Here are the conference details:

Host: National Taiwan University, GIS Host Team
Date: July 11th-15th, 2011
Venue: National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Participants: 80 students will be selected through an essay competition. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students, and must not be born prior to 1977.

Topic and Subtopics:
Topic: What is the Catch Catching at Web?
The three subtopics are:
• Killer Apps and the Soft Power of Nations
• Who Controls the Internet?
• Individual Agency on the Internet

Official Language: English will be used during the conference as the official language.
Application Deadline: All the Applications must be submitted via the official website. Applicants’ essays must be uploaded by March 4th, 2011 to be eligible for the competition.

Announcement of Results: Qualified participants will be notified via e-mail in early April of 2011.

Covered Expenses: Accommodation and meal expenses are covered by the organizers. Additionally, subsidy of flight tickets is offered to international students according to the location of their university.
Grants: To be announced

For more information visit here and here.

Tottenham “Very Hot” Spurs

From average mid-table swingers, to Champions League and possible title contenders, Spurs can do no wrong this season. With arguably the best signing of the campaign – Raphael Vander vaart, the sensational revelation/must-have player of the season – Gareth Bale and a dogged coach who never says die, Spurs have picked the tempo this season, beautiful attacking football that has hurt quite a number of premiership clubs, including arch-rivals Arsenal who tossed up a 2 goal lead to lose 3-2. Sitting at fifth place and looking cheery, Tottenham has continued in the momentum that stunned most premiership sides last season, and they are keen to prove to the Europe that their appearance on the big stage was definitely not a fluke.

LiverPOOR – Still walking Alone

Now, let me get this straight, it has been one mishap after the other, firstly Benitez leaves Liverpool after been accused of wrecking havoc to Inter Milan (where he wrecks further havoc). Roy Hodgson is brought in..hmmmm….good news? I mean, finally a brit at the helm of affairs at the Kop, but nothing improves, the reds are 12th, 3 points from the drop zone with a goal difference only a mother can love, and that’s only the half of it. Golden Spaniard, Fernando Torres has been even more dismal than he was at the world cup, captain fantastic – Steven Gerard has been in and out of form and you can simply feel the frustration of the Anfield faithful through your TV screens, it is plain sadness. What can I say, a prayer here, an overhaul there, and maybe….just maybe Liverpool would play in the Europa Cup next season, but as it stands? Well if Jesus turned water to wine…then anything is possible.

ManTEVEZter City

Now if you doled out close to 300 million pounds on transfer fees in two seasons and you found yourself second on the table, you really can’t call that a miracle now can you? Man City have been nothing but sturdy this season, comprehensive and steady, they have found themselves as very unlikely but worthy title contenders, finally giving their red neighbours something to worry about. Mancini’s side have been very consistent this season without raising any dust, sort of like Rovers when they sneaked home the premiership title in the 94/95 season. Even with an invisible Adebayor, an irrelevant Santa Cruz, a stubborn Balloteli and a feisty, sulky captain – Tevez, they’ve been unbelievably strong, calculated, and as the table has shown, consistent, as they give Fergie another reason to order an extra pack of gum during the Manchester Derby.

Manchester “The IncRedDevils” United

Drawing games, the Wayne Rooney drama, injury problems and yet they sit pretty at the top of the table with two games to spare, now that’s the United we’re used to watching, it’s still early days of course but Fergie simply proved to the watching world – “You write the red devils off at your own peril”. Manchester United have simply not played the most fantastic football this season and have succeeded in grabbing maximum points where they had to (coughs *Arsenal*). The revelation of the season for united has definitely been Dimitar “GoalaTov”, with 14 goals thus far, including 2 hatricks, he has finally come into his own. Rooney?…well…let’s close that chapter…watch this space though.

