Pupils check out their career options in Al Ain

About 20 universities have showcased what programmes they have to offer at the first UAE Education Interface on Monday.

Emirati pupils visit the Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and Zayed Higher Organisation stands at the university fair in Al Ain. The first two days are for girls, with boys admitted on the third. Sarah Dea / The National
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AL AIN // High school pupils from across the country have been checking out their prospects for further learning.

About 20 universities promoted the programmes they have on offer at the first UAE Education Interface on Monday.

Ayesha Abdullah, 18, an Emirati pupil, did not know which university she wanted to join until she attended the event.

“There are universities that I just learnt about now. But I learnt a lot,” said Ayesha.

After looking over the courses at the Fatima College of Health Sciences in Ajman, she said she decided to study radiology or pharmacy there.

Another Emirati student, Kholoud Mohammed, 18, said she visited each university stall and wanted to study science.

Kholoud said that while she had not settled on which area of science she would focus, it was good to see all of the options.

Her opinion was shared by Noor Ahmed, 17, from Palestine.

“There isn’t a specific university but I want to study either medicine or engineering,” Noor said.

“This might help us choose what we want to study in the future.”

But not all pupils had a clear idea about what they wanted to study.

Mazoon Alneydai, an 18-year-old Emirati student, said she intended to wait before picking an area of focus.

“I came to see all the universities and their majors. I’ll choose later,” Mazoon said. “I took a brochure from each university to see their majors, then I will think and choose.”

University students were on hand to offer advice.

Shamma Al Darei, 18, a student at Fatima College, was eager to introduce herself to others and educate them on the programmes at her institution, where she is studying to become a pharmacist.

Shamma said she was there to meet the pupils and help them to choose the university or college at which they wanted to study.

Despite the wide variety of courses on offer, most of the pupils were interested in medicine and engineering.

“We are noticing that the students are focusing on medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or engineering,” said Mariam Matloob, who works in the marketing department of the American University in the Emirates, in Dubai.

“A minority of the students are focusing on business, law, media. That’s the feedback we’re getting.”

Some universities, such as the Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, awards students a degree as well as a licence in their field of study, said Nasser Al Memari, manager of student and support services at the college.

The polytechnic offers a wide variety of programmes in engineering and aviation, so it is easier to integrate pupils into the workforce, Mr Al Memari said.

He said the university followed Abu Dhabi’s 2030 Vision.

“Right now, Abu Dhabi’s direction is towards three main industries,” Mr Al Memari said.

These include aviation, nuclear energy and semiconductor manufacturing, he said.

“Abu Dhabi Polytechnic is the educational branch of the manufacturing industry,” he said.

Institutions taking part in the event also included the University of Sharjah, the American University of Sharjah, Al Ghurair University, the Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and the Canadian University of Dubai.

The exhibition is being hosted under the patronage of Sheikha Shamma bint Mohammed Al Nahyan, head of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural Centre.

Sheikha Shamma was present on the first day of the three-day event at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club.

The first two days are for female pupils, while the third day is for boys.

nbakhsh@thenational.ae