Septuagenarian personifies continuous education

EDUCATIONLINK
International education
continues to be a star
performer in New
Zealand’s export-led
growth according to latest
data.
The ‘International Education
Snapshot Report’ released
last month shows that
Indian Newslink February 1, 2015
Septuagenarian personifies continuous education
Hundreds of qualifications in seven decades
First of Two Parts
Staff Reporter
In a world that witnesses increasing
number of youngsters
dropping out of school and
struggling with poor literacy
and numeracy skills, parents and caregivers
should seek inspiration from
Indian Newslink Health Columnist
Thilliar Varnakulasingham.
Despite fragility that is common
to septuagenarians, he has been pursuing
education at various levels,
acquiring qualifications and expertise
in areas that have brought pride
and joy not only to the members of
his family but also the communities
around him.
Lifelong Education acquires its
true meaning with this grand man of
letters.
Since migrating to New Zealand
in 1998, Mr Singham has completed
75 online certificate courses and 55
distance learning and correspondence
courses. He is a member of the
International Council for Open and
Distance Education, which enjoys
consultative partner status with UN-
ESCO.
Recent Qualifications
Mr Singham has more qualifications
than his age (75), the most
recent of which (accorded about
four months ago) were Professional
Membership (MCIL) of the Chartered
Institute of Linguists (London)
and the Royal Historical Society
(London)and Fellow Charter Educator
of the International Council of
CCLP Worldwide.
The minimum qualification required
to become a Professional
Member of the Chartered Institute
of Linguists of London is usually
a degree in English language or a
post-graduate qualification acceptable
to the Council.
The Royal Historical Society
(London) accords membership only
to those actively engaged in historical
scholarship and research. It is
usually open to those who hold a
degree in history with a professional
involvement such as a teaching role
and publication of books or other
contributions to scholarship.
The Academic Board mandated
by International Council of CCLP
Worldwide under the International
Treaty signed with Consortium Universities
Euro-American selected Mr
Singham as a Fellow Chartered Educator
for his contribution to Education
and Research.
Global recognition
Based on the reference value of his
outstanding achievements in education,
Marquis Who’s Who selected
his biographical profile for inclusion
in ‘Who’s Who in the World 2015.’
Mr Singham’s Cambridge University
English Teacher Membership
gives him unlimited professional
development online. He holds two
qualifications in the teaching English
as a second or foreign language.
He is a member of the World Education
Research Association, the
International Association of Facilitators
and an Advisor Member of the
World Association of Technology
Teachers.
Besides being a member of the International
Shakespeare Association
which maintains liaison with UNE-
Saturday 7 March
10.30am - 2.30pm
Thilliar Varnakulasingham
SCO and other international organisations,
he completed a course on
‘Shakespeare and his World’ offered
by the University of Warwick.
Mr Singham is also a member of
the International Society for Education
Through Art, a non-governmental
organisation of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Fostering values
“Education through art is a natural
means of learning at all periods of
the development of the individual,
fostering values and disciplines essential
for full intellectual, emotional
and social development of human beings
in a community,” Mr Singham
said.
Among his many gratifying
achievements is the Certificate of
Appreciation that he received from
Radio Television Brunei in 1993 for
his role as the Principal of St Michael’s
School based in Seria, Brunei
Darussalam. During his stay at the
oil-rich Nation, he completed several
certified courses in ‘Art of Drawing
and Painting,’ ‘Art of Photography,’
‘World Music,’ ‘Innovation for Powerful
Outcomes,’ and ‘Theatre Studies.’
The International Council of Associations
for Science Education-Asian
Symposium, organized by the Brunei
Association for Science Education,
was held at the University Brunei
Darussalam in 1989. Mr Singham
was Assistant Secretary and Editor
relating to the event, for which he
was honoured with a Certificate of
Appreciation.
The country also hosted the International
Council on Education for
Teaching (World Assembly) 1995.
ICET is an international non-government
organisation with consultative
status with the UNESCO. He
was honoured with a Certificate for
actively participating in the World
Assembly.
