Daily Archives: March 13, 2012

Education

StudyAbroad.com Survey Reveals Student Motivations and Concerns When Pursuing a Study Abroad Program

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More than half of respondents say a study abroad program’s reputation for a vibrant social and party life is at least a somewhat important factor in program selection; 20 percent indicated that a lower drinking age was also at least somewhat important.

Chester, PA, March 12, 2012 – Recent research shows cultural experiences, the opportunity to live abroad and the ability to travel are very important to college students when it comes to potentially studying abroad. These motivators, along with other findings, were revealed in a February 2012 survey of college-aged students across the U.S. conducted by StudyAbroad.com, the Internet’s leading resource for information on study abroad programs.

The survey, which was completed by 380 students who visited StudyAbroad.com, took note of the factors students find important as they consider selecting a study abroad program, what motivates him or her to do so and what might prohibit him or her from realizing a study abroad experience.

Twenty percent of survey respondents cited a study abroad program’s reputation for a vibrant social and party life as an “important” factor in the selection process. Just over one-third (35.8 percent) consider it at least “somewhat important.” When surveyed about how important a lower drinking age is when evaluating what study abroad program to select, one in five respondents felt it was at least “somewhat important” (nearly 10 percent (9.3) indicated it was “important,” 11.8 percent indicated it was “somewhat important”).

In addition, when asked, “What is your motivation for pursuing a study abroad experience?” and given a selection of reasons, respondents indicated the following were “very important”:

* Cultural (63.1 percent)
* Live Abroad (58.5 percent)
* Travel-Related (51.6 percent)
* Academic (45.3 percent)
* Professional/Resume Booster (45.3 percent)

More than half (53.1 percent) indicated social reasons were “important,” with nearly 30 percent saying they were “very important” (27.2 percent).

The survey also asked students to identify the factor that has the biggest impact on their ability to make a study abroad experience a reality. Nearly 70 percent of respondents indicated it is money; 50 percent of those who indicated that money was the biggest obstacle said they’ll only be able to study abroad if they figure out how to pay for it, one-third are afraid they won’t be able to afford it.

Additionally, the survey asked respondents about graduate study abroad as well. For those considering graduate school in the future, more than one-third of respondents (34.2 percent) indicated it was very likely they would pursue their graduate degree abroad instead of in the U.S.; 10.8 percent said they are planning on earning their master’s degree abroad.

StudyAbroad.com is a web resource of EducationDynamics, which offers information on more than 12,000 study abroad programs. For more information about study abroad opportunities visit www.studyabroad.com.

About StudyAbroad.com
StudyAbroad.com is a web resource of EducationDynamics and the Internet’s leading source of information on educational opportunities for students to study in other countries. It is a comprehensive directory of study abroad and intensive language programs organized by subject and destination. Currently information on more than 12,000 study abroad programs is available and more than two million students visit StudyAbroad.com annually. StudyAbroad.com also offers Destination Portal Pages, a handbook serving as a guide to traveling abroad; Blog Abroad, a blog that chronicles the experiences of students as they study abroad; and financial aid information. To learn more, visit www.StudyAbroad.com.

About EducationDynamics
EducationDynamics is higher education’s leading marketing information and technology services company dedicated to helping institutions find, enroll and retain students. Its content-rich and highly visible education websites, including ChristianEducation.com, EarnMyDegree.com, EducationConnection.com, eLearners.com, GradSchools.com, StudyAbroad.com, TestDriveCollege.com, TestDriveGradSchool.com and its special interest microsites, make EducationDynamics the premier provider of qualified prospective students for colleges and universities. In addition, the company offers a full suite of Web-delivered services proven to drive enrollment growth and reduce student attrition, as well as other innovative solutions including LeadWatchLive, its Web-based inquiry management system. Through Aslanian Market Research, the company brings decades of proprietary research, unparalleled market and student intelligence and best practice insights to clients. For more information, visit www.educationdynamics.com.

