Abu Dhabi: Students from around the UAE gathered in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday as they assessed their future education prospects at the 10th edition of the Najah higher education and career fair.
The Najah exhibition — which is taking place over three days and features more than 100 exhibitors from universities in the UAE and abroad — has become one of the leading career and education events in the country over the years, giving students the chance to meet directly with the universities’ representatives to see the opportunities on offer.
Hamad Saeed, 16, from the UAE, who was visiting the exhibition, said he was looking to find the best option to pursue studies in engineering.
“It is a big challenge to decide what you want to do and which university you want to go to. I am personally interested in engineering and there are many different types of engineering like mechanical and electrical, so it’s about finding the right university which offers the best courses that match what I am looking for,” he said.
“Having an event like this has been very helpful because I was able to find a lot of good universities that offer what I want,” he added.
Saeed also said that he was both excited and nervous to make the transition from school to university life.
“I am looking forward [to university] but I am also nervous at the same time — it’s a new world. I might go and study outside the country which will be hard because I will be away from my family, but it will be something I have to do because it’s for my career at the end of the day,” he said.
Yousuf Zbeida, 17, from the US, who was also visiting the exhibition, echoed similar feelings, and explained that finding the right choice was very important for him.
“I’m looking for a university that suits my geographical needs — basically closer to my home back in Texas, and then obviously a university that offers subjects for the type of career I am looking to get into which is physical therapy.
“Finding the right university and making the step up from school is extremely daunting. There are a lot of factors that come in, whether it be the location, the tuition fees, all of these things are there to think about when making your choice,” he added.
Mohammad Othman, 19, from Pakistan, said he was still undecided on what path he wanted to take, and was choosing between medicine and engineering.
“I’m lost right now, there are many options and it is about finding the best and most suitable one. I am pushing more for studying medicine than engineering and have found great offers here from universities in countries like Germany and the Czech Republic.
“I have also seen a lot of good offers from universities in the UAE who offer 50 to 60 per cent scholarships for engineering studies and that is great because that is a lot money that ends up getting saved,” he added.
Larry Bourgeois, 17, from France, who is planning to major in psychology, said the exhibition was a big help as it allowed him to gain a better understanding of how he could pursue his higher education goals.
“I definitely have a better perspective now thanks to coming to this education fair, and I do think these types of events are important for young people because you have the universities directly communicating with you and telling you what they offer and what you can expect.
“By visiting I even found out that I can do, two years of studying here in the UAE and then two years of studying abroad in the UK and my degree will be complete. Getting information like that is very beneficial for me and my plans,” he added.
What: Najah Exhibition
Where: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
When: October 25 — October 27
