KATHMANDU:

Taking into consideration the cases of students failing to make it through to their overseas study destinations, Kathmandu Alfa Beta Institute has initiated the first ever ‘Abroad study counsellor training course’ to address the needs of students and the various overseas education consultancies (not less than 200 in Kathmandu itself).

The graduates of the first batch, which commenced in January, 2008, have already been employed. The trained Alfa Beta graduates are running independent counselling desks for educational consultancies.

Sumita Shrestha, program coordinator for the Abroad study counsellor training course, said that responses from enrolled students and employers are encouraging. She added that with consultancies snapping up these graduates, the institute is positive about starting the third batch shortly.

The counselling course graduates undergo extensive tutorials with over 40 hours of classes. The course content not only covers core counselling information but also business skills such as business letter and email writing skills, proposal writing and statement of purpose, communication and sales skills to name a few.

The focus is more on practical skills. It is further supplemented by talks from guest lecturers

like those from the faculty of Himalayan White House College and the British Council. The ‘on the job training’ gives the required polish.