A wonderful opportunity, say students

More than 2,000 visitors visited the three-day American Expo and Conference that concluded on February 13 at the Dubai Knowledge Village. Most of them were potential students and their parents.

The curtain-raiser to the event was an open debate held in the auditorium where a forum comprising parents of students now studying in the US shared their views on why they had chosen America for their children’s education.

All three sets of parents unanimously agreed that their children had changed for the better because of their American exposure.

It was also a platform for five young UAE nationals - one a woman - who were US university alumni. They shared their experiences with a 200-strong audience.

All five were positive and spoke highly about the phenomenal impact of US education on their personality, their attitude, critical thinking skills, analytical ability, communication skills and most importantly their ability to be independent and handle freedom with responsibility.

One of the parents, of Lebanese origin, and some of the alumni, spoke of the indignity of being cross-questioned at the airport and the difficulties they faced when the delays this caused made them miss connecting flights.

However, they felt that such measures were not just for Middle Eastern students but people of all nationalities. Their underlying message was that one should be calm, patient and follow rules while dealing with security officials at the airport.

They reassured everyone present that the American campuses were safe and secure and that none of them felt threatened or singled out because they were from this region. Both sessions were well moderated and provided a balanced view.

Tips on securing admission

A training programme was conducted for counsellors of schools and colleges.

Participants were given up-to-date information on the procedures to be followed for securing admission in the US, insight into what makes a good recommendation letter, how to craft a good essay, the difference between a community college and a university, the process of financial aid and scholarships, details on the changed formats of the TOEFL and the SAT.

More than 45 counsellors and educators from Doha, Kuwait and the UAE benefitted from the two-day training modules. The sessions were interactive and the participants were enthusiastic and involved in the proceedings.

Neera Harnal, Career Counselor at Cambridge International School, Dubai, said, “It was very informative and useful. I wish there were more such sessions to update our skills as it ultimately benefits the students we work with.”

Ameenah Kang, a UAE national from the Ministry of Education who had come from Ras Al Khaimah to attend the training programme, felt the sessions were very useful and well structured.

She said, “The topics covered gave us a broader understanding of the essential ways to prepare young adults who wish to study in the US. It was a valuable professional development opportunity.”

Jim Paul, deputy leader of the education team and the representative of the US Department of Commerce, said that “the 70 participating US institutions, the US commercial services and International Student Network - sponsors of this unique initiative - are interested in further diversifying US campuses and also having US students learn about the UAE and Middle Eastern culture”.

He reiterated the sentiments expressed by many of the exhibitors by emphasising that “the students of the UAE and the region that enroll at US institutions help us to continue to build bridges between our societies”.

He also said that international students annually contribute $13 billion to the US economy and that education is the fifth largest industry within the US services economy.

Very rewarding

The expo was well attended and so were the sessions on visas, scholarships, business and engineering programmes in the US.

“It was a wonderful opportunity for students of the region to meet face to face with admissions directors of so many colleges and universities and to get first-hand information,” said a counsellor who did not want to be named.

Indian High School, Pakistan School and a few other private schools brought a lot of their students for group presentations and the expo.

Darlene Culbertson of Foothill and De Anza Colleges felt participating in the ISN Expo was very rewarding.

She was particularly pleased about meeting counsellors “who are so motivated to learn about community colleges and the role they play in providing a viable option for students”.

Shumi Muinde from Drexel University said, “The UAE is most certainly the centrepiece of a thriving global culture. If we want to begin the process of realising a promising future for our youth, despite challenging times, what better place than the UAE.

"The expo has brought together peoples of all backgrounds in a common goal to offer educational opportunities in the United States.

"Counsellors, teachers, parents and students seemed invigorated as the expo progressed in what will be a memorable event ensuring that a bright future greets our youth.”

Jeffy John from Al Ain said, “The university reps were truly patient and cooperative considering they had to repeat the same information and answer similar queries over and over again. It was a great opportunity to assist us in making our career plans.”

As a writer for Notes, I felt truly happy that so many young adults and their parents had brought with them clippings of the Notes special supplement on the expo as a point of reference in their career quest.”

Thrilled with the response, Babish Soni, President of ISN, USA, said, “This is just the beginning. I hope to bring 200 institutions to this region next year!”

The American Embassy officials and those at the consulate who worked along with the ISN and the US Department of Commerce to bring this event to Dubai said that the expo would be an ongoing process.

The doors of their advising centres, they said, are always open and schools/individuals can always take the opportunity to gain information on American universities and colleges at their resource centres.

The writer works as an independent education adviser