New Zealand’s first-ever virtual careers expo, hosted by Media Design School, will run on June 18 and June 19.

Major career expos, which attract thousands of students, parents and career advisors each year, were set to run across the country however have been either canceled or postponed. As a result, a virtual careers expo showcasing over 40 institutes will run online.

Designed to offer the same experience as a physical expo, the virtual platform will include scheduled presentations, 20-minute webinar sessions, and live Q&A’s.

Attendees will also experience a virtual ‘exhibition hall’, where they will be able to browse through the participating providers and visit virtual stands.

Media Design School country director, Ruth Cooper, says the expo was created as this year’s school leavers will experience a significant gap in information due to cancellation and delays.

“Normally, the students would attend an expo and be presented with the majority of New Zealand’s higher education institutions exhibiting. The students would walk around, guided by their interests, engaging with providers and having constructive conversations about their futures.

“But now, we will have a platform that allows those interactions to take place online. Not just that, it will have a national focus, offering a more diverse range of options than they would perhaps encounter at a regional expo.”

Last month, the same concept occurred in Australia which attracted more than 20,000 registrations from across the country. Cooper says students and parents attending the virtual expo will have rich experiences exploring the campuses online.

“They will be able to interact and view video content. They will get a real feel for the institutions and their programme offerings, just as they would be able to do in a physical expo.

The ability to assess career options, moving seamlessly from institution to institution in a single space, cannot be underestimated.”

Media Design School’s director of industry, innovation, and employability, Himanshu Khanna, says providers believe the virtual adaption of the event could be used in the future.

“This is the new normal. Covid-19 has been a major upheavel for educators, but its driven amazing innovation and agility too,” says Khana.

“Around the world, many students are engaging in virtual learning experiences for the very first time. It’s only fitting that the tools for making these crucial decisions be accessible online as well.”

A list of participating institutions is available on the Virtual Careers Expo landing page: