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6 Places To Get A Checked Dissertation Example On Social Work

If you are a social work student and are looking for best dissertation examples to pursue your academic career and score high grades, following 6 places can take you to pinnacle positions. These places can transform your career and could be the first progressive step to mark the excellence. Do an intensive digging and find reliable reference resources.

Have a look at the library’s journals: Your first stopping point should be the academic journals present in library. Remember, you need to do an intensive research in library to get a detailed view of quality content. Your dissertation is a mix and match of several resources. Use multitude of resources to add eminence in your research work.
Access extensive database of school, college, university, neighborhood and public library:Almost all the university libraries are linked with countless databases. Here you require searching and going through the abstracts of thousands of dissertation examples. Remember, your spotlight should be finding content that suits your discipline or topic. Whenever you find a high quality and reliable piece of content or resource in relation to your work, download it directly from the terminal. You can also request it through the inter-library loan and it will be delivered to your place in a couple of days. Furthermore the reference, material delivered at your doorstep will also have the list of all references you might need in future.
International sources: Popular Social work topics can also be accessed through international sources. You might require spending more than required time but forming a good network with someone at such institutions will prove to be very fruitful.
Ask for samples through your advisor: Your academic advisor is an undoubtedly the biggest supporter that ensures assistance with your dissertation writing. Hence contact them as your first mode and they will bless you with the reliable samples. These archived dissertations are excellent pieces of reference, so do not hesitate to ask assistance.
Consult passed out graduate students: Do not forget to consult your peers of your college or other students via social networking tools. Cite in the details and you are likely to get associated with someone who has written excellent topics on similar social work topics.
University websites: These are incredible and excellent sources to watch social work dissertation examples. .edu websites are commendable links where you can watch refined research work related to various topics. These are guaranteed pieces of work. Remember, universities will never like to put its reputation on stake.

5 Outstanding Dissertation Ideas on Education

As much as writing a dissertation is about you furthering your own education, the end result of higher education is to make the lives of everyone better. Especially if your field of study is education.

Ideas often lead to questions. This is healthy. By this point in your academic career you have been exposed to a wide-range of ideas and theories regarding (hopefully) all aspects of education. Establishing a broad focus should not be a difficult task. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, a diverse background in your field of study correlates perfectly with the amount of time you have devoted to get to this point. If you still need some ideas to get the creative juices flowing, keep reading.

What are some of the more pressing issues facing education today? Education has always been a controversial topic, but new factors have arisen that have changed the way the world perceives and values education.

Technology has touched every aspect of our lives, especially education.

The Impact of for Hire Universities

The price of continuing your education has never been more costly. With the growing popularity of online degrees and two-year associates degrees, are four-year bachelor degrees worth the cost?
Present your research, specifically the risk/reward of taking on one (or more) school loans to pay for a degree from a brick-and-mortar institution.

Online Collaborations

How has technology affected the way we share information?
How has technology affected the way we gather information?

The Impact of Technology on Current Educational Systems

This is a great opportunity to discuss the validity of hands-on teaching.
Are more resources providing better results to the students of today?

The Challenges of Staying Relevant

Is education keeping up with technology? Will technology usurp traditional education as the accepted standard for being “educated”?
What are the consequences of this new academic landscape? Who needs a campus or a library with the amount of information available at the tips of our fingertips?

The Cost of Education

As touched on above; we know where college campuses are located today, but where are they headed?
How will technology play a role in what education is worth?
Will a true college campus be relegated to just an image on a website?
If the same education is available online, will the college experience only be available for those willing to pay more?

5 Recent Advances in Educational Technology

Imagine going tο school without getting out οf bed. According tο аn article аt washingtonpost.com, іtѕ actually nοt thаt uncommon – “70,000 school-age children wake up each morning fοr class аnd walk аѕ far аѕ thе nearest Web-enabled gadget…” whісh іѕ sometimes sitting аt thе side οf thеіr bed іn thе form οf a laptop οr tablet. It’s аmаzіng tο thіnk аbουt hοw 20 years ago, personal computers wеrе οnlу јυѕt beginning аnd now, іt’s within arm’s reach οf thе majority οf thе youth іn America. Educational technology seems tο bе progressing аt warp speed, wіth nеw advances emerging еνеrу single day.

