The World is Your Campus: A Guide for International Students by Dr. Medappa Chottepanda

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'The World is Your Campus: A Guide for International Students' by Dr. Medappa Chottepanda is an insightful guide designed for students aspiring to study abroad. Drawing on personal experience and expert knowledge, Dr. Chottepanda offers students essential tools to make informed choices about international education. This book covers everything a prospective international student needs, from choosing the right destination to handling cultural adaptation and maximizing career opportunities after graduation. It provides step-by-step information on how to navigate the complexities of studying in another country, with personalized advice for each popular destination, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, and Germany.

With chapters that cover financial planning, cultural integration, visa processes, and post-graduation work opportunities, this book is invaluable for anyone pursuing global education. Dr. Chottepanda's insights emphasize not only academic preparation but also the personal and professional development that comes with international exposure. Endorsements from global education leaders underscore the book’s relevance and practicality, making it a trusted resource for students and families worldwide. 'The World is Your Campus' is more than a guide; it’s a roadmap to a transformative educational journey.

Key aspects of the book include:

1. Covers all essential steps for students considering study abroad, from initial planning to graduation.
2. It offers insights into the unique academic cultures of top study destinations, such as the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and more.
3. Provides in-depth, step-by-step information on application processes, including visas and admissions.
4. Highlights the economic benefits of studying abroad for students and host countries alike.
5. Emphasizes the value of intercultural skills, adaptability, and global awareness for career success.
6. Discusses financial planning and budgeting for international students to manage living and study costs.
7. Explores post-graduation work options, including visa extensions and career paths.
8. Includes perspectives from global education experts, enhancing the book’s credibility and value.
9. Presents data and analysis on international student trends and popular global universities.
10. Addresses challenges faced by international students and strategies to adapt to cultural differences.
11. Features practical checklists, guides, and real-life examples to support decision-making.
12. Aims to inspire students to embrace the transformative experience of studying in a new country.

Overall, 'The World is Your Campus' combines strategic guidance and personal wisdom, making it a one-stop resource for international students eager to embrace new cultures, expand their knowledge, and shape their futures globally.

Memoire: Triumph over Adversity – Summary (Synopsis)

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I began with a humble beginning from a rich cultural heritage of the proud martial race of Kodava community in Kodagu (Coorg) district of Karnataka, India. I was born to a family of 10 siblings, three of them died in infancy in 1930s. Being the first-born among the surviving siblings, it was expected of me to shoulder the responsibility of the family along with my parents, which has been the custom of Asian families. I did it voluntarily and cheerfully and as my familial bonds within and between the members was strong. With the meagre means of livelihood, I had to struggle with my parents to eke a living off the small area of rice fields until I completed my high school education. College education remained only as my distant dream at that time.

Only option open for me to find a job and support my family. After nearly one year of work in the forest on a daily wage, I secured a government job, Gram Sevak (Village-level worker) working for community development program and continued to stay on the job for nearly 7 years. It was an honest, hardworking and most rewarding job, visiting farmers, giving advice on improved practices of agriculture and animal husbandry, generating supplementary income to poor farming households from cottage industries, importance of education for children, and health and sanitation, among others. It was a difficult job, walking nearly 15 to 20 miles a day to meet the households and understand their needs and how the government can help them.

There was a national competition to select 5 best Gram Sevaks from each State to send for college education, paid by the Central Government. I was one of the luckiest Gram Sevaks to be selected and secured my undergraduate diploma (B.A). I continued to pursue post-graduate degree (M.A) in Rural Economics and Cooperatives. Recognizing my rural development work experience and a student of good standing, I was elected as a Youth Leader for a five-month full-bright scholarship program to go to USA for training under the Council for International program for Youth Leaders and social Workers. I returned home in August 1966 only to find out that I was the recipient of Gold Medal for securing the First Rank in my M.A exam.

I returned to US for my advanced education with scholarships and obtained M.S in Agricultural Economics from the North Dakota State University, followed by Ph. D from the Iowa State University. With the Permanent Visa status secured at the end of my education, the second phase of my World of Work began after joining the Minnesota State government as an Economist and raised to the highest civil service position of senior director of Research and Statistics for the department of Jobs and Training. I also taught economics, economics of labor, human resources management and public policy as an Adjunct Professor at the Metropolitan state University for 25 years. My interest grew to serve the developing countries, having trained about 600 economists and labor officials invited from 52 countries on a one-week annual seminars to train on data collection, analysis for policy formulations in the developing nations. After nearly 25 years of state service, I entered into my third phase of public services in developing countries.

As a consultant/Advisor, my service spanned over 12 years and more than 15 countries, in the specialty areas of developing labor market information system, workforce development, privatization of state owned enterprises, employment creation and economic development, monitoring and evaluations system development and training, development of small and medium enterprises(SMEs) for unemployed workers, human resources management and organization development, civil service reform and pay structure, environmental issues, and teaching at the universities. Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, Gayana, Nigeria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iraq, China, Mongolia, Namibia, Philippines are some of the major countries, I served on a short-term and long-term basis with great interest and dedication.

I entered into my final phase of service as a volunteer and continued for about 7 years until the beginning of the pandemic years. Teaching English, giving lectures at the Universities in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, India, Indonesia, and training of cooperative society officeholders in Malawi, and business development skills to dairy farmers in Zimbabwe.

After 60 years of public service, finally, I am at peace at home with my family and friends in Minneapolis. I continue to entertain invitations to work as volunteer, in addition to my life-long hobbies of fishing in my neighborhood lakes, gardening, family foundation work, other community organization service, working daily in gym, and entertaining friends at home, doing reading and writing as time permits. I am very proud of my myself and my service to my community, my state, my countries of birth and my citizenship, and the developing world.