Altitude in the Millbank Tower, London, was the setting for a highly successful launch party for BETT Middle East, prepared by organisers, Emap Connect, on Thursday 22 July. Many of the world leading names in educational technology and key industry media were in attendance at the launch to discuss the features of the upcoming inaugural show on 21-22 November.
Endorsed by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) and co-located with Building Future Education – MENA, BETT Middle East builds on BETT's reputation as the leading global event for educational technology and solutions. The event will feature over 200 exhibitors showcasing a world of innovative educational ICT solutions, along with two conference theatres featuring thought-provoking seminars. With more than 50 million students in the Middle East, the 90,000 schools which cater for them are looking for the newest and most innovative educational technology products to enhance their teaching and learning.
Key attendees include Government officials, such as Ministers of Education from across UAE, GCC and the wider Middle East and North Africa region. Also in attendance will be educationalists from Primary and Secondary Schools, Further Education and Higher Education, including Head and Deputy Teachers, practitioners, bursars and ICT co-ordinators.
ADEC and Emap Connect are working together to ensure that all supporting companies adopt the best practices employed by the outstanding exhibitors at the London event, namely giving educational practitioners the opportunity to experience the latest solutions first-hand. Visitors can expect myriad opportunities to engage with education technologies and evaluate their usefulness. The central feature, in association with the world-renowned Professor Stephen Heppell, will be interactive, allowing visitors the opportunity to engage with learners using ICT solutions in a real learning environment.
Paul Dunne, managing director, Emap Connect, explains; "The success of the BETT Middle East launch party has paved the way for allowing exhibitors and visitors to benefit from the winning format of BETT in the heart of this ever expanding region. We are anticipating that the first year of bringing the BETT experience to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre will be a huge success."
Mohammed Younes, division manager, information & communication technology, Abu Dhabi Education Council, says: "The launch of BETT Middle East in Abu Dhabi will provide a great platform for ADEC and the entire education sector and its partners to showcase new technology and initiatives being implemented across schools in the Middle East. Importantly, it will be a unique learning environment through which we can all learn about technological developments and the benefits that we, and especially our students, can gain from applying these in our schools."