Classroom Management Software

Course management systems (CMS) аrе designed tο provide a platform fοr teachers tο reach thousands οf students аll аt one time іn one course. Thеу allow fοr quizzes tο bе given through іtѕ platform along wіth thе ability tο сrеаtе interactive forums wіth information provided frοm a myriad οf different resources. Thеу саn bе used tο save time fοr both students аnd educators whіlе accomplishing thе feel οf a one-οn-one learning environment. Learning hοw tο reach masses аll аt once іѕ educational innovation аt іtѕ best.

Learning Management Systems

Teachers аnd professors alike аrе always looking fοr ways tο engage students аnd expand learning opportunities. Especially іn higher education, whеrе thе need tο offer classes outside οf thе classroom аѕ well аѕ offset campus overcrowding іѕ more concerning, Learning Management Systems (LMS) hаνе really improved upon opportunities tο reach more students. Thеѕе tools allow fοr more collaborative class settings οn οr οff-line. Fοr example, іf уου hаνе аn overly large group οf students whеrе іt іѕ difficult tο hаνе personal one οn one time wіth each, LMS mаkеѕ іt possible tο сrеаtе lesson plans via video οr wiki аѕ well аѕ track content through blogs аnd οthеr easily accessible tools. Thіѕ allows fοr more οf аn exclusive interaction. Wіth LMS thе internet keeps уου connected іn οr outside thе classroom. Fοr more οn LMS, click here.

Classroom Audio Systems

Studies hаνе shown thаt one οf thе main issues students hаνе wіth learning іn a classroom іѕ thаt thеу οftеn саnnοt hear thе instruction аѕ well аѕ іѕ needed. Classroom audio systems provide thе ability fοr teachers tο project thеіr voices loud аnd clear tο аll whο аrе intended tο hear. Teachers υѕе thіѕ innovation tο reach students аt a level thаt thеу otherwise wουld nοt bе аblе tο dο. Thіѕ fаіrlу recent development іn thе classroom hаѕ led tο аn unprecedented rise іn test scores fοr аll whο experienced thе effects before аnd аftеr.

Field Trip App

Nеw applications fοr computers, smart phones аnd iPads аrе surfacing еνеrу day. Thеrе аrе learning apps fοr јυѕt аbουt еνеrу subject thеrе іѕ. Thе field trip app, fοr instance, helps tο educate students οn thеіr surrounding areas. It provides historical significance, useful fun facts, аnd οthеr educational information fοr practically аnу field trip destination.

Using Cloud Computing fοr Educational Technology

Another relatively nеw advancement іn thе field οf education technology іѕ thе υѕе οf cloud computing tο store documents. Google Docs, fοr instance, recently transitioned tο Google Drive – a рlасе tο store Word, Excel аnd PowerPoint documents fοr retrieval anywhere thаt hаѕ access tο аn internet connection. Nο longer іѕ forgetting a homework assignment even possible wіth thіѕ relatively nеw cloud computing technology.

Adaptive Learning

Adaptive learning іѕ nοt necessarily a nеw concept; hοwеνеr, thе realization οf thіѕ concept іѕ іn fact relatively nеw. Innovative teachers υѕе thіѕ technology tο hеlр thеm cater tο personalized learning fοr students іn need οf more hеlр thаn average. Thіѕ means thе development οf tests аnd skill instruction іѕ сrеаtеd specifically tο cater tο each individual’s exact learning needs. It іѕ available fοr аll ages, іn аll levels οf learning аnd appears tο bе a fаѕt-growing capability fοr innovative educators seeking technology tο increase thе effects οf thеіr teaching.