Contact:
Lindsey Mikal
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
lmikal@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Travel

Ludus Tours Announces Partnership with Rowing Canada Aviron

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Ludus Tours is pleased to announce a partnership with Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA). The San Diego-based travel and hospitality company is now the official supplier of sport tour packages to RCA.

San Diego, CA (USA), Tuesday – March 13, 2012 — Ludus Tours ( http://www.ludustours.com ) is pleased to announce a partnership with Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA). The San Diego-based travel and hospitality company is now the official supplier of sport tour packages to RCA.

“We are pleased to offer our friends and fans another option to experience major events, such as the Olympic Games regatta, with the assurance that their travel needs are handled by a trusted tour provider,” said Donna Atkinson, Rowing Canada Aviron Executive Director.

“Ludus is extremely excited to partner with Rowing Canada Aviron as we build our rowing brand. We believe our travel packages offer friends, family and fans a unique and affordable way to participate in the excitement of major rowing events both domestically and internationally,” Adam Dailey, Ludus’ Managing Director, said. “Our goal is to give rowing fans the travel experience of a lifetime that they would not have access to otherwise.”

Rowing Canada has qualified seven crews for the 2012 Olympics and one for the Paralympics, so far.

In addition to the 2012 Summer Games in London, Ludus will provide travel tours to several other regattas and championships around the world, including the 2012 World Championships, Henley Royal in England and the 2012 Paralympic Games.

About Ludus Tours:
Ludus Tours provides complete travel, tour and hospitality packages to the world’s premiere sporting and cultural events, including the 2012 Summer Games in London, the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships, 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow and more. Ludus is the Official Hospitality and Accommodation Provider over 20 National Governing Bodies including Athletics Canada, USA Track & Field and USA Triathlon. In addition to their travel services, Ludus Sports offers corporate branding, marketing and retail opportunities within each of their events. Ludus Tours is based in San Diego, CA with offices in London, UK and Park City, Utah. For more information, please visit http://www.ludustours.com

vAbout Rowing Canada Aviron:
RCA is a nonprofit organization recognized by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national governing body for the sport of rowing in Canada. RCA represents its registered members at all levels, novices, juniors, university students, seniors and masters, whether they row for recreation, health and fitness or competition.

RCA is a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Fédération internationale des sociétés d’aviron (FISA).

For more information on Rowing Canada packages, email Erin Aldrich-Shean at erin@ludustours.com.

Press & Media Contact:
Erin Aldrich-Shean
Ludus Tours
1501 Front Street #107
San Diego, CA 92101 – USA
619-202-0065
erin@ludustours.com
http://www.ludustours.com

Education

Establishing A Career in Video Games Panel to Feature Developers from Ubisoft & Insomniac Games

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Harrisburg University of Science and Technology will host a “Establishing a Career in Video Games” panel from 10 am to noon, Friday, April 13, 2012.

Harrisburg, PA, March 12, 2012 — Friday the 13th is a lucky day for those in the community interested in pursuing a career in the video games industry! Harrisburg University of Science and Technology will host a “Establishing a Career in Video Games” panel from 10 am to noon, Friday, April 13, 2012. The free event is open to the community and it is ideal for high school and college students as well as experienced developers.

Panelists will include Jason VandenBerghe (Creative Director/Ubisoft) and Lisa Brown (Game Designer/Insomniac Games) who are eager to share their experiences, passion, and industry insight.Panelists will share insights on what it takes to bring a product to market, how to land a career in the video game industry, and provide tips on how to make it in the interactive entertainment industry.

Charles Palmer, executive director of the University’s Center for Advanced Entertainment and Learning Technologies, will moderate the panel discussion.

