The Isle of Man's annual Higher Education Conference will celebrate its Silver Jubilee this year.
The event, which first began in 1986, is now in its 25th year and will be held at Ballakermeen High School on June 23 and 24.
It was started to ensure that all students in the Isle of Man were not disadvantaged by a lack of information when making important choices about universities.
Representatives from 69 universities will attend the conference including the University of Liverpool, University College London and the University of West London. Other higher education institutions have also been invited including the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Sparsholt College Hampshire and the Centre for Manx Studies.
Adrienne Burnett, the headteacher at Ballakermeen High School, said: "The conference has grown in strength partly as a result of contacts we have established with the colleges and universities. The main reason however is word of mouth as delegates pass on the benefits of coming to the Isle of Man conference to their colleagues.
"It is not just the hospitality that attracts them. They see the Island's students as excellent candidates for admission. They are particularly impressed by how articulate they are, the clarity of their questions and how they have already carried out a substantial amount of research into their future options.
"As well as advice from individual institutions we offer general advice during the introductory talks. Other bodies attending include theological colleges and Christian gap year opportunities, student awards and the careers service. Also attending will be Study Options which is a firm endorsed by the Department of Education and Children for organising gap year experiences in Australia and New Zealand.
"I would consider the conference to be a 'one-stop-shop' to meet all the needs of an aspiring higher education student and one not to be missed."
Ian Kay, head of sixth form at Ballakermeen High School, said: "This is an excellent opportunity for parents and students to find out about courses, requirements and the style of the different institutions of higher education.
"It is also pleasing to note the increased number of opportunities available for higher education on the Isle of Man. Representatives from the Isle of Man University Centre, which offers undergraduate degree programmes at both the Isle of Man College and International Business School sites, will be available to speak to students at the event.
"Additionally there will also be a stand representing the Department of Health and Social Security nurse training programme at Keyll Darree, which has been offering a nursing degree programme on Island, in association with the University of Chester, for the last three years."
The Higher Education Conference takes place at Ballakermeen High School on Thursday, June 23 and Friday, June 24.
Opening the conference on Thursday will be Jane Murphy from the University of Huddersfield and Andrea Bourne from the University of York. They will be addressing parents and students about the application process for higher education.
Following this briefing parents and students will be able to talk individually to the representatives from each university and higher education institution.
The Thursday night session is open to students from year 10 upwards and their parents. During the day on Friday, June 24, all of the post-16 students from the Island's schools will be attending as will students from the Isle of Man College.
Members of the public interested in applying to university as mature students or recent A-level students who chose not to attend university after their examinations are all welcome to attend either session.
For more information please contact assistant headteacher Paul Kane by telephoning 01624 648714 or by e-mail p.kane@bhs.sch.im