Which educational institution is best to choose in Australia

With the huge range of courses and education providers on offer in Australia, it can be difficult to know where to study. This will depend on what you want to study and what type of career you want to have. Here we describe the three main types of education providers in Australia to help you begin your search. Series of white doors on grassy hill

Universities

What they are: Australian universities are an obvious choice for those wanting a career in a regulated profession such as law, nursing, dentistry, medicine, architecture or engineering, but this covers only a very small proportion of all the fields that can be studied at university. Universities also offer a wide range of degrees in general areas (such as science, health science, business and arts) and more specialized degrees such as journalism, environmental studies or psychology. Universities offer the highest level of qualification available.

Characteristics: What characterizes most universities is a focus on higher education — offering a mix of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. However, a number of universities also offer non-award courses such as foundation studies and English language courses to prepare students for entry to higher education. A small number also offer more practical Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses in addition to higher education, while others may have recognized partner institutions that provide pathways into higher-level courses.

Benefits: Universities offer academic courses and prepare students to work in professional careers. Each university has a large, community atmosphere; offers a wide range of courses and qualification levels; and features a number of student services and facilities, but they all have their own strengths and characteristics. Overall, there are 39 universities in Australia, so there are a number of choices depending on where in Australia you want to live, the course you want to study and the type of atmosphere you are looking for.

TAFE institutes

What they are: Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes offer practically oriented VET courses at certificate and diploma level that focus on preparing students for vocational or paraprofessional careers (such as careers in the hospitality industry, child care or design). They are government owned and provide courses designed to give students the skills needed by employers (with work experience and training using industry-standard equipment incorporated into most courses), so you will graduate ready for employment.

Characteristics: What characterizes TAFE institutes is the practical, ‘hands-on’ nature of their courses. Each institute offers a wide range of VET courses, and some have also started offering higher education courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and offer these with the same practical industry focus. There are hundreds of TAFE campuses in various locations around the country, and these are typically smaller than university campuses. They also offer a range of student services, although these may be more limited than those offered by universities.

Benefits: In comparison to the higher education courses offered by universities and private providers, TAFE courses have a practical focus, lower entry requirements, a shorter completion time and a lower cost. But remember, this is because they offer a lower qualification level than a degree — it is important to make sure that a VET qualification will allow you to enter the career you want. With that said, the practical, industry-focused nature of the courses may greatly improve your prospects in the job market. Studying at a TAFE institute is also a great pathway into higher education studies, allowing you to progress to a higher-level qualification, often with credit.

Private colleges

What they are: In addition to universities, there is a large number of private colleges in Australia. They may offer higher education courses (including bachelor degrees and/or postgraduate degrees), VET courses or a combination of both. All private providers are subject to extensive regulation and should be registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Characteristics: What characterizes private colleges is that they are usually smaller than universities and usually specialize in a particular field (business, agriculture, the creative arts, natural health or hospitality, for example). Some private colleges offer a full range of courses, but do so in an environment that is aligned with a certain religious belief (a Christian education college, for example). They also offer a range of student services and facilities, although these may be more limited than those offered by universities.

Benefits: Because private colleges usually focus on one particular field of study, you will be surrounded by a smaller community of students who most likely share the same interests as you. In certain areas (creative arts, for example), private colleges are very prestigious and may even outperform universities. Smaller colleges may also offer a more personalized education experience — you may find that it is easier to settle in and make friends, that there is a real community atmosphere and that it is harder to get lost in the crowd.

How to get a scholarship in the USA

Many international students are interested in gaining a scholarship to help pay for their study in the USA. In this article, we provide you with some scholarship tips and advice to assist with your scholarship applications and increase your chances of receiving sponsorship.

Participate in community life

While many scholarships for international students are based on academic merit or financial need, remember that some scholarships are awarded for community participation. This includes community service or participation in community groups, clubs and sporting teams. American institutions often look for students who are active in their community and show leadership skills, so ensure you mention any relevant activities in your scholarship cover letter. Even if you are applying for academic or financial need scholarships, community participation can improve your application.