Chel “Deep in the” Sea FC

For a club that banged in 15 goals in three games, Chelsea’s season has taken one of the most dramatic turns in the club’s history. Three straight defeats, all to none premiership contenders, before losing recently to a young Arsenal team simply confirmed the stretched, lean team that Ancelloti has been forced to work with, the blues even got bluer when injury hit John Terry and Lampard dragged their climb to top form, and our favorite escape artist – John Obi Mikel has been caught out more times than a talking mime, well if you asked me (and that will be a mistake) I’d say Chelsea needs to relax and breathe, Malouda needs to find his feet, Drogba needs to find the post, and Ramirez needs to find another club.

Arsenal – The Groaners

For a coach who prides himself in bringing some of the world’s top talent to the premier league, Wenger signed arguably the worst players. Squilacci has so far proven that his calling is far from football, and Curse-cieny (that’s how you spell it right?) needs more insight, besides this (and the looming threat of losing captain Fab to Barca) Arsenal’s doing a pretty decent job holding the fort, and when they’re not conceding OMG goals, they’re getting it in properly, still a long campaign though…

Bolton, Sunderland and Blackpool have all been sublime this season, and they’ve kept the tempo and our heart rates up thus far, VIlla have struggled, and West Ham can certainly almost taste Championship football, it’s a great season, and when we’re not worrying about who’s going to be president, we can always just lean back, kick off our boots and watch the Barclays’ English Premiership.

Kaelo.

For most of who grew up watching Matlock and Boston Legal, law practice was the heaven of all professional jobs, most kids grew up wanting to be lawyers before they could even talk, and the rest of us just had dreams of banging the gavel. The wigs and the gowns, made us feel invincible and special like some specially chosen wand wielder from a Harry Potter flick. Yes..Law was the perfect profession, and they were always so smart, with their magical lingua and their perfect strides around the court room, and the beauty with which the unravelled all mysteries, nothing could be put past them; their intelligence was incomparable in our eyes. Court room brawls were things of art to behold, the banter going back and forth as lawyers threw witty comments at each other just in time to duck incoming jabs from their opponents. It was all magic, and we were all six year olds.

Welcome to the present, a future many of us did not envisage, surely we knew the pathway to becoming great jurists would not be easy, five years at the university, one year at Law School, six years in all ( or a range of seven to ten years depending on the staff union strikes ). Finally! The chance arrives, you’re no longer six years old, and you’re now an adult ready to take on the legal world, your dreams of taking on your chosen role as Matlock or Alan from Boston Legal. You put on your gown, your bib, and finally crown it all, with your wig, you take your first knowing strides to the court room, all set, all prepared, your file in hand, you’ve waited for this day for decades, and now – this is your chance. The court room door opens up, you see other sages clad in similar outfits as yourself, you beam proudly, write your name on the cause list as other lawyers do when they enter a court room. Your joy is immeasurable, yet you suppress it with quiet glee, any moment now, you think quietly to yourself. The Judge walks in, everybody bows, your pulse races against your heartbeat. He calls case after case, you patiently wait your turn, and more cases roll out of the register, your feet shuffle in deep anticipation, finally you hear your case number, your wide grin suggests to the bored audience that it’s either your birthday or you’re a newbie, the judge asks your opponent to speak, you brace yourself for a thorough barraging, your opponent skims uninterestedly through his file, yawns and says, “My Lord we have been served, we would request a short adjournment to reply”. You are shell shocked, as your mouth hangs open you’re not sure which hit you the hardest, the fact you didn’t have to say a word, or the fact your next day in court is in three months. The Gavel comes crashing down in finality; your day in court is over. “As the Court Pleases”.

On that note, I’ll like to say welcome to the Nigerian Legal System, yes I’m a lawyer, and of course it’s not all gloom and doom, there are the niceties too, besides the fact that these rarely happen, they also take long and careful practice to achieve. Truth is, the general perception of our legal system is a mixture of lengthy wastes of time and statutory debacles. These perceptions are wrong. Nigeria has the most dramatic and acclaimed legal system in Africa. We developed what the most parts of the world will call ‘the new common law’ (Google that!). I guess like all legal systems, we have a journey to make, but with time and good governance…who knows?

