*Poling returns as part-time economic development chief
WOODSTOCK — Barely a month after leaving county employment, former Shenandoah County Administrator Vince Poling is back to work in the same building. The Board of Supervisors’ personnel committee on Tuesday morning authorized current County Administrator Douglas C. “Doug” Walker to hire Poling on a part-time basis to be director of economic development.

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Irish educationists played a prominent role
IF the annals of the development of education in this country is written, the role of the Irish educationists will feature prominently. There was a time when education in Malaya was synonymous with Irish Catholic brothers and sisters who came to teach the young in mission schools.

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Tyler Mahoney: Why I Don’t Ditch College: An Entrepreneur’s Opinion
Simply running the tuition numbers and telling people to be an entrepreneur in no way makes up for the personal development and career advantages you can gain by attending college.

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Being a pilot or an air hostess could be anybody’s dream career. The job involves lot of traveling, glamour and lot of money. It is a well-paying job so youngsters dream to pursue a career in aviation. In fact, all jobs related to the aviation sector are lucrative. However, it is also a rigorous job and demands a lot out of you and involves a certain amount of risk on daily basis. The work hours are generally long but the perks are high. One also gets to travel the world while on the job and meet interesting people. All these things make a career in aviation a very sought after option. Also, with the upcoming travel industry and the upgradation, liberalization and privatization of airports, there is a huge demand for the people who have done career training in aviation.

Today, there are many state-run and private training schools that provide pilot training and air hostess training. Different schools offer aviation courses of different duration.

It is always advisable to take up courses related to the aviation industry from a recognized and prestigious career institute. Aviation courses mainly include training about flying operation, aircrew, aircraft, air traffic management, technical aspects of flight, aviation safety, regulatory policies and economics of airport.

The Indian Institute of Aeronautics based in Delhi offers 3-year AME Licence Training Programs, as approved by the Director General of Civil Aviation. For enrolment in the course, one has to apply as per admission notice displayed in newspapers. The courses usually commence in July every year. For foreign students, admission is subject to security clearance from the Government of India.

Indian Institute of Aeronautical Science based in Jamshedpur offers a course in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering. The course usually commences in January and July every year. The admissions are done on the basis of merit list prepared on an entrance examination. The duration of this course is three years and it is divided over six months, which includes six months on the job practical training on flying aircraft. The eligibility for this course is that the candidate must have passed Intermediate Science, 10+2 (or its equivalent) with 50% Marks in Physics & Mathematics or a 3-year Diploma and degree in any branch of engineering with minimum 50% marks. Foreign students shall have qualification equivalent to any prescribed above or “O” level of U.K. or equivalent.

Another good institute is Avalon Aviation Academy, which is an enterprise of Aptech Limited. It offers the following courses: Diploma in Professional Cabin Crew Services, Diploma in Professional Ground Staff services, IATA / UFTAA- Foundation Course, Certificate Course in Fares & Ticketing Virgin Atlantic/ GTMC Courses and Personality Development courses. Avalon Aviation Academy has centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune etc.

The state owned institutes include: Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Akademi, Rae Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh Aviation Academy, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Amritsar Aviation Club, Amritsar, Punjab, Bihar Flying Institute, Patna, Bihar, Bombay Flying Club, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Gujarat Flying Club, Vadodara, Gujarat, Government. Flying Training Institute, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, Government Flying Training Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal, Government. Flying Training School, Bangalore, Karnataka, Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation, Karnal, Haryana, Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation, Hissar, Haryana, Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation, Pinjore, Haryana, Ludhiana Aviation Club, Ludhiana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh Flying Club, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh Flying Club, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Madras Flying Club, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Northern India Flying Club, Jallandhar, Punjab, Patiala Aviation Club, Patiala, Punjab, Rajasthan State Flying School, Jaipur, Rajasthan, UP State Flying Training Institute, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Flying Training Institute, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Assam Flying Club, Guwahati, Assam, Banasthali Vidyapith Gliding and Flying Club, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Aviation Training Academy, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Delhi Flying Club, New Delhi, Kerala Aviation Training Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Nagpur Flying Club, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Jamshedpur Cooperative Flying Club, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.

There is wide ranging scope in India for those who successfully complete courses in aviation. One may find jobs in aerospace / aviation engineering, aviation maintenance, flight crew, management aviation, civil aviation department of India, avionics, cargo management, reservation sector, cabin crew, operation executive, air hostess etc. The major companies in aviation include Sahara India, Kingfisher Airlines, Indian Airlines, India International Airways Ltd., Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., Deccan Airlines, Trans Asian Aviation, Bird Group, and many others.

To be a pilot the basic prerequisites are that you must have completed your Class XII under the 10+2 system or its equivalent with a minimum of 50 per cent marks in Mathematics and Physics. Minimum 16 years of age is required to be eligible for a Private Pilot License and 17 for a Commercial Pilot License. The vision in one eye must be perfect. General physical fitness is also mandatory.

