All roads lead to ‘The News Education Expo’

Islamabad
It seemed that all roads of the capital led to the Pak-China Friendship Centre — the venue of ‘The News Education Expo 2015’ — on Thursday.
A large number of students visited the education expo organised by the Jang Media Group on its concluding day. The representatives of academic institutions answered the queries of the students. Many students came directly from their academic institutions to gather relevant information. Parents also took keen interest in programmes offered by universities and colleges and made a point to collect brochures for making a choice for their children.
There were more than 70 academic exhibitors who had put up their stalls in the expo. Apart from that some stalls were also set up for displaying jewellery, handicrafts and embroidered dresses. In order to avail the opportunity of a large gathering, they displayed their creativity.
The ‘Kitab Ghar’ displayed new and old books at its stall which attracted schoolchildren, who took keen interest in colouring books, story books, and encyclopaedias — according to the age group they belonged to. The mature crowd was looking for books of fiction, politics, cooking, history, biography and motivational.
At the Air University stall, the students of mechatronic engineering, Atif Hussain, Ahmed Sagheer, Osama and Haman Sadiq, displayed their final-year project — an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV). The students, while talking to ‘The News,’ said that it is a military-based UGV with an integrated robotic arm. The vehicle can be used for anti-terrorist activities like bomb disposal and spying. It can carry 1kg weight. It can pick and place explosives and change wirings with the help of the robotic arm. “This vehicle has passed every test we conducted. It can even function on rugged terrain because of its tank shape,” said the students.
Another project was of Stewart Platform, which can move in all degrees. The students informed that it can be used for aircraft simulation, motion ride and balancing purposes. It can also be used for the industrial machining purpose. The desired shape of anything can be made through it, removal of material, cutting, drilling of material like iron and wood can be done through this platform. It is actually a replacement for drilling machine.
At the Institute of Space and Technology (IST) stall, the aerospace students displayed a remote-controlled aeroplane. The students said that through this aeroplane they were able to minimise the radar cross-section, meaning that it cannot be detected through radar system. It is very light with only 1.8kg weight and lift the payload of up to 2 kilograms. It is a highly-manoeuvrable aeroplane and can be used for surveillance. Its range is 1.5 kilometres and flies up to 500 metres in height. The students who prepared this project were Imran Tariq, Huzaifa Mohsin, Nauman Kiani and Abdul Basit under the supervision of Sir Salman.
The Microdrone was prepared by Bilal Fazal of the IST. The device can be used in earthquake calamities and coalmine disasters when rescuers cannot enter into narrow spaces like collapsed roofs, buildings and caves. This miniaturised technology of drone can be quite useful in carrying out surveillance in narrow openings because of its weight which is less than 40 grams. “I already have offers from SPD, Suparco and Rescue-1122 for the usage of this miniature drone,” he said proudly.
The HR Consultants deals with international universities based in UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Dubai, Malaysia and Europe. At the education expo, its representatives were seen facilitating students.
The NTS testing stall provided information to the students regarding national and international testing procedures. Waqar Ahmed, project manager (international wing) at the NTS, while talking to this scribe, said that the NTS, being Pakistan’s first and self-sustained premier testing organisation, administers tests and assessments for admission, scholarship, recruitment and promotion purposes. In order to get admission in a foreign university, generally Pakistani students need to qualify an admission test accredited by the ETS-USA or similar testing organisations. National tests include NAT 1 & 2, GAT TDP, LAW GAT and customised tests. International tests include TOEFL primary and junior, TOFL ITP, TOEIC L& R, WorkForce, TOEIC S&W.
While talking to this scribe, Bahria University Spokesperson Mehwish Kamran said that at ‘The News Education Expo 2015, they were getting a tremendous response from the students because the Bahria University is federally-chartered and HEC-recognised comprehensive and multi-campus university. It has highly qualified faculty, international linkages, financial assistance and scholarship programmes, modern infrastructure, conducive academic environment, successful alumni, on campus medical facility, and access to digital library. “The Bahria University offers need-based scholarships, merit scholarships, study loans-revolving funds, HEC need-based scholarships, Punjab Education Endowment Fund scholarships to undergraduates and advance merit scholarships to toppers.” She said that the Bahria University has 29 linkages and exchange programmes with foreign universities in USA, Canada, UK, Turkey, Australia, Bangladesh and Iran and internship programme in Malaysia. “Very soon, we are coming up with a FM channel and web channel to carry out announcements and new programmes,” she said.
Later in the evening, ‘The News Education Expo 2015’ concluded with distribution of plaques among all participating exhibitors by HEC Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed. He highly appreciated the good effort by the Jang Media Group which has provided students relevant information about their studies and career paths.
The Jang Media Group once again pledged to strive for the dissemination of education at every level with the same zeal every year. Senior General Manager Jang Group Syed Amjad Ali was present on the occasion. Awards were also given to the winners of debate and painting competitions.