Edufair Abu Dhabi 2026 advises families to match studies with evolving job market

Aligning education with future employability

Chirag Nanda, Managing Partner of Connect To World Consultancy, told attendees that a degree opens the door but cannot predict what lies beyond it, quoting: “A degree opens the door, but it cannot predict what is on the other side of the door,” said Nanda.

He added that understanding where a child fits in is essential, saying: “It’s all about seeing where the child fits in,” said Nanda.

Nanda explained that university choices should reflect evolving careers and curricula, incorporate practical learning and emotional development, and develop skills such as handling objections and managing expectations.

He stressed that future employability depends on demonstrable knowledge and experience, not merely a degree or résumé, and noted that updated curricula, group work and practical sessions help students adapt to new projects.

Guidance for students and parents

The fair, organised by Gulf News, brought students and parents face to face with universities and career experts to answer the question many families are asking: what should students do now?

It featured more than 20 universities, education providers, study‑abroad advisers and career‑service experts, giving attendees the chance to explore programmes, discuss admissions and seek advice on their next academic step.

Parents raised questions about how to prepare children for a future that is still undefined, to which Nanda responded that each student’s education path should mirror their interests, abilities and goals rather than parental expectations or peer pressure.

For those unsure of a career direction, he recommended learning what ‘a day in the life’ of any working person looks like, suggesting job shadowing—such as following a CEO—as an alternative to generic psychometric tests to help students see what they should work towards building for themselves.

He urged parents to lend their children the opportunity to understand their own journey, helping them realise what it took to reach where they are today.

Linking academia to workplace needs

Quoting Nanda, he said: “In today’s world, every student or every child is unique, and so has to be their educational journey.,” he said, using the example of a forest and its kingdom.

For participating institutions, the core of the fair has been the connection between academic programmes and the skills students will need in the workplace, and as students with diverse ambitions filled the venue, the fair provided a platform to ask questions and receive expert guidance.