The ninth career fair saw some 36 Indian universities/colleges offer more than 200 courses 

Education: About 1,700 students attended the ninth career fair in the capital over the weekend, where some 36 Indian universities and colleges offered more than 200 courses to those wishing to pursue their studies in India.

The standing of universities, fee structure, number of courses and safety and security were some of the factors that students and parents looked at in choosing a college for their undergrad studies.

A parent said such fairs in the country helped them understand the procedures of admission, fee structure and various courses that colleges offered. “We don’t have to travel all the way to India to get information about universities; the education fair provides a platform to get all the required information for getting my child into college,” the father said.

Most parents, Kuensel spoke to, wanted to send their children to colleges that have good reputations and a safe environment.

Another parent, Tshewang, said he planned to send his son to a reputed college for his bachelor’s.  For him, the location and fee structure didn’t matter. “If I have to I’ll get a loan, but I want my son to study in a good college,” Tshewang said.

But for some parents, the fee structure is the first factor they consider, while choosing colleges for their children.

An education consultancy firm owner, Rajib Chowdhury, said many parents send their children to study in colleges in North India because of low fees.  Depending on the courses, the fees in Indian colleges range from Nu 30,000 to 250,000 a year.

Lhakpa Dem, 19, said that attending the fair helped her understand more about the course she was interested in.  Another student, Sonam Jamtsho, 18, said he planned to continue his studies in India, but since he wasn’t sure about the course, he walked into the fair.

The Department of Adult and Higher Education (DAHE) has approved all colleges that participated in the fair.  There are about 31 education consultancies in the country.

DAHE’s director general, Tshewang Tandin, attended the education fair’s opening on February 14.  The event was organised by Nukareer Education Consultancy.

Organiser Meena Khatri said, for the last nine years, the fair has presented opportunities for students in the country to directly meet reputed colleges from all over India, and enabled them to make their career decisions.

By Dechen Tshomo