It was a day of interaction and counselling at the two-day The Hindu Education Plus International Education Fair, which began at Taj Vivanta here on Saturday.
Braving the scorching sun, scores of students flocked the venue to learn about higher education prospects. Representatives of institutions from US, UK, Canada, Germany, Holland, Australia, Latvia, Thailand and Malaysia participated in the event and answered students’ queries.
The aspirants, accompanied by their friends and family members, attended the counselling seminars addressed by these representatives.
“Seminars have been the best part of the event. I also liked the fact that we got a chance to meet university representatives to clear our doubts,” P. Sowmya, an engineering graduate, said.
While the stalls set up by the US embassy and UK-based institutions were jam-packed, those of other countries too witnessed considerable rush.
Affordable education
“The USP of studying in Europe is that education there is quite affordable,” Benedikt Belger from Cologne Business School said. That apart, European universities also provide strong industry interface to students, he added.
Sudha Sudeep, Holland Education Promotion Officer, said European universities were among the top in the world.
“Holland has 14 research universities, and of these, 12 universities are among the top 100 universities in the world,” she said, adding that Holland was not looking to welcome students in large numbers but was keen to attract quality students.
Students often have doubts as to when they should opt for a foreign course, and the best advice they can be given is that they should take up a course as soon as possible, she advised.
For those who cannot afford expensive courses, but want to get quality overseas education, Latvia provides a better alternative, Zane Purlaura, Deputy Director of RIGA Technical University, Latvia, said.
“Education and living expenses in Latvia are the same as those in India. Material Science and Applied Chemistry courses are very good in Latvia, and students interested in these subjects should consider our university,” she said.
Latvian universities are conducting spot admissions for students on Sunday.
Representatives of Stamford International University, Thailand, are also attending the fair. “Thailand is one of the top tourist destinations, and those interested in the tourism and hospitality sector, Thailand is the best place,” a representative said.
The State bank of India is the presenting sponsor of the event. The fair will continue on Sunday at Taj Vivanta from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