The free event sponsored by Harrisburg University and LightHammerFX. Register online at http://tinyurl.com/HUGamesPanel Questions about the event? Contact Charles Palmer at cpalmer@harrisburgu.eduFor additional assistance call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu

Harrisburg University is located at 326 Market Street in Harrisburg. Parking is available in the Harrisburg Parking Authority operated garage accessible via Fourth Street. Cost for parking in the garage is $5.00 for 0-2 hours. Kiosk for parking accepts cash only. More information on parking rates and directions to the University are found online at http://www.harrisburgu.net/campuslife/directions.php#parking

You can literally take planes, trains and automobiles to the University. The University’s location in downtown Harrisburg is near Interstates 83 and 81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, making it an easy drive to the University from any of Pennsylvania’s major cities. And it’s only a two-hour drive from the University to Baltimore, Washington, DC or Philadelphia. The Amtrak Passenger Train Station and Greyhound Bus Station are one block from our location. And the Harrisburg International Airport is only nine miles from the University. http://www.harrisburgu.edu/campuslife/directions.php

Founded in 2001 to address Central Pennsylvania’s need for increased opportunities for study leading to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, Harrisburg University is an innovative and ambitious private institution that produces graduates who provide increased competence and capacity in science and technology disciplines to Pennsylvania and the nation. Harrisburg University ensures institutional access for underrepresented students and links learning and research to practical outcomes. As a private University serving the public good, Harrisburg University remains the only STEM-focused comprehensive university located between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

For more information on the University’s demand-driven undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs in applied science and technology fields, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu

Contact:
Steve Infanti
AVP Communications
326 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717.901.5146
sinfanti@harrisburgU.edu
http://www.harrisburgu.edu

Business

Brazil is a great place to invest, claims AAA

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The news that the Brazilian economy has started to outperform many others, including the UK’s, has acted as a prompt for many to start looking for ways to invest in the growing country, according to AAA.

Boston, MA, USA, March 13, 2012 — The news that the Brazilian economy has started to outperform many others, including the UK’s, has acted as a prompt for many to start looking for ways to invest in the growing country, according to Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

AAA, an alternative investment advocacy firm, has always seen Brazil as a great place to invest in commodities, such as timber, and in ethical and social funds, through impact investing routes. However, the world is expected to start investing cash in Brazil in droves thanks to the latest figures from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).

Over the past ten years, the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China, otherwise known as the BRIC region, have offered a comparatively safe haven for investors keen to avoid investing in the volatile markets in the US and Europe.

Now, the figures show that this is even more the case as Brazil’s economy is officially the sixth largest in the world, leaving the UK in its wake. Analyst at the CEBR claim that within a few years, Brazil’s economy will be stronger than that of France and Germany, climbing further up the ranking of the world’s great economic super powers.

“Although last year’s 2.7 per cent growth wasn’t enormous, in the grand scale of things, Brazil continues to grow economically when many other top economies are still teetering on the edge of recession” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

He added, “There has rarely been a better time to invest in emerging economies and investors who want to diversify their portfolios could not do better than investing in sustainable forestry in Brazil.

“We support the plantation projects bin run by firms like Greenwood Management, who are offering a unique and low-entry route into Brazilian investment, with an ethical edge.”

About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.

Media Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

Rosendin Electric Names Jonas McBride to New Role as Director, Central U.S. Engineering

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New Position Expands Engineering and Design Capabilities in Central U.S. Market.

AUSTIN, Texas (March 13, 2012) — Rosendin Electric (http://www.rosendin.com), one of the nation’s largest private electrical contractors and a 100% employee-owned company, has named Jonas McBride to the newly created role of Director, Central U.S. Engineering, to help oversee multi-office engineering projects and expand Rosendin Electric’s operations in the central United States. McBride will be based in Austin, Texas at the offices of KST Electric, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rosendin Electric.

In his new role, McBride will be responsible for overseeing Rosendin Electric’s engineering practice throughout the central United States, including managing engineering teams, supporting business development and new contract bids, managing design/build services, and establishing engineering best practices. McBride will report to Ron Wilson, Director of Engineering at Rosendin Electric headquarters in San Jose, California.

