Q: I am now 19 years old and sitting for A/L bioscience stream in 2009, and seeking for a fashion designing courese at degree level. Could you please guide me to select a course in Sri lanka which is internationally recognized. Especially USA. If possible send me a mail back which will be much appreciated. Thank you
Andrina
Via Email
Dear Andrina,

A: There are many fashion design institutes in the country two of them are the Lanka institute of fashion design and the Academy of fashion design. A simple web search would help you identify and pick the best. There many options for study, Diploma, Advanced diploma and BA Hons, ranging from one to three years cost ranging from rupees 200,000 to 400,000.As for job opportunities in the industry job attractiveness is very high, you could be your own boss or work for any of the world class garment companies in Sri Lanka or out.
To help you out with the next few steps , You may need to look at a five point plan.
nIdentify your vision and your path of study preference, this can be a work related qualification or are academic

Select the best fit course based on cost , time and recognition status, there are around 11 well recognised qualifications , a simple web search will show you the options available in business management

Select the best based on research and advice from trusted relatives and friends

Try to scan for job opportunities that would amplify the qualification

Develop an action plan on how you are going to get about it.
As for job opportunities the industry job attractiveness is very high, you could be your own boss or work for any of the world class garment companies in Sri Lanka or out.
All the best

Q: I have passed my Edexcel advanced Subsidiary Level exam and will be sitting for the Advanced level this year in the maths stream. Can I know whether it is possible to switch to the medical stream in US and will it be possible to find a university. Your help is highly appreciated

Harshini
Via Email
Dear Harshini
A: Each university has it’s own validation programmes Edexcel HNC and HND in line with the regulations and the Quality Enhancement Committee,
Each University provides a range of courses at different levels, i.e. specialist, joint, generic and negotiated. Specialist courses concentrate upon the study of a single subject. Joint courses involve the study of two subjects in combination. Generic courses have a broad base and involve the study of modules from a number of disciplines within a broad subject area. Negotiated courses allow students to study modules from a wide variety of subjects, but for which there is a rationale.
It is best that you check with the awarding body and the relevant university first, so that you could move towards a negotiated option.

But first find the answer to the question what do I want to get out of this, it seems that you have clutter in your future career road map.

Q:I study in Dubai, UAE, in grade 8.At the moment, our school is having the Edexcel syllabus. I would like to know:
Whether I can do the Edexcel OL and then do Cambridge AL, or should follow just one?
Which is the best, Cambridge or Edexcel?
What is the actual difference between Edexcel and Cambridge?
And can I apply for Sri Lankan Universities after doing the Edexcel AL exam?
Imesha
Dubai
UAE
Dear Imesha,
Good to hear from you from Dubai
A: As far as acceptability goes, there is no distinction made by educational institutions at the tertiary (university/college) level. As long as the qualification is A-Levels, it does not make a material difference whether it's from OCR (formerly Cambridge International Exams) or Edexcel.

Most universities will take the base structure of the qualification into consideration rather than the provider. So AQA, Edexcel, OCR (Cambridge) are all equivalent when it comes to acceptance of their A-Levels.
Moreover, since all the bodies running A-Levels and their curricula are administered and regulated using very similar standards (QCA, UK Department of Education), the choice is perhaps more on availability than value.
The difference between dreams and accomplishments is purely desire

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