And finally we arrive at the grand finale (well not really the finale), but the boiling point of this already stewing season – Chelsea FC versus Manchester United. Any bookie would scream United, I mean why not? They’re topping the league, winning games, and are unbeaten in the Premiership, the Blues on the other side, haven’t won in over 5 games, and have been on the receiving end of a lot of jabs from sports writers and analysts. The turnaround has been a bad one for the Billionaires from London, from banging in an average of 4 goals per game, to having a less than average goal difference after three straight defeats. The truth is Manchester United and Chelsea have both played very similar patterns of footie this season, the difference? Luck and the final third, where Chelsea fumbles and crashes, United holds firm, but that doesn’t take away the suspiciousness of the Red’s defence or the lack of hunger in the attack.

Eventually, Saturday’s game is going to be one that hinges entirely on pride and a quest to be relevant, adorable football will not be played, cautiousness will be key, and if Ancelotti’s exit rumours are anything to go by, the Italian boss will be looking not to join his Newcastle and Blackburn friends. My prediction? Well, an explosive match in the making, but costly errors and midfield dominance will be deciding factors, Rooney vs Drogba and an atmosphere more charged than a cloud packed with lightning, it’ll only be right to keep my lips sealed on this one…Julian Assange  or not..

Kaelo

Are you an international student enjoying living in Wolverhampton? Do you have a story to tell about your experiences here and at home? Could you be the International Student of the Year?

If the answer to these is ‘yes’, then why not enter the Shine! International Student Awards 2011? You could win a prestigious award plus £2,000 in prize money. The Shine Awards are run by the British Council, the internationally respected organisation that promotes educational opportunities and cultural relations between the UK and the rest of the world. They celebrate the enriching presence of international students and the contributions they make to communities across the UK.

What makes the Shine! Awards different is that they aren’t about academic achievements; they recognise students’ activities outside the classroom and help to inspire others by sharing their stories of their exciting new lives in the UK.

Maybe you are prominent in the life of your institution, or closely involved in the local community. Maybe you have created new initiatives or forged new links that are benefiting your locality here in the UK or back home. Perhaps your experience of living in a new country has had a dramatic effect on your outlook, or inspired you in unexpected ways. Or perhaps the mere fact of your being here is testament to your ability to overcome challenges.

Whatever your story, it’s worth telling. And telling it could not only win you £2,000 and see you named International Student of the Year but also earn you some well‐deserved recognition and a unique – and respected – entry on your CV.

To enter the competition, all you have to do is write a ‘letter home’, in English, explaining how you believe a UK education is preparing you for a brighter future. The letter should be written as if you were sending it to a family member, or a former teacher or professor.
Entering is easy. The competition is entirely web‐based, so you can submit your entry online at www.educationuk.org/shine

Entries must be in 19 January 2011 – The International Centre can help you to submit your entry on time.

There are some great prizes on offer, and with more than 30 individual awards to be spread across the country, you stand a real chance of success:

• 12 regional finalists will all be treated to an unforgettable, all‐expenses paid trip to London for a two‐day celebration in April 2011, which will include a night’s accommodation in the capital city and the chance to ‘glam up’ for a prestigious awards ceremony.
• the overall winner – the International Student of the Year 2011 – will receive £2,000 and a commemorative award.
• 11 other finalists will each receive £1,000 and a commemorative award.
• 24 regional runners‐up will each receive a £100 cash prize and a commemorative certificate.

So, how do we stem this growing disaster before it blows up in our faces, well here are a few helpful tips:

1. Check the web for C.V formats, and choose a style that suits your job application or course studied. Following a drab and cliche form of C.V writing will get you nowhere, explore different styles and change your perspective;
2. Be Creative. An architect who writes a C.V that reflects none of his designs is like a fruit seller with no fruits in her stall, it’s an absolute ZERO. Innovation and design make your C.V a winner any day.
3. Do NOT put up records you cannot defend. I know you want that job, I know you need it badly, buy a false C.V is the first step to an unemployment graveyard, be simple, be honest, be smart, and you’ll hit it good.

