Edufair experts urge families to put students first when choosing overseas degrees

Gulf News Edufair opened today, allowing students from top Dubai schools to explore their next educational steps abroad. Experts urged families to prioritize their children's interests, strengths, and career aspirations when considering overseas degrees. Dr Mauli Mahajan, founder of MyCompassToday and 3E Worldwide, emphasized that the first consideration should always be the student, not just the university or country.

She advised parents to assess their child's emotional readiness and ability to adapt to a new environment, as well as lifestyle factors such as food and social adaptation.

When choosing a country, families should consider what they hope to gain from the overseas education, whether it's solely education, residency, post-graduation work, or eventual settlement. Dr Mahajan highlighted the importance of evaluating the program's affordability, curriculum, research investment, and student diversity. Tuition is just one aspect of the financial planning for overseas education, as families must also account for application, coaching, entrance exam fees, and recurring costs during the program.

Dr Muhammad Yousuf Qadri, CEO of Qadri International Education Consultancy, warned that medical education is among the most expensive choices. Parents should not base their destination decision on reputation alone, as countries like the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland are highly competitive and expensive. He suggested exploring European countries as alternatives, offering direct entry medical programs at potentially lower fees.

It's crucial for students to check the recognition and professional requirements of their intended practice country.

Scholarships should be considered early in the financial planning process, according to Dr Mahajan. Students should research and understand the scholarship opportunities offered by individual universities, including the requirements for applications and interviews. Scholarship committees evaluate a student's profile beyond academic performance, considering extracurricular activities, leadership, and impact demonstrated through their profile.

Dr Qadri cautioned that securing scholarships for medical programs can be challenging, and families should factor this into their financial planning. Ultimately, the student's interests and strengths should guide the decision, as an unsuitable course can lead to frustration, poor engagement, and potentially dropping out. Psychometric testing can help families better understand their child's interests and strengths before making a decision.