This year's Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (GETEX), the largest education fair in the Middle East and Asia, sees China and Korea eager to compete in the UAE higher education sector apart from the usual institutions across the globe.
GETEX Dubai 2010, which focuses on student recruitment, education equipment and technology and careers training will draw exhibitors from different government ministries and education boards, universities, colleges and academic institutions, professional training centres, international and regional education organisations, and language learning centres.
Trends
The new entrants from China offer everything from schools, student exchange programmes, courses in fashion technology, petroleum studies to languages and medical studies.
Korea offers new software and e-learning solutions including e-Podium Digital Lectern System, KIOSK u-Study Software Solutions, on Screen Writing Software, Smart Classrooms, internet broadcasting solutions and other innovative and interactive gadgets both from companies and through their e-learning Association.
The exhibition has also seen a growing demand for postgraduate programmes in the UAE, a trend that was evident in 2009 where 32 per cent of participating learners were seeking postgraduate courses. However undergraduate studies will remain the staple of GETEX — undergraduate course seekers accounted for almost 50 per cent of learners last year.
Grade 12 students prepare
Students who have completed their Grade 12 exams can use this opportunity to check out a range of options under a single roof. Students can also attend the free seminar sessions on topics ranging from studies in different destinations, career profiling, internships, subject selection and why community participation is important. The complete list of seminars and their timings are listed on www.mygetex.com.
The Global Forum on Technology and Innovation in Teaching and Leading will also be launched at the event. It is hosted under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and provides the opportunity for educators, school leaders and policy makers to interact with and learn from expert practitioners from the Gulf region and around the world.
Held alongside the student recruitment segment, this forum caters to the needs of educators and will discuss new uses of technology in teaching, leading and learning. The International Society for Technology in Education, a US-based society, coordinates this part of the programme. For more information and to register visit www.teachingandleading.com.
The writer is director of Counselling Point with more than 22 years of experience in the fields of education and child welfare. Email counsell@eim.ae or visit www.counsellingpoint.com for more information.
