas education is a great investment. It is important for us that we are able to provide up to date information, essential advices so that our students can choose the right path when study abroad. It is essential for students to choose a suitable course which society needs once they graduate. By doing so, they can increase their chance of getting a good job, therefore maximise the investment in the first place.”

Le Ngoc Mai

Le Ngoc Mai graduated from the Hanoi University of Foreign Trade in 2010. Studying abroad was her dream since the first days at University, she went to England and studied International Marketing management at University of Leeds. Mai returned to Vietnam earlier this year and currently working as a consultant for ISC-UKEAS. With experience in studying abroad and working in Vietnam, Mai will be able to answer questions from a Vietnamese student’s perspective as well as provide great advices for students who want to study in the UK.