Getex Spring - 2011, the Middle East and Asia's leading education, training and professional development event, opened today (April 14) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The three-day event, inaugurated by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, is showcasing up to 2,500 academic options to over 30,000 visitors from across the Middle East through more than 350 regional and international institutions from 37 countries.

This edition of Getex features strong participation from all of the top UAE-based universities and academic educational institutions, a statement said.

Getex will include three subject-specific Excellence forums in engineering, healthcare & medicine and business & finance, specifically for final year graduating students and working professionals.

These forums will be hosted by academic and industry professionals and is aimed to bridge the existing divide between education and industry.

Another highlight of Getex 2011 is the Global EdTech Forum, a conference and skill-building workshop series hosted in conjunction with the world’s leading agency in faculty and curriculum development, the US-based International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

"This edition of Getex Dubai will once again serve as the perfect platform for various education sector stakeholders to interact and benefit from the new opportunities and developments in the UAE’s education domain,” said Anselm Godinho, managing director, International Conferences & Exhibitions (IC&E), organisers of the event.

“Moreover, with more than 2,500 academic options being showcased at the event, students in particular can make informed higher education decisions. The response to Getex Spring 2011 has been overwhelming, which reaffirms the status of the event as an important resource and networking forum for students, parents and education providers in the region,” he added.

Dr Ayoub Kazim, managing director, Tecom Investments’ Education Cluster, said: “Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Village will mark strong presence at the Gulf Education and Training Exhibition, which provides an excellent platform to facilitate dialogue and network with some of the world’s leading universities and education providers.”

“Dubai is firmly progressing on a strategic path in its endeavour to further expand its reputation as a destination of choice for higher education. As drivers of change, the Tecom Education Cluster plays a crucial role in contributing to this vision at the national and regional level through hosting branch campuses of premier international universities that cater to a network of over 18,000 students,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service