The 18th edition of the Middle East’s leading education fair, Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (GETEX Dubai 2006), drew to a close on Friday, April 14 at the Dubai International Exhibition Center drawing a record of more than 29,000 visitors during the three-day event.
Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, IC&E, organisers of GETEX Dubai 2006 said: “This year’s response has been most encouraging and has surpassed our expectations, especially for the learning technologies showcased at the event. This proves yet again, the crucial role GETEX plays in the evolving education and training sectors in the Middle East. While fulfilling its traditional role of helping students choose the most appropriate avenues of higher studies, GETEX has also facilitated interaction between international manufacturers and suppliers and the regional education and training sectors.”
One of the world’s oldest universities and the Gulf region’s first French institution of higher education, the co-educational Paris-Sorbonne University-Abu Dhabi promoted its specialised Humanities courses and intensive French language at GETEX. It announced the commencement of classes in a temporary location from October 2006 and the opening of its spacious new Abu Dhabi campus during the academic year 2007-2008. The new university will confer the Paris-Sorbonne University’s prestigious Bachelor’s Degree that is recognised and coveted in France, the EU and across the world.
The Dubai-based Institute for Cultural and Scientific Studies (ICSS) signed an agreement with Dubai Police during GETEX Dubai 2006, to conduct eight-month long in-house training in Certified Management Accountant & Certified Financial Manager courses for senior police personnel. This is the first time a government organisation in Dubai is training its staff for this internationally recognised certificate. The first batch will comprise 17 police managers including colonels and generals, followed by the next batch of 35 policemen, who will begin the course later this year.
GETEX also hosted one of India’s leading management schools, the Institute of Management Technology, which announced the opening of a branch at Dubai Knowledge Village with an initial intake capacity of 180 students, where three MBA courses would be conducted beginning from next September.
Also at GETEX, Symbiosis announced tie-ups with Dubai-based New Medical Centre and the Etisalat Academy, for holding short-duration workshops on health and human resource training, respectively. It also promoted the undergraduate, part-time, short-term training and exchange programmes it plans to offer through its partnership with the UAE Higher Colleges of Technology and the Centre of Excellence in Research and Training. Symbiosis confirmed a high number of admissions and facilitated admission procedures during the event.
Aston University’s top-ranked Business School showcased its distance learning Executive MBA programme for private and public sector professionals. “GETEX helped us gain an insight into the educational requirements of people in the Gulf region. The fair allowed us to meet students from a wide range of ages, cultures and experiences, assist them in their search for further education, and make them aware of the vast range of academic disciplines our University offers. This year’s event was particularly notable for the excellent quality of student visitors, who came prepared with the right amount of pre-interview secondary school academic records and information; and made incisive enquiries about admission requirements and procedures,” said Simon Hall, International Officer, Aston University.
Dubai-based ScorePlus launched the inlingua International Language School, a leading education brand during GETEX Dubai 2006, and promoted its proposed new centres in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE, in Muscat, Oman, Kuwait and in Cairo. The Dubai-based Gulf Research Centre unveiled its unique two-year master’s degree programme in distance learning, titled International Relations Online, that it will offer students and mid-level professionals from November in partnership with the Free University of Berlin.
For the Learning Technologies and Didactic Materials manufacturers and suppliers, the Trade Fair segment of the exhibition proved to be an excellent networking forum for the purpose of lead generation as well as conducting actual business. Promethean Technologies Group from the UK, one of the 75 exhibitors participating in the trade segment of the fair, launched its award-winning Activprimary 2.5 teaching software in Arabic. “The Technology and Equipment segment was very good, featuring a lot of diverse products. Visitors to our stand were keenly interested in the classroom solutions we offer. We also received several useful leads that we expect to generate good business from the Middle East,” Annette Brown, Event Coordinator, Promethean, said.
Kishore Kini of Al Moe, Dubai said: “The Technology and Equipment segment was a very innovative feature of GETEX. Many visitors showed interest in our educational products and we also discussed some deals with prospective clients.” Similarly, CSM Didactique, the representative organisation for French manufacturers of pedagogical tools, showcased advanced technology products and made contacts with regional distributors through its booth at GETEX.
Qatar, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, USA and China also had a significant presence at GETEX Dubai this year, which assembled 562 exhibitors from 41 countries, showcasing a large variety of educational programmes, services and products for students and professionals, managements, suppliers and others involved in the regional education industry.
Editor’s Note:
The Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (GETEX) is the largest education fair in the Middle East region. Organised by International Conferences & Exhibitions (IC&E), GETEX is held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Education and enjoys the support of Dubai Knowledge Village, the region’s biggest ensemble of institutes of higher education, and the British Council in Dubai.
In the 18th successive year of showing, GETEX is providing a forum to educational and training institutes from almost every region of the world. The 17th GETEX, held in April 2005 in Dubai, attracted 438 institutions from 38 countries and an audience of over 27,000 students, parents, teachers and education professionals.
For more information on the Equipment, Technology, Services and Supply segment at GETEX Dubai 2006, please visit www.edu-supply.net. For more information on the Student Recruitment segment at GETEX Dubai 2006, please visit www.mygetex.com.
