The number of Emirati high-school leavers studying in the US has grown by 12 per cent year on year according to the latest US report on international academic mobility.

The Open Doors 2012 report, published by the Institute of International Education(IIE), states that UAE  nationals enrolling in US institutions of higher education in the 2011-12 academic year grew from 1,871 to 2,097.

The popularity of the USA for Emirati students comes as the country tops an international university ranking list published earlier this month by QS World University Rankings; six US universities appeared in the top ten, while 51 featured in the top 200 in a table of 3,000 institutions worldwide.

Big names on the QS top university list, including University of Texas at Austin, Michigan State University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago will be receiving UAE students keen to pursue an American educational experience at a major education and career fair taking place in Abu Dhabi next month.

Najah Education and Career Fair will run from October 29 to 31 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Supported by the US Department of State, EducationUSA will host representatives from 20 US universities in a dedicated American pavilion offering educational advice to visitors at Najah.

Ali E Lejlic, counselor for Press and Cultural Affairs at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi said: “Our mission is to ensure that students from across the UAE find the information they need about studying at American colleges and universities.”

“We offer free and objective information about the many educational opportunities at accredited institutions in the United States, along with guidance on how to access those opportunities.

“It is important to provide interested Emirati students and their parents with accurate and reliable information regarding studying in the United States and the steps involved in that process. We offer educational experiences of the greatest quality, with outstanding variety and diversity in higher education, as well as an open door and warm welcome for international students. Najah is an unrivalled venue in terms of visibility and size for us to share this message,” he added.

EducationUSA will feature a “Your 5 Steps to US Study” plan that will shorten the path that a potential Emirati student needs to take in order to reach their goals of studying in the US.

The plan consists of researching university options, successfully completing applications, financing studies, applying for student visas, and finally, preparing for the big departure overseas.

Now in its seventh edition, Najah will host more than 140 exhibitors including universities, training institutions, and employing organisations eager to meet thousands of school-leavers or recent graduates exploring future opportunities in education and career advancement.

Other major international institutions taking part this year include Oxford Summer College, Jacobs University Bremen, the American University in Cairo, the Lebanese American University, Japan International Cooperation Centre, Strathclyde Business School, and Education City Qatar. – TradeArabia News Service