Student mobility from the Middle East to European universities is on the rise, owing to the region’s affluent and culturally diverse population, a majority of which comprises of digitally literate young adults. According to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), the UAE and Saudi Arabia (KSA) were among the top 10 non-EU countries from where students traveled to the UK in 2021/2022, with around 16,835 students enrolling in UK-based universities alone during this period.
Perceived quality of European education a major draw
Students in the Middle East, of both Arab and mixed expat nationalities, associate European degrees with high quality education that is a necessary stepping stone to a successful career and global opportunities. This may explain why despite a wide variety of top global education brands being available in their countries of residence across the Middle East, specifically in the UAE and KSA, a vast majority of college-bound students still prefer to go abroad to study, with UK, Germany and France climbing the list of popular destinations, rapidly catching pace with the all-time favourite, USA.
The upcoming edition of the Global Education and Training Exhibition (Getex), soon to open at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 26 to 28, 2023, will feature a host of higher education options from the UK, France, Switzerland, Hungary and many other European countries, catering to the needs of students wishing to continue their studies abroad.
European universities seeking student diversity
With European universities constantly under pressure to increase revenue from international students, as well as gain the cultural, intellectual and social benefits of having a diverse student body, they are increasingly looking to gain market share in emerging markets such as KSA, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, from where they can recruit students of mixed nationalities. UAE alone is home to more than 200 nationalities, made up of both local and expat student populations, which exactly serve the student diversity goals of European universities.
According to a recent report published by Studyportals, among the top European countries which are presently enhancing student diversity at their campuses are Italy, followed by Norway, Germany and France. Furthermore, a 2021 report published by the Universities United Kingdom International (UUKi) revealed that KSA exports the highest number of students from the Middle East to universities in the UK.
Immigration, language and social integration
With greater ease of travel and more leniency in visa policies of European countries, students are finding it more convenient to travel to Europe in pursuit of higher studies. Meanwhile, European universities, in their quest to promote a culturally diverse student body, are making greater efforts to offer courses in the universally accepted English language while introducing social acclimation programs to allow international students to integrate better with local communities and feel more at home.
Colleges in the UK, for example, are developing student unions and societies such as the Arab Society and the Persian Society. A considerable number of European expats are also settled in the Middle East itself, especially in the expat-friendly countries of UAE and KSA, making their home countries in Europe more accessible and acceptable as study destinations for their children.
At Getex, high school students will have the chance to meet the management and faculties from a broad line-up of European universities which have internationalisation programmes in place for students, such as the University of Miskolc from Hungary and Universidad Europea from Spain, that have expanded on the quantity and quality of study programmes offered in English and are also working to increase the incoming and outgoing mobility of students and staff, as well as the number of visiting professors.
Cost of studying in Europe becoming more affordable
A thriving GDP and stable economic incline of most Middle Eastern countries, complemented with tax-free living, means European higher education tuition fees are increasingly within reach even for the parents of self-funded students. The geographical proximity of Europe to the Middle East also means that parents feel more comfortable sending their children to European universities while staying put in the Middle East to build their careers.
Local nationals too are eligible to apply for a variety of government grants, funds and scholarship opportunities such as the King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP), the Kuwait Excellence Scholarships for Arab students, and the Khotwa Scholarship Programme in the UAE, enabling them to obtain quality European education, develop specialised skills in fields linked to economic goals such as tourism, medicine, event management, creative arts and business, and eventually return home to contribute towards social and economic development.
At Getex, students looking for financing options will learn about a variety of scholarship opportunities being offered by participating institutes from Europe. They will also have the opportunity to explore more than 2,500 study programs, from tourism, business and medicine to technology and the arts, that are being offered by a host of universities namely University of Debrecen, John von Neumann University and Budapest Metropolitan University from Hungary, Business and Hotel Management School from Switzerland, EPITA – IT Engineering School, EDHEC Business School, Rennes School of Business, Ferrandi Paris and Ferrieres Hospitality and Luxury School from France, University of Warmia & Mazury from Poland, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences from Lithuania and many more.
Managing Director at Getex, Anselm Godinho comments: “We are very excited to be providing students residing in the UAE and visiting from across the Middle East with an enabling environment at the show where they can have access to quality European education at their fingertips and where they can take proactive steps to research study abroad options to fulfill their aspirations for a better, more sustainable future.”
