2010 WGST Spring press release

MORE GRADUATES SEEK FURTHER STUDIES AS A WAY TO LEAPFROG THE RECESSION London, 27th January: The increasing number of students interested in beating the economic crisis […]

MORE GRADUATES SEEK FURTHER STUDIES AS A WAY TO LEAPFROG THE RECESSION

London, 27th January: The increasing number of students interested in beating the economic crisis and up-skilling with a graduate degree can meet some of the world’s top universities presenting Masters and PhD programs in Bucharest this spring.
Scholarship fund of $400,000 offers more the chance to study further.

In the toughest graduate job market in decades, university leavers have to be ever more imaginative and resourceful to stand out from the crowd. With record numbers of graduates competing for fewer jobs, many university leavers across the continent are finding that now is the perfect time to invest in a Masters or PhD qualification and benefit from an employer demand for a more specialized skill-set.

The QS World Grad School Tour, the world’s most prestigious series of postgraduate education fairs, will be in Bucharest on Saturday 20 March bringing with it international universities and graduate schools such as Instituto de Empresa, EMLYON, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vlerick University… The Tour, now in its 10th year of operation, will visit 61 cities in 37 countries around the globe in 2010.

The inaugural Spring Tour has been specifically designed to offer to the growing number of postgraduate applicants the opportunity to shortlist the best programs for their
career objectives.

Prospective applicants will maximize their chances of acceptance to prestigious courses with advice from admissions professionals from some of the world’s leading institutions. They will also have the chance to research up to $400,000 worth of exclusive scholarships and funding offered to Tour attendees by participating institutions, making postgraduate study an ever more viable alternative to a daunting labour market. QS, the leading education and career network and organizers of the Tour, offers an additional US$10,000 scholarship, available to all who attend.

Peter MacDonald, director of the Tour, says Bucharest is a key recruitment destination for many of the world’s schools and universities who are keen to see more international students on their Masters and PhD programs. “Last year, the quality of candidates who attended the Tour was exceptional and we are expecting this same level to continue into 2010. Students interested in both professional and personal development are turning to a masters or PhD to give them that edge in the current economic climate. The QS World Grad School Tour is the perfect opportunity for them to meet with the admissions directors who will be reading their applications.”

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Faced with a sharp reduction in their graduate intake, many employers are specifically targeting the more specialized and advanced skill-sets acquired during postgraduate study. Patrick Benammar from Valeo’s Management Services Department in Paris, explains, “We have vacancies open for masters graduates and we hire between 20 and 30 per year. We are looking for their capacity to innovate and their willingness to prove that we can convince our customers to use new technologies. Their international exposure and their ability to work in international projects and organizations is also considered and highly appreciated.”

The prospect of re-entering an improved future job market means that many graduates are considering Masters and PhD courses now rather than later in their careers. Furthermore, candidates with advanced degrees may also benefit from more targeted recruitment policies that give them greater ability to match jobs to their own specific skill-set. Erika Sjöström, human resources associate at pharmaceuticals company Lilly Europe, elaborates, “Across Europe, we have a more targeted approach when it comes to Masters graduates. We are constantly on the lookout for talent and where a position calls for advanced skills then it means we will hire candidates with Masters – where this is not the case, then we will look for others.”

As well as being able to make a more informed decision about which course will maximize their investment, candidates who attend the QS World Grad School Tour can network with alumni, attend information sessions, and participate in seminars and panel debates.

The complete A-Z of graduate programs is represented at each fair from finance to management, engineering to IT, international affairs, creative arts, education and much more.

Registration for the QS World Grad School Tour is underway at www.topgradschool.com

Attendance to the fair and the seminars is free.

For more information please contact:
Renatha Iussa
renatha (at) qs (dot) com
+44 207 284 7286

About QS
QS provides full-spectrum guidance for higher education and career opportunities, supporting motivated individuals around the world to progress towards their future goals. Through our exclusive events, publications, research and interactive web tools, we link undergraduate, graduate, MBA and executive communities around the world with recruiters and education providers. Our communities include: topuniversities.com, topmba.com, topgradschool.com and global-workplace.com. The highly diverse QS team consists of over 140 individuals from five continents. Our team includes internationally recognized experts in the higher and business education arena. QS operates globally from offices in London, Paris, Stuttgart, Singapore, Shanghai, Sydney, Boston, Washington DC, and Johannesburg.

The QS World Grad School Tour
The QS World Grad School Tour offers a unique opportunity for potential graduate candidates to meet admissions officers of the world’s top universities face-to-face at venues around the world. Candidates can register for free at www.topgradschool.com. Now in its tenth year, the Tour will be visiting 61 cities in 37 different countries in 2010.