Getex Dubai 2009 achieves milestone with over 30,000 learners, academics and education professionals attending

The event successfully hosted the HRD & Training Forum 2009, and the 2009 Global Forum on Innovation and Technology in Teaching and Leading, gathering representatives from top academic, training and business organisations across the region and around the world.

International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), organisers of the event, have confirmed that next year's event will be further expanded and enhanced to build on the success of the speciality forums, seminars, and workshops that were introduced during Getex Dubai 2009.

"The excellent turnout reflects the focus on education at the moment, as people recognise that a higher education qualification is a huge career advantage, especially during periods of economic crisis," said Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, IC&E.

"Many of the world's top schools and universities participated as exhibitors at Getex Dubai this year, which indicates that the UAE is truly becoming a Middle East education hub," he added.

Getex Dubai 2009 featured the segments of Student Recruitment, HRD & Training, and Education Equipment and Technology 2009; the show offered a diverse line-up of concurrent conferences and seminars that focused on key issues that impact the quality of education such as technology, training, and academic strategies.

The 2009 Global Forum on Innovation and Technology in Teaching and Leading gathered close to 150 delegates who participated in interactive discussions about new technology and innovations in education. Experts from prominent international academic institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and leading Middle Eastern practitioners facilitated the discussions.

The HRD & Training Forum 2009 featured international HR professionals, training managers and providers from the UAE, UK, The Netherlands, South Africa and other parts of the world, who served as keynote speakers about various effective HR strategies to cope with the economic downturn. Over 75 delegates representing a diverse range of sectors attended the event. Getex Dubai 2009 likewise facilitated a large number of recruitment and education placement activities involving premier academic institutions from all over the world.

Exhibiting at the event, Christian Wars, Director of Marketing, Al Ghurair University, said, "With a pleasant mix of students, parents and working professionals, Getex Dubai has proven once again that it is the most important education event in the Gulf region. Given the difficult economic conditions, we are positively surprised about the feedback of the public."

Brian Bedford, Marketing Director, Canadian University in Dubai said, "In the current economic environment, promoting education is more important than ever. Events such as Getex help open the doors to students wishing to find out what is available to them academically."

Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Getex Dubai is a platform for education-oriented companies and institutions to present their academic and career-enhancing training programmes, education technologies, scholarships and consultancy services for students, parents, educators, professionals, corporate representatives and others who have a stake in the education sector.