Education Show to begin at Expo Centre Sharjah on October 30

The event, organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the UAE Ministry of Education and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), is considered as one of UAE's most comprehensive platform that showcases a range of opportunities in higher education from both within and outside the country.

The coming edition of the show will feature universities, colleges, institutes of higher learning, computer schools, business schools, technical institutes, management training centres, language centres, aviation centres, and book suppliers among others.

Among the countries from which a majority of the universities and educational institutes will be participating in the Show are Australia, India, Britain, and Switzerland.

UAE-based universities and educational institutes too will have a significant presence. The participation of UAE University, Sheikh Zayed University, Al Ghurair University, American University of Sharjah, University of Sharjah, and University of Dubai, is expected to be a major attraction for students keen to pursue education within the country.

Besides offering a choice of a wide range of regular higher degree and skill enhancement courses, both in the UAE and abroad, the coming edition of the Education Show will provide visitors with several other benefits.

These include direct access and opportunity for face-to-face interaction with representatives/counsellors from participating institutes, presence of trained counsellors for helping students and parents select the right course and institute, spot addmission for eligible students at select institutes, complete information and guidance on eligibility criteria/course information/fee structures/job prospects/visa formalities at the venue/campus environment, and a wide variety of educational as well as leisure and entertainment books for children.

'The hosting of the Education show at a time when the GCC states are striving to substantially increase admission rates to institutions of higher education, assumes special significance,' said Mr. Saif Al Midfa, Director General, Expo Centre Sharjah.

'Within the UAE, the factors that have to a large extent contributed towards the current spotlight on higher education, include increased government spending on the education sector as a result of high oil revenues, decreasing student attrition rate or drop out rate, emphasis on the Emiratisation drive, and a growing affluent expatriate population,'

he added.

Mr. Saif Al Midfa further said that the Education Show, in accordance with the growing demand for higher education opportunities within the region in general and the country in particular, will ensure an imposing presence of a large number of reputed institutes of higher learning from across the globe.

In 2005, the GCC governments spent an approximate USD $ 26 billion on education. On the forefront of this was the UAE, which increased its budgetary allocation for education from 17.08 per cent in 2004 to 17.20 per cent in 2005.

The country invested US$ 1.11 billion into education out of its US$ 6.5 billion annual budget during 2004. This rose proportionately in 2005, with the UAE spending US $ 1.07 billion from its reduced US $ 6.22 billion annual budget.

Currently, more than 10,000 pupils graduate from UAE Schools every year with a large number of them pursuing tertiary education.

Despite the presence of several quality institutes and universities within the UAE, a huge majority of the school leavers in the country opt for educational institutes abroad. Some of the favorite destinations for students in the UAE are Australia, Canada, UK, USA, Malaysia, France, Switzerland, New Zealand, and India.

'The Education Show will be an effective search channel not only for fresh school-leavers and undergraduates seeking quality higher education but also for working professionals and executives who wish to pursue higher education at home or abroad,' said Mr. Saif Al Midfa.

'The event will also be an excellent opportunity for local educational institutions and agencies who are interested in exploring possibilities of tie-ups and franchisee operations with their foreign counterparts,' he added.

Those who would be visiting the coming edition of the Education Show are students, parents, student counselors, higher education policy makers, researchers, teachers, working professionals and executives, officials from local universities and agencies.

The last edition of the Education show, which was held from March 6 - 11, 2005, attracted a total of 13,132 visitors.