UAE's biggest-ever UK education exhibition in December

This year's exhibition includes 55 institutions from the UK, a 45 per cent increase in the number of universities and colleges participating compared to 2003. Participating universities, colleges and schools will offer everything from academic and vocational programmes to summer English language courses and A levels.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to find out more about studying and living in the UK. Entrance to the exhibition is free of charge and visitors can speed up the entry process by registering online beforehand at www.britishcouncil.org/uae and also be entered into a prize draw.

Edukex 2004 programme

December 12-13:
5pm - 9pm, Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Towers

December 14-15:
5pm - 9pm, Conference Center, Knowledge Village

Participating instutions range from the UK's largest university, after a recent merger - the University of Manchester - which has 36,000 students and 9,000 staff, to the Box Hill School which has just 350 pupils. Aston University, which has just unveiled its new, GBP10 million Aston Academy of Life Sciences, will be exhibiting alongside the Independent Schools Council Information Service International - the official international placement, consultancy and advisory service for the 1300 members of the independent schools council in the UK.

Several institutions are favorite study destinations for students from the UAE. Plymouth College of Further Education has welcomed over 100 students from the UAE in the last seven years, and the University of Sheffield currently has 28 students from the UAE on courses. The University of Brighton offers scholarships especially for students from the UAE. The three UK universities (Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester) linked to the British University in Dubai are all represented at Edukex. Liverpool John Moores University partners with Al Khawarizmi institute in Abu Dhabi and also ADNOC in Abu Dhabi and offers a unique programme for the gulf region: MSc of water, energy and the environment.

Stephanie Evans, UAE Education Promotion Manager at the British Council, highlighted the quality and diversity of the educational opportunities on offer in the UK: 'The institutions participating in this year's Edukex exhibition represent the breadth and depth of the educational opportunities available to international students in the UK. They also represent both the strong traditions and the innovation that you find in UK education today - from new universities to long established schools. The common element is the quality of the education on offer.

'We have some of the UK's leading reasearch universities present at Edukex and there are literally thousands of courses to choose from - vocational and academic - offered by institutions with close working relationships with industry and the commercial world. We also have 21 institutions participating in Edukex for the first time, which is a sign of the increasing interest being shown in the region by UK institutions, generally.

'As Edukex continues to grow and offer so much choice, it is becoming more of a challenge for parents and students to find their way around easily. The British Council is placing a lot of emphasis on helping visitors prepare for their visit, so that they can use their time effectively and find what they are looking for quickly.'

Education, career and culture remain the most important drivers encouraging overseas study, and most students will select a course and institution that meets these goals. Edukex is a great opportunity for students to test the participating institutions against their personal selection criteria.

As well as presenting their institutions and programmes, many of the participants are offering scholarships to international students. 'The increasing availability of scholarship support is a sign of the commitment to creating accessibility to UK educational opportunities amongst our institutions. This commitment is also reflected in other programmes, such as the British Government's Chevening and Thesiger scholarships, offered to UAE Nationals to undertake post-graduate studies in the UK,' added Ms. Evans.