THE upcoming Penang Education Expo featuring TVET courses on July 10-12 will be conducted online this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy said due to the uncertainty in our lives caused by Covid-19, students would need to further embrace technology and adapt to the new norm as the education expo would be conducted via online this year.
“Unlike the usual face-to-face meeting, students this year will meet virtually with representatives and online instructors from various institutions to choose the best institution that suits their liking.
“More than 30 tertiary education institutes (leading colleges and universities) will be taking part in the expo this year and our target is 3,000 students.
“Students with less satisfactory results can capitalise on this expo as participating TVET institutions will be able to provide solutions due to the increased job opportunities in the market now,” Ramasamy told a press conference in Komtar today.
Leading Malaysian-based company for Business Matching and Networking Platforms for B2B Events (Exhibitions – Conferences) and tech providers for https://penangonlineeducationfair.com/ ‘Appsaya’, through its partnership with Deputy Chief Minister II office’, will be conducting the expo this year.
Its head of business development, Hawanisa Roslan said students could pre-register in the www.penexpo.com.my website to avoid last minute registration.
“Through the Penang online education fair platform which will be used as a medium to conduct the expo, students will be able to enjoy various features. They include one-on-one virtual counselling from the comfort at their homes, recommendation of the best institution that matches their interest, manage schedules accordingly and live chat with exhibitors.
“Adapting to these procedures should be easy for students but the only difference is that it will all be done online.
“There will be students who still prefer to appear physically for such events but unfortunately, due to the current situation, they are highly encouraged to adapt to this ‘new norm’ and explore the wonders of technology in a most beneficial way,” said Hawanisa during her brief introduction of the functions of this online platform at Komtar today.
Also present were Pen Expo Events chief executive officer Francis Wong and SME Association of Seberang Perai treasurer Leong Yook Kheong.
“The expo was due to take place at about the end of March but due to the movement control order (MCO) that was imposed from March 18 onwards, we had no choice but to postpone it to a later date in this month.
“Several years ago, we had ideas of launching online expos, but it never really happened. So now with the current situation, it has been made possible to conduct it online,” said Wong during a question and answer session with the press.
Wong also added that the theme for this year’s expo is ‘Choose Your Education Right From Home’.
The expo, jointly organised by the office of Deputy Chief Minister II and Penang state economic planning unit in collaboration with SME Association of Seberang Perai, will be held online from 10am to 6pm at https://penangonlineeducationfair.com/.
The education expo was first held in 2017.
For more information, visit http://www.penexpo.com.my or call 012-422 4004.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis