Students view options in higher education

Leading universities from the UAE and abroad take part in the 10th edition of the Najah exhibition

Students from around the UAE gathered in Abu Dhabi yesterday as they assessed their future education prospects at the 10th edition of the Najah higher education and career fair.

The exhibition — which is taking place over three days and features more than 100 exhibitors from universities in the UAE and abroad — has become one of the leading career and education events in the country over the years, giving students the chance to meet directly with the universities’ representatives to see the opportunities on offer.

Hamad Saeed, 16, from the UAE, who was visiting the exhibition, said he was looking to find the best option to pursue studies in engineering.

“It is a big challenge to decide what you want to do and which university you want to go to. I am personally interested in engineering and there are many different types of engineering like mechanical and electrical, so it’s about finding the right university which offers the best courses that match what I am looking for,” he said.

“Having an event like this has been very helpful because I was able to find a lot of good universities that offer what I

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Najah Exhibition Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Till October 27

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want,” he added.

Saeed also said that he was both excited and nervous to make the transition to university life.

Yousuf Zbeida, 17, from the US, who was also visiting the exhibition, echoed similar feelings, and explained that finding the right choice was very important for him.

“I’m looking for a university that suits my geographical needs — basically closer to my home back in Texas, and then obviously a university that offers subjects for the type of career I am looking to get into which is physical therapy.

‘A lot of good offers’

“Finding the right university and making the step up from school is extremely daunting. There are a lot of factors that come in, whether it be the location, the tuition fees, all of these things are there to think about when making your choice,” he added.

Mohammad Othman, 19, from Pakistan, said he was still undecided on what path he wanted to take.

“I am pushing more for studying medicine than engineering and have found great offers here from countries like Germany and the Czech Republic. I have also seen a lot of good offers from universities in the UAE,” he added.