Getex Spring 2012, the Middle East’s leading education and professional development event, opened today (April 19) in Dubai to showcase over 2,500 academic and training programmes to more than 30,000 visitors.

Getex 2012, which will run until April 21 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, was inaugurated by Dr Saeed Al Hassani, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

This year’s edition of Getex, which showcase programmes from more than 400 institutions worldwide, includes the General Education segment that will offer parents of K-12 students several study options among international residential and boarding schools, as well as the Excellence Forums, an increasingly popular student networking platform that provides students with invaluable resources and information that will assist them in making the right career choices.

It will also feature the Global EDTECH Forum, a teacher’s conference integrating best practice in communicating and teaching by equipping educators with the latest tools, skills and technology in education delivery as well as a host of seminars that will provide tools and resources to support graduates and professionals enhance their career prospects through various professional development programs.

“Getex Spring 2012 has contributed in presenting a comprehensive overview about the development of education in UAE. It also plays an important role in uniting the efforts of the government and various universities and national institutions towards improving the quality of education, training and professional development,” said Dr Al Hassani.

“The exhibition offers an important opportunity for high school students to know about the best educational programs provided by leading local and international universities. Moreover, the collaborative efforts between the Ministry and the exhibitors have resulted in a significant increase in the number of visitors and participating universities compared to last year, especially the accredited ones.”

“Such events are a valuable source of information for students in the UAE, enabling them to make the right career choices, while on the other hand also providing the required tools and resources to graduates and professionals to enhance their career prospects and in turn contribute to the growth of the UAE,” he added.

Anselm Godinho, managing director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC & E), organizers of the event, said: “The UAE Education sector has witnessed tremendous growth over the last few years, which is echoed by the very impressive list of exhibitors, special guests and high-profile visitors who are at this year’s edition of Getex.”

“Now, more than ever, there is greater focus in the Arab world on academic programs in light of aggressive government expenditure on education and the growing investments in training and continuing education programs by private institutions.”

“Getex 2012 complements and keeps pace with the growth of the education sector by providing a dedicated networking platform for industry stakeholders to discuss pertinent issues and to showcase the latest innovations in education trends and teaching best practices,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service