UAE education ministry signs three-year MOU as GESS supporter

Virginia Kern, Chairman of Fairs & Exhibitions and Mohammed Juma Bin Hindi, Under-secretary of the UAE Ministry of Education signed the agreement in the presence of the ministry's Director for Policy and Planning Department, Dr. Abdalla Al Amiri.

To be held from 22nd - 24th January 2008 at Dubai's Madinat Jumeirah, GESS will bring the latest international education products and methodologies to local and regional education professionals as the Gulf's education sector undergoes substantial re-engineering. The Ministry will also certify all education professionals attending the GESS futuristic conferences, workshops and seminars.

"Developing a strong educational infrastructure in the UAE and laying the foundations for regional centres of learning excellence is key to ensuring sustained development of our future generations," said His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali, UAE Minister of Education.

"The UAE is setting an example to the rest of the region and the world with visionary global initiatives, including the 'Dubai Cares' initiative recently launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which aims to raise funds to educate a million children in poverty-struck countries. Additionally the Government of the UAE is investing billions of Dirhams in developing education for the UAE national population.

Speaking at the signing, Bin Hindi said, "Education is paramount to national growth and development and by officially supporting GESS we are clearly demonstrating our determination to lift professional boundaries. In F&E, which has a strong track record in developing world-class industry events, we have the right partner to assist in delivering the vision."

F&E, the name behind some the region's most successful events such as the Dubai Airshow, has planned a comprehensive exhibition and conference programme for GESS bringing together some of the best international minds and leading academic innovators

"This Ministerial support is invaluable in positioning GESS as the key forum for airing and debating the challenges facing education within the GCC," said Virginia Kern, Chairman of F&E.

"We are working in tandem with the Ministry to deliver an event of international standards with content tailored to the specific needs of local and regional education sector professionals.

"GESS will be an open forum to enable regional governments and educational institutions ensure their populations have access to the world's best education resources, technologies and facilities."

Consultants and advisors will also be on hand at GESS to advise and assist schools on budget management, planning and training.

Planned GESS session topics include: delivering school improvement through effective use of management information; the UAE perspective on special educational needs; the UK's perspective on special educational needs and disability; EPICT licence - essential training and certification for today's teachers; Web 2.0 for the 21st century school; innovative approaches to early mathematics education; creating a positive playground through games and activities; interactive high school/secondary science, as well as integrating brain-based learning in the primary classroom.

GESS has already received a tremendous response from the global education sector with the large groups from the UK and Germany already confirmed. The British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA), which boasts over 260 members and UK Trade and Investment Support, World Didac, the global trade association for the education industry and the DDV - The German Educational Supplies Association assisted by support from AUMA - the Association of the German Trade Fair industry -have all pledged support and have long-term agreements in place to work with F&E to grow and develop both GESS and the Global Education Forum in the coming years. More than 150 exhibitors from 20 countries will participate in the event.