Choices galore: Express Education, Careers Expo ends on high note

70 educational institutions, counsellors provided guidance to students.

LAHORE:

The Express Education and Careers Expo concluded on Friday after providing academic counselling and fun-filled activities to prospective students for two days.

Hundreds of students and educationists attended the fair at Faletti’s Hotel. The expo, organised in the city for the first time, brought around 70 educational institutions and counsellors under one roof.

Similar events were held in Karachi and Islamabad in May.

Apart from providing career guidance to students, stalls of some educational institutions also offered free blood and diabetic test services.

Long queues of people were seen at medical booths of Hajvery University and the Sharif Medical and Dental Colleges, eager to be reassured about their health.

Results of various examinations, including the Cambridge International Examinations, have been announced recently. Students who have passed the examinations were seen discussing their options for higher education with academic counsellors.

Abida Mehnaz, office manager at NC Solicitors, said a large number of inquiries were related to study in Australia and UK. She said NC Solicitors represented more than 50 educational institutions in UK, Canada and Australia, Ireland, Germany and the United States.

“The youth are largely interested in going abroad for higher studies and not to settle down as life there is relatively tough,” she said.

Mehnaz said her organisation had nearly eight years’ experience of providing services for education abroad.

“We should be aware of rules and regulations of different countries… this is an area where we need to educate our youth.”

AEO Pakistan, which represents more than 35 institutions in Australia, had also set up a stall at the expo.

“Students these days are more interested in studying in Australia. What they do not realise is that it is an expensive country to live in,” said Amir Yaqoob, a member of AEO Pakistan counselling team.

He said the first year of most educational qualifications in Australia required funds between Rs800,000 and Rs1.2 million.

However, he said, students could do part-time jobs during their classes and full- time work during the summer breaks.

“Students should first find out which firms are official representatives of universities abroad,” Yaqoob told The Express Tribune.

Students from more than 20 educational also institutions participated in different fun- filled activities and competitions, including debates, dramatics, singing, a fashion show, painting, photography and innovative business idea competitions. Battle of the Bands attracted many students.

Saad Waqar, a 5th semester student at the FAST National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, played drums to a cheering audience.

A painting competition drew huge crowds too.

“The great thing about the competition is that the stuff needed for painting was provided to us,” said Rabee Javed, a University of Central Punjab student who took part in the competition.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2014.