Students throng fair to explore their options and see what would suit them best
KUALA LUMPUR: Scholarship opportunities and courses focused on the demands of the industry were of primary interest to visitors who attended the first day of the Star Education Fair 2024 here.
Identical twins Riana Kaur Sandhu and Risha Kaur Sandhu, 15, and their father Satinder Singh Sandhu, 46, had travelled here all the way from Sarawak just to check out the programmes offered by some of the country’s top institutions.
They arrived at the Pavilion Bukit Jalil Exhibition Centre just as the doors opened at 11am yesterday.
“It’s good to have a clearer understanding of what we can pursue once we finish school,” said Riana.
Satinder, a lawyer, said this was the first time the family was attending the fair.
“We knew there were going to be a number of reputable universities exhibiting here today.
“I wanted to bring them both here to explore their options and see what would suit them best.
“They can both then learn about fields they might not have considered before,” he said.
The “Your Pathway to a Fulfilling Pet Grooming Career” talk by Universal Cat Association certified cat groomer Mazlan Chik Rus caught Risha’s attention.
The pet lover said it was interesting to have a professional groomer share tips on the best tools and products to use.
Options aplenty: Visitors arriving at the Star Education Fair in Bukit Jalil. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
Liu Jin, 19, who came with his relatives all the way from China, was eager to find out more about the Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) undergraduate course at Universiti Malaya (UM).
“My dream is to be in the teaching industry and I love English.
“I think the fair is a great opportunity for me to get more insights into the course. I am also interested in getting a scholarship.
“It is good for students when we get to interact face-to-face with representatives from the institutions,” he said.
Shweeta Kumar, 23, who graduated last year, said the fair was a great avenue for her to learn more about postgraduate studies in the cybersecurity field.
“I graduated in computer science majoring in cybersecurity,” she said, adding that she also hoped to find opportunities to enrol in UM with a scholarship.
She said attending the fair was helpful as it allowed her to hear directly from university representatives about their courses.
Organised by the Star Media Group for the third time this year, the two-day fair offers various tertiary study and technical vocational education and training (TVET) options, as well as financial aid including study loans and scholarships.
The fair, which ends today, features 40 institutions, occupying 60 booths.
Among the main exhibitors are Mahsa University, Management and Science University, SEGi University & Colleges, and City University Malaysia.
Visitors can also expect to see exhibitors from institutions such as Meritus University; Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM); CAE Kuala Lumpur, Elmu University; Asia Aeronautical Training Academy; and a cat grooming academy with TVET-certified programmes – JM Academy by Just Pets Megastore.
Meritus University provides a range of new undergraduate programmes, including maritime business and finance (investment strategy). It also offers postgraduate programmes in areas like shipping, trade and finance, as well as wealth management.
Elmu, on the other hand, offers undergraduate programmes in fields like international law and disaster and emergency management, while its postgraduate courses include intelligence and surveillance, forensic investigation and criminology and criminal justice.
Additionally, there will be two new local institute exhibitors: the Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah.
Besides the various local institutions, the fair also boasts international exhibitors, namely Career Start Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany); Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; NXTChapter Education (Singapore); and Kyoto University Graduate School of Management (Japan).
Among the fair highlights are the many exciting prizes up for grabs. Participants stand a chance to win the Realme Pad (RMP2102), Buds T100, Watch 3 and smartphone (C51) during the Register & Win sessions.
Don’t miss out on the interesting talks happening today including bridging the skills gap in the private sector and an inspirational talk by an influencer.
There will also be a session on making a difference in people’s lives in nursing and opportunities in the engineering field in the age of AI.
The fair is open from 11am to 7pm. Admission is free. Door gifts await the early birds.
The Star Education Fair, which is in its 37th year, is one of the country’s pioneer education exhibitions.
It has continuously provided visitors with educational programmes ranging from pre-university, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate to professional and vocational courses from various local and international institutions.
For details on the Star Education Fair, visit facebook.com/stareducationfair or email edufair@thestar.com.my.