Apply for as many scholarships as possible

There are many scholarship opportunities in the USA, so we recommend that you apply for as many as possible. Do not limit your search to the education institutions — scholarships may also be offered by residential colleges, the American Government, international organizations and government departments in your home country. University scholarships for international students are often awarded by specific faculties (the science faculty, for example), so be sure to enquire with your faculty. Many are only available to students entering particular courses who are from certain countries (Latin American students studying tourism or Indian students studying business, for example).

Ask for help with applications

Your scholarship applications are very important — they are often the only means of awarding scholarships, so it is important that your application is clear and without errors. Unfortunately, a simple mistake might result in your application being rejected. Common mistakes relate to spelling and grammar issues, lack of detail and poor presentation. To prevent any mistakes when you apply for scholarships, ask a trustworthy source who is fluent in English to review your application, such as a friend, parent or teacher.

Read the scholarship criteria carefully

Before applying for a scholarship, check that you have submitted everything that is required. Make sure that your application meets the deadline, answers all questions asked in sufficient detail, meets word limits and is accompanied by any required supporting documentation. Supporting documents may include a personal statement, a letter of offer, your employment history, references or proof of English language proficiency. Remember that some documents may need to be certified or translated. If you have any questions about your application, you should ask the scholarship provider before submission to ensure you have applied correctly.

American Style Essay Writing Tips

When it comes to writing essays, different countries have different styles.

In the American higher education system, essays are expected to follow a particular structure that is similar to that of British or Australian academic essays.

If you are not familiar with the style, here is a breakdown of how best to approach essay writing in the United States.

Break Down the Question

One of the most common mistakes students make is not answering the question that was actually asked. To avoid this, first read the questions multiple times and underline the keywords.

There are three different kinds of keywords:

Tasks words are usually verbs and they will tell you how to answer a question e.g. explain, analyze, contrast, define or evaluate.
Content words are words that tell you what your topic is.
Limiting words are words that narrow the scope of your topic and let you know what particular area focus on.

Noting down all these words will help you make sure you have a good understanding of the question you are expected to answer and how you are expected to answer it.

You should also remember that:

You should try to repeat some of your content and limiting words throughout your essay, to remind the reader of how your argument relates directly to the question asked.

Some essay questions may leave room for you to choose a certain definition of a key term. If this is the case, make it very clear what definition you are going to be working with.

Do the Research

It is critical to demonstrate that you understand what the ‘academic dialogue’ is surrounding your essay topic. That is, what have other academics or writers in the field said on your subject matter?

That is not to say that you should just repeat what has already been said, but rather, to reference their work as a means of positioning your own ideas. Do you agree or disagree with what has already been said? How does the work of previous scholars hold up to the issues that you are dealing with in your essay? This is why it is important to conduct thorough background research. You can do this by:

Using the key words in your essay question to search through your online library catalogue and Google Scholar.

If you are stuck in your research, go back through the assigned readings for your topic and explore the references listed in those readings. This will give you an idea of what to read next, as well as a picture of what has already been written about your topic.

Making sure, you know what kind of referencing you have to use and doing it from the start! Write down page numbers of ideas and quotes as you go so that you do not have to waste time searching for them again later.

Stick To the Structure

While essay conventions will vary from subject to subject, it is safe to say that the every essay should be made up of the same basic segments: the introduction, body (which is made up of paragraphs), and a conclusion. Each of these segments has its own purpose:

In the introduction:

Introduce your topic
Define key terms
Briefly, discuss the main points of contention surrounding your topic
Do not be mysterious – explain what you are going to argue and how you are going to do it.

In the body:

The body of the essay is made up of different paragraphs. Each paragraph should be devoted to addressing a particular issue or theme. Unless your teacher has requested something specific, it is up to you how you want to ‘theme’ your paragraphs and how long you want them to be.

Begin by writing down your main arguments or themes and then decide upon the most logical order to present them in. You want your essay argument to ‘flow’ naturally from one idea to the next.

