What's after high school? Exhibition helps UAE graduates decide

Students getting information from a university stall during the academic discipline event in Sharjah. - Photo by M. Sajjad

High school students and graduates are trooping to the Academic Discipline Exhibition in Sharjah to get a comprehensive view of the latest majors that the job market needs based on current trends and projection.
The three-day exhibition, organised by the Sharjah Public Library (SPL) in collaboration with Al Dhaid Library, kicked off on Tuesday at the SPL building.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Eman Bushlaibi, director of SPL, said: "The event aims to raise community awareness - be it among fresh graduates, their parents or even academic professionals - about the current expectations of the key stakeholders in the job market.
"We are offering them an insight into the latest trends and projections to help them make informed decisions as they choose their field of study after graduating high school."
Bushlaibi said it is important to paint a "practical picture" for the youth so they won't have to face the problems brought about by the job-skills mismatch that people struggle with today. 
"We want them to know about new opportunities - outside the conventional ambit of job roles - which are on the rise as these have introduced several new avenues for students to explore their talents and pursue them professionally," she added.
The exhibition provides the students with the chance to explore the academic majors that may match their interests and ambitions. It also presents the latest market research results that can help visitors weigh up their higher education options. 
Universities across the UAE have also come together for the event. There are representatives on-site, ready to answer the questions of students and parents about the different majors and specialisations they offer.
Ali Al Naqbi, public relations officer of Al Qasimia University, said: "Al Qasimia University's participation in the Academic Discipline Exhibition aims to introduce students to its academic programmes and help them select the right fit for them. Students will have a better and clearer perception of their academic and professional future through the briefs delivered by the university's experts."
Other universities at the exhibition are proving that to meet the demands of the market and cater to the changing needs of students, the structure of higher education has to be reinvented.
The event is expected to attract more than 750 visitors this year, up from 680 during the previous edition. Among the participating forms are  Ajman University, Ministry of Education - Scholarships, Higher Colleges of Technology, Skyline University College, Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies, University College for Mother and Family Science, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, AlFalah University, College of Islamic and Arabic studies, and Al Qasimia University.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com
 

Afkar Ali Ahmed

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com