Record 1,700 UAE-based students take part at Edukex
DUBAI, November 25, 2015
A record turnout of more than 1,700 students took part in the 14th edition of the Education UK Exhibition (Edukex), held in Abu Dhabi and Dubai recently.
It included UAE-based students seeking to continue their undergraduate and postgraduate studies in UK universities, said a statement.
Marc Jessel, director of the British Council in the UAE, said: “With over 80 years’ experience in this field globally, the British Council is well-versed with students’ preferences and interests.
"Through Edukex, we provide an ideal platform for interacting with representatives from UK universities and get to know the best available options for future studies.
“UK universities have used it effectively for demonstrating their excellence, employability and earning-potential.”
Quoting figures from British Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Jessel said the ease of obtaining UK visas had fuelled demand for UK programmes.
Last year, around 1,500 visas were issued to emiratis for study purposes, with 99 per cent of the applications being cleared, and 83 per cent of them processed in just five working days.
“Most of UK’s higher education universities boast close relations with UK businesses, which boosts employability skills. Moreover, a degree from the UK increases the chances of earning higher salaries, as per a study done by UK Department for Business Innovation and Skills two years ago,” said Jessel.
According to Jessel, UK universities hold strong appeal for UAE students, especially due to the fact that out of the world’s top six universities four are from the UK and 107 Nobel Prize winners were products of UK universities.
Edukex not only allows students to meet representatives from UK schools, colleges and universities, but also enables them to get information on course entry requirements, seek advice on the application process, gather information on living and studying in the UK, and meet students who have studied in the UK.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, the British Council organised intensive sessions on key topics, in collaboration with the UK Embassy and other bodies to help students get up-to-date information on procedures for studying in the UK, said the statement.
Organised by the British Council, and sponsored by British Council IELTS, the British education fair in the UAE represent the breadth and depth of educational opportunities available to international students in the UK, it added. - TradeArabia News Service
