The Gulf Education and Training Exhibition goes global

The show is set to travel to the Subcontinent and the Far East in 2005 & 2006. According to Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conference & Exhibitions (IC&E), the organisers of GETEX, the new ventures are in line with the international expansion plans which will see the show travelling to all major global regions.

"Education, along with health, international peace and economic stability, is today one of the most important concerns of world leaders," says Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, IC&E. "The younger generations are growing up in a world where success is sought in the highly competitive international markets. Both the education industry and the current generation of parents are gearing up to meet this new reality."

"This trend is illustrated by institutions like the Ireland-based Royal College of Surgeons venturing out with new campuses and educational tie-ups with regional institutions in the Middle East; and the University of Wollongong establishing campuses in numerous cities across the globe. It becomes imperative, then, that students, guardians and student counsellors have access to well-articulated resources detailing international education options. The Gulf Education and Training has successfully provided such a resource for 16 years in the Middle East," says Godinho. "During this span, we have registered strong demand from both the exhibitors and international visitors that we take the show to more destinations around the world. The 2005/2006 debut of shows in the Far East and the Subcontinent are in response to this demand."

In its international debut, GETEX will travel to cities in India. GETEX India will be held from 26 to 28 February 2005 in the country's southern IT hub of Bangalore; and from 3 to 5 March 2005 in Hyderabad. Both the locations have been chosen bearing in mind the very strong local higher education sector and a large population seeking the best in international higher education. The two cities also offer easy access and excellent accommodation options to visitors from Sri Lanka and the Maldives, as well as the neighbouring Indian states and the Subcontinent as a whole.

IC&E have already started booking exhibition space for the Indian shows for number of regular European exhibitors at GETEX Dubai. Interest from local institutions in the two countries is also said to be high.

Meanwhile, IC&E are also in the process of identifying the ideal destination in the Far East to host the show. According to Godinho, the show is expected to travel to the chosen Far Eastern destination in 2006. The success of GETEX' international forays in 2005 will determine the further expansion of the show destinations to other regions of the world.

"We are very confident of the success of both the new shows. We have the experience to deliver quality exhibitions and we have carried out detailed market research before venturing into these regions. However, the most important factor contributing to the success will be the fact that these regions already have a considerable outflow of students to international institutions. This trend is growing rapidly due to the visible corporate success of those who have graduated from specialised colleges around the world. GETEX will provide the necessary information to improve this success ratio," says Godinho.