The Star Education Fair 2010

KUALA LUMPUR: The Star Edu­cation Fair 2010 is bigger and better than any of the previous fairs over the past 22 years.

As the biggest education fair in Malaysia and one of the largest in Asia, it has always been popular with private higher education providers but this year’s response was overwhelming.

All five halls in the KL Convention Centre had to be booked for the first time, as 161 exhibitors took up 510 booths.

A record 46 local and foreign private higher education institutions pledged 398 scholarship awards totalling RM13.836mil.

The fair also received a ringing endorsement when Higher Educa­tion Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin graced the Star Education Fund Presentation of Scholarship Awards and toured the exhibition.

Thanking The Star for its long-standing commitment to higher education, Mohamed Khaled said the fair was instrumental in providing educational outreach.

“An education expo and fund as large as this is very rare and I’m happy that The Star recognises the country’s effort to be a regional education hub,” he said.


“Participating institutions stand to gain a great deal by being able to see themselves in comparison with other providers.

“This will encourage them to improve the quality of service they offer as well as educate the public on the type of degrees and specialisations available in Malaysia,” he added.

Thanking the institutions which pledged scholarships, Mohamed Khaled added that his ministry hoped both the fair and fund would continue to expand.

Also present were Star Publications (M) Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Datin Linda Ngiam and its executive director, Ng Beng Lye.

“As the leading English daily with a readership of nearly one million, The Star pays very close attention to the development of the nation,” said Ngiam in her opening address.

“We believe that a sound education system is central to our growth of a developed nation. The Star will continue to play its part in promoting the Prime Minister’s goal of developing a creative and innovative nation.”

Ngiam welcomed the five institutions which joined the fund for the first time – International College of Nursing; PSB Academy Pte Ltd, Singapore; Singapore Institute of Management; Swinburne Univer­sity, Sarawak campus; and The Otomotif College.

The fund also received eight pledges offering full scholarships covering the entire tuition course, accommodation and other incidental costs.

The pledges were from City University College of Science and Technology, International University College of Nursing, Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Stamford College, Sunway University College, The Otomotif College and University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.

Since its inception in 1994, The Star Education Fund has awarded scholarships to 2,438 students amounting to some RM60mil.

Later, Mohamed Khaled took the opportunity to visit the exhibition booths.

He also stopped at the booth of Red FM, which is a part of The Star Media Group, and agreed to a live interview with Breakfast Show hosts JD and Dilly.