Paragraphs have their own general structure:

Statement – Start with a sentence that demonstrates what the main idea of that paragraph is.
Elaboration– Go into further, supporting detail of your idea.
Example – If you can, give an example that supports your argument’s significance.
Explain – Explain the significance of the point you have made in this paragraph to your overall argument.

In the conclusion:

The conclusion can be brief – you should not be introducing new ideas into your conclusion. Instead, you should:

Begin by referencing the essay question
Re-state the main argument
Explain how the arguments you have made directly answer the essay question.
Be confident in your conclusion and finish with a strong statement.

What is a gap year?

Taking a gap year means taking a year off between finishing high school and starting further study or training. If you are not sure what you want to do after finishing Year 12, a gap year can give you time to consider your options.

You can take a gap year whether or not you have been accepted into a university or TAFE course. If you have been accepted into a course, though, part of taking a gap year will involve deferring your studies.

Why should I take a gap year?

Here are some reasons you might choose to take a gap year:

You did not get into the course you wanted and you want to reapply for a different course at the end of the year.
You want to take a break from studying.
You want to gain skills and experience to help you get into a course.
You want to make some money before going to university or TAFE.

What can I do during a gap year?

You can do many things during a gap year. Whether you want to improve your job prospects or get some experience related to what you will be studying, or even if you just want a break, here are some ideas to consider.

Travel

This could be your chance to take that overseas trip you have always dreamed of. Maybe you want to stay local and do some travel around your country.

To get the most out of your travel, you could spend some time working overseas as well as doing the tourist thing. On the other hand, maybe you would like to try student exchange and experience life with a host family.

There are many opportunities out there.

Work

Working during your gap year can give you valuable skills and experience. It can also help you save money to pay for the costs of studying. You might even find a job that you like so much, you decide not to go back to studying.

Here are some work-related suggestions for your gap year:

Organize some work experience in an industry or area you are interested in.
If you already have a job, talk to your boss about taking on more shifts, transferring from part-time to full-time, or taking on more responsibility.
Look around for a new job to hang onto for a year.

Study

Doing some study is also an option during your gap year. You might want to get into a course that requires particular skills. You might just want to get more familiar with the area you will be studying in.

Short courses and online courses can be a way to get more skills and knowledge so you are feeling ready when you start your university or TAFE course.

For example, if you want to do a fine arts degree you might spend your gap year doing some art-related courses and then spend some time creating your folio.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to learn skills while contributing to the community.

There is a lot of flexibility in volunteering. You can volunteer on projects close to home or on the other side of the world. You can volunteer by yourself or as part of a team. You can volunteer for a short or long time.

Some examples of volunteering you could do on your gap year include:

helping to build homes in Vietnam or preserve Amazon rainforest in Ecuador
running after-school activities for school-children in Central Australia
helping out at the local op-shop or soup kitchen.

Returning to study

If you were accepted into a course at the start of your gap year, by the end of your gap year you might have decided you do not want to do that course any more.

For example:

You might have found a job you want to hang onto.
You might have volunteered with an organization you want to apply for a job with.
You might have changed your mind about the course you want to do.

This is perfectly alright. One reason people take gap years is to have experiences that could change their mind about where they want to be in the future.

You do not have to do the course you were accepted into. However, before deciding you do not want to do that course, it is important to think carefully about that decision. Talk to your family and friends about it. You might even discuss it with work colleagues or your boss.

Once you have decided, you need to let the course provider know you will not be studying with them. Keep in mind that there might be cut-off dates for pulling out of courses.

Once you have got that settled, you can start working on your new plans for the future.

University Tips for First Year Students

Roving reporter Grace looks back at her first year of tertiary study and shares what she learned from it.

Male student stands in front of a university building. A lot of you are probably going to experience your first year of university this year. Whether you’re from inner city Melbourne or from the middle of nowhere, it doesn’t matter. Wherever you’re from, you’re probably feeling somewhere between being incredibly nervous or extremely excited.

