Minutes recorded by:
Lenka Borecka, Project Coordinator, Jan Hus Educational Foundation,
Brno, Czech Republic, prajzner@phil.muni.cz
Remarks by Angelika Volkman, Director, Program in English as a Second Language, University of California, Irvine, California:
The demand for short-term programs is increasing amongst working American professionals as well as international students.
Benefits:
Attaining qualifications with the a minimum investment of
- Time: Four months - one year
- Money: US$10,000 - $20,000
- Effort: Practical rather than theoretical knowledge
Types of Certificate Professional Programs:
- Accelerated: Four-month day programs, include academic services
- Evening programs for international students. Adjusted to their needs.
- Evening regular programs, designed for Americans. This is the most common type.
The programs are accredited by NUCEA (National University Continuing Education Association). Providers are able to tailor a program by requirement or design a special program for a group of students.
The diversity of programs creates a barrier to their evaluation. Criteria for choosing the right program are summarized in the handout written by Angelica Volkman, "Considerations in Choosing a Certificate Program".
Resources:
- NUCEA provides a list of publications
- Rosemary Arens, Fulbright Commission, Peru, is creating the database of short-term programs in the U.S. It should be completed by the end of August 1995.
- NUCEA newsletter
- Advising Quarterly
- Peterson's Guide to Graduate Studies
- In 1997 the catalog will be included on the WWW by Peterson's publishers.
Contact at universities:
University Extension/Continuing Education Office
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