BACK TO THE FUTURE -Education UK University Exhibition returns to Pakistan after seven years

Education UK Pakistan Exhibit 3-7 Day Tours 

12- 19 October 2014

 

British Council Pakistan recently concluded a successful 7-Day Exhibit Tour in the cities of Islamabad and Lahore in October 2014. 

 

The aim of the Exhibition was to give an opportunity to UK institutions to showcase the courses they offer and to meet the rising demand of UK Education in Pakistan for Undergraduate and Postgraduate recruitment. This effective visit of the delegation is designed to open new vistas of learning for the students as well as the faculty and to explore possibilities of building linkages for mutual learning and sharing of expertise between UK and Pakistan.

 

Education UK has been striving to provide opportunities to UK institutions and aspiring students in Pakistan to connect with each other. In the past years, Pakistan focused more on Virtual Exhibitions for this purpose. 

Given the security environment in the country however, it was challenging to hold physical exhibitions. With a rapid increase in the number of Internet users and Internet Service Providers, Virtual Exhibitions therefore had a role in developing a flexible, sustainable approach that is appropriate to the unique operating context in Pakistan.

However, we felt a more traditional approach was needed to reach local audiences and we dared to dream a comeback of the ever-popular Education UK exhibitions in Pakistan.

 

Analysing the market trend for Pakistan the physical Exhibition was reintroduced in Pakistan this year after a gap of 7 years. With 45 representatives from leading institutions in the UK, local universities, colleges, schools and British Council IELTS and British Council Alumni Association (BAAP) joining in; the Exhibition was deemed highly successful with a flow of 1,000 students, parents and professionals across both cities.

 

The British Council’s strong presence through such fairs has the larger implication of allowing international players a reliable platform to operate on. While the Pakistani market sees several education exhibitions organised by consultants or private concerns, the credibility and impact that the British Council Education UK brand carries was evident by the turnout of 1000 visitors despite the rains and road blocks in Islamabad and Lahore. 

Collaboration links between UK and Pakistani HE sectors have started to emerge. 

 

To facilitate an insight into the Pakistan student market and recruitment practices; visits to top schools, universities and networking dinners were an essential part of the tour. The Pakistan British Council team had arranged several networking events for the visiting delegates. These included networking dinners with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, dinner by the Minister for Education Punjab, visits to schools and universities and some entertainment as well. 

 

Each day of the 7 day tour begun at 8am and ended with a social networking dinner. One day each was planned for an institution visit in each city; the morning covered the school visit and the afternoon took the delegates to the tour of the university. The day of the Exhibition itself started off with a Market overview of Pakistan and concluded with dinner organised for key stakeholders. A sightseeing tour of Lahore’s traditional culture, the Lahore fort and local shopping outlets wrapped up the seven day fair.

 

The response received was excellent. The remarkable number of stakeholders involved from both the UK sector and the attending students is testimony to the impact that the British Council exhibitions have. 

 

While students gushed about the exhibition as “excellent”, “interesting”, “outstanding” and even “fabulous” the positive feedback from the UK delegates proved our gamble had paid off. And paid off well.

 

“Opportunity to meet and network with one of Pakistan’s largest network of colleges and schools.  A large market for UG and PG recruitment, a good overall response, good venue and space, volunteers to help” Dr Abdullah Iqbal, Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance, University of Kent. 

 

 “…a very big and sincerely felt thank you to Ottolie, Saman and all of the BC SIEM team – one of the best SIEM teams I have met.” -- Liz Green, University of Manchester

 

Despite the rising costs of education and certain visa restrictions on post-work study, the country’s students still see the UK as a preferred destination for academics. Pakistan as one of the top ten countries sending students to the UK remains an important and rewarding market for UK education institutes. We will definitely be back with the next edition of the exhibition, and this time, we won’t wait seven years.

 

Watch this space for the Exhibition report, coming out shortly.