Education talk: Express Expo displays stalls of 40 institutes

Recruitment firms offering jobs collected contacts and curricula vitae of people.

KARACHI:

As many as 72 stalls of 40 institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, career counselling firms and recruitment firms, at the fifth Express Career and Education Expo welcomed students and parents to explore all that the world has to offer for their educational and career development.

"They guided us really well," said Intermediate student Akif Shahid. "My mind is a bit clear about different fields and universities now. The consultants helped me go through the fee structures and admission procedures."

Express Media Group hosted an education expo for students to gain more information on which universities to apply to and how. PHOTOS: AYSHA SALEEM/EXPRESS

Recruitment firms offering jobs in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, such as alSaqlain Brothers, were taking contacts and curricula vitae of the people besides giving them employment information.

"We are not consultants as we are not charging for helping people," said an adviser of the United States Education Foundation. "We are advising [students] on education and studying abroad free of charge. We are telling students how to take the right channel and how to go about it."

Agents of the British Council and representatives of Sheffield Hallam University were present on the occasion among representatives of universities of UK, New Zealand, Malaysia, Australia and North America. They were giving consultation and counselling for free. Other institutions included Oxford University Press, Habib University, Sukkur IBA, the University of Lahore, Meritorious Education Network, Punjab Group of Colleges, The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan, Baqai Medical University, Information Technology University, Fatima Jinnah Dental College and Nazeer Hussain University.

Some institutes, such as the Tabani's School of Accountancy, offered a discount in their fee. The school offered double discount for anyone taking admission at the stall and a discount of up to 25 per cent if students take the waiver from the stall and take admission later.

Talking to The Express Tribune, commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui said that it was a very good initiative of the Express Group. "This would provide opportunities to various classes of students and parents to look for good opportunities," he said. "Many don't know about the various opportunities available. Access to such facilities and information will make their future [bright]. Students in Pakistan are very talented; they only need opportunities and support."

While the hall on the left had all the stalls, the one on the right was filled with fun-filled activities and competitions. It was crowded by the students who were participating part in drama competitions, ad campaigns, and painting and dance competitions.

'I Am Karachi' talks

The 'I Am Karachi' stall stood in the corner besides the Express Group stall, offering all the colour it possibly could with its vibrantly lit rickshaw for disabled people. "People who are not popular but have done something substantial will speak in these talks," said Faizan Yaqoob, the programme manager of the 'I Am Karachi' talks. These speakers include Imran Ghanchi, who designed rickshaws for disabled people in Pakistan, Salma Habib, Rizwan Arshad and others.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2015.