Crowd were seen during the Star Education and Career talk at KLCC. Terrific turnout Thousands seized the chance to visit the Star Education Fair 2016 with record crowds at its career talk sessions and booths offering various study options and scholarships. > 10,11 & 12 Exceeding expectations The 64,000 visitors to last weekend's Star Education Fair were overwhelmed by­the choices available to them in the form of tertiary courses, scholarships and career talks. By YASMIN AHMAD KAMIL, EMILY CHAN, SANDHYA MENON, LEE CHONGHUI, OOI MAY SIM and ASHVIN SINGH TIWANA. Photos by NORAFIFI EHSAN, LOW LAY PHON and LOW BOON TAT [email protected] WITH over 100 exhibitors and around 64,000 continue this practice to help those in need. visitors, the Star Education Fair 2016 was a Your contribution has helped to provide hub of activity. opportunities for many young Malaysians to Even before the doors opened, there were assist them in pursuing their dreams." groups of parents and students just waiting to "This is the highest value of pledges we enter. have received so far," he said. Held on Jan 9 and 10 at the Kuala Lumpur Wong said the Star Education Fair will be Convention Centre, the fair saw parents and heading to a new venue, Johor Baru in June, students exploring the tertiary options availa­ as well as being held in Penang in March and ble locally and abroad. another fair in Kuala Lumpur in June. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris It was full house for the talks held at the Jusoh who opened the fair, peppered his Star Education Fair last weekend. In fact, it speech with references to the Star Wars mov­ was standing room only at most talks, while ies. chairs had to be added to others. "The journey into higher education can The talk on "Options After SPM" was a hit indeed be an epic journey, just like Star Wars. on both days. "At the beginning, school leavers may find HELP University CareerSense@HELP direc­ it challenging when deciding on potential tor Eric Bryan said the aim is to empower pathways ­ so many things are unknown. young people to make decisions about what There are certificate, foundation, diploma, path they will take. TVET, degree and postgraduate programmes, He said young people need to take respon­ and even professional qualifications. The sibility and start thinking proactively about unknown, as they say in Star Wars Episode 1, what their real interests are. is a 'Phantom Menace'," he said. "A parent's role is not to tell their children Now, the choice the student makes is what to do but to help them in the decision important. making process," he said. "One must choose what one has passion He also said it is crucial for parents and for. Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi once said children to have open discussions and con­ "You cannot escape your destiny". versations regarding their options after leav­ "Thankfully we have the Star Education ing school. Fair. There will be career talks and education Taylor's University academic and family experts to guide you. I believe this will give relations consultant and Rekindle the students and parents, and all of you, A Centre for Systemic Therapy New Hope (Star Wars Episode 4)," he said. founder and clinical director Dr Idris congratulated The Star and its part­ Johnben Loy said education is ners for continuing the commitment to help very much about family relation­ students navigate their way through the gal­ ships as research shows that fami­ axy. ly conflict will greatly affect a The Government, he added, has always child's decision. strived to address the financial needs of stu­ He said it is the parent's duty to dents by providing scholarships and study be fully involved with their chil­ loans under the National Higher Education dren's activities and to help them Fund Corporation (PTPTN) for qualified stu­ grow into responsible adults, but dents, but additional support from the private they must not be overly con­ sector is greatly appreciated and welcomed. trolling during that process. He said the Star Education "How can your child be an Fund has enabled many talent­ adult if you do not give them a ed young people to realise their chance to grow," said Dr Loy, add­ dreams. ing that it is important for parents "I thank The Star and local to have two­way discussions and foreign higher education about career options with their children to institutions for your over­ ensure their right career path is chosen. whelming generosity," he said. Study Excel Sdn Bhd general manager Jerry Star Media Group Berhad Tan advised students to follow their heart, not Group Managing Director/CEO what their friends were doing or what their Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai said parents wanted them to