C.V writing is really not rocket science ( well sometimes it is), but a well aimed, well timed delivery can transform the most useless of C.Vs into a masterpiece that sends the employer into a frenzy. So get on your computer, open that nonsense you call a C.V. and revise.

Goodluck!

Kaelo

Johns Hopkins University was once described as the only citadel for studying medicine, cocky perhaps, but extremely true, take away Harvard, and Johns gives you a medical school that has had more Nobel aspirants than any other institution in the past century. The university screams class and perfection, beside’s ranking as America’s best hospital 20 years in a row, Johns Hopkins has continued in it’s almost usual tradition of attracting the brightest minds on earth, and with tuition fees hovering in and around $35,000, i daresay that this is one of educations biggest give aways. The architectural brilliance of the structures within Johns Hopkins are beyond breathtaking….they are simply outstanding in the most unbelievable way.

Baltimore has certainly not had a prouder moment, Johns Hopkins is to medical undergrads what St.Tropez is to young celebs. From a graduation list that caters for the United States President to an ethical standard that has set the standard for global medical practice,Johns Hopkins has definitely left its mark on the pathway of not just medicine, but all sciences. Ben Carson would be beyond proud if he knew how many other Carsons were been developed each day by the university. The ideal university for an ideal course of study< Johns Hopkins definitely has my vote now..and perhaps for a long time to come.

Merci.

Kaelo.

Growing up in Massachusetts has two effects on you, one – you’re a fan of roasted duck and two – there are only two universities in your mental geographic entirety: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, the rest? What rest? Being admitted into either of these schools will not just be a dream come true for hundreds of young undergrads but the beginning of a new dream. For others, it’s an ambition beyond anything ever hoped for, and for the rest…a distant fantasy, that will never hit home.

Harvard and MIT (which technically isn’t from the big eight) are just a few of the high flyers that take university education to a different level, with the allure of social elitism and unbridled access to the dons of educational stardom, many young folk will sell their souls and everything else to make the cut. From Princeton to Dartmouth, from Cornell to Brown, throw in University of Pennsylvania, Columbia and Yale, and you have perfection in a beautiful bowl educational cereal.

The big question is, does the road end here? If a young lad or lady had brains that would make Einstein look like one of the chuckle hounds, but no money to afford admission into one of the unbelievably expensive “Eight”, what happens? Does he or she give up and join the circus? Even scholarships to these overtly prestigious locations can be a bit nifty, with standards so deep they’d make joining the CIA seem easy. The truth is, there are so many great universities out there, and with a much more flexible educational outreach and the growing effects of the recession, people are starting to feel the effect of churning up over $50,000 for tuition fees, and are starting to stare inwards. Old classic universities like Aberdeen, Warwick, McGill and others are starting to gain grounds with respect to their educational foyer and it only gets better as local universities are gaining more appreciation as time goes by, but there’s work to be done.

I accept (grudgingly of course) that these highly regarded schools have definitely earned their bragging rights and to an extent their billing rights as well, but to all my wide eyed teenage buddies out their, there are over 2.6 million universities, screaming for your mark in their own personal history, but then again, we are our own perfection, Ivy League or not and that’s what it is.

Merci.

Many job seekers tend to overlook job fairs. They offer the opportunity to contact potential employers in one place and they can land you a job.  Leading career coach and contributor to ReConnect Africa, Peter Cobbe, offers his top tips for making the most of them.

• Research:  Your goal is to target the most promising employers at job fairs. You need to know who the employers are and what they offer. Get online and search for information about the companies you are interested in. Knowing more about the companies will help you make a memorable impression..

• Bring enough CVs: Bring at least 25 copies of your CV (more, if it’s a large event).
• Be prepared to fill out applications: Many companies may not accept CVs..  You may be asked to fill  an application form.  Bring a pen and a “personal data sheet” with the information you’ll need to complete job applications.  This is better than taking the applications home and sending them back later, as many job seekers will do. You’ll beat them to the punch!
• Dress for success: Job fairs may be informal events yet dress and act professionally. Be enthusiastic and remember to smile.

