Education fairs promote responsibility in decision-making and encourage information-
based choice of educational and career-related tracks. Specialists consider that one of the
most important steps in career counselling is information, a basic requirement of the
knowledge society we live in (Plant, 2001). Knowledge is the key to personal and
professional success. Only if informed can one make efficient decisions, in accordance
with one’s own potential, and social and economic demands.
The quality of information, counselling and guidance service in schools is especially
given by the easy access to information. For example, on issues such as: the educational
system, available places in schools and universities, situation of optional courses, average
admission grades to high schools and universities, demand and offer for certain
professions on the labour market, history of educational institutions, educational projects,
situation of the most sought-for professions, educational packages, practical aspects of
certain professions, etc. (Jigău, 2003).
In counselling and guidance services, the main objective is to develop independence,
responsibility and autonomy as regards career planning and decision-making. Thus,
information on the self, the others, educational offers, occupations, the labour market,
problem-solving, successful business sectors, personal marketing, and career success is
absolutely necessary, alongside abilities.
Information on career and self-knowledge represents the configuration of the core aspects
in career choice and management. In education fairs, participants find out career-related
information, but what also counts are the interests, values, abilities, personal attitudes, the
expectations of significant people (parents, friends, role models, etc.), family traditions
(B ăban, 2001).
Education fairs are an extremely valuable and rich source of information regarding
educational and career-related programmes offered at a given time, in a certain
community, so that pupils and students may make good decisions in full awareness of the
circumstances.
“Using information in decision-making presupposes a succession of processes: reception,
decoding, interpretation, appreciation of consistency, usefulness, risks, costs and
importance of the data to the self” (Jigău, 2003). From this perspective, and education fair
should adapt its offer so as not to be merely a list of facts, “museum-like”, but to be
attractive, interactive, meet various personal characteristics, learning styles, educational
and professional interests.
Throughout the years, education fairs have become popular, more useful and awaited for,
as a safe way of obtaining information, investing in one’s own education and training. A
constantly changing educational and employment market requires pupils and students to
seek, get involved, update information in order to adapt their own profile to the academic
and professional requirements, be successful in school and in career.