Features
Students and English language proficiency at Finnish universities
• University of Helsinki requires prospective students
to prove their English proficiency
Recently, someone asked me about English language requirements for international students who come from an English-speaking country and want to gain admission for a programme in a Finnish university.
The person made specific reference to students from the Commonwealth nations in Africa where English is the ‘official’ or major language of instruction throughout one’s schooling.
In fact, the University of Helsinki, for example, requires a prospective student to prove their English proficiency from a number of methods.
Commonwealth countries and English
Actually, this was not the first time the person was asking whether an exemption can be given to prospective students coming from the Commonwealth countries where English is the official language or medium of instruction throughout schooling.
The person thought this would be one good option as happens in some other places.
Truly, I have no idea what exemptions are there and whether such a consideration can be given to students from Commonwealth countries.
I advised those who contacted me to find out from the faculties or departments and the programmes that they are interested to study in Finnish universities.
Accepted methods of proving language skills
According to information on the website of the University of Helsinki, for example, there are a number of methods to prove your English language skills.
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is one such method for testing the language skills of a prospective student. The minimum requirement for the IELTS is an overall score of 6.5, with a minimum score of 6.0 in the writing section.
The other method is the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). In this, the student has to score 92 in the internet-based test (IBT), with a minimum of 22 in the writing section.
There is also the revised Paper-delivered Test of the TOEFL which should have a minimum score of 20 in the listening section, and a minimum of 22 in the writing section. The information says that both the Home Edition and Paper Edition of TOEFL IBT are also accepted.
I think it is not easy to pass these English language tests. Moreover, I heard that the certificate expires after some months or so, which does not make things easy.
Eye-catching International Master’s Programmes
All the same, people should not lose hope and miss the many eye-catching and potentially beneficial International Master’s Programmes for foreign students in Finnish universities.
Although I do not have any figures to show how many foreign students gain admission into Finnish universities, I can say as I have previously done that there are quite huge numbers of non-European students these days wanting to pursue further education in Finland.
It is stated clearly on the website of the University of Helsinki that when students apply to their International Master’s programmes in English or to their multilingual Master’s programmes with English as the language of the degree, they must prove their language skills in English (see www.helsinki.fi).
But statements issued by individual language teachers or universities’ own language test scores are not accepted. This is because the statements cannot be compared with standardised language tests, according to the instructions for the Master’s programme applications for 2022 (which ended in early January this year).
Cooperation
Ever since those inquiries were made to me about exemptions from the English language proficiency test, I have been thinking about whether there could be a possibility for that through cooperation or an agreement between institutions in the two countries.
I have been wondering if it would be possible for the two governments or at least institutions of higher education to devise an agreement about exemption from the proficiency test as part of measures to strengthen their development cooperation relationship through education.
Finland is trying to attract more foreign students into its universities these days. As we know, studies in especially higher educational institutions is good academically, culturally, economically, politically, etc. for both the sending country and the receiving/host nation.
There is no doubt that increasing and strengthening the areas of cooperation between the two countries and individual students’ quest to study abroad can be boosted if there are official arrangements backing them. Thank you!
The writer is Ghanaian lecturer at
the University of Helsinki in Finland
By Perpetual Crentsil
Email: perpetualcrentsil@yahoo.com
Features
Preventing the brain’s melting point with BOS
The human brain is a complex and delicate organ, susceptible to damage from various factors, including extreme temperatures.
The brain’s melting point, also known as the temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade, is a critical concern for individuals seeking to maintain optimal cognitive function.
Fortunately, the Brain Operating System (BOS) offers a revolutionary solution to prevent the brain’s melting point.
Understanding the brain’s melting point
The brain’s melting point refers to the temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade, leading to irreversible damage.
This temperature threshold varies depending on individual factors, such as age, health, and environmental conditions. However, research suggests that the brain’s melting point is approximately 104°F (40°C) to 107°F (42°C).
The role of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point
BOS, a cutting-edge technology, plays a crucial role in preventing the brain’s melting point. By leveraging advanced neural interfaces and artificial intelligence, BOS monitors and regulates brain temperature, ensuring that it remains within a safe range.
How BOS prevents the brain’s melting point
BOS prevents the brain’s melting point through several mechanisms:
1. Temperature regulation: BOS continuously monitors brain temperature, adjusting neural activity to maintain a stable temperature.
2. Heat dissipation: BOS enhances heat dissipation through increased blood flow and sweating.
3. Neuro protection: BOS protects neurons from heat-induced damage.
Benefits of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point
The benefits of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point are numerous:
1. Prevents brain damage: BOS prevents brain damage caused by excessive heat.
2. Maintains cognitive function: BOS ensures optimal cognitive function by maintaining stable brain temperature.
3. Enhances brain resilience: BOS enhances brain resilience to temperature fluctuations.
Real-World applications of BOS
BOS has various real-world applications:
1. High-performance computing: BOS enables high-performance computing by maintaining optimal brain temperature.
2. Medical applications: BOS has medical applications, such as treating heat-related illnesses.
3. Space exploration: BOS is crucial for space exploration, where extreme temperatures pose a significant risk.
Conclusion
BOS is a revolutionary technology that prevents the brain’s melting point, ensuring optimal cognitive function and overall well-being. By leveraging advanced neural interfaces and artificial intelligence, BOS monitors and regulates brain temperature, protecting against heat-related damage.
