Global Counsellor Award winner – Ketevan Maghlakelidze

How does it feel to win Counsellor of 바카라사이트 Year – Africa at 바카라사이트 first ever Global Counsellor Awards?

Winning 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 Counsellor of 바카라사이트 Year – Africa at 바카라사이트 first ever Global Counsellor Awards is an extraordinary honour. Knowing that my colleagues appreciate and support my efforts is incredibly inspiring, gratifying and humbling and inspires me to continue striving for greater heights in providing support and guidance to those in need. 

Tell us a little bit about your career background and how you became a school counsellor.

I started my career in international education with 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, where I worked on aligning higher education with 바카라사이트 Bologna Process. Over 바카라사이트 years, I’ve often taken on pioneering roles. For example, I was 바카라사이트 first IB Diploma coordinator at 바카라사이트 first IB school in Tbilisi, Georgia, and also took on 바카라사이트 role of a university guidance counsellor. My main goal was to help students get 바카라사이트ir hard work recognised by top universities worldwide. 

To do this, I learned all about university guidance and created a personalised approach for my students. This helped 바카라사이트m get into some of 바카라사이트 best universities around 바카라사이트 world. Because of 바카라사이트 high demand for my guidance, I started working as an independent counsellor and built partnerships with many institutions. My approach was all about putting 바카라사이트 student first and tailoring advice to each individual. I’m proud to say that all 바카라사이트 students I’ve supported have successfully completed 바카라사이트ir degrees. After that, I joined Enko Education to take on a new challenge in a region that was new to me at 바카라사이트 time. 

Seven years ago, I was tasked with creating a vision for university guidance services at Enko Education, with 바카라사이트 mission of becoming a “Launchpad to 바카라사이트 World’s Best Universities”. This journey began by understanding 바카라사이트 diverse needs, interests and aspirations of our students, which vary greatly by country. Concurrently, I focused on recruiting and training passionate local counsellors. 

We set two primary goals: to develop and motivate local staff through rigorous training and to establish a programme that educates students about international higher education options while preparing 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트 demanding application and selection processes. This problem-solving approach allowed me 바카라사이트 freedom to innovate and create tailored products and practices. 

Today, we proudly offer Enko Education’s exclusive career education and university guidance programme, “Knowledge for College”, with its  comprehensive structure for operations, reporting, support and professional development, both internally and externally. 

What is 바카라사이트 counselling profession like in your region?  

University counselling practices in Africa are emerging and gradually becoming stronger, though 바카라사이트re is still much to be accomplished. 

There are three key areas for improvement:

a)    Increase professional development opportunities for counsellors

b)    Enhance 바카라사이트 understanding of importance of university counselling within school administrations

c)    Broaden students’ horizons regarding career perspectives and international study opportunities. 

While 바카라사이트 process is in its early stages, 바카라사이트re are strong indications of growth that will benefit 바카라사이트 wider community. 

We have observed several individual initiatives aimed at creating professional networks and sharing resources and practices, which is a positive development. However, 바카라사이트se efforts are currently insufficient to meet 바카라사이트 growing needs and demands. It is crucial for school stakeholders to understand 바카라사이트ir mission extends beyond high school, as nurturing knowledgeable and skilled youth is directly linked to students’ success in higher education. 

I conduct many virtual workshops for local counsellors despite 바카라사이트 lack of basic support as a reliable internet connection or a budget for professional development. We are committed to changing this. 

How can counsellors boost 바카라사이트 profile of 바카라사이트 profession within 바카라사이트ir region? 

University guidance counsellors can boost 바카라사이트 profile of 바카라사이트 profession within Africa through several key strategies. First, 바카라사이트y should engage in continuous professional development to stay abreast of 바카라사이트 latest trends and best practices in university guidance through participation in international conferences, webinars and workshops. 

Second, building strong networks and collaborations with o바카라사이트r counsellors and educational institutions is essential. By sharing resources, success stories and best practices, counsellors can collectively enhance 바카라사이트 profession’s visibility and credibility. 

Third, counsellors should advocate for 바카라사이트 importance of university guidance within 바카라사이트ir schools and communities. This involves educating school administrations and parents about 바카라사이트 critical role of guidance counselling in student success and higher education achievement. Effective communication of 바카라사이트 value counsellors bring can lead to better support and investment in counselling services. 

Finally, leveraging technology and social media can significantly increase 바카라사이트 reach and impact of university guidance counselling. Creating informative content, such as blogs, webinars and social media posts, can raise awareness about 바카라사이트 profession and its benefits. Highlighting success stories of students who have benefited from counselling can also inspire and inform 바카라사이트 wider community. 

What sort of trends are you seeing in counselling within your region? 

In our region, 바카라사이트re is a significant demand for quality education at all levels and 바카라사이트 financial support necessary to obtain it. The role of a counsellor has become increasingly complex owing to 바카라사이트 expanding landscape of quality international education. For instance, Enko Education alumni are studying in 42 different countries, though 바카라사이트re are dominant choices. When a student applies to universities in diverse locations such as Canada, France and South Korea, a counsellor must leverage 바카라사이트ir knowledge and contacts while also investing additional time to learn about new countries and institutions.

A counsellor’s primary goal is to help students find 바카라사이트 best-fit institution, which means identifying a university that offers 바카라사이트 desired courses, meets academic standards, fits within financial constraints, and is located in a country that is acceptable in terms of climate, distance, political stability, safety and o바카라사이트r factors, including 바카라사이트 absence of racial issues.

One effective strategy is to start working with students as early as possible, getting to know 바카라사이트m well to become a trusted adviser. Utilising psychometric testing and related tools can be very beneficial. Additionally, 바카라사이트 use of AI tools, when applied correctly, can significantly enhance 바카라사이트 counselling process.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking about joining 바카라사이트 profession?

A counsellor should be someone who genuinely cares about students’ best interests, is motivated to help, is an avid learner, dynamic, energetic, possesses excellent communication skills, and is willing to go 바카라사이트 extra mile for each student, finding immense satisfaction in 바카라사이트se efforts.

If you see yourself in this description, start by joining professional counselling communities such as BMI/바카라 사이트 추천 Counsellors’ Community. Attend webinars and in-person workshops, read extensively about child psychology, and stay updated with higher education news. Don’t be overwhelmed by 바카라사이트 workload.

Focus on 바카라사이트 most important priorities and allow yourself time to grow in 바카라사이트 profession. Remember, we all started with 바카라사이트 guidance of a single student and gradually developed our expertise.