McBride brings 17 years of experience in design and construction of large, complex, multi-phased facilities to Rosendin Electric. He has managed engineering projects across a diverse range of industries, including mission-critical, healthcare, biotech/pharmaceutical, commercial, retail, education, and government facilities. McBride will also be responsible for managing the Texas-based engineering team and working with the company’s contracting partners.

“Adding Jonas to our team will help us expand our engineering and design/build capabilities across the central states,” said Wilson. “We have especially seen a need to support growth in the Texas market with a number of new data center, healthcare, and commercial construction projects. The creation of this new role of Director of Central U.S. Engineering will help us consolidate our engineering expertise, deliver better client service, and work more efficiently with our contractor partners.”

Before joining Rosendin Electric, McBride was a consultant specializing in mission-critical data center design. He also has worked for Smith Seckman Reid, Inc., NSPOF Communications, and Day Brown Rice, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from Kansas State University.

About Rosendin Electric
Rosendin Electric, Inc., headquartered in San Jose, California, is a 100% employee-owned electrical engineering, power and communications provider and is one of the largest privately held electrical contractors in the United States. With over 2,500 employees, Rosendin Electric has offices and experience nationwide and has built upon a 90-year reputation for quality design and installations. For additional information, visit http://www.rosendin.com.

Contact:
Shelly Goulart
Marketing Manager
Rosendin Electric
880 Mabury Road
San Jose, CA 95133
(408) 534-2819
sgoulart@rosendin.com
http://www.rosendin.com

Biotech

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Expands Pipeline with the Initiation of a Study for Multiple Sclerosis

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Proposed Trial Will Build on NurOwn(TM) Platform to Meet Unmet Needs of Patients with Neurodegenerative Disorders.

NEW YORK & PETACH TIKVAH, ISRAEL, Mar 13, 2012 — BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc., a developer of adult stem cell technologies and CNS therapeutics, announces plans to initiate a preclinical study assessing the efficacy of its NurOwn(TM) stem cell technology in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Positive proof-of-concept results for MS have been confirmed in a set of in-vitro and in-vivo experiments, and the Company is working to advance MS into preclinical development in Q2 2012.

Based on initial promising pre-clinical data published by the Company’s Chief Scientist, Prof. Daniel Offen of Tel Aviv University, BrainStorm has decided to explore MS as an additional indication for its NurOwn technology. The Company will draw plans to initiate pre-clinical safety trials, after which it will seek a leading medical center specializing in MS for clinical trials.

“We have been focused on growing our pipeline of indications using our NurOwn(TM) stem-cell technology,” commented Dr. Adrian Harel, Acting CEO of BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics. “As we continue our ongoing trials to evaluate the safety, tolerability and therapeutic effects of NurOwn(TM) in ALS patients, we have determined through positive preliminary animal data that MS will be the next indication to pursue using our technology.”

About NurOwn(TM) BrainStorm’s core technology, NurOwn(TM), is based on the scientific achievements of Professor Eldad Melamed, former Head of Neurology, Rabin Medical Center, and Tel-Aviv University, and Professor Daniel Offen, Head of the Neuroscience Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center at the Tel-Aviv University.

The NurOwn(TM) technology processes adult human mesenchymal stem cells that are present in bone marrow and are capable of self-renewal as well as differentiation into many cell types. The research team is among the first to have successfully achieved the in-vitro differentiation of adult bone marrow cells (animal and human) into cells capable of releasing neurotrophic factors, such as glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), by means of a specific differentiation-inducing culture medium.

About Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is believed to be an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS). Autoimmune means that the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissue, in this case, the tissues of the CNS. With MS, autoimmune damage to neurons disrupts the body’s ability to send and receive signals, thus causing MS-related symptoms.Symptoms may vary due to the location and extent of the damage. Worldwide, MS may affect more than 2 million individuals, including approximately 400,000 people in the United States.

