Crisis hit countries scout local students

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

The International Education Fair will tour in seven spots around Turkey until Oct 13.

Universities from crisis-hit European countries are set to seek students from Turkey at a large fair in Istanbul, which will kick off on Oct. 1. The 22nd International Education Fairs of Turkey (IEFT) fairs will welcome 150 institutions from over 25 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Canada, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, China, France, Lithuania, Poland and many more.

The fairs are designed to introduce Turkish students and their families to the different educational opportunities and scholarships offered by the different educational institutions in attendance. The first fair will take place on Oct. 1 in the northwestern province of Bursa, before continuing in seven different Turkish provinces until Oct. 13.

Greece, still mired in its economic crisis, is particularly keen on attracting Turkish students to the International Hellenic University and The American College of Greece, both of which offer English language education.

The United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France and Australia have been the main destinations of international students in the past. This still holds true, though more and more students are looking toward Asia and the Middle East for their education abroad. Several hundred thousand students have begun studying in these lesser-known countries, a number which will surely continue in its growth.