IDP Education Australia, representing over 180 Australian institutions is organising "Australian Education Exhibition 99" in Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Calcutta in April.

More than 30 Australian institutions will be participating in this exhibition. At the exhibition students and parents will be able to meet international office representatives as well as faculty members from a wide group of institutions and disciplines.

Some of the major areas in which information is available are on marketing and business, computer and software technology, media studies, architecture and construction, fine arts and performing arts, engineering, humanities, graphic design, hospitality and aviation.

The exhibition programme will be held at New Delhi on April 18, Chandigarh on April 20, Mumbai on April 22, Bangalore on April 24, Chennai on April 26 and Calcutta on April 28.

Make a dignified exit

``After taking night courses in businessand finance over the last three years, I have moved from office support to management and now work at an entertainment services company. My resume shows that I'm not one to hop from place to place, yet after just four months at my new employer, I'm deeply unhappy and want to move on. How do I explain my desire to leave so soon?''.

This query was featured in a recent edition of New York Times.

This was the answer: ``Don't torture yourself over one bad decision. And don't bother trying to concoct a complicated cover story for why you want to flee after such a short time. It's time to face your mistake, admit it and move on. ``Just tell your employer that you were mistaken as to what being in the job would be like and that you now see that it's not a good fit for your talents.''

This advise came from Edward Emde, chief executive of Blessing/White, a consulting firm in Princeton, N.J.

Take responsibility for your mistake, agreed Marti D. Smye, author of Is It Too Late to Run Away and Join theCircus? (Macmillan, 1998). Often people blame the organisation, instead of saying ``I didn't do a good assessment for myself,'' she observed.

No matter how miserable you are, don't just drop your two weeks' notice on the boss's desk. Express your regret over any problems your departure may cause and offer to stay long enough to help find a replacement, Smye advised. Promise to make your successor's transition as painless as possible. ``How you leave is more important than staying in a job you don't like,'' she said.

Of course, before breaking the news to your employer, you should determine exactly what the problem is. Do you hate the bureaucratic nature of the company? Or its unstructured work style? Or do you dislike being in charge? Your boss will want to know why you are leaving, and you should be prepared to offer a more thoughtful explanation than simply, ``I'm unhappy.''

More universities are battling to attract foreign students

Of the 16 countries that attended the 11th GulfEducation and Training Exhibition, the US and the UK were still the most popular. But they are being challenged by France, Australia and Canada, reports Gulf News.

The UK was the largest exhibitor at the World Trade Centre's four-day education expo with more than 70 universities, advanced education colleges, boarding and language schools--42 of them with the direct support of the department of trade and industry. Thirty-five US universities are represented. These two countries attract the majority of middle eastern students who study abroad, but the competition from other countries has intensified in recent years.

Linda Pearson, information service manager with the British Council, said a greater range of options was now available for those looking to bolster their educational qualifications abroad. ``Countries like Australia and Canada are now a serious alternative for overseas students, as is eastern Europe,'' she said.

France, which is well represented, is making its debut at the exhibition.Other countries among the 200 exhibitors include Russia, Cyprus, Switzerland and Ireland. While many newcomers emphasise affordability as their lure, Pearson said the UK focused on quality and Britain's social infrastructure to differentiate itself from other countries, particularly the US.

``We point out that the UK is closer to the Middle East, is a safer country in which to live and generally offers a comparable university degree in three years rather than four, meaning the cost of living abroad is less.'' The benefits of attracting foreign students extends beyond the purely economic matters of fees and tuition, according to British Tourist Authority marketing executive Mohammed Mansoor.

``Students usually develop an affinity with the country where they studied and are likely to return in later years as tourists. They can also become an ambassador of sorts, telling their friends and relatives about the country they studied in,'' he said.