Aspirations Education’s ‘ Forward March’ offers scholarships from top universities

Aspirations Education, the international career guidance and student placement service centre in Sri Lanka, recently announced that it is launching a premier international education exhibition in July this year. Following are excerpts of an interview conducted with General Manager of Aspirations Education Deepamala Abeysekera:

 

Q: Tell us about the ‘Forward March’ international education exhibition?

A: ‘Forward March 2011’ is a global education exhibition organised by Aspirations Education for the fifth consecutive year. The education exhibition will open avenues for Sri Lankan students to gain international education through 40 prominent universities and institutes in Australia, UK, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Malaysia, India and Singapore.

Furthermore, the international education exhibition is catered to students aged 16 and above for undergraduate level and students currently reading or completed a bachelor’s degree or a professional qualification for postgraduate level. The exhibition is one of a kind, offering individual attention and direct engagement with global representation from many top universities and institutes.

Q: When and where will the exhibition be held?

A: This year’s exhibition will be hosted from 9 and 10 July at Ceylon Continental Hotel, Colombo and on 12 July at Queen’s Hotel, Kandy. Many students and parents are not well informed of opportunities available to them in the case of not meeting the entry requirements of the local universities mainly due to lack of placement capacity. It is in this light that Aspirations Education decided to take the second leg of the international education exhibition to Kandy. All our services to the students are offered absolutely free of charge and entrance to the education exhibition is also free.

Q: We heard that some universities are giving special offers and scholarships for students submitting their applications. Would you want to touch on this aspect?

A: Universities have scholarship funds for students on merit and need base. Because of the relationships Aspirations Education has maintained with universities over a period of time and because of the quality of students we have channelled to them, they have been happy to give special offers to students who qualify to meet the standards set by the universities, if they submit their applications during the exhibition.

Among the list, University of Canberra Australia, Monash University Malaysia Campus, Nottingham Trent University UK, Boxhill Institute of TAFE Australia, Holmes Institute Australia, William Angliss Institute of TAFE Australia, Nilai University College Malaysia offer scholarships and application fee waivers whilst MIBT Australia, Swinburne University Malaysia Campus, Charles Sturt University Australia, Sunway University Malaysia and Edith Cowan University Australia offer attractive offers to students.

Q: How would students in Sri Lanka benefit through this exhibition?

A: Students from diverse social, economic, educational, and geographical backgrounds will experience a diverse range of study opportunities. They will also have the chance to interact with international representatives and experience firsthand information about the courses of study, free of charge visa guidance, scholarship options, application fee waive off options, on the spot offer letters providing admission to the respective university and much more offers from the international universities and more added incentives, which is key for students and parents.

Genuine career guidance that gives a light to life of the student is need of the hour and we are our humbly happy and proud that our organisation has been able to live up to it every second. This annual exhibition we are holding for the fifth consecutive year is yet another milestone in the service we have been rendering.

Q: How is ‘Forward March’ different from the rest of the exhibitions out there?

A: Our core business model is providing career guidance and counselling services to students who wish to pursue their education overseas. The Aspirations Education International Exhibition without a doubt is the largest international education exhibition in the country. There are other exhibitions which are country specific and the exhibitions where foreign universities are represented along with other local education providers.

This is unique as only foreign universities and institutes are present and students can meet universities from multiple countries and continents on one stage. It is a platform for students who think of education overseas to come and explore variety of opportunities , comparing and contrasting the different options available to them world over.

Q: Why did you decide to organise an event of this magnitude?

A: Our core business is international education and so we have a mandate to educate the public at large about opportunities available to them in the international sphere in global education. Accurate information that will not mislead the public is vital in this digital age and we have to play our part in it as disseminators. We consider that interaction and obtaining ample correct information from various universities all around the globe as an essential part.

Students and parents will be able to understand the pre-requisites, converse and obtain accurate guidance and consultancy from the many foreign delegates who will be offering these services completely free of charge. The consultation sessions and spontaneous interactive assistance and quality are key for students and their parents who wish to explore the possibilities of obtaining an international education qualification. This exhibition is the doorway for all these.

Q: What more is in store for students?

A: We will also launch the Aspirations Postgraduate Opportunity Hub this year, creating a platform for postgraduate students to interact directly with academics and establishments that are world renowned. The online postgraduate portal will be launched at this exhibition on 9 July where there will be the video conference sessions and webinars using cutting edge technology to connect with the academics overseas. Students can now register their interest with us to avail themselves of the benefits at the launch in their preferred study area and connect with the academics direct through logging on to www.aspirations.edu.lk/postgraduate.

In the Postgraduate Online Hub we have partnered with top notch institutes of the calibre of University of Sheffield, University of Liverpool and Newcastle University which are a part of the Russell Group of Universities in the UK and Monash University, a group eight university and Macquarie University, Griffith University, University of Wollongong which are ranked among the top 15 Australian Universities by Australian Education Network, and the University of Canterbury New Zealand, which is rated among the top 200 global universities by QS World University Rankings, plus Monash University and University of Nottingham from Malaysia.

Our team has also produced a series of career guidance DVDs based on a lecture series conducted at the Aspirations International Education Exhibition 2010. By registering with us at our website students can request the content that will add value to their lives, free of charge.

Q: Why is it important for students and parents to obtain consultancy?

A: Students who aspire to study abroad should be given proper guidance at the right time. They should be able to get accurate and authentic information with regards to options available. This is an expertise our organisation has accumulated over the years. Our Chairman and Managing Director have over 12 years of experience counselling over 12,000 students. It is for this expertise that Aspirations is recognised by the Australian Government as a Pre Visa Authority to issue the visa before the final visa, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise as NZ Education Specialists and Singapore Education as Singapore Education specialists.

Such guidance will help students with lower costs, increased chances of university acceptance, cultural adaptability and even increased chances of financial assistance. Proper counselling in the areas of both education and careers help students pick the university that best meets their needs maximising the chances of financial assistance and career opportunities. Comprehensive guidance will not mislead students at the crucial juncture in their lives, which can break or make their future; this is what we believe in.

Q: How can we get more information about the exhibition?

A: You can simply log on to www.aspirations.edu.lk/exhibition, our Facebook page www.facebook.com/aspirationseducation or call on 0777 539 888, or reach us on email on [email protected] or visit us at No. 267/ 20 Samagi Mawatha, Nawala Road, Nawala.