SUBANG JAYA: Choosing the right tertiary education course will put students on the right career path, say universities taking part in the Star Education Fair 2022.
Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ho Chin Kuan said it is important for students to sign up for a programme or course that will enable them to get a head start in their working life.
He also urged students to consider the Fourth Industrial Revolution to future-proof their career.
“These would be things like artificial intelligence, data science, the Internet of Things and robotics.
“Select courses that not only provide you with technical education but also a lot of exposure to soft skills, because all this is going to be very important,” he said.
City University deputy vice-chancellor (business development) Assoc Prof Dr Katherine Poh said students should match their interests with the employment opportunities available.
“Employability and passion should go hand in hand. When students have the passion to study a particular course, they tend to go further in their studies,” she said.
Poh said students who study something they are interested in usually excel in the job market.
She added that students should research the module and syllabus before signing up for a particular course.
“Take a look at the subjects that are on offer in the course and determine if they are of your interest,” she said.
Universiti Kuala Lumpur assistant manager (marketing, student recruitment and admission division) Sharadham Sapie said students can also enrol first in foundation or other pre-university programmes if they are unsure yet of what to study.
“Doing a foundation programme will give them time to achieve more maturity before deciding on how to further their education,” he said.
Sharadham added that students should seek advice from guidance counsellors on tertiary education options.
He said the Star Education Fair 2022 is a good place for students to get answers on tertiary education.
“Students can get the information directly from the institutes and universities. They can ask about specific programmes that they are interested in,” he said.
One such student was Sineaythaan Nair Prabak, who said he learnt about the many tertiary education options that would be relevant in the future.
“After speaking to the counsellors at the various booths of the fair, I got a better understanding of the different courses,” he said.
Star Media Group Bhd events assistant general manager Lily Fong said the Star Education Fair 2022 is unique because it’s held alongside the myStarJob Fair 2022.
“Students get exposure to tertiary education and employers’ expectations in the job market.
“At the same time, working adults can also find out options to further their studies,” she said.
Both the fairs attracted thousands of visitors to the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre over the weekend.
The next event will be held at Tropicana Gardens Mall Convention Centre on Nov 12 and 13.
Those in Penang can visit the event at Setia SPICE Convention Centre on Dec 10 and 11.
For details, email edufair@thestar.com.my or visit facebook.com/stareducationfair.