PAVING THE WAY FOR STUDIES OVERSEAS

Once again, the Studylink Australian Education Fair, returns to our shores in its 16^th Edition covering 9 cities throughout Malaysia.

The education fair organized by Studylink Sdn Bhd, an education advisory with over 10 years experience in counseling and advising students of their options, pathways and career opportunities, is a bi-annual exhibition which features some of the top universities, colleges and schools in Australia. This edition will see the fair travelling through 9 cities where students and parents will get the chance to speak with the institution’s counselors directly and obtain first hand and accurate information to help them in choosing the right universities and courses.

The education fair is scheduled to be held from the 22 September 2006 until the 30 September 2006 starting with Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang and Ipoh daily and returning to Subang Jaya before going on to Johor Bahru, Muar, Batu Pahat and closing in Malacca. The fair will be from 1pm to 6.00 pm daily at each venue and has attracted a number of reputable colleges and universities, which are well known in their fields. Entrance is free at all venues.

The institutions, for next year’s intake, are offering a number of prestigious scholarships, so students with good results should bring their forecast results or transcripts for assessment and an immediate offer where eligible. Students looking for university programs should bring their transcripts so that the university representatives can help them.

Tony Tan, Managing Director of Studylink says, “Students should visit the fair to speak with the counselors for themselves. It is not often that so many institutions will be at one place at the same time.”

He emphasizes, “Many people say a lot of different things or seek advice from friends but how much of this information is current and relevant? Wouldn’t it be better to get the answers to your questions directly?

As an example, he says, “Do you know that you can save cost by studying in other cities like Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle and Tasmania instead of studying in Melbourne or Sydney? The tuition fees for a whole three-year business program in these cities is almost about the same as an Australian twinning 2+1 program in Malaysia!”

Students and parents can seek advice on their options based on their budget and choice and destination. The counselors help draw out the whole program so that students can know the whole pathway and budget.

He continues, “Choices are aplenty for students who have completed their diplomas and certificates as well as those who will be completing their SPM and STPM at the end of the year. Therefore when faced with multiple choices, many sadly make the wrong ones either based on what their friends’ decision or because of the lack of detailed information.”

Worst off are those who are not so academically inclined, they just get left out of any plans! But there are so many courses available for them.”

For those who are fortunate to study abroad for the secondary schooling, there are schools like Murdoch College in Perth that guides the students throughout their studies at the college by conducting a periodical ‘Career Development Skills’ assessment test. This helps the students to identify their future career based on 6 areas in the test, which are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional in each category. In this program students are challenged to explore their aptitude, values, skills and preferences to arrive at various careers that might satisfy their interests and needs.

Studylink is an education advisory, which advises students on their pathways towards a tertiary education, be it in Malaysia or abroad. The center has 4 offices nationwide in Subang Jaya, Taiping, Penang and Johor Bahru, which helps students in identifying their strengths and interests, and helps them to look for colleges and universities to match their choices. It has recently set up an office in Perth named SL Education Solutions Pty Ltd to better look after their students who go over to Australia.

The staffs are friendly and help students to apply and enroll into colleges and universities as well as help in the application for student visas, accommodation, flight arrangements and most importantly, arrival reception. Pre-departure briefings are given to each and every student to prepare them for life and the culture overseas. It is especially daunting to parents whose children are going overseas for the first time.

Scholarship opportunities are also available.