Aspirations Education Exhibition to bring a novel education experience

Monday, 30 June 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Aspirations Education in its 10th year of service to the nation, will be organising Sri Lanka’s biggest International Education Exhibition in its 8th consecutive year. With that in context below are the excerpts of an interview conducted with Aspiration Education Chairman Ajith Abeysekera and Managing Director Deepamala Abeysekera. Q: Tell us about the ‘Be There’ international education exhibition? A: ‘Be There’ is a global education exhibition organised by Aspirations Education for the 8th consecutive year. The exhibition will open avenues for Sri Lankan students to gain international education through over 20 prominent universities and institutes from across the world. Universities including University of New South Wales (UNSW), Monash University, Bond University, University of South Australia (UNISA), University of Western Sydney, Murdoch University, Curtin University, Deakin University, Swinburne University, University of Canberra and University of Nottingham will be present in our country offering individual attention and direct engagement. Furthermore, the exhibition this time offers a special station on science and medical studies abroad and also introducing a new destination for studies which is Vietnam for students to obtain the RMIT, Australia university qualification from Vietnam at a lower cost and in an Asian culture and environment. Q: When and where is the exhibition held at? A: This year’s exhibition will be hosted from 5 to 6 July at the Lower Crystal Ballroom, Taj Samudra, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Many students and parents are not well informed of opportunities available to them in the case of not meeting the entry requirements of the local universities mainly due to lack of placement capacity. All our services to the students are offered absolutely free of charge and entrance to the education exhibition is also free. Q: We heard that some universities are giving special offers and scholarships for students submitting their applications. Would you want to touch on this aspect? A: Universities have scholarship funds for students on merit and need base. Because of the relationships Aspirations Education has maintained with universities over a period of time and because of the quality of students we have channelled to them, they have been happy to give special offers to students who qualify to meet the standards set by the universities, if they submit their applications during the ‘Aspirations Application Week’ open from 5 to 12 July. Q: How would students in Sri Lanka benefit through this exhibition? A: Students from diverse social, economic, educational, and geographical backgrounds will experience a diverse range of study opportunities. They will also have the chance to interact with international representatives and experience firsthand information about the courses of study, free of charge visa guidance, scholarship options, application fee waive off options, on-the-spot offer letters providing admission to the respective university and much more offers from the international universities and more added incentives, which is key for students and parents. Genuine career guidance that gives a light to life of the student is need of the hour and we are our humbly happy and proud that our organisation has been able to live up to it every second. This annual exhibition we are holding for the 8th consecutive year is yet another mile stone in the service we have been rendering. The Aspirations International Education Exhibition is a platform which provides ample opportunity for students and parents not only to understand the wide array of educational qualifications and means of achieving it, but also an opportunity for young aspirants to plan ahead, and obtain advice on how to shape up their valuable future. It is pivotal we mould quality personalities to be ‘path breakers’ of the future, as we, as a whole country enter an era of progression. Q: How is this year’s exhibition different from the rest of the exhibitions out there? A: Our core business model is providing career guidance and counselling services to students who wish to pursue their education overseas. The Aspirations Education International Exhibition without a doubt is the largest international education exhibition in the country. There are other exhibitions which are country specific and the exhibitions where foreign universities are represented along with other local education providers. This is unique as only foreign universities and institutes are present and students can meet universities from multiple countries and continents on one stage. It is a platform for students who think of education overseas to come and explore variety of opportunities, comparing and contrasting the different options available to them world over. Q: What more is in store for students? A: The exhibition this time will feature a personality testing, which will help students to identify their career path by matching ones aspirations and character and students will be able to experience, ‘SmartStudent’ an innovative technique which will assist students with best techniques when studying for exams. Q: Why is it important for students and parents to obtain consultancy? A: Only a minority of parents plan their child’s future meticulously. Another minority do not plan their child’s future at all. A majority of the parents fall between the two extremes. While some parents save a significant amount for their children’s future, others plan to pass on their inheritance but almost all of them will do their best to heavily invest in their child’s education. Some rely on others for guidance and probably focus on investing as their primary responsibility. Some decide that they do not need any guidance whatsoever. Accurate information that will not mislead the public is vital in this digital age and we have to play our part in it as disseminators. We consider that interaction and obtaining ample correct information from various universities all around the globe as an essential part for not only students. Students and parents will be able to understand the pre-requisites, converse and obtain accurate guidance and consultancy from the many foreign delegates who will be offering these services completely free of charge. The parent’s responsibility not only includes understanding the importance and improving their knowledge in career guidance but it also goes far beyond obtaining mere guidance to checking the authenticity and sincerity of the sources of information they chose to rely on. When it comes to education proper direction especially career guidance and placement plays a critical role. Q: How is Aspirations Education different from the pack? A: Over the past 10 years we have built relationships with over 100 prestigious universities and institutes in Australia, UK, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Malaysia, India, China and Singapore. Students who aspire to study abroad should be given proper guidance at the right time. They should be able to get accurate and authentic information with regards to options available. This is an expertise our organisation has accumulated over the years. We have over 15 years of experience counselling over 20,000 students. Truthful guidance will help students with lower costs, increased chances of university acceptance, cultural adaptability and even increased chances of financial assistance. Proper counselling in the areas of both education and careers help students pick the university that best meets their needs maximising the chances of financial assistance and career opportunities. Comprehensive guidance will not mislead students at the crucial juncture in their lives, which can break or make their future; this is what we believe in. which helps us offer a wide array of options to a student who wish to.