Edufair Abu Dhabi explored how students can prepare for jobs that don’t exist yet

Abu Dhabi's Edufair 2026 tackled the evolving careers landscape, emphasizing students should focus on personal interests and needs rather than university rankings, according to Chirag Nanda, Managing Partner of Connect To World Consultancy. Nanda stressed that a degree grants entry, but cannot predict the outcome beyond that threshold.

The fair, organized by Gulf News, facilitated face-to-face interactions between students, parents, universities, and career experts to address the pressing question: what path should students undertake next?

Nanda's key points included practical learning, emotional development, and essential skills such as handling objections and managing expectations. He noted that future employability hinges on showcasing both knowledge and experience, not merely a degree or résumé. Universities on-site incorporated updated curricula, group work, and hands-on projects to prepare students for new challenges.

Parents grappled with questions like what they should prepare their children for in a future yet to be defined. Nanda advised that each student's educational journey should reflect their unique interests, abilities, and goals, rather than parental expectations or peer pressure. He encouraged students to explore 'a day in the life' of professionals through job shadowing, an alternative to generic psychometric tests.

Parents were urged to support their children in understanding their own educational journey, emphasizing the uniqueness of every individual's path, likening it to a forest with its diverse kingdom.

The participating institutions recognized the fair's core objective: bridging academic programmes with the skills necessary in the workplace. Amidst a diverse crowd of students with varying ambitions, the event provided a platform for questions and expert guidance.