The 10th Education Consultancy Association (ECAN) Education Fair kicked off in the Capital on Friday.

The four-day event, underway at Exhibition Hall in Bhrikutimandap, was inaugurated by Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Anand Pokharel.

Representatives from 70 foreign academic institutions and several local education consultancies are participating in this year’s fair to help students find best colleges around the world and advise them how to apply to the college of their choice. ECAN has set up 225 stalls and 17, each representing a team of educational consultants from various colleges.

Students can take advantage of the fair to collect information about the education system, college tuition, scholarship opportunities and visa policies for colleges in countries like India, Bangladesh, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the US and the UK.

In his inauguration speech, Minister Pokharel said ECAN should also look to it that the students who go abroad for studies return so that the country could benefit from their knowledge and expertise. Education Secretary Bishwo Prakash Pandit sought the support of ECAN to make the education consultancy sector more systematic.

There are around 1,500 education consultancies in the country; only 350 of them are ECAN affiliated.

ECAN President Prakash Pandey said the ECAN fair is the best platform for students to gather the latest information about different education opportunities available around the world.