Legal expertise
The expertise of Mr Singham extends
to the legal field as well. He
is an Associate Member of LAWA-
SIA, an international organisation
of lawyers’ associations, individual
lawyers, judges, legal academics and
others. It focuses on the interests and
concerns of the legal profession in
the Asia Pacific region.
“LAWASIA holds consultative
status with the Economic and Social
Council of the United Nations,
observer status with the World Intellectual
Property Organisation and
operational status with UNESCO,”
Mr Singham said.
6
Literature & Religion
The Delhi Tamil Sangam honoured
him with the title of ‘Senthamil
Kalai Semmal (Great Scholar of
Tamil Literature) at the ‘International
Conference on Developing Tamil,’
held at the Indian Capital in 2008.
He is a member of the International
Association for the Cognitive
Science of Religion, anaffiliate of
the International Association for the
History of Religions. He has studied
world religions for many years. In his
book on ‘Extolling the Glory of Lord
Muruga,’ he has cited several examples
where science and religion go
hand in hand.
His religious articles have been
published in international journals.
He is also a friend of the ‘Aetherius
Society,’ an international scientific
spiritual organisation.
“The single greatest aspect of the
Society’s teachings is the importance
of selfless service to others,” Mr Singham
said.
‘Vishwa Dharma Prasaar Yaatra,’
sponsored by the Global Leaders of
the Indian Diaspora, honoured him in
Auckland in 2003.
Climate Change
Mr Singham has the distinction
of having his article on ‘Climate
Change,’ published without abridgement
in the ‘Carbon Capture Report,’
which is one of the world’s premiere
sources of daily news and professional
information. The service, provided
by the University of Illinois, has subscribers
in more than 120 countries.
(To be Continued)
Export education booms at
$2.85 billion
Steven Joyce
Come and see how good
school can be!
Phone 838 7070
6 Waipareira Ave,
Henderson,
Waitakere City
www.acgedu.com/sunderland
theinternational education
industry grew strongly
throughout 2014 and it is now
valued at $2.85 billion.
As further proof of the
industry’s strong performance,
it is now supporting more than
30,000 jobs in New Zealand.
Increasing numbers
The January to August
2014 results show 12%
increase in student numbers
(approximately 10,100
students) compared with the
same period in 2013.
This saw an $83 million
boost in tuition fee income,
accounting for 13% increase on
the previous year’s figures.
The increase in fee income
is revenue that institutions can
channel back into programmes
or facilities to benefit their
students, staff and local
communities.
It is pleasing to see that
student numbers are now at the
highest level compared to the
last four years. It is particularly
pleasing to see a big lift in higherlevel
study, with 41% increase
in the number of students
studying for postgraduate level
qualifications.
Great Export Earner
International education
continues to be a very important
export earner for New Zealand.
International students also help
to build our country’s links
with our trading partners and
they enrich the communities in
which they live and study.
The report shows that growth
was led by the Private Training
Establishment (PTE) sector,
with student numbers up 21%
and Institutes of Technology
and Polytechnics, up by 16%.
Christchurch recovers
Other highlights include
Canterbury’s international
education industry continuing
to recover with enrolments
returning close to 2011 levels,
up 17%, and secondary school
sector enrolments up 3%.
The Report also indicated that
the outlook for the international
education sector continues to
be strong. Total student visas
for August to November 2014
were up 27% compared to
2013.
Government agencies will
continue their work with
the sector in 2015 to help
institutions achieve sustainable
growth right around the
country.
Steven Joyce is Tertiary
Education, Skills and
Employment Minister.
Our Staff Reporter adds:
Tertiary Education and Skills
Training Programmes will
undergo major changes and
funding will depend on the
number of graduates getting
jobs, Mr Joyce said, speaking
at the tenth anniversary
celebrations of the New
Zealand School of Education
at Sky City Convention Centre
on December 11, 2014 (Indian
Newslink, December 15,
2014).