Well, lucky for you I’m here to give you a few tips about your first year at university and how to survive it without running yourself ragged.

It isn’t like high school!

You’ve probably heard this one before, but you really need to emphasize just how true it is! No one’s going to be calling home if you don’t show up – you have to get your butt in those lecture seats yourself!

All of your study is going to be more self-driven than ever before. No one’s going to give you reminders about homework (unless you have a particularly kind tutor). For some good studying and motivation tips, check out our Studying Tips & Resources section.

At university and TAFE you’re in charge of your own learning, and you’re only going to get out as much as you put in. You’re also going to have a lot more free time, but that doesn’t mean you can just slack off! Which brings us to…

Use your breaks wisely!

In your first year at university you’d only have four days a week of classes. Out of those four days, only two of them had classed for the entire day, and even then it was a late start. You might think to yourself, “Gee! That’s a lot of free time! You could spend it catching up with friends, going shopping, doing whatever I want!” Well, not quite.

Balancing your free time between work, study and your own “me” time isn’t as easy as it sounds. University requires a lot more study than high school, and there are a lot more homework assignments.

If you have a break in between your classes, it might be a good chance to grab a bite to eat, grab some coffee and take a look at your textbooks to pass the time. The earlier you get things done, the more time you’ll have to yourself later! You’ll also stress out less, rather than realizing you have five assignments due the next day!

Get involved in O Week!

O Week isn’t all about partying (surprise!). It’s also a chance to get to know your new environment. Your university should have all kinds of information set up about clubs and facilities, and also some general need-to-know things about how your new school operates.

O Week is a great time to ask any questions you might have, because if you don’t ask, you’ll never know!

You should also check out the student clubs so you can meet a few people with similar interests. Having a few friends never hurts. And, of course, make sure to check out every last stall, because there are plenty of giveaways to be found at O Week! Hey, you might not need it, but it’s free!

Not to mention there will be a lot of great deals and discounts for other things on offer, like cheap gym memberships and textbook discounts, so keep an eye out!

Eat properly

A lot of the time, you would be too busy studying or doing homework to sit down and have a proper meal. Did you ever regret that later on!

It’s impossible to concentrate on an empty stomach, so remember to always get something to eat whenever you’re starting to feel hungry. Keep in mind that the food at university can be a little on the expensive side, so try throwing in a vegemite sandwich every other day so you don’t burn a hole in your wallet!

It may seem a little cheesy, but a good diet is the best way to stay focused in class. Most importantly, don’t forget to keep a bottle of water with you during the day so you can keep hydrated, too!

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Your lectures may seem pretty intimidating, with hundreds of people all sitting in the one room, but your lecturers and tutors all understand how intimidating it can be, because at some stage they were first-year students themselves.

Never hesitate to ask if you need to know something or if you need something repeated. And if you ever get lost or aren’t sure where to find something, just ask a fellow student where to go! The worst thing they might say is, “I’m not sure.”

Get yourself out there!

University can be a pretty lonely place if you don’t make the effort to get some new friends, so join some clubs! Talk to the people in your tutorial! New friends aren’t going to just fall into your lap.

University or TAFE campuses are huge places with thousands of people, which can be incredibly intimidating, but sometimes it pays to go just that little bit out of your comfort zone. You might just wind up with a new best friend! Or a group of them, if you join a club.

There are all kinds of clubs and societies, from chocolate appreciation clubs to bushwalking societies, depending on your university, so make sure to check your university or TAFE’s website to see what they have to offer!

Don’t forget to check the bulletin boards!

Somewhere in your university – or maybe in several places – will be a bulletin board. Students will put up all kinds of messages here, offering second hand books and cheap accommodation, or announcing events, gigs and special lectures. Take advantage of this and always be on the lookout for a good bargain or maybe an interesting event.

Just make sure you check it often, because if it’s a good bargain you might miss out if you’re not quick!

Take some time to learn where everything is

Make some time to come in on a day when you don’t have lectures, or maybe just come in early or stay late. However you manage it, it’s worth taking an hour to just walk around campus.