Before going for the plunge, one must remember that however glamorous and exciting it may sound, the job requires intensive training and risk. A pilot is responsible for the lives of passengers as well as the aircraft itself.

You can’t spend long in the education marketplace these days without hearing about online degree programs. And in a world which places great store by qualifications and professional skills, a learning option which allows students to study at a distance is becoming a popular alternative to the traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ setting of traditional college courses.
There are many reasons why some high school graduates don’t go straight on to college. Some can’t afford it, some may prefer to go directly into the world of work — and for others, the time may simply not be right for them to commit to more years of academic study.
But later on, such obstacles are often easier to overcome, and taking a degree can have a greater appeal. There are online courses that allow students to earn a degree, a diploma or certificate in a wide variety of subjects.
Here are five reasons why distance learning degree programs are proving so popular:
1. Family Responsibilities
If you’re a stay-at-home parent, you may well not have the chance to take time out and study as a traditional college student. Yet many moms and dads foresee a time when their child-caring responsibilities will diminish as their children grow up.
Going back to work can be an attractive option for parents like these, and distance learning offers one way to acquire new professional skills as preparation for a return to a career — or entry into a new one.
2. Professional Development
Many online courses focus on the knowledge and skills needed for career advancement and reach out to students seeking professional development. And many working people see the value of certificates (rather than full degrees) as a way to develop their expertise in key areas that relate to their current jobs. Students save time by focussing on specific disciplines — and can develop their resume as a result.
3. Following Your Passion
It’s no surprise that many online degree courses cater to the needs of professional and vocational training. But let’s not forget the importance of personal development and enrichment for people of all ages and backgrounds. Many enjoy the process of learning for its own sake, and gain self-esteem and a sense of purpose from meeting the challenges of advanced study. It can provide important mental stimulation in later life and open up new possibilities and activities.
4. Cost Cutting Issues
Tuition fees are a major consideration for almost any student, and most have to manage on a strict budget — so cutting costs is a key skill in making ends meet. Studying from home can help to save money by reducing travel costs such as bus and train fares, fuel expenses and parking fees. Online students also save when they don’t have to pay room and board charges.
5. Time is Money Too
For anyone leading a busy life, time is a form of currency — one that needs to be sensibly managed and wisely invested. Full time students in a traditional degree program normally have the opportunity and freedom to benefit from the full range of activities that a college campus can offer, inside and out of the classroom.
But professional people and busy home-makers need to organize their time differently — perhaps taking classes in the evening or early in the morning. Many online degree programs offer ‘asynchronous’ classes — so that you can create your own study schedule.

The education industry is obviously keeping up with the current developments and advances in information technology.  By using the power of Internet technology, more and more educational institutions are now opening online courses for students.  Attending colleges online is a non-traditional way of getting a degree. So if you want to improve your employment prospects or pursue higher studies for personal development, finishing a college online course is one of your best options right now.  There are numerous advantages that you can enjoy from online education.  So here are just some of the most glaring benefits that you can get from an online college or university.   Convenience, flexibility, and time efficiency are three of the most obvious benefits that you can enjoy from online education.  Colleges online have less restrictive schedules and allow students to choose their own schedules.  This is usually called self-paced study method and has been proven effective especially for working adults.  So if you are too busy to attend classroom based coursework, you can simply take up a college online course and proceed to finish your degree at your own pace.  You can also save a lot of time if you attend school online.  That is because you can eliminate the time consuming effort of driving through monstrous city traffic everyday to go to the campus.  Through online studies, you can sit in a virtual class and participate in the discussion right at the comforts of your home.  Colleges online normally employ education experts and professors from other prestigious universities.  Typically, an online college can get the services of several well-established educators precisely because the schedules of online education are highly flexible.  Students therefore can get competent instructions from these experts.  And because the faculty of a college online institution came from different universities, online students will enjoy different educational perspectives in their learning processes.  In fact, most students tend to believe that the quality of education provided by online colleges is at par or even better with that provided by some local community colleges.  Students attending colleges online can also enjoy greater retention capability.  If you are going to attend a college online coursework, your professors will utilize mixed forms of virtual instructions.  Usually, a session will be allotted for interactive instructions where the professor and students will study in a virtual classroom.  Through chat and voice facilities, the lessons can be delivered just like in a regular classroom.  However, online instructors also provide downloadable modules, podcasts, and video lessons.  With these tools at hand, you can review your lessons over and over until you grasp the coursework.  That is why working adults who may have difficulties catching up on their lessons can improve their retention capabilities through the use of digital educational materials.  There are still other benefits that you can get from online colleges.  Getting your degree online is sometimes more economical than enrolling in a traditional university.  Most importantly, the programs and courses of online colleges are accredited by several higher learning institutions so you can use your new degree in order to improve your job prospects.