In excess of 27,000 students, teachers and parents are expected to attend The Irish TimesHigher Options Conference which opened to the public at the RDS in Dublin yesterday.
Now in its 22nd year, it is one of the largest events of its kind in these islands. This year, the conference has attracted almost 200 exhibitors from the Republic, Northern Ireland, Britain and other EU states.
Participants include universities, colleges of further and higher education, agricultural colleges, art colleges, institutes of technology, nursing and paramedical schools, along with year-out organisations, and professional and central admissions bodies such as the Central Applications Office (CAO) and its British equivalent, UCAS.
The conference is regarded as the best forum for third-level choice for Irish students.
It also has the official sanction of the Department of Education and Science.
In a new move, it will remain open later this evening to accommodate the increasing numbers of mature students and parents who have expressed an interest in attending.
The three-day event is open from 9am to 3pm today and additionally from 5.30pm to 8.30pm this evening. It ends at 2pm tomorrow.
The conference features daily lectures on a diverse range of topics including:
Options within Irish and UK third-level education;
CAO and UCAS admissions systems;
Alternative routes to third level through further education;
Career opportunities for those with an arts degree.
Separate talks will cover careers in art and design, information technology, aeronautics and the airline industry, engineering and law.
There will also be a focus on business and finance, multimedia and sound engineering, social services, journalism, communications and the hospitality industry.