Get to know where everything is: the offices, the best places to eat, the lecture halls… make sure you know where you need to go.

There will be guided tours of your campus during O Week, but in case you miss out, exploring things yourself is always a great idea!

There is no dress code!

You don’t need a university form to go to university or TAFE – you can show up wearing whatever you want! Maybe for a while you might dress to impress, but the real key is comfort.

You’re probably going to be on campus all day, so would you rather be wearing impractical shoes or comfy sneakers? Just wear what feels good!

Remember, though – it’s good to check if there’s anything specific you need to wear for certain classes, like closed-toe shoes or sports gear. Otherwise, anything goes!

The library is amazing

Seriously, it is. Don’t doubt the power of the library, especially a university library. Stumped on an assignment? Not sure where to go next? Or just want to kill some time? University libraries are amazing resources and should be utilized as often as possible.

Your university library will have heaps of books for whatever subject you need to study, and will be open all day. If you’re not sure how to find what you’re looking for, though, remember point number 4 and ask one of the librarians for help.

If you want to turn your distinctions into high distinctions, the library is the place to go!

Make the most of it!

Keeping these sorts of things in mind as you find your way around your new campus and learn to manage your new study load will help to make your transition into tertiary education a happy and exciting one.

We’re not saying that university or TAFE is a piece of cake, but if you’re willing to seek advice and take advantage of all the resources at your disposal, you’ll definitely be able to look back on your first year of university or TAFE as a good one.

The MBA Business Qualifications

When enrolling in the Australian Institute of Business MBA program, many students do not realize that the degree actually comprises two post-graduate qualifications, in addition to the MBA. These qualifications are represented as stages of the MBA but are milestones in their own right. They are the Graduate Certificate in Management, the Graduate Diploma in Management and the Master of Business Administration. This stage-by-stage structure of the MBA allows a milestone to be achieved every four subjects which students can use to advance their career. If you would like to learn more about each of the qualifications, see below.

Graduate Certificate in Management (GCM)

Awarded after the completion of only four subjects, the Graduate Certificate in Management is the first step towards the prestigious MBA. Listing the qualification on your resume and LinkedIn profile shows that you are well on track to achieving your MBA, and have successfully completed the first stage. As the Graduate Certificate in Management is a postgraduate qualification, it is a higher level qualification than a Bachelor degree. It also reinforces that you have already gained a great deal of knowledge, which can now be applied in a practical sense in the workplace. These skills include those that are necessary to manage real-world business situations at both operational and strategic levels.

At AIB, the Graduate Certificate in Management is comprised of four core subjects that all students must complete to achieve their MBA. These four subjects come from a list of seven core subjects. They are: Leadership, Marketing Management, Strategic Human Resource Management, Operations Management, Corporate Governance, Financial Management and Strategic Management.

Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM)

After the completion of 8 subjects, being the remaining three core subjects and an elective, students are eligible for the Graduate Diploma in Management. A prestigious qualification within itself, this milestone represents that the student is only a short time away from achieving the MBA. The Graduate Diploma in Management explores strategic business and management skills and knowledge in greater breadth and depth. Some students find that following the completion of this stage is the perfect time to take a short break from study to recharge and prepare for the final three subjects and MBA project.

It is during this stage of the program that students confirm whether they will specialize their MBA, and if so, which specialization they will pursue. At AIB, specialization options include Entrepreneurial Management, Finance, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management and Marketing Management. If a student chooses not to specialize their degree, they will choose four elective subjects from the aforementioned disciplines, one of which is completed in the Graduate Diploma stage.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Now for the one we have all been waiting for – the MBA. Whether you are looking to improve your professional credibility, grow or start a business, change your career path, increase your salary or just get qualified – the MBA is certain to contribute greatly.

The final stage of the journey, the MBA, is made up of the remaining three specializations or elective subjects and the final project. For the project, students identify an appropriate workplace-based research problem, conduct a small literature review, analyses the data relating to the workplace or industry, and present findings in a formal business research report.

