EduIcon: When you started foreign study counseling business and why?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: I am sorry to say that, foreign education counseling is not a business rather you can say this as a service. To provide the service GEE Student Consultant has received a trading license in the year of 2005. Our official mission has been started from 01 September 2005. Our aim is to create social awareness about foreign education & research. GEE encourages potential and refrains ineligible to study abroad.

EduIcon: What is the logic/view behind to start counseling service?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: Know --> Learn --> Research & Implement is the concept of GEE to start an Education Consultancy Service/Resource Centre. A consultant is a good doctor for students mind and philosophy. A consultancy firm is the chamber of consultants who guide potential local students to select, plan and visualize their career and future in a vivid constructive manner through proper higher education & research in native land or abroad.

EduIcon: For studying UK which are the major concerning subject for a student?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: UK is the combination of three major territories and the birth place of English Language. UK Education is nothing new to the students of Bangladesh because (1757-1947) present Bangladesh was a colony of former Great Britain. Proper UK awards are respected through out the World and Career Market. Before planning to study in the UK, potential students must consider whether he/she is achieving a proper UK awards or not. So called UK awards under so called institutions are really unexpected.

EduIcon: For choosing education in UK, what should a student think first?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: Before enrolling to a UK institution and achieving a UK award, students must consider where he/she is enrolling and whether the award will help him/her in reaching his/her academic goal or not. Proper UK education is the big investment of money, time & talent for life long output. Student should consider the rank, citation, publication and researches of the university before enrollment.

EduIcon: What are the basic differences between UK & Bangladeshi education?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: I am sorry to say, it`s almost different. Age group, curriculum, pedagogy, credits, admission pathway all are different. UK education is open for all and strongly monitored by different quality assurance agencies. Even in the elementary level students are getting specialized qualifications for employment. Higher educations are available in full and part time mood. In Bangladesh education is traditional; there is very little research in both academic and non academic circles.

EduIcon: How foreign universities treat Bangladeshi students?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: Bangladeshi students are under the category of foreign students. However, there is no discrimination of caste and creed in the UK universities. So there is no provision to treat Bangladeshi students separately. However, being a developing country, university encourages Bangladeshi students to secure good result.

EduIcon: How UK Universities select there students?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: : It depends on status of the university. In general there are numerous assessment level to select a student for enrollment i,e, previous academic credentials, language ability, study plan, self motivation, arrangement of finance, maintenance etc.

EduIcon: How important it is to learn foreign language for studying in UK?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: A student must know minimum B2 level of English I mean IELTS overall band score 5.5 and no band less than 5.5. However, for university level, IELTS 6.0 is mandatory for UG and 6.5 for PG courses. Student must know minimum level of English for daily activities and part time employment. It is an essential part of UK education.

EduIcon: When applications can be refused in UK?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: Under the new Tier 4 PBS system a student might be refused if he/she failed to meet 40 points. 30 points are allocated for CAS and 10 for maintenance funds. CAS must be issued by a reputed University and student must have sufficient funds to cover minimum 9 months costs in the UK. Otherwise there is a high degree of probability to decline entry clearance application by an officer of the UKBA, Dhaka.

EduIcon: What a student can do for arranging Bank statement of certificate?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: As per UKBA Tier 4 policy guidance every student have to show enough maintenance funds suppose Inner London area £ 9,000 and outer London area £ 7,200 in their own bank account. Above mentioned money has to stay in the account minimum 28 consecutive days prior lodging an entry clearance application. Deposit the required money in your own account well in advance. Don`t show any fake or fraudulent statement or certificate.

EduIcon: Exporting students to abroad, isn`t it harmful for our country?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: Students are not goods or commodities to export. Change the philosophy, word and Idea. Study abroad is a part of cultural exchange. For instance, look about China & India. It is difficult to find a university in the developed countries without student of China & India. They emphasize students to study abroad to create idea and intellectual abilities for the implementation in their native land. It cannot be harmful rather essential for a developing country like Bangladesh.

EduIcon: What kind of help GEE provides to a student for studying in UK?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: GEE check student`s actual ability to study in the UK through numerous assessments. GEE cannot help any student but guide them to choose the right track for better future and life.

EduIcon: Is there any law & regulation for studying in UK and what steps can be taken in any counseling farm for preventing fraud services?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) has submitted a draft of CBHE (Cross Boarder Higher Education) act to the Ministry of Education for consideration. Let`s see what inside on the proposed CBHE act. Law enforcement authorities may check regular newspaper advertisements to identify the frauds that are tempting local students to study abroad in so called schools and colleges. Foreign missions can help in this regards as well.

EduIcon: What do you think about the professional acceptance of Bangladeshi students in UK?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: UK is a multicultural country. London itself is the capital of the world in terms of tourism. To create cultural diversity UK universities welcome students from every part of the world including Bangladesh. I think there is no professional acceptance considering any specific country or region. Students are studying in the UK for their betterment.

EduIcon: What is your expectation from the Government of Bangladesh?

Biplob Chandra Chakraborty: Counseling is a noble Profession. Proper counseling is very useful for the local student to plan, visualize and budget their studies abroad. Government should encourage proper counselors to assist outgoing students consequently and provide them necessary accreditation; on the other hand identify human traffickers following investigation by the law enforcement authorities who are tempting ineligible students to study abroad.