become. everyone played a vital role in Mohan Menon said his daughter Brindha providing key information in had been confused about her options after helping students in 'mapping SPM but that the talks had helped her to their star­studded future'. explore her choices. "This is the best place for stu­ 'The Star Education Fair is a good place for dents and their parents to students and parents to gain some informa­ obtain one­stop information tion and ask questions at the same time," he pertaining to courses, facilities, said. fees, campus life and other details," he said. Mariam Mohamed Abd Elwahab, 15, who is Thanking The Star's partners­in­education, from Egypt, felt that the talks were interesting he said: "We hope with your support we can and helpful. "At first I thought the talks would be about look for when enrolling in such courses. university information, but they turned out to Harjeet Singh said he attended the talk as be inspirational, motivating and helpful," she he planned to venture into the field. added. "I want to know the latest trends in cyber­ Wafty Abdul Rahman started her journey security," he added. at 6am from Kuantan last Saturday as she Benjamin Phua said he learnt the impor­ wanted her children to visit the fair. tance of cybersecurity from the talk. "I want to prepare them at an early age and Brickfields Asia College programme man­ the talks, especially Dr Loy's were helpful," ager and lecturer Andrew Kalish stressed she said. that a law degree is a versatile programme. Another talk which was full was the one on "A law degree doesn't necessarily mean you "Pursuing Medicine and Health Sciences". are going to end up in practice," he said dur­ Sarawak General Hospital general surgeon ing his talk, "What Are My Career Options Dr James Khaw spoke on his journey to After a Law Degree". becoming a doctor during his session. These talks, he added, provide students Interest and passion are key factors of and parents with an overview of the law being a good doctor, he said. He also spoke on industry. UCSI University deputy dean and acting a doctor's career pathway. head of the Department of Actuarial Science "Perseverance is the key," he said. Assoc Prof Dr Ngerng Miang Hong spoke on Ireland Royal College of Surgeons Head of careers in actuarial science. Medical Physics and Academic Director of Admissions Dr Kenny Winser advised stu­ The Engineering talk proved popular for dents to be sure that medicine was the right students and parents who attended. profession for them, University of Nottingham Malaysia "Medicine is an excellent career, but a mis­ Campus faculty of engineering associate erable one if you do not want to be there," dean (external affairs) Prof Dr Law Chung he said. Lim spoke on accredited engineering degrees Monash University Deputy Head of School and routes to professional engineers and (Education) Prof Shah Yasin advised students chartered engineers. to spend time at a hospital. Present to share his knowledge on engi­ "See what and how it is like to work neering in the oil and gas industry was there," he said. Heriot Watt University Malaysia school of Prof Shah also stressed that interest and energy, geoscience, infrastructure and socie­ passion are vital in the field of medicine. ty associate head Dr Khalik M Sabil. Dr Khalik explained that more energy is Quest International University Perak needed as the human population continues Faculty of Pharmacy dean Prof Datuk Dr to grow. Allan Mathews spoke on the roles of phar­ He noted that among the challenges in the macists. industry includes continuing to find afforda­ He also gave tips to students on choosing ble, reliable and clean energy, adding that pharmacy schools and what qualifications the world consumes 92.1mil barrels of petro­ are needed to become a pharmacist. leum per day. International Medical University School of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman depart­ Health Sciences associate dean Prof Chin ment of mechanical and materials engineer­ Beek Yoke spoke on biotechnology and its ing head of department Prof Dr Rajkumar impact. Durairaj highlighted some of the job aspects "Medicine, biotechnology and science are of materials engineers, interrelated, and one cannot thrive without "Materials engineering is a field of engi­ the other," she said. neering that encompasses the spectrum of Tusyita Menon said that the medical talks material types and how to use them in man­ were helpful. ufacturing. "The speakers have given me a better idea "There is a lot of innovation in materials," he said, adding that new materials are being of what medicine is all about," she said. invented and there is a need to find applica­ Michelle Chang said the talks provided tions for them. more information about medicine.