Students interacting with a university representative at Eduventures Fair 2006. - Contributed

Getting the right tertiary education is the first step to carving a career path; with the demand for the 'global' executive on the rise, getting an international degree could be an option. Aldain Reid, regional director, RDI North Caribbean, speaks with JOBSMART on the possibilities abroad and the upcoming Eduventures Fair.

Background of the Eduventures Fair

Eduventures Jamaica was founded three years ago with its primary mission being to encourage Jamaican youths to connect to the wealth of opportunities offered by international education. Eduventures International Education Fair was born out of the recognition that there was a tremendous demand locally for information regarding options for higher education. As such, we hosted our inaugural fair in October 2005, which brought students together with admissions advisers from leading academic institutions across the world, including our own local universities.

Give an overview of the participants this year

This year we will have over 30 academic institutions from Jamaica, Canada, the United States, United Kingdom (U.K.) and the wider Caribbean participating in the fair.

Canada will have strong representation by a number of universities such as Ryerson University and the university of Waterloo. From the United States, we will have Barry University and Florida Metropolitan University, among others. The U.K. will also be represented by the University of Bradford and the University of underland.

All of our exhibitors will be well equipped to provide information regarding the benefits of studying with their institution, along with the application and enrolment procedure. Information with respect to immigration and student visa requirements will be handled by the Canadian High Commission and the British Council who will also speak about the merits of pursuing studies in their respective countries.

Financing higher education has always been a concern for college-bound students and, as such, we will have financial institutions on hand. This year will be our third renewal and it is scheduled for October 30-31, 2007, at the Hilton Kingston, and on November 2 at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort in Montego Bay.

Are there any programmes of interest that will be on show this year?

Yes, we have a number of unique programmes which should be of interest to attendees this year. For example, if you're interested in media arts or design, you can visit the Miami International University of Art and Design booth or, if you want to further you career in mathematics, the University of Waterloo will have a representative from its math department there. If nuclear medicine or medical laboratory science is your life's ambition, then Michener Institute of Applied Health Sciences will point you in the right direction. Or, if you want to pursue a career as an airline pilot, you can visit the booth of the Caribbean Aviation Training Centre.

Will there be options for distance learning, for working adults who may not have the opportunity for the traditional on-campus study experience?

Certainly, a number of the universities in attendance offer distance learning options for adult learners. The University of the West Indies, for example, has a well-established Distance Education Centre. Also, representatives from Resource Development International will be on hand to provide information on a wide range of distance-learning options from top U.K. Universities. Most of the international universities also provide online learning and continuing education options across an array of course offerings. For more information, you may visit our website at www.edujam.com.

What are some of the activities planned for the event?

The main activity will be the one-on-one interaction between students and academic advisors in the main fair hall at each venue in Kingston and Montego Bay. Additionally, students will have opportunities for private sessions with these advisors, many of whom will be in the island after the event closes. We will also have interesting presentations from individuals drawn from different sectors of society, who will be speaking on the benefits of tertiary education.

Why should persons attend the Eduventures Fair this year?

Whether you are seeking options for undergraduate or post-graduate study, via local, international or the distance learning or online mode, you must visit the Eduventures Fair. We have succeeded in assembling a stellar line-up of academic institutions from across the globe, which will be happy to help you find the right path to your career goals.

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com