Aspirations Education, one of the leading career guidance and placement service centres in Sri Lanka, is holding its annual International Education Exhibition for the third successive year to cater to an increasing number of students who are on the lookout for high quality study options overseas.

epresentatives of highly reputed universities and institutes from Australia, UK, Malaysia and Singapore will participate at this exhibition which will be held on July 11 and 12 at the BMICH Banquet Hall. Here, under one roof, students will have an excellent opportunity to not only explore the various educational avenues available to them in a wide variety of industries, but also inquire and compare the fees charged, facilities provided, and financial assistance available at each university or college and get an in-depth knowledge about any field of study in which the student is interested; moreover, they may be able to even obtain spot offers if they possess the required qualifications!

Education in Sri Lanka, today, is a major concern of not only students and parents, but the State as well. Due to budgetary constraints, the State has not been able to assist local universities expand their capacity to accommodate the ever-increasing number of students who complete their ALs successfully; consequently, the entry requirements to these local universities have gradually become more and more demanding on students, and in this intensely competitive environment, many talented and capable students have become undeserving victims. They have thus been forced to look at study options at local private institutions or at overseas universities and colleges, if they have the financial wherewithal to venture into such an expensive undertaking.

In addition to the challenges students face with regard to university entrance, many parents and students have preferred to pursue study options at overseas institutions of higher education. This is simply because they have better-integrated with the global business community and conduct their courses with the technology and skill savvy that a student needs to be successful in a modern corporate environment; and because these universities make it a priority to keep their academic curriculum up-to-date with the constantly changing business and technological environments, students can be assured of the recognition their qualifications carry in the job market as well.

Foreign universities and institutions, too, have tailor-made courses to encourage and absorb international students. They offer highly attractive academic environments furnished with state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories and other facilities with respect to accommodation, healthcare, sports, recreation, and student welfare. Their holistic attitude towards student life helps to optimize their individual talents and skills and excel in their field of interest, and thereby opening avenues for successful employment with attractive remuneration.

In such a competitive academic environment and a challenging job market, students are faced with a multitude of choices and opportunities to evaluate in making one of the most important, and perhaps, the most difficult and stressful decision they have to make in life: choosing a career. When such a decision involves three to four years of a student's life, not to mention millions of rupees of hard-earned money, it becomes an investment decision that must be carefully analyzed.

Career guidance counsellors, therefore, perform a highly responsible task in guiding a student through evaluating the variety of educational opportunities available in terms of country, city, university, and study programme - all with varying academic requirements and financial and time commitments. It is their duty to provide the students and parents with accurate and up-to-date information on the options available and assist them in finding the best possible university and programme of study that would cater to their academic interests as well as the financial resources at their disposal.

While a thorough analysis of the student's academic history and interests prior to applying to a university could be the difference between getting accepted or rejected by a university, a detailed and comprehensive presentation of a student's academic credentials and financial wherewithal is of paramount importance to authenticate the student's profile in obtaining a student visa.

Such careful attention to detail is what makes Aspirations Education unique, both in its attitude and approach to career guidance. Each case is taken separately on its own merits and studied thoroughly to give feasible solutions. The meticulous attention given to each individual case is the secret of success which is seen by the record number of visa approvals it has obtained from the countries concerned, within a relatively short period.

Aspirations Education represents over 100 universities and institutes in Australia, UK, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, USA, and Canada giving students a wide range of choice from which to select their preferred programme of study, in keeping with their interests, aptitudes and financial standing. With its dedicated and efficient staff, the service Aspirations provides its students is truly invaluable, and remarkably, all services are provided absolutely free of charge!

Students are invited to attend the "Aspirations 2009 - International Education Exhibition" and make a comparative study of the options available to them in a variety of destinations before embarking on a crucial educational journey. For details please contact Aspirations Education head office at No. 267/20, Samagi Mawatha, Nawala Road, Nawala or call us on 5668445 for more information.