About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of adult stem cell therapeutic products derived from autologous bone marrow cells and intended for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The Company holds the rights to develop and commercialize its NurOwn(TM) technology through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Ramot, the technology transfer company of Tel-Aviv University. For more information, visit the company’s website at http://www.brainstorm-cell.com.

Media Contact:
Janet Vasquez
IRG, LLC
1251 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10020
212-825-3210
jvasquez@investorrelationsgroup.com
http://www.irgnews.com

Education

Veritas Prep Continues Partnership with Management Leadership for Tomorrow, Donates GMAT Prep

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Leading GMAT prep and graduate school admissions consulting provider makes free GMAT prep beta class available to 2013 MLT Fellows, offers 50 percent discount on all other courses

Malibu, California, March 12, 2012 – Veritas Prep, a leading GMAT prep and graduate school admissions consulting provider, today announced that it is continuing its partnership with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), a national nonprofit that develops African-American, Hispanic-American and Native American young people for leadership positions. The 2013 class of MLT Fellows will have the opportunity to get a first look at Veritas Prep’s new curriculum and take one of three free GMAT prep beta classes being made available in Los Angeles, New York and live online. Veritas Prep is also offering MLT Fellows a 50 percent discount off all other Veritas Prep GMAT prep courses.

“We believe deeply in the mission of Management Leadership for Tomorrow and are proud to support its efforts by continuing to give MLT Fellows access to the preparation they need to succeed on the GMAT,” said Chad Troutwine, co-founder and CEO of Veritas Prep. “Many top MBA programs have made recruiting minority talent a priority and it is imperative that we do what we can to help them be competitive candidates. It is our hope that by easing the financial burden of paying for a prep course, the 2013 MLT Fellows will be able to focus on gaining admission to business school, so they can get the education they need to launch their careers.”

Additionally, on Friday, March 16th, Troutwine and Brian Galvin, Director of Academic Programs at Veritas Prep, will lead a session on the GMAT at the MLT MBA Prep Kick-off Seminar at The Jones School of Business at Rice University in Houston, TX. During the session, they will offer an overview of the GMAT, including information about the new Integrated Reasoning section that is being added to the exam in June, as well as advice on how to effectively prepare and tips and strategies to help test takers achieve a top score.

Management Leadership for Tomorrow identifies 200 promising pre-MBA minority students each year for its MBA Prep program and provides leadership training, skill development and career success programming in an effort to foster the next generation of minority leaders. MLT’s pre-MBA programming works to increase the minority presence in leading business schools and facilitate the post-MBA career transition. MLT is the number one source of minority students at the nation’s top MBA programs.

Last year, more than 100 MLT Fellows took advantage of the free course offer from Veritas Prep, totaling more than $125,000 in tuition donated. To learn more about Management Leadership for Tomorrow and its programs, visit www.ml4t.org, or for more information about Veritas Prep visit www.veritasprep.com.

About Veritas Prep
Veritas Prep is the world’s largest privately-owned GMAT preparation and graduate school admissions consulting provider, offering industry-leading programs to help applicants improve their test scores and gain admission to the world’s best graduate schools. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management, Veritas Prep now offers live GMAT prep instruction in more than 50 cities worldwide, as well as interactive online courses available everywhere. Additionally, Veritas Prep offers industry-leading admissions consulting services for applicants seeking admission to the most competitive business schools, law schools, and medical schools in the world. For more information, visit veritasprep.com.

About Management Leadership for Tomorrow
Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) is the premier career development institution that equips high potential African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans with the key ingredients—skills, coaching and door-opening relationships—that unlock their potential. By cracking the code on career potential, MLT is developing the next generation of minority leaders, for the corporate, non-profit and entrepreneurial sectors, who will in turn have a transformational impact on our communities. MLT delivers programming that puts minorities on the fast-track to success at every stage of their careers – from College through MBA and the Executive levels – and is a leading source of minority talent for top graduate business schools and for many of the nation’s premier corporations. For more information, visit ml4t.org.

Contact:
Lindsey Mikal
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
lmikal@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com