Is it not possible that the likes of Nick Hayter et al have been invited to address students rather than going out to recruit people?
I think that A+C is right the frustration of somebody who in late August was only weeks away from the left seat and is now months possibly years away must be huge, although it is surely matched by those who had recently acheived a command and now find themselves back as First Officers. We must not forget those who had just completed type ratings and now find themselves out of work again.
All of the above dosnt mean that people will not commence training and the schools are working to attract all these people to train with them, if by inviting airlines to address the students they appear to be doing all they can to support students in the search for employment they may just persuade those undecided prospective students to train with them and not with the opposition.
It also possible that these talks were all arranged some time prior to the date they occured and it was thought best not to cancell them. Who knows for sure?