Indian Youth Welfare Association office-bearers pose for a group photo with the guests of honor, speakers, career guidance counselors and sponsors at the end of the career guidance program held at the Consulate General of India. — Courtesy photo Syed Baqer Ali
JEDDAH — Students and parents of the Indian community, who had visited in large droves the Indian Youth Welfare Association (IYWA) Higher Education Fair and Career Guidance Program at the Indian Consulate premises here on Thursday, were mostly of the view that an additional option of continuing their higher studies in Saudi Arabia should be explored in depth. They strongly urged the Indian mission to explore the options with Saudi authorities in opening higher education options for Indian expatriate students and professional living in Saudi Arabia. Apart from the students and parents, a large number of working professionals explored the options that were put on display by various educationists at the fair, which was held under the aegis of the Consulate General of India and organized by IYWA. The attendees were given an insight into various short term intensive courses, distance educational options to enhance their skills and expertise, certificates options and various universities offering various streams. Universities, institutions and educational academies from India, Saudi Arabia, and GCC countries participated in the fair to introduce and promote their new courses and institutions/colleges. Experts from the various streams in education provided career guidance to the students and their parents about the new courses and their opportunities, existing courses and their demand and options available in vocational, diploma and certificate courses in their respective stream. Academicians, professors, lecturers and principals from various colleges and schools graced the occasion. Guidance on Computer Science was given by Professor Dr. R. Selvarani and Sara Fatima, Lecturer from Information Systems Department, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah while Khalid Hassan, Accounts Manager at Abdul Lateef Jameel (ALJ) guided people opting for Commerce, Rahul Bose a Lawyer enhanced the scope in Corporate law, whereas Mir Ferozuddin explained the opportunities of careers in Armed Forces. While teachers from International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ) provided guidance to the students and their parents on Information Technology by Abdul Hamid, Geography by Mohan Raj, Engineering and Scholarships by Thomas M. Das Arackal, Mohammad Imran on Economics, Biology and Meidcal Sciences by Dr. Iftekhar H. Javeed, Humanities by Ashraf Unnisa, Home Science by Zehra Mahruq, Sports as career by Vijender Singh and Ranjit Kaur. Chief Guest Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Consul General of India, inaugurated the Higher Education Fair & Career Guidance Program. Mohammed Raghib Qureshi, Head of Chancery & Consul (Education); Pranav Ganesh, Consul (Consular); S.R.H. Fahmi, Consul (Community Welfare); Prabhat Jain, Consul (Labor); Masood Ahmad, IISJ Principal; DVS Rao, DPS Principal were among the prominent personalities who attended. Academicians and educationists were all praise for IYWA for taking up the cause of higher education and professional development while simultaneously creating awareness among the community. They were delighted by the large turnout of community members and the magnitude of response, interest and inquisitiveness of students and parents for the future of their career and professional path. Many of the participating members of the universities stated that the program was unique and first of its kind in their decades of stay in here. IYWA General Secretary Mir Gazanfar Ali Zaki said: “Investment in education is the best investment one can make because it eventually leads to intellectual property. IYWA realized it long time back that education is the only means for individual success and national development.” He said Braaem Independent Living for special needs children, Investment in education by Al Abeer Group and Distance Education options by IGNOU were of prominent interest to students, parents and professionals. The Higher Education Fair had stands of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) as main sponsor, Birla Institute of Technology (UAE), Batterji Medical College (BMC), Blue Mountains International School of Hospitality Management, Australia, King Abdul Aziz University (JCC), Effat University, International Education Consultancy Abroad, Nobles for Educational Consultants, Al Najaba Educational Consultancy, BES Trust Karnataka, Al Abeer Medical Group, Al Braeeam Independent Living Direct Access Trading Establishment, Mehfil Restaurant, Al Naseem Polyclinic, Jeddah, Alfa Cargo Services Co. Ltd, Best Harvest Trading Ltd, Hyundai Motors and Al Kabeer food. Earlier, IYWA President Surendra Pal Singh welcomed the gathering and reflected on the previous efforts by the group to hold educational events. He highlighted the new concept this year of using the fair to offer career guidance in various streams to participants. Zaki gave the vote of thanks, while Muzammil Hussain, chief coordinator IYWA, was assisted by event coordinator Mohammed Aslam Shareef and Syed Baquer Ali, and all other members of IYWA. — SG
