Importing Teachers !!

Hi Readers,

I am thinking of setting up a consulting company to bring people from
countries like Indian adn China to fill the gap between the demand and
supply of qualified teachers in countries like US and Canada.

Anyone has some idea on how this can marketed please help with suggestions?

Thanks,
Nitin

"Nitin Gupta" <nitingupta@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:bit4n5015jb@enews2.newsguy.com...
>
> Hi Readers,
>
> I am thinking of setting up a consulting company to bring people from
> countries like Indian adn China to fill the gap between the demand and
> supply of qualified teachers in countries like US and Canada.
>
> Anyone has some idea on how this can marketed please help with
suggestions?

When you say you're "thinking of" bringing in these teachers, what exactly
do you mean? Have you done any work so far? Any research? If so, some
details would really help people to offer you suggestons on marketing. If
not, I suggest you spend some time thinking things through and doing a
little footwork.

Mike

Nitin Gupta wrote:
> I am thinking of setting up a consulting company to
> bring people from countries like Indian adn China
> to fill the gap between the demand and supply of
> qualified teachers in countries like US and Canada.

Some questions to consider in your research:

? What certifications and formal training will be required of teachers
(in general) in the target markets? In the USA, there is a Board of
Education in each state with its own criteria, and individual school
districts may have added criteria.

? Will foreign teaching certificates be honored? Doubtful, given the
limited reciprocity between state-issued teaching certificates in the
USA, so you'll need to plan for local certification.

? What will be required of foreign teachers seeking local teaching
certificates? For example, requiring a year of in-classroom
internship. How can foreign experience be credited toward requirements?

? How will foreign education / degrees be applied toward the criteria?
Due to dissimilarities in educational formats, university accreditation,
and degree programs there may be extra steps to detail curricula.

? What are the formal requirements for sponsorship of a US work visa?
Particularly the employee/employer relationship - would you be the
employer of record? If not, how does the seasonal nature of teaching
jobs play into visa requirements? If internship is required, how does
that impact the visa (e.g., income requirement)?

? How do teachers unions factor into the scenario? They will likely
lobby against the use of foreign teachers. Will your staff be
employable if they are non-union? (This issue will perhaps vary by
school district.) If they become union, how does that impact your
business model?


As to marketing...

Of course, there are the usual trade publications and shows, but these
may be impractical for a small operator.

Starting out, it would seem prudent to become successful in a single
geography, then expand. Given the varying nature of the requirements,
focus on one geography, build relationships with school/district
administrators, and develop a working model to expand upon.

Starting locally will let you focus your marketing efforts while you
refine your business model. It'll also offer a reference client and
referrals to nearby districts if you manage the relationship well.

FWIW,
Richard

Nitin,

Answer Mike's questions.

Scott Jensen
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"Nitin Gupta"
< bring people from
> countries like Indian adn China to fill the gap between the demand and
> supply of qualified teachers

SOrry, you're too late. The school districts are already doing
intermediary-less direct imports from the Philippines. And the
Filipinos have structural advantages over your two proposed sourcing
countries.

"Alan Horowitz" <alanh_27@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bj320002j3u@enews4.newsguy.com...
>
> "Nitin Gupta"
> < bring people from
> > countries like Indian adn China to fill the gap between the demand and
> > supply of qualified teachers
>
> SOrry, you're too late. The school districts are already doing
> intermediary-less direct imports from the Philippines. And the
> Filipinos have structural advantages over your two proposed sourcing
> countries.

Nurse staffing agencies have been doing the same thing with nurses from the
Philippines (getting nurses the required credentials and bringing them here
to work). The US has also been doing the same thing with computer
programmers and IT people. (The prior because there is a shortage of workers
in the nursing field. The later so that big companies could commoditize
programming skills, open sweat shops and fire American workers because they
are difficult to exploit.)

I think the idea of bringing in teachers is not too bad, if there really is
a *long term* shortage (I don't know whether there is or is not). The
problem is that the "idea" is just that: an idea. I think the difference
between success and failure is the difference between thinking of good ideas
vs. actually doing something with them.

Mike

How would you handle teacher certification? Those are done on a
state-by-state basis and require specific educational qualifications.
School districts that hire uncertified teachers will suffer under the
No Child Left Behind legislation.

Much of elementary and secondary education is based in and on the
local culture. Importing people whose idea of the culture is based on
TV and movies does not address that need.

Speaking as a member of my local school board, this is a bad idea and
I would vote against it. My district has no problem attracting
teachers, as do many of those I'm familiar with. The districts that
do have difficulty attracting teachers are those who are the most
troubled (impoverished and/or violent).

My suggestion? Don't market it.

On 31 Aug 2003 15:37:09 GMT, "Nitin Gupta" <nitingupta@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

>
>Hi Readers,
>
>I am thinking of setting up a consulting company to bring people from
>countries like Indian adn China to fill the gap between the demand and
>supply of qualified teachers in countries like US and Canada.
>
>Anyone has some idea on how this can marketed please help with suggestions?
>
>Thanks,
>Nitin

Randy Bennett
EC Stratagems
Business Advisory & Coaching Services
>> Uncovering hidden value in markets and products <<
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