Archive for category: Academic News

Australian Foundation Program and Pathway to University of Technology, Sydney

My name is Jason, also known as Weihong Zong, from Guangzhou in China.

I am currently completing the Australian Foundation Program at Aspire, a one year course that will lead me ultimately to further studies at the University of Technology, Sydney.

The Foundation Program is helping me bridge the language and cultural gap between home and my new life in Australia. I am given so much support and encouragement from the lecturers, it feels like I am learning something new and settling down with every passing week.

It can be completed in as little as eight months, and gives me a qualification equivalent to an Australian Year 12 leavers certificate. This means I can go through to a diploma course through Aspire, which can then lead to my second year of study at UTS because UTS is a pathway partner of Aspire.

I also really enjoy sport, especially basketball, and I have been enjoying the sports facilities open to Aspire at the ICMS campuses. These include the gym, basketball courts, tennis and more.

Looking ahead, I am excited about the opportunities that lie before me. So much is possible after completing the Australian Foundation Program.

My name is Jewel. I’m from Myanmar and am currently an ICMS student.

Let me share with you how I went from Aspire to a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) at the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS). If I can do it, you can too.

The Australian Foundation Program is a one year course that offers a pathway to ICMS. Having done one year with Aspire completing the Australian Foundation Program, I went straight into my second year at ICMS.

You can choose from any of the bachelor degrees offered at ICMS after completing the AFP, from business to events, hospitality management, fashion, accounting, sports management and more.

The program is designed to help students, like me, who had just arrived in Australia. It provided a gentle introduction to the academic system and allowed me to adjust to the new environment with ease.

You can study at the City Campus in Sydney or at the Northern Beaches campus in Manly. The City Campus is convenient if you live in the city and want to work while studying.

The Australian Foundation program comes highly recommended from me. The teachers there were incredibly supportive, making the learning process easy to navigate. The program was structured in a way that made it simple to progress through.

To any prospective students, I would say that the Aspire Foundation program is an excellent stepping stone to a successful academic journey. It provides you with the tools and guidance you need to thrive, especially if you’re an international student. Take the opportunity and make the most of it.

As an Aspire Institute student, my name is Paphawarin Janthawadee, originally from Thailand.

I’m currently studying the Australian Foundation Program at Aspire.

The one year program is designed to equip me with the essential study, language, and cultural skills necessary to succeed in Australia.

If you haven’t completed the equivalent of an Australian Year 12 of schooling, the Australian Foundation Program is an excellent choice for you.

This is especially important for me as someone who is new to studying in the country. It provides a solid foundation for you to progress into an Aspire Institute diploma and, if you choose, you can articulate into a bachelor’s degree with one of the university or college partners.

The experience of studying here brings me immense joy, largely because of the teachers. I get all the help and support I need from the lecturers. Their friendliness in our progress is palpable. The coursework, while challenging, is not impossible; all it requires is a dedication to hard work.

You can study at the ICMS Northern Beaches campus or in the City Campus which is located right in the heart of Sydney. The City Campus is a great choice if you have found a place to stay in Sydney.

This program is a big stepping stone towards achieving my academic and career goals. By gaining a strong foundation, I can establish myself as a capable and successful student in Australia. It is an exciting opportunity that I am so happy to be a part of.

To future students, my advice is straightforward:

“Go for it because you’ve got nothing to lose by coming here. It is such a social and educational environment that it’s impossible not to make friends. The classes are small, so you always feel heard and you can engage with the content in the best way possible. It’s just the perfect base for building your future career.”

Studying further is the best way to get into the career of your choice. Whether you choose to study a diploma and get qualified quickly, or study a bachelor degree and gain a more well-rounded education due to the longer length of the course, is often a personal decision.

One of the most common questions asked by school leavers is about what the difference is between a diploma and a degree.

“Choosing a diploma vs degree can sometimes be a confusing decision, but finding out more about each of these qualifications is the first step to kick starting your higher education journey,” said ICMS Student Advisor Issey Wilson.

Diploma vs Degree

What Is a Diploma?

Duration: A diploma is a certificate course that typically takes about one (1) year to complete.

Job Outcomes: A diploma qualification provides you with the skills and knowledge needed to get an entry level job in your area of specialisation.

Pathways: Sometimes you also have the option to use your diploma as a pathway to further studies at a university or college. For example, you could study a Diploma of Business at Aspire Institute.

Structure and Subjects: At the Aspire Institute a diploma is two trimesters (2 x 14 weeks), with four subjects per trimester. Some of the subjects studied under a Diploma of Business include:

• Pathway to Success
• Marketing
• Management Solutions for a Changing World
• Global Citizenship

Students who complete this qualification can use this diploma as a stand-alone qualification, or as a pathway to a Bachelor of Business degree.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Diploma?

A diploma could be right for you if you are wanting to gain an entry level job in your field in a short time.

