GEORGE TOWN: The Star Education Fair 2023 provides a coveted chance for parents and students to speak with dozens of institutions offering tertiary studies all at once.
Held at the Setia Spice Convention Centre here over the weekend, the event saw thousands of parents and students making enquiries on the courses offered by the exhibitors for better education prospects on the first day. Among the visitors were Rahmah Hashim, 50, and her 16-year-old daughter, Nurshila Hamzah.
Going from booth to booth, the pair was in awe, checking out a list of courses at the fair with their hands full of flyers collected from the exhibitors.
“I’m bringing my girl here now so that she can plan ahead with what she wants to study after Form Five,” said the teacher, who hoped that her daughter would work hard for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination next year.
Best friends Lim Chee Wei and Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, both 18, have plans to enter the same tertiary institution together.
“I plan to do an electrical engineering programme, and Syed Danial wishes to learn software and computer engineering.
“We are excited to find out more about the courses we are interested in and the universities that offer such courses,” Lim said.
UOW Malaysia KDU vice-chancellor Prof Dr Chong Beng Keok said students would receive an acceptance letter to the University of Wollongong in Australia upon completing the university’s foundation programme.
“They can also choose to further their studies with us or at Universiti Sains Malaysia,” she said, adding that the university is the first institution here offering a Board of Engineers Malaysia-recognised engineering degree.
During the job fair, UOW Malaysia KDU Penang operation head Assoc Prof Dr Yeap Gik Hong and department head Assoc Prof Dr Sim Hock Kheng presented a briefing and talks for potential students about the courses and pathways for its engineering courses.
MWT Australia, an education, migration and placement agency based in Australia, is also offering those interested a pathway to a nursing career Down Under.
Its business development manager Owen Wang said qualified nurses could look into working in Australia.
“We have a programme called the Outcomes-Based Assessment, in which students can prepare for the training.
“Once they pass, they can apply to become registered nurses in Australia,” he said.
He added that those without a nursing background could also enrol in the Graduate Certificate Courses and the agency could help them get a student visa.
He said the agency also provides job placement for the students upon completion of their studies.
A total of 30 exhibitors participated in the Star Education Fair 2023.
The main exhibitors at the fair included Mahsa University, SEGi University and Colleges, City University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia and INTI International University and Colleges.
The fair, which offers various local study options, also draws the participation of international institutions such as Health Careers International, Australia; Hong Kong Polytechnic University; TIAS School for Business and Society from the Netherlands.
Another highlight at the event yesterday was the air marshalling demonstration by the Aero Malaysian Engineering Centre.
The Star Education Fair 2023 is held along with the myStar Job Fair 2023.
The event began yesterday and will continue today from 11am to 7pm. Admission is free.
