The one thing that the pandemic has not stopped dead in its tracks is the education industry. From schools and universities switching to online teaching and learning, to the Government powering through and holding scholarship exams and Advanced Levels (A/L) in the midst of a second wave of Covid-19, education has kept putting one foot in front of the other and marching on.
With A/Ls concluded-ish and the end of the year approaching, many are now turning their thoughts to higher education and what comes after school; with the whole world more or less on lockdown, finding the perfect university in which to study is something of a challenge. Enter The EdTour – Virtual Edition.
The EdTour – Virtual Edition is a virtual university fair organised by educational consulting agency International Education Services (IES) in partnership with EdPrograms, Pakistan, to help prospective students and their parents figure out which university is the best fit for them and their life goals.
The EdTour – Virtual Edition features a great lineup of universities from all over the world including the US, Canada, Singapore, Qatar, Turkey, and Pakistan.
Adapting to an online environment, The EdTour – Virtual Edition aims to incorporate technology to create an interactive and meaningful experience for students, parents, and participating institutions. The EdTour – Virtual Edition takes shape in the form of scheduled events based on the major a prospective student is interested in. There will be specialised sessions for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Each participating institution will have its own virtual booth that will allow students to consult with them in small groups throughout the event. This virtual booth will include an exhibitor profile and live room (similar to a Zoom room) on The EdTour platform. Prospective students and parents can enter any room they like to meet the universities.
Students will be able to meet with international admissions directors from specific institutions who will be showcasing their STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), business, liberal arts, humanities, and speciality degree programs (film, architecture, arts, and design). In addition to course-specific information, students will also get the chance to learn about scholarships, assistantships, admissions criteria, and the international student experience at various campuses.
Students who haven’t yet decided what they want their majors to be are welcome to attend all sessions and make a fully informed decision about the direction they want their life to take.
The EdTour – Virtual Edition will include three undergraduate events and one graduate event for prospective Sri Lankan students to consult with a host of universities including University of Massachusetts – Amherst, Fordham University, The University of Texas at Arlington, New York Film Academy, and Northwestern University in the US; York University, University of Calgary, and Ryerson University in Canada; and Yale-NUS College in Singapore.
IES is committed to assisting prospective students in making the right choice pursuing education in institutions overseas. IES’s experience and knowledge in advising practices and student mobility trends allows them to effectively support students in connecting with universities globally, providing them with the latest information regarding visa regulations and immigration and entry requirements, and helping students navigate university and visa application processes with ease.
IES Director Edna Christine Selvanayagam shared that prospective students attending The EdTour – Virtual Edition will be provided specialist support to match them with the most ideal universities. “To push the envelope even further, we are working on matching student profiles with the participating institutions for meaningful interaction, working closely with the EdPrograms, Pakistan team led by Director Umair Khan,” Selvanayagam said, adding: “The students will only be sent a link for the actual event once they have registered. Therefore, it’s important that they register early to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
The EdTour – Virtual Edition will feature the following events for undergraduates based on their major:
- Business and specialty programmes (film, design, architecture, and gaming) on Wednesday, 21 October from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Liberal arts ( psychology, international development, history, theatre, and music) on Tuesday, 27 October from 5 to 8 p.m.
The EdTour – Virtual Edition event for graduate students will take place on Wednesday, 28 October 2020 from 5 to 8 p.m. For more information on The EdTour – Virtual Edition and to sign up, please visit http://www.edprograms.org/signup.
By Naveed Rozais
