Education expo vital for info-gathering

STUDENTS who wish to pursue higher education in the United Kingdom were advised to make full use of the British Council's Education Exhibitions, as there is no substitute for obtaining information face-to-face from relevant institution representatives.

During the Education UK 2009 Exhibition yesterday, British Council (Malaysia)'s Director of Education and Programmes Peter Clack said personal contact is very important for the potential student and their parents to determine the most suitable institution that will meet their requirements.

"Students are utilising the Internet nowadays for sourcing information. But they can only get so much from the Internet. It is important for them to come here, pin someone down in a booth, and ask what their courses would be like," he said.

Clack said that although the global economy is in a decline, people are still spending on education. "Parents are willing to spend on their children to obtain quality education. Education seems to be doing quite well, even in times of economic change," he said.

In an interview with The Brunei Times, British High Commissioner to Brunei Robert Fenn said he felt excited and proud that education is the key which binds Brunei and UK together. "Our relationships have been blessed by both governments. We (British High Commission) take this very seriously and are excited and proud to have this exhibition. However, we have a heavy sense of responsibility to Brunei and its students," he said. "I am proud and delighted that the UK remains the most popular destination for Bruneian students, and that the numbers are increasing. Both our countries are enriched by this tradition."

He had been informed by many British universities and colleges of their determination to retain the trust of young Bruneians. He added that courses which were available were "attuned to the needs" of Bruneian students. "There are around 20 booths here today and they are all accredited by the Ministry of Education (MoE)," he said. Fenn also urged students to make full use of the exhibition by asking as many questions as possible. "Customers are always right. They (students) and parents need to exert their power by making sure they are not taken for granted by asking hard questions," he said.

He also spoke about student visa applications as a "vital" link in the chain. "I personally urge students not to wait until the last minute to apply for their visas. We have to go through a bureaucratic phase of A to B," he said. He advised students not to be complacent by relying on the fact they did not need a visa to go to the UK for their studies. "This year, we have a particular challenge as we have a new system for processing visas. It is done online, is automatic and is user-friendly," he said.

He advised students to apply for visas the minute they had supporting documents from their universities or from the MoE. "We do not want disappointed universities and students." Visas can be applied at ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk or visa4uk.fco.gov.uk. The one-day education exhibition was held at the Rizqun International Hotel, Gadong. The Brunei Times