With AIB’s program structure, the whole degree can be completed in 2 years, but students have the option to spread the degree over three years if they wish.

It is clear that each of the qualifications are important milestones on the journey towards completing the MBA. Each stage allows the student be recognized for their hard work, apply the knowledge they have learnt thus far, and be proud of achieving a qualification. By earning qualifications like the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma on the road to the MBA, students will be better placed for promotions, new roles and recognition in the workplace.

Proofreading Tips for MS Word

If you are not already using MS Word’s many settings designed to ensure accurate proofreading, you are doing yourself a disservice. After spending countless hours writing, you want to ensure you are presenting your work as professionally as possible. In this article, we explain how to get the most out of MS Word when proofreading your own writing.

Note that the following instructions apply to Word 2007 and later.

Spelling and Grammar Check Basics

You probably already know how to perform a spell check, but do you know how to ensure that your spell check is appropriate for your document and that all text is included in the spell check? The following two steps will ensure your document is being thoroughly and correctly spell checked.

Check Your Language Settings

To check your language settings:

Highlight your entire document (Ctrl+A).
Go to the ‘Review’ tab.
Click on the ‘Language’ dropdown menu and select ‘Set Proofing Language’. This will bring up the Language box.
Select the most suitable version of English, which will be ‘English (Australia)’ for Australian writers submitting to an Australian university or journal.
Ensure that the ‘Do not check spelling and grammar’ box is clear (i.e. unticked). If you do not do this, some sentences may not be spell checked.

Check Your Proofing Options

It is also a good idea to check your Proofing Options:

Go to ‘File’.
Click on ‘Options’. This opens the Word Options window.
In the menu on the left-hand side, choose ‘Proofing’.
Under ‘When correcting spelling and grammar in Word’, check that ‘Grammar & more’ (if using Word 2016, otherwise this will be ‘Grammar & Style’) is selected from the dropdown menu.
Check that the boxes are ticked that allow for errors to be pointed out as you type and for grammar and spelling errors to be checked together.
Under ‘Exceptions for’, you will need to check that spelling and grammar errors are not being hidden.

Note: If you were checking the formatting of your reference list, you might like to check it once for spelling and then turn off grammar and spell check so that you can check it again closely for formatting. There are times when hiding the grammar and spell check errors is useful.

Taking Control of Your Spell and Grammar Check

Personalizing Your Grammar Settings

In the image above, where you selected ‘Grammar & more’ from the dropdown menu, you can also change the settings of the grammar checker. Clicking ‘Settings’ opens the Grammar Settings window. Here, you can decide which error types you want Word to check for and which you don’t. For example, if you are writing in a field that requires the use of passive voice, you might like to turn off that check. You should also check that all necessary checks are ticked.

Adding to Your Personal Dictionary

If you are writing in a field with a technical vocabulary, Word may incorrectly identify some words as misspelled. Rather than ‘ignoring’ these, you should ‘Add them to Dictionary’. This adds those words to your custom dictionary. To manage the words in your custom dictionary (e.g. if you have accidentally added a misspelled word to the dictionary):

Go to Proofing Options (as above) and look for ‘Custom Dictionaries’.
The tick box ‘Suggest from main dictionary only’ should be clear. This way, Autocorrect will make suggestions from your custom dictionary as well.
Click on ‘Custom Dictionaries’ to open a window.
Select the default custom dictionary and select ‘Edit Word List’. You can then delete entries.

Running Your Final Spell Check

Having adjusted all of the above settings, not only will you have been able to correct your typos and grammar errors as you type, but your final grammar and spell check will also be considerably faster and more effective.

You will be sure that your whole document is being checked according to your target language.

You will have excluded any grammar checks that you do not require, saving time.

You will have excluded any correctly spelled words that are not recognized by Word’s spell check (e.g. technical vocabulary, author names), saving even more time.

By reducing the length of the grammar and spell check, you will be less likely to rush the check, missing important errors.