• Arrive early: Pick up a booth-location map and plan your route. By arriving early, you may be able to get in and out before it gets too crowded. Visit your targeted companies first, and then do some networking.

• Think “Quality” over “Quantity:” It’s better to spend quality time talking with targeted employers looking for your skills than dropping your CV at every booth.

• Be prepared for interviews: Some companies may do on-the-spot interviews. Be prepared to talk about your best selling points, the assets and skills you will bring to the company.  As the interview wraps up, ask what the next steps are.

• Keep track of where you submit your CVs: Collect business cards and make a list of the companies you apply to. Jot notes about conversations you have with representatives.

Follow up: Send thank-you letters within 24-48 hours to each of the companies/representatives you spoke with. This stands you out among the hundreds of job seekers who visited their booth. Tell them how much you appreciated the time they took to talk with you and answer your questions. Mention the name or location of the fair and the positions you discussed, and reiterate your interest in working for their companies. Depending on their answers to your “what are the next steps” question (see point 7), follow up appropriately with the companies for which you applied.

Find more articles on career management on ReConnect Africa (www.reconnectafrica.com).

Culled from Aspire October 2010.

Inspiring youth through Acada Magazine

Biodun Caston-Dada is a young man striving to leave his mark in the Nigerian publishing industry and also in mentoring young Nigerians.

What is your vision for Acada magazine?

My vision for ACADA is to see the magazine as a leading Nigerian youth brand and not just a magazine. I dream of seeing the magazine inspiring a new generation of Nigerian youths to believe in positivity despite all the odds against them. That’s what we preach in Acada.

Tell us about your educational background.

I had my primary education at IMC, Ibadan and finished my secondary education at Nawair-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Abeokuta. I had my A/Levels at Abeokuta Continuing Education College and had a Diploma certificate in Computer Studies from Institute of Computer Education an affiliate school of University of Lagos.

How did your educational experiences influence your current career path?

This may sound a little awkward. The truth is, I’m one person that never believed so much in tertiary education except you wanted to end up as a core professional. If you are into the creative business, you need to study from what I call the ‘University of Street’, which is reading wide and vast and studying the lives of great men. I read about people that have affected our world and I try to shape my life after some of them or try to pick from them to live a better life. This has greatly helped me in my career.

What other ventures do you dabble into in your spare time?

From childhood, I’ve been a showbiz freak. I love the entertainment world with a passion and most of the things I do these days revolve around entertainment. But I’m trying to do more of human development programmes because that will greatly help in touching lives. Though, I’ve not really developed a structure yet, I’ve started doing it on a personal level.

Share with us some of your greatest achievements?
I’ve not really achieved because there’s still a long journey ahead. My achievements are young people that have attained their dreams through me.

What are some of the challenges you face?

The biggest problem is electricity. I tell people that if we solve the power problem, 50% of Nigeria’s problem is solved. Another issue is inflation and lack of funding. The interest rates on loans are very high and there is also the inconsistency in government policies. That said, we don’t have a problem as a nation but we just enjoy creating one for ourselves due to visionless leaders, corruption in high places and bad leadership.

What advice do you have for young execs out there or people who want to set up a business or company?

First, you must be very humble. Humility opens doors—I learned that from Chief Dele Momodu, Wyclef Jean and DJ Jimmy Jatt. Be as honest as you can as honesty makes your clients to trust you to deliver.

Any regret?

Wasting five years of my life chasing an American visa that never came. That I can tell you is what many young Nigerians face and this makes us blind to the opportunities in the country. Despite the hardship, many young Nigerians strive hard to be successful. Many young Nigerians are breaking barriers and running successful businesses.

What is your mantra?

Do to others what you want them to do to you.

Interviewed by Isabella E.C. Akinseye. Photograph: Courtesy of Biodun Caston-Dada

Culled from Aspire October 2010.