Thursday, January 22, 2015

South Africa Tuition Free Online University Degrees for 1,000 South African High School Graduates

1,000 South African High School Graduates to Access Tuition-Free Degrees Online


1,000 SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES TO ACCESS TUITION-FREE DEGREES ONLINE

University of the People founder and President, Shai Reshef. Image courtesy TED.com 2014
A student studying at the online university
With an estimated 425,000 matriculates seeking tertiary education this year, UoPeople offers matrics tuition-free, accredited online university degrees
The right to a quality education mustn’t be a matter of one’s geographical or financial situation. Access to education must be an equal and basic right for all, rather than a privilege for the few.
— President Shai Reshef
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, January 19, 2015 /EINPresswire.com/ -- 1,000 South African High School Graduates to Access Tuition-Free Degrees Online

University of the People (www.UoPeople.edu) President Shai Reshef has announced 1,000 places for South African students at the non-profit, tuition-free, accredited, online American university for 2015. The decision comes following the news of matric results earlier this month pointing to an education crisis in South Africa.

On January 5th South Africa’s 2014 school pass rates of final year students were released, indicating a discouraging drop for the first time in five years after changes to the education system. Low quality educational standards have constrained growth in Africa’s second-largest economy, with businesses struggling to employ skilled workers in a country with over a 25 percent unemployment rate. 70 percent of the jobless in South Africa are under 35. In a survey last year by the World Economic Forum, South Africa’s education system was ranked the fifth-lowest among 144 countries, with its score in mathematics and science the worst of the group.

University of the People presents a genuine alternative for South African high school graduates who luck out of securing limited seats in local universities. “There is no need for the thousands of qualified high school graduates who will be left out of higher education this year to remain shut out,” says President Reshef. “University of the People identifies South African high school graduates as students who are driven and ambitious and particularly in need and deserving of access to quality higher education. The right to a quality education mustn’t be a matter of one’s geographical or financial situation; Access to education must be an equal and basic right for all, rather than a privilege for the few.”

University of the People believes that access to higher education is a key ingredient in the promotion of financial stability, leading to global economic development and peace. Dedicated to democratizing higher education globally, University of the People exemplifies employing an online solution for potentially millions of people. The University has enrolled students from 150 different countries to date, including 44 from South Africa, where retention rates are comparatively high.

University of the People is changing the way online learning is perceived through international accreditation, alliances with prestigious educational institutions (such as Yale University for research and New York University for accepting students) and partnerships with global corporations (such as Hewlett-Packard for internships and Microsoft for scholarships). The unique focus at the online University is on small classes, peer interaction and personal attention. Online access need only be basic – broadband connections and video capability are not required.

The University offers degrees in Business Administration and Computer Science on a tuition-free basis. Students only pay for exam processing fees of $100, meaning that a student can study towards an accredited Bachelor’s Degree for as little as $4,000.

South Africa, take heed – young adults in need of education can be serviced with the delivery of quality education at low-cost. It is the viable solution to conquering inequalities in educational attainment and is available at everyone’s fingertips. 

Deadline March 2, 2015. Apply for FEMA Youth Preparedness Council. Ages: 13-17

YOUTH PREPAREDNESS COUNCIL

2015 Council Applications Are Now Being Accepted

FEMA is looking for youth leaders who are dedicated to public service, who are making a difference in their communities, and who want to expand their impact as national advocates for youth disaster preparedness. Any individual between the ages of 13 and 17 who is engaged in individual and community preparedness, or who has experienced a disaster that has motivated him or her to make a positive difference in his or her community, may apply to serve on the Youth Preparedness Council. Applications must be received by March 2, 2015, 11:59 p.m. EST.

Homeland Security Today: Cybrary’s Free Online Training Reshaping Cybersecurity Education

Homeland Security Today: Cybrary’s Free Online Training Reshaping Cybersecurity Education

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

2015. 17th Annual Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Tour



17th Annual Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Tour
April 4-11, 2015
Visiting: Kentucky State University, North Carolina AT&T University, Bennett College for Women, Hampton University, Norfolk State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Howard University and Morgan Sate University.
Get On The Bus To Your Future 
Please call 773.256.2761 or 773.256.2762 to register or for more information.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Message from the CDEMA Executive Director on the 5h Anniversary of the Haiti Earthquake

http://cdema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1415:message-from-the-cdema-executive-director-on-the-5h-anniversary-of-the-haiti-earthquake&catid=38:speeches&Itemid=116


Five years ago on January 12, 2010, CDEMA was called to respond to the most catastrophic event in the history of the Agency. Haiti, a member of the CDEMA family had been struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. This was the strongest earthquake recorded in this part of the Caribbean region. Over 300,000 persons died and extensive damage to the capital, Port-au-Prince, and outlying districts left close to three (3) million people displaced. 

As we remember that sad day for the people of Haiti, let us pause a moment to reflect on the lessons and consider the positive steps taken thus far to reduce vulnerability and exposure within the countries of the Region. We must also consider outstanding measures still to be implemented and where these exist, we must seek to urgently advance them. The importance of enhancing personal readiness and resilience to cope with, respond to and recover from this hazard must also be a focus. 

The Caribbean region’s geological makeup causes hundreds of earthquakes to occur within the region each year. There is no doubt, however, that the Haiti earthquake was a strong and grim reminder of the vulnerability of the Caribbean to seismic activity and to be always prepared for a major earthquake event.

One of the major lessons of the event is the need for safer building standards to be applied, monitored and enforced and this will be the focus my message on the 5th Anniversary of the Haiti Earthquake. 

Poorly built infrastructure in a heavily populated urban area contributed to the significant loss of life and destruction of houses in Haiti. Reports have indicated that housing accounted for more than 40% of total damage costs in and was estimated at US $739 million. 

The impact on housing has also been noted in other hazards events across the region. A UN/ECLAC country assessment showed that between 1990-2008 most of the countries reviewed experienced damage to housing and human settlements ranging between 35% to 99% of the total national damage costs incurred as a result of natural disasters. Hurricane Ivan resulted in over US$500 million in damage to the housing sector in Grenada and US$180 million in Jamaica and in Guyana the floods of 2005 caused an estimated US$275 million in damage to housing. 

It is therefore imperative that we recognize that safer building practices need to be emphasized to limit the loss of life and property and minimize the disruption to our overall development process. 

The instituting of Building Codes needs to be a national priority. These Codes must be kept up to date, legislated and enforced in all of our Participating States. 

CDEMA has developed a Regional Code of Practice for the Construction of Houses Course and has delivered it in Haiti and other CDEMA Participating States. 

This course targets persons who are involved in the building trade and training has been supported by United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under the Comprehensive Disaster Management - Harmonised Implementation Programme (CDM-HIP). 

I urge all of our Participating States to promote safer building programmes and to encourage the certification of builders. Homeowners are key stakeholders and as such, continuous public education and awareness on building practices will help to inform them on what is required to reduce the impact to their properties from earthquakes and other hazards events. 

As we observe this event, I wish to assure Haiti and our other Participating States that the CDEMA Coordinating Unit will continue to advocate and support efforts in building resilient states to safeguard lives and properties. 

I also take this opportunity to acknowledge and commend the government and people of Haiti in their efforts at rebuilding the country and in adopting a comprehensive approach to disaster risk management.

Ronald JacksonExecutive Director

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