Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 22:

Overwhelming responses and queries for abroad study kept most of the participating abroad study consultancies and agencies busy at the ongoing Education and Book Fair. A recent boom in study abroad trend has helped not only the local consultancies marketing foreign colleges and universities as study destination abroad for the aspirant Nepali students, but also representatives from abroad to promote their products and services at the fair. “The flow of overseas students to Singapore is increasing every year. Since Singapore is evolving as a regional education hub in Asia, more and more students are willing to pursue their higher studies there,” says Hans Untono, manager- International Student Admissions of PSB Academy, Singapore. PSB Academy, a Singapore government-owned academy, is one of the largest education providers with over 25,000 overseas students enrolment from 16 different countries every year, he said.

“The academy is known for quality education at reasonable cost. Management, hospitality, IT and engineering are four major disciplines and have strategic alliances with tertiary institutions from UK, US and Australia,” Untono informed. PSB Academy currently has three campuses located at different parts of Singapore and the fourth campus is being opened next year. “The cost is almost one-third of total cost in the US or UK, but the degree is same,” he said. Mahendra Maharjan, executive director of FlexMode Management Consultancy, also said that the students going abroad have been diverted to Singapore and Malaysia. “It’s mainly due to cost factor,” he added. According to him, FlexMode has direct link with more than 50 different universities and colleges around the world.

“Considering the increased interests of students to the South East Asian colleges, we are promoting Management Development Institute of Singapore and Multimedia University, Malaysia at the fair,” Maharjan added. Alfa Beta Institute Pvt Ltd along with AIMS-Nepal updated students on the study opportunities abroad and promoted new faculty and modern facilities that the institute is offering. In addition, the institute also announced up to 80 per cent scholarship for test preparation classes required to gain entry to the reputed colleges and universities abroad with unlimited classes for the weak students at no extra cost. “We received good responses on professional courses,” says Govinda Ghimire, CEO of Alliance International, which is promoting pilot training, aircraft maintenance engineering, hotel management and IT education. “We are promoting the courses that are new to Nepal and has a rewarding future prospect,” he said.