UAE students were educated on the best options for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the UK at the Education UK Exhibition (Edukex 2014) in Abu Dhabi.

The event was inaugurated by Philip Parham, UK Ambassador to the UAE at the Le Royal Meridien Hotel and is being sponsored by the British Council’s IELTS.

It showcased academic programmes of 26 top UK universities and was opened by Edward Hobart, Her Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai at the Dubai World Trade Centre today (November 4).

Marc Jessel, director of the British Council in the UAE, attributed the global interest in the UK education system to the ‘fantastic range of benefits including valuable skills, diverse culture, innovative industries and academic excellence’ associated with it.

British Council estimates showed that students from the UAE make up 19 per cent of all GCC students in UK universities.
 
The event is expected to attract more than 4,000 visitors over three day sin Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

“Edukex not only puts the students in direct contact with universities but also helps them understand the context of study and living costs as well as UK visa procedures and other important processes students need to follow to be accepted by a UK university,” said Parham.

“This year, the British Council generated stronger participation by UK institutions in Edukex. This is a reflection of UK universities’ keenness to attract students from the UAE, encouraged by the high reputation which the UK education sector has been enjoying in the region for decades,” he said.

"UK universities attract some of the brightest students from the UAE. We feel the prevalence of British curriculum schools in the UAE plays a key role in fostering the relationship between the UK higher education system and the UAE student community.”

“The quality of UK education is widely recognised by employers, universities and governments worldwide. According to the 2012 QS World University Rankings, four of the top six universities in the world are in the UK,” added Jessel.

During the first day of the show, a series of sessions focused on answering students’ inquiries on various issues, including student visas.

British Council organises Edukex as one of its strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing cultural and educational relations between the UAE and the UK.

The main objective of the event is to raise awareness of the high quality of UK education and the extensive choice of courses and institutions on offer at every academic level. - TradeArabia News Service