a day ago
Crowds flock to final day of Star Education Fair in JB
JOHOR BARU: The Star Education Fair continued to draw crowds on its second day as visitors explored study options and scholarship opportunities.
Organised by Star Media Group, the two-day fair features 40 institutions occupying over 55 booths, offering a wide range of programmes and consultations.
Netherlands Maritime University College business development and corporate communications executive Nur Alissa Mae said visitors from Indonesia and Singapore also came to her booth during the fair here.
"Most enquiries this time were from postgraduate prospects, particularly those interested in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme.
'Perhaps because the education fair is held alongside a job fair, many diploma and degree holders came to explore postgraduate options.
"They're looking at the MBA as a way to support their career growth or transition to a different company,' she added.
Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) Computing and Informatics senior lecturer Dr Lim Kok Cheng said that among the courses that attracted the most attention during the fair was its newly introduced Master's in Artificial Intelligence.
'We've also launched a Master's in Computer Science majoring in AI, and both programmes started their intake this year.
'These are among the most talked-about programmes throughout the two-day fair,' he added.
Dr Lim said visitors, especially working professionals and tech-savvy students, were intrigued by the AI offerings and asked detailed questions about the course structure and career prospects.
Management and Science University (MSU) academic councillor and lecturer Adly Zaihardi Muhamad Said said the university received strong interest from both working adults and fresh graduates during the fair.
'The response has been encouraging. Many working adults looking to further their studies dropped by to enquire about postgraduate options, especially master's and PhD programmes,' he said when met at the fair at the Persada International Convention Centre here.
He said MSU offers over 140 programmes, with more than 20 at the postgraduate level, including those delivered in a blended format that combines monthly physical classes with online learning.
Lincoln University College marketing executive P. Harshinni said the institution offers over 160 programmes ranging from foundation to PhD levels.
She added that the university's Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme is currently one of the most popular, especially among working adults.
'We're offering the full MBA course at RM10,000, which can be completed within one to two years via online distance learning.
"The offer is valid until the end of this year,' she said.
Akademi Laut Malaysia (Alam) business and management faculty head Dr A. Ramesh Babu said the academy received a fair number of enquiries from visitors interested in maritime-related careers.
'Alam offers seven diploma programmes tailored for both seafaring and shore-based careers.
"Students who are keen to work on board ships can opt for diplomas in Marine Engineering, Nautical Studies or Marine Electro-Technology, while those interested in shore-based roles can choose from Maritime Business Administration, Maritime Management, Maritime Services, or Maritime Transportation and Logistics.
'We also offer more than 100 short courses tailored for the marine industry, ranging from five days to six months,' he said.
Ramesh said demand for these short courses has increased, with the Diploma in Maritime Transportation and Logistics and Diploma in Maritime Management being the most sought-after.
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) programme promotion division assistant manager Chin Kok Keong said the university offers a wide range of programmes, from foundation to postgraduate studies.
'We have courses in medical studies, engineering, IT, arts and social sciences. There's a good balance across faculties, and each programme has its own unique teaching style,' he said.
He added that UTAR offers achievement-based scholarships to eligible SPM and STPM school-leavers.
'Our university is also one of the most affordable, and our graduates have a marketability rate of between 95% and 97%,' he said.
Universiti Malaya marketing centre assistant registrar Mohd Hazyq Askyel Mohd Fuad said most visitors to their booth were interested in the university's foundation and undergraduate programmes.
'Most enquiries were about our foundation and bachelor's degree programmes.
"We're hoping for a larger crowd as the foundation application deadline is closing in about a week,' he said.
He added that Universiti Malaya offers on-the-spot offer letters and direct intake, which many students were not aware of prior to the fair.
'We managed to issue several immediate offer letters today, and it was a pleasant surprise for many visitors,' he said.
The fair, which is being till Sunday (July 6), runs between 11am and 6pm at the Persada International Convention Centre here.
The Star Education Fair, now in its 38th year, is one of the country's pioneer education exhibitions.
For more details on the Star Education Fair, visit or email edufair@
