The Two Greatest Myths About Australia

Australia is a beautiful country and a dream destination for a lot people. Many young people fantasize about holidaying or living  here but are often scared by ominous tales from the land down under.

Let's examine the veracity of the two most common myths about Australia.

Myth 1.  Australians are Xenophobic and Racist.
With news of the infamous Australian detention centres, illegal migrant boat policy and strict Australian immigration laws, it is not surprising that a lot of people outside Australia belief xenophobia is the order of the day here. Contrary to popular beliefs, Australians are very kind, warm and welcoming. Australia is so diverse that almost every person I have come across since I got here  have dual nationalities. I've met Nigerian Australians, Spanish Australians, Indian Australians , Greek Australians and of course Australian Australians haha!

Muslims are not banned here and we are not going to build a wall to stop you from coming over anytime soon.So do not worry, as long as you are highly skilled and law abiding, there's space for you in the land down under or you can visit for holiday.
https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Skills-assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists/SOL

Myth 2. Australian Wildlife Kills Like Cowboys in the Wild Wild West.
Thanks to documentaries on National Geographic Channel, the image of crocodiles having a street party in Melbourne, giant pythons snatching babies in Sydney and snakes biting oil workers in Perth are often synonymous with thoughts of Australia!

 Yes, Australia has a very rich wildlife but the dangers they pose are often blown out of proportion. According to Wikipedia, only two people died from snake bites in Australia in 2015 whereas five died in America in the same year. Furthermore, overall number of fatalities from wildlife attacks stands at just five per in Australia.

In spite of global misconceptions,  the land of the golden sand is a place of new beginnings where dreams become reality. Forget the American dream, the Australian dream is the real deal!!!

Choosing The Right Engineering Masters Degree As a Nigerian

Earning a bachelors degree is a huge achievement in Nigeria and most times it's enough to build a successful career. However, for some other people acquiring a postgraduate degree can be beneficial for different reasons including: 

• To increase probability of employment in a given field of engineering
• Reduce gap years in a resume
• To gain new skills necessary for career progression
• Acquire research skills

 

The above list is not exhaustive as the reasons for further studies are numerous. Whatever the reason, choosing the right University and the right degree is a tasking experience.

 

Firstly, I am of the opinion that the decision to acquire a postgraduate should be guided by sound economic principles. So unless you or your parents are very rich, do not waste money acquiring a degree that will not yield economic value in the foreseeable future. In a nutshell, do not base your decision on passion alone, think about return on investment.

 

Secondly, if your goal is to land your first job after graduation, choose programs  with high employment opportunities. For example, if you plan on studying an Msc in Aerospace Vehicle Design , you need to find out if there are opportunities for young engineers in the Aerospace industry.  Inexperienced engineers are rarely considered for jobs in highly specialised areas.  Therefore, it may be more beneficial to choose a program in a broader field in line with your first degree. 

 

Thirdly, another important factor to ponder , is whether to acquire the degree locally in Nigeria or Internationally. It is not in my character to paint my country in a bad light, but the truth is that the quality of education in Nigeria is very poor. If finance is not a challenge, I personally recommend studying abroad. Whether you decide to study at home or not, choosing a highly ranked University is the right way to go. Do not waste a year or two of your life studying in a low-rank school.

 

Lastly,  I will personally advice against studying in the United Kingdom. The UK has a lot of world class engineering schools with excellent facilities and professional lecturers. However, in recent years the UK has made it extremely difficult for international students to gain employment after studies. The British government scrapped the post-study work visa - used to be a two year work permit - in 2012 and now students have only four months to find a job or leave.

 

My top countries to consider for postgraduate studies as you are more likely to get a job after studies  are

• Australia
• Canada
• Germany
• New Zealand