Dubai International Academic City to co-host region's first 'QS in conversation' event

London-based QS Education Trust is a not-for-profit arm of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the provider of the annual QS World University Rankings and other successful conferences.

The event titled 'QS in conversation' follows on from the success of the QS-MAPLE event in 2011 and will be held at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers on 18 September. Representatives from top-tier global universities and decision makers from the Ministries of Higher Education in the region will attend the seminar.

The initiative will also draw the participation of rectors, vice-rectors and thought leaders involved in the globalisation process of home-grown universities.

Addressing Middle East countries' special circumstances, global experts headlining the event will present vital information about rankings and allied forms of evaluation in the global context, and their impact on institutions and students. They will also advise on branding, marketing, online communications and innovative solutions for achieving global recognition.

Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director, Tecom Investments' Education Cluster, said, "Our partnership with QS recognises the importance of addressing issues linked to the internationalisation of higher education in the Middle East. With increasing globalisation, the internationalisation of education offers both opportunities and challenges. We are confident the first of its kind event in the region will offer the preliminary blueprint for initiating the process."

Mandy Mok, Managing Director, QS Quacquarelli Symonds for Asia, Middle East and Africa, said, "Well-known for its expertise in organising successful conferences and seminars such as QS-MAPLE, QS-APPLE and QS WorldClass, QS is proud to initiate a first of its kind conversation in the Middle East. We aim to bring the same renowned expertise to put together 'QS in conversation'."

"The event provides Middle East universities with a valuable and unique opportunity to learn and network among themselves and the rest of the world. We are bringing a wide variety of international universities to the Middle East and universities in this region should not miss this convenient opportunity to attend this seminar that is taking place right at their doorstep," added Mok.

Sessions at the event will cover current developments and future trends in important issues, including the strategic development for university internationalisation, building, achieving and sustaining quality in higher education, international marketing and branding of universities and making it as a world-class higher education institution.

Country case studies will also be presented, and the seminar will conclude with a panel discussion engaging the audience on how higher education institutions can achieve world-class status.

Speakers at the event include Dr. Warren Fox, Executive Director of Knowledge and Human Development Authority (Dubai), Prof. Bruce Taylor, Commission for Academic Accreditation, Ministry of Higher Education (Abu Dhabi), Prof. Wajih Owais, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Jordan), Prof. Nelson Ijumba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), and Dr. Kevin Downing, Director, Knowledge, Enterprise and Analysis, City University of Hong Kong.

Dr. Downing said, "'QS in conversation' is a seminar that promises to be exciting and stimulating. Middle East universities will benefit from high-quality, expert speakers and forge contacts with their peers from other universities. Hopefully, this will result in valuable partnerships. Region-based universities must leverage this opportunity to attend the seminar that is specially designed for them and addresses their unique circumstances."