I have been the school’s Careers Counsellor and higher education guidance counsellor since 1988. Although I am a UK trained educator, I acquired counselling skills at Fontys university of applied sciences, here in Eindhoven between 1988 and 1989.

At the ISE, Higher education counselling is a collective effort involving parents, teachers, year-tutors, myself and of course the students themself. The aim of the exercise is to ensure that students have all the information and advice they require in order to arrive at decisions which suit their capacities and career aspirations.

The guidance service is aimed at further education within the school and higher or vocational education outside the school. It is no longer realistic to expect school-leaving students to find employment without further and higher education or training. Careers counselling service is available to all students but in practice the demand is highest from MP5 upwards.

The economic recession in the Western world is having a profound impact on university attending students. In many parts of the world tuition costs are rising faster than inflation as governments are cutting back on university subsidies. Admission requirements have also risen, in particular in the UK and Netherlands, where there is a rise in demand for university places. Universities are now expecting higher International Baccalaureate Diploma scores.

Approximately 70% of ISE graduates pursue their higher education within the Netherlands (both in English medium and Dutch medium courses), and the remainder disperse in the rest of the world, with the UK, US, Japanese and Canadian universities being popular choices.

You will find more information and links at my website

Read more about higher education news and guidance services in the school's monthly newsletter.