GN Edufair Oct Edition Day 2: Exciting panel discussions and fireside chats in store

Day 2 of Edufair ended on a high note, with a huge number of visitors, including parents and students flocking to the event. The day proved to be a resounding success for exhibitors and attendees alike, with dynamic panel discussions and engaging fireside chats standing out as highlights. The event offered invaluable opportunities for learning, networking, and exploring future prospects in education.

Looking forward to Day 3, which promises another exciting line-up of events and activities at Edufair.

"We have the Phoenix Skills Recruitment Programme that offers financial training for staff from the Big 3," says Sanjay Sagar, faculty for the CFA and ACCA, Phoenix Financial Trading, while making a presentaion on the topic "Jump-start your career with finance qualifications."

"The biggest challenge for a mid-career executive is opportunity cost," says Kush Ahuja, Head of Eurasia and Middle East, ACCA, among the panelists headlining the discussion on the topic "From mid-career to C-suite: harnessing the power of executive degrees".

Turkish national and UAE resident Taner Cetinkaya, visits Gulf News Edufair, looking for possible university options for his 11th grade daughter Didem, at Day 2 of Gulf News Edufair

"If parents are choosing a foundation programme for their children, be sure to look at the providers, the accredition that they offer as well as the progression rate for their students," says Miljana Jovanovic, Senior Recruitment Manager, INTO Global, one of the panelists taking part in the panel discussion, Pathway programmes to top universities - Unlocking global opportunities.

The 1st panel discussion comes to an end. Next panel on the topic Pathways programmes to top universities: Unlocking global opportunities, starts at 4pm and includes panelists from INTO Global, OnCampus and Study Group, moderated by Varun Jain, CEO, UniHawk.

Fostering critical thinking and encouraging students to look at real-life cases part of the discourse at the 1st panel discussion on Day 2 of GN Edufair, on the topic "Academia to Career: Real-world skills for real-world people".

According to the recently published HSBC Quality of Life Report 2024, the cost of a university education can range from 20 to 60 percent of the required savings for retirement. Since the report suggests that the average expected cost of a 3 to 4-year degree costs $192,000 (Dh705,000) to $256,000 (AED 940,000) per child, planning ahead is crucial. However, despite such a substantial amount being required, the shocking statistic from the report is that only 1 in 2 had an actual plan in place. Read more about the report here.

It's a fireseide chat that kicks off the round of discussions on day 2 at GN Edufair. The theme, A Financial Roadmap for Global Education, is a critical topic concerning education and finance that's trending globally and here in the UAE. In session, Neha Ghai, Head of NRI - MENA Region, HSBC

"I want to study medicine in the UAE, but it’s sometimes difficult to get scholarships for medical courses," says Elfa Elbushra from Al Ain Juniors School as she makes visits the fair grounds on Day 2. "That’s why along with the UAE, I’m also exploring options elsewhere. However, if there are opportunities that would allow me to study here, I'd prefer that, as my family is here and I’m accustomed to this country. At Edufair, I am interacting with universities to find out about courses and scholarships."

Muhammad Bin Mahmood, Al Ain Juniors School, is attending GN Edufair to make a clear and conscious decision whether he should study abroad or follow up on his higher education in the UAE. "I'm planning to study engineering and am currently undecided about whether to pursue my studies in the UAE or abroad, says Muhammad. That's why I’m attending Edufair, to explore my options with an open mind."

Parul Verma, Academic and Career Counsellor, JNR Jochore Pristine Private School is happy with the offerings at GN Edufair. "We have students interested in medicine, computer sciences, data analysis, AI, and robotics," says Parul. "There are just as many looking into business and finance. Edufair offers excellent networking opportunities and exposure to various universities, making it an amazing experience for students."

Students from JNR Jochore Pristine Private School throng the fair grounds at the H Dubai Hotel on Day 2 of GN Edufair, promising a lot of activity and footfall in hours to come.

Sacha Tariro, a grade 12 student at JNR Jochore Pristine Private School was making the rounds of the fair grounds and impressed by everything on offer. "I explored my options for studying business after graduation at RIT and SP Jain School of Global Management," he says. "I visited the booths of Y-Axis and UniHawk as well, and chatted with their representatives to find out about international universities. This exhibition is an excellent opportunity for students in higher grades to discover and plan their future."

The first group of students from UAE schools have started entering the fair grounds. Day 2 of GN Edufair is off to a great start!