The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Education fair on at Taj Krishna

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Wednesday, May 07, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Education fair on at Taj Krishna

Over thousand students are participating
UK has brought in several relaxations in visa norms

HYDERABAD: Apart from the regular choice of Computer Science and Management courses, Indian students are increasingly opting for courses like pharmaceuticals, law, fashion and design in foreign universities, according to Paul C.B. Chellakumar, president of the Association of Accredited Advisors on Overseas Education (AAAOE).

“Trends are changing and so are preferences of students and courses other than management and engineering are gaining popularity,” Dr. Chellakumar said at the International Education Fair being organised at Hotel Taj Krishna on May 6 and 7.

More than thousand students are participating in the fair wherein 22 universities from United Kingdom, France, Germany, Singapore, Netherlands and Australia are participating. Entry is free for participants.

‘Conversion rate’

Dr. Chellakumar pointed out that the quality of aspirants has improved in Hyderabad. “They are more informed now and attend these fairs after doing some home work. They are focused on what they want and such a situation doesn’t exist in other States.”

He said the conversion rate of students attending such fairs and actually taking admission has also increased because of this reason and participating universities are pretty happy with it.

Students at the fair said that the counsellors had given them a broad idea about the courses in their respective universities.

But for most of them this was an occasion to compare the courses with their favourite destination – United States of America. Vikram, who just completed his B.Tech said though the courses in UK were attractive, the only deterrent, was the strict visa norms that give little freedom for students to work part-time.

Similar is the case with other nations. But Dr. Chellakumar argued that UK has brought in several relaxations in visa norms, He too agreed that students always prefer US first for various reasons.

On the spot admission

Representatives interacted with the students and parents and gave “on the spot admission” to students on receipt of complete documentation. Most of them offered UG and PG programmes on management, information technology, bio- technology, engineering, design, PR, arts, law, pharmacy, physiotherapy, maritime sciences and aviation.

Representatives of AAAOE also assisted students in choosing the place of study, university, admission process, visa clearance and their departure from India.

Earlier, Gollapalli Surya Rao, Minister for Small Scale Industries and Khadi, inaugurated the education fair.

Ram Beegala, Secretary and Y. Sudhakariah, General Secretary of AAAOE were also present.

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