Diploma Courses Advantages:

Diplomas…

• Can be completed more quickly than a bachelor degree;
• Can have lower entry requirements, making them easier to get into;
• May offer additional support to students needing extra assistance;
• Give students the option to progress to a bachelor degree; and
• Are an opportunity to gain confidence before embarking on further studies.

Diploma Courses Disadvantages:

• Employers may favour a job candidate with a bachelor degree;
• The range of jobs available to diploma qualified students is not as broad;
• Those with diploma qualifications may need to work longer and harder to gain the level of seniority that a bachelor degree qualified person needs to;
• In the future, diploma qualified employees may find themselves excluded from consideration for more senior managerial roles; and
• The shorter time studying a diploma means that students may miss out on the university experience that is a valuable time to make connections, develop independence from parents and, of course, have fun.

What Is a Bachelor Degree?

Duration: A bachelor degree is an advanced tertiary education option awarded by a university or college that typically takes between 3-7 years to complete, depending on your choice of specialisation, such as hospitality, marketing or sport, for example.

Job Outcomes: A bachelor degree is often the minimum qualification sought by employers looking to place an employee with a view to progressing that person to a more senior management-level role.

Pathways: Depending on your level of education, you can do an undergraduate (bachelor) or postgraduate (master) degree. Individuals will first study an undergraduate degree, and then pursue a postgraduate degree – if they wish to further their education.

Structure and Subjects: Another key factor that differentiates a diploma vs degree is that a degree not only includes specialisation subjects, but also core subjects such as Marketing or Business. This allows for your education to be both well rounded and versatile. For example, a Bachelor of Business from ICMS is a three year degree with four subjects per trimester, as well as an included Industry Training component. The industry training included in the bachelor degree means that bachelor degree qualified students receive more than a formal academic qualification. They also gain real work experience, connections within companies – and an impressive CV.

The first year core subjects of the Bachelor of Business degree are the same as the Diploma of Business subjects. Along with the core subjects, other subjects offered within this degree include:

• Integrated Marketing Communications
• Pricing and Distribution
• Guerrilla Marketing
• Event Production

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Degree?

Bachelor Degree Advantages:

One key advantage of pursuing a degree is that most employers require one when seeking new employees. With a degree:

• You will have increased job opportunities;
• Can earn a higher potential income with a bachelor degree as opposed to a diploma;
• May be offered more networking and travel opportunities;
• Will be more likely to be considered for senior roles in the future;
• May have more job benefits such as insurance and retirement;
• Will have the opportunity to learn additional critical skills that aren’t included in a diploma program; and
• Having a degree also showcases commitment and perseverance to future employers.

Bachelor Degree Disadvantages:

A degree is more expensive than a diploma.

A degree takes longer to complete than a diploma.

What’s the Best Option?

“In the end there is no definite right or wrong answer to the question of whether you should study a diploma or a degree. It comes down to what your own goals are for your career, your personal circumstances and the type of future you hope to create for yourself,” said Issey Wilson.

Diploma courses are offered at Aspire Institute. To read about Aspire Diplomas, click here.

Contact Aspire on Tel: +61 (2) 9466 1150 or email info@aspire.edu.au for even further assistance.

Bachelor and Master degrees are offered at ICMS. To read about degrees offered at ICMS, click here. 

Aspire now offers an exciting new diploma for those interested in business, fashion, and retail management, and are looking for a fun, short course to kick-start their fashion career!

The new Diploma of Business (Fashion and Global Brand Management) is designed to equip students with business skills, combined with an introduction into the exciting, trillion-dollar fashion industry. 

Along with being incredibly creative and exciting, the fashion world is also extremely fast-paced. So, receiving a fashion qualification in under a year allows students to quickly gain both the knowledge and skills needed to pursue an entry-level fashion role.

“Fashion and Global Brand Management is dynamic, fast moving and requires a fast thinking, entrepreneurial mindset” said Fashion and Marketing Program Manager Nicole Venter. “The reason many brands fail isn’t because of the product, it’s often because of the lack of understanding on how to manage the brand.”

The Diploma of Business (Fashion and Global Brand Management) offers students a stand-alone diploma qualification through the Aspire Institute or, should they wish to pursue further studies, they could choose to use their diploma qualification as a pathway into the second year of a Bachelor of Business (Fashion and Global Brand Management) at the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS).

Some of the subjects studied within this diploma include Styling and Creative Direction, Principles of Marketing, as well as Introduction to the Fashion and Retail Industry.

Upon successful completion of the Diploma of Business (Fashion and Global Brand Management), students receive advanced standing for completed subjects which are part of a bachelor degree at ICMS.

All Aspire diploma students are part of the greater ICMS student community, with lectures held at our Northern Beaches Campus or at our new City Campus, subject to availability. Aspire students receive dedicated academic support, including study skills.

To read more about this brand new diploma course, click here.