Choices aplenty: The 41 participating universities and colleges attending an online balloting session to vie for strategic booths at the Star Education Fair 2022 to take place on June 4 and 5 at Setia SPICE Convention Centre, Penang.
GEORGE TOWN: Pursuing higher studies sometimes means having to visit multiple institutions to ensure the best options are at hand.
The good news is here. Star Education Fair 2022 will be making things easier come June 4 and 5 as it offers students various study options, all under one roof.
All your questions about studying locally and abroad can be answered at the annual fair to be held at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Bayan Lepas, Penang.
Some of the biggest names in education will be at the fair to furnish you with all the information you need when pursuing a course.
Peninsula College Malaysia, Disted College Penang, and Inti International University and Colleges are heading the fair with eight booths each, followed by IPK College and Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) with six booths each.
Speaking for Peninsula College, PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd group chief executive officer and managing director Datuk Seri Dr Michael Tio said since restrictions were relaxed, it was clear that students were keen to go back to school.
“The Star Education Fair is a good opportunity for our college to gain exposure and reach out to as many students and parents as possible, in person.
“Face-to-face interaction is especially important for colleges like us that offer niche courses like logistics management or ebusiness technology, as it takes time to explain and get them interested,” he added.
Tio said the college focuses on producing highly employable graduates as it has a unique “Campus-in-Industry” methodology, which helps to bridge the gap between theory and practicum.
“Our headquarters, The Ship Campus, is in the heart of the Batu Kawan Industrial Park, while the Lighthouse Campus is in the Shah Alam Industrial Park.
“They are next to the parent company’s (PKT Logistics Group) warehouses and office, which means students can do internship or take on part-time jobs related to their field while studying,” he added.
Disted College Penang chief executive officer Prof Dr Brian Imrie said the fair had always been one of Malaysia’s largest and best-known education fairs.
“We recognise that students have a choice, whether it be to study ‘Global, Local or Virtual’.
“The Star Education Fair presents a prime opportunity for students to engage with premier tertiary institutions, such as Disted, to imagine their destiny and decide on a pathway to achieve their best life.
“We have a goal of providing high-quality, affordable education, and providing a pathway to top 1% universities. With the generous scholarships offered, a quality education is now more accessible.
“By participating in this fair, we aim to gain exposure for our goal of transforming lives that leads to rewarding international careers. We want to empower students to achieve their life’s dreams.
“We invest in building a vibrant campus experience and actively engage with industries to create independent thinkers who are able to be changemakers in whatever direction their career takes them,” he said.
Prof Imrie said Disted empowers students with a holistic and meaningful educational experience and a better start towards the career of their choice through multiple collaborative enriching initiatives.
“This includes an industry advisory panel to keep close touch with industry players, an Inspire programme to maximise first-person exposure of students to industry and business leaders, a Connect programme to promote a caring community culture and sensitise students to issues affecting society, a Let’s Go Green campaign and an elearning platform,” he added.
Inti International College Penang sales assistant vice-president Patrick Ooi said the fair will serve as one of the platforms for them to reach out to prospective students, especially SPM holders who will be actively looking into their further study options.
“This is a good opportunity for us to showcase all the programmes available at Inti, especially this year where we have successfully launched a few key programmes such as our 4+0 Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire in the United States, and our Australia Degree Transfer Programme (Science), among others,” he said.
Ooi said Inti, being one of the most prestigious higher education institutions up north, has an excellent academic track record with a high employability rate among its graduates.
“There will be attractive scholarships, financial aid as well as special waivers available for deserving students during the fair.
“We expect to receive an overwhelming response from walk-ins as the SPM results are expected to be released soon,” he said.
A total of 41 participating universities and colleges had recently attended an online balloting session to vie for strategic booths.
The 112-booth strong fair sees not just local educators, but internationally reputed institutions from as far as Ireland, the United States, Germany, China and Vietnam.
The Star Education Fair is one of the country’s pioneer education exhibitions and has continuously provided visitors with a wide range of local and international courses from various institutions.
The fair prides itself on being a one-stop education exhibition for both foreign and local exhibitors offering educational programmes ranging from pre-university, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate to professional and vocational courses.
Visitors can attend the Education and Career Talks, and do a Career Interest Test if they have not decided which pathway to pursue.
Stand a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 if you register now at the link provided.
The fair, which is in its 35th year, will be at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre on June 4 and 5 from 11am to 7pm. Admission is free.
For details, call 03-7967 1388 ext 1039 from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 5.30pm, 017-231 1789 (24-hour hotline), email edufair@thestar.com.my or visit facebook.com/stareducationfair.
