Alternatif Education Counselling Services – Alternatif ECS –
was founded in 1998, and has grown to be a well-respected counselling provider for motivated students seeking assistance with their overseas education. We have offices in Istanbul and Ankara, and we operate the largest overseas education portal in the Turkish language, with one website each dedicated to language schools (www.dilokulu.com) and overseas education (www.uluslararasiegitim.com). Both of these portals were launched in April of 2000, and have thousands of hits daily from prospective students seeking accurate information on study abroad issues. The websites provide comprehensive information on a variety of topics such as language schools, high schools, study abroad opportunities, online education, career education, as well as MBAs and other areas of tertiary education.
As well, annually we publish “Alternatif Yurtdisi Egitim,” a leading study abroad magazine for Turkish students which helps to keep overseas information up-to-date. This magazine is distributed throughout Turkey in bookstores and newstands, as well as to all education facilitiess and their student advising centres. Alternatif also gives them to students visiting our offices and those with whom we have direct contact through seminars, presentations and education fairs.
Alternatif University Placement Services – Alternatif UPS – offers the specialized and personalized attention required for tertiary student counselling and placement. Combined with all of the other services above, this has rounded out the offerings of Alternatif, resulting in counselling and placement expertise for the full education continuum.
Alternatif ECS and UPS’ goal is to enable individuals and corporate customers to become more competitive in the global marketplace through study abroad and training. In order to successfully carry out this mission, Alternatif will:
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provide accurate, informative, and up-to-date information on its web sites and in its study abroad magazines
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refer to knowledgable counsellors, consultants, industry leaders and other experts when providing advice and guidance
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remain one of Turkey’s largest organizations that helps students in selecting and gaining admission to language schools, high schools, and overseas institutions of higher education by applying professional, friendly and honest services and information
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A few of the Universities where Alternatif UPS has placed students: LSE, University of Warwick, University of Lancaster, Pennsylvania State University, University of Southern California, SDSU, RIT.
SERVICES
Alternatif focuses its business operations on the following services:
1- Counselling for Individuals and Corporates- Alternatif ECS and UPS counselling services: assist individual members in identifying and attaining both short-term and long-term overseas education goals; helps to locate and access the courses/programs most appropriate for their goals; and provide a support system for successful entry into these programs.
2- Consulting for Educational Institutions –consulting services include: promotion, media relations, and representation; as well as access to prospective students, faculty, special instructors/lecturers, and other institutions overseas. We will arrage seminars for you to targetted individuals and provide all of the follow up support.
3- Vertical Portal Web Sites - The Alternatif ECS web sites provide comprehensive information on study abroad options and destinations, and overseas education and training opportunities. The information varies from high school programs and college/university courses to professional training and higher degree programs among others.
COUNSELOR SUPPORT
Although we deal in high school, language travel and university placement services, we had placed considerably more weight on language travel services, since the demand for this was massive. However, to meet the ever-increasing demand for international university placement, career colleges, etc., we dedicated an entire branch to specifically focus on this need so that we can offer attentive expertise to our clients – your future students. Hence the aforementioned opening of Alternatif UPS.
Turkish students are very motivated and place strong importance on their education, as do their families. With only about 70% of graduating high school students being granted a space in Turkish universities, they naturally turn to the alternative of studying at a reputable institution in another country. We provide information about the options, and are developing strong ties with select institutions to better expedite the application and acceptance process.
ADVERTISING & PROMOTION
Promotional activities include participation in, and now the organization of, international study fairs; (www.ieft.net) the annual publication of a study abroad guidebook with a national circulation of 10,000 copies; wide visibility in secondary and post-secondary schools throughout Turkey, gained through regular seminars and ongoing promotions; and joint seminars with our education partners, attended by selected target audience
