China, the new kid on the block
WAN Amir Akram Datuk Zainal Abidin and Elly Jasmin Aminuddin made a beeline towards the fair’s China Pavilion as soon as the doors opened
They were there to inquire about interior design courses available in China for their daughter, Alyssa Marsya Wan Amir Akram, 17, who is sitting for her SPM this year.
“She is very keen on furthering her studies in China as well as to learn the language,” said Elly Jasmin.
Wan Amir Akram said they were happy and supportive of their daughter’s decision.
“We already see China as an international player and it is going to get even bigger in the near future. We want our child to build a network in China during her time there,” he said.
He added that he hopes Alyssa Marsya can work there upon graduating.
For SMK Kelana Jaya former student Thiwagar Mageswaran, China is also a great place for furthering higher education.
He plans to pursue engineering. “Studying there will allow me to pick up Chinese, a language that is gaining global importance and that will be an advantage for me in the future,” said the excited school leaver.
It gives me an added advantage over non-Chinese speakers, he added.
His father Mageswaran Karthikesu, 50, is keen on sending Thiwagar to China because he believes the country has an “abundance of opportunities”.
“China is a giant market with a rich history and culture,” he said.
The fair also featured a talk titled “Study in China” It was presented by representatives from six Chinese institutions.
Making their debut at the two-day event, the institutions were Jilin Huaqiao University of Foreign Languages, Xiamen University of Technology, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Ocean University of China, Guangdong University of Finance, and Henan University of Chinese Medicine.
It was a good opportunity to expose students to what Chinese institutions have to offer.
Huaiyin Institute of Technology School of International Education deputy dean Yolanda Yu said the response at the fair was encouraging and many students walked away with information on things they previously had no clue about.
“Students are offered full scholarships for four-year programmes.
“Daily expenses are inexpensive with accommodation being as cheap as 3,000 yuan (nearly RM2,000) a year,” she said, adding that it had international students from over 18 countries.
Henan University of Chinese Medicine admissions director Zhao Junqin said the varsity wanted to use “this great opportunity” to expose more Malaysian students to Chinese medicine.
“This fair has helped us connect with with those from the education field as well as build our network.”
“We would also like to have student exchange programmes with local universities,” she said, impressed that Malaysia preserves the Chinese culture and language.
Xiamen University of Technology International Cooperation and Exchange director Yolanda Zhang shared Zhao and Yu’s sentiments.
“We exhibited at the fair to get more students and the response had been not bad,” she added.