Glossary:
1. BOS: Brain Operating System.
2. Brain’s melting point: Temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade.
3. Neural interface: Connects human brain with digital devices.
Contact Information
virginvtech@yahoo.com
Additional resources:
1. BOS research: Explore scientific studies.
2. Neural interface resources: Discover books and articles.
3. Brain-computer interface communities: Join online forums.
Future directions
As BOS technology continues to evolve, we can expect:
1. Improved temperature regulation: Enhanced temperature regulation mechanisms.
2. Increased cognitive enhancement: Advanced cognitive enhancement capabilities.
3. Expanded applications: New applications in various fields.
By harnessing the power of BOS, individuals can safeguard their brain health and maintain optimal cognitive function, even in extreme environments.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
Features
Lotto wahala and Tuobodom palaver
In Sikaman lotto is not a game. It is a profession, a noble career which people aspire to. It is the highest paying profession after armed robbery and the most widespread job on this side of the Atlantic.
In places like China, lotto is a disease that has no cure. Once you are infected, no doctor on earth can cure you. May be Kofi Larteh, Ghana’s most celebrated magician, can help ease the symptoms, but no definitive cure will be forthcoming.
Coming back to Sikaman, lotto has been the financial messiah of many. That is how people look after their large families, pay school fees, marry two wives and do their own ‘monkey things.’
If you are very poor and you win a lottery, chances are that you will die before you even collect the money. You’ll die out of excitement or you’ll start day-dreaming in the streets and an articulated truck will hit you.
As such, very heavy wins are not recommended for poor people, lest they get listed too soon in the obituary columns.
The sad story is told of a heavy-duty caterpillar driver who had a very heavy lotto windfall of several millions, his first big win after several years.
CATERPILLAR
He was driving the caterpillar home when he saw his son running towards him, shouting. “All your numbers have dropped! All your numbers have dropped! He could not believe his ears.
All the four numbers he had staked had dropped and his son, who had gone to stake them for him, was himself over-excited. The poor caterpillar man just could not handle the good news. He suddenly stepped on the brakes and the caterpillar jolted him a trifle too violently, throwing him off. He landed right in front of the still moving heavy-duty machine and it crushed him flat.
I don’t think the bloke would have died if he had won a smaller amount. Sometimes too much cash is not good for the health.
Seldom, people get too confident and that can also result in a wake-keeping, like that of a man who used his lifetime savings and borrowed extra money to crack the machine with a two-sure that the compiler must compulsory drop or the world will end.
Even the shadows of the numbers or their counterparts were nowhere near the winning numbers. His shock-absorbers crumbled under the weight of the heavy disappointment. He crashed to the floor and started foaming at the mouth. He was declared dead on arrival at the nearest clinic.
WINDFALL
Recently, there was a countrywide lotto windfall, and in Kumasi it was more than a festival. Most stakers had between ¢30m and ¢40 million on two-sure that the lotto magicians had predicted at least three weeks earlier,
Kejetia chop bars were besieged with overnight millionaires, carrying huge appetites induced by Opeimu Bitters popularly called Opeimu Peters. All the meat and mudfish got sold out within an hour and procurement agents had to double up to restock.
While some were celebrating, others were weeping and gnashing teeth. The problem was that, three weeks beforehand, the two sure numbers were declared by all the lotto sorcerers, dreamers, magicians, tellers and all the self-appointed and self-promoted forecasters.
Everybody including 10-year-olds, who staked and lost. The following week, they were advised to continue staking. The faithful did continue but the faithless stopped. All of them lost. In the third week or so, a good number of confident stakers had lost faith in the two numbers. That was when the number landed.
So the windfall was for only those who had the unshakeable faith in the numbers. See what faith can do? It can move dollars. Don’t waver, so saith the holy scriptures.
The faithless indeed gnashed teeth. The winners on the other hand celebrated with a song that is as controversial as the business of lotto. It is a song played by the group called Nkasei and has something to do with a town in the Brong Ahafo Region called Tuobodom whose capital we hear is Jinijini.
I hear it is a derogatory song and the queen mother of Tuobodom got charged and breathed out electric current during her protest on air. She allegedly ended up demanding a mobile phone from Nkasei so that she could communicate with them to settle the matter peacefully, lest wahala.
Well, the song is rising up the charts and Nkasei are making the dough, but should it be at the expense of a whole townsfolk, their forebears and generations to come?
WATERPROOF
Waterproof, the famous comedian, was allegedly given hefty slaps at the Kumasi rail station by some Frafra jingoists who felt he was deriding their tribe. And Bob Okala had to run with his tail between his legs when he was confronted and realised that slaps were going to be visited on his lean face.
Let’s not use words and lyrics to cause discomfort to others.
This article was first published on Saturday July 9, 2005
