Building Schools Exhibition and Conference to cover issues in design, construction and management of schools, universities and colleges

Endorsed by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), BSEC Mena is the only conference and exhibition bringing together public and private sectors that are driving forward education projects across the Mena region.

Governments across the Middle East and North Africa region are investing extensively in education and the need for new schools, colleges and universities is globally recognised. Extensive investment is being directed from governments from the UAE, Bahrain and Jordan for new schools and investment in education, which is seen as a key component in the drive for nationalization of the work force in the GCC in particular. Saudi Arabia alone has allocated SR9bn for a new general education development project.

"BSEC has been running in the UK since 2004 and has established itself as a must-attend event. It has proved instrumental in terms of bringing together interested parties connected with school building from both the bidder and the client side, creating invaluable opportunities for sharing ideas and information. We see even greater opportunities for BSEC in the Middle Eastern region particularly here in the UAE," said Andrew Pert, BSEC Mena event director.

For the first time BSEC Mena offers the UAE access to this unique forum. The exhibition encompasses two days of networking and a comprehensive conference programme covering the full spectrum of issues which has been developed in conjunction with industry experts to reflect the most important issues facing the education sector.

Each session has been carefully constructed to ensure that the entire programme reflects the needs of those within the industry. Delegates have the opportunity in the afternoon sessions to select from a variety of themes including, Design, ICT and e-learning, sustainability and master planning and place-making. Conference sessions include:

• ADEC's vision to adopt world class practices and standards
• The King Abdullah Tatweer project
• The vision behind Estidama
• Using technology to prepare for tomorrow's world
• Flexible foundations: building schools with a future
• The elements of a first class curriculum and qualifications structure
• The advantage of private sector innovation in education
• International examples: examples of best practice from around the world
• The need to foster world class students

We are privileged to have the support from so many industry experts, whose knowledge and experience is unparalleled within the education industry. Speakers include:

• H.E. Dr. Mugheer Al-Khaili, director general, Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC)
• Dr Ali Alhakami, project director, the King Abdullah, Tatweer project, Saudi Arabia
• Ms Danah Dajani, director of the "Madrasati" initiative, Jordan
• Dr Tayeb Kamali, vice chancellor The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), UAE
• Slawomir Klos, e-Education project manager, ictQatar
• Kim E Al-Sahhaf, head of education sector, (SAGIA)
• Omar Najjar, education director, Emaar Economic City (EEC), Saudi Arabia
• Professor Dr Hossam Badrawi, MD, MP, Egypt
• Geoff Hancock, director of education reform, Bahrain Economic Development Board
• Nadia Touba, director of English studies, the American University in Cairo

BSEC Mena combines this high level conference with a free exhibition, which will host key exhibiting companies from across the Mena region enabling delegates to network with the entire supply and delivery chain. Exhibiting companies include; ADEC, Abu Dhabi Planning Council, Bond Bryn, Davis Langdon, Emirates Green Building Council, Lookred Solutions and Partnerships for Schools.