Minister of Education, H.E. Humaid Moh’d Al Qutami inaugurates GESS and GEF at the Dubai World Trade Centre
GESS features over 250 exhibitors from 30 countries
Ministry of Education representation from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman
A 7.5 per cent increase in exhibitors on 2011
Gulf Educational Supplies and Solutions (GESS), the Middle East’s largest education exhibition, today officially opened its doors at the Dubai World Trade Centre alongside the Global Education Forum (GEF). The show is a key platform for industry professionals to source the latest products, services and innovations from across the education sector. Inaugurated by H.E. Humaid Moh’d Al Qutami, the event celebrates its fifth anniversary this year and features more than 250 exhibitors from over 30 countries, including the GCC. The show will run until Thursday March 1st, 2012 from 10am-6pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 10am-4pm on Thursday.
During GEF, more than 160 papers will be presented, including exhibitor lectures, teacher training workshops, and mobile learning features, and 100 sector experts from more than five countries – including the UK, the US and Finland will present throughout the Forum.
Organised under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the partnership of His Excellency Humaid Moh’d Al Qutami, Minister of Education for the United Arab Emirates, GEF this year focuses on education’s technological evolution and runs under the banner, “Teaching and Learning in the Knowledge and Technology Era”.
H.E. Humaid Moh’d Al Qutami, Minister of Education, UAE, said: “We are grateful for the generous and ongoing support of HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of
Dubai, and their brothers, the Rulers of the Emirates, members of the Supreme Federal Council at this year’s event.
“The Ministry of Education is dedicated to supporting the students, teachers and parents and institutions of the UAE. Over the past four years, GESS and GEF have played a key role in driving the education sector on this country, and we are confident that this year’s show will be no exception. The 2012 event will bring welcome insights about where our sector is heading, and what that means for the future of our educational systems.”
Industry Leading Exhibitors
Over three jam-packed days, the event will showcase some of the region’s biggest players from across the education and technology sectors, including Pearson, Promethean, Samsung, and Yas Marina Circuit. The GCC will have a strong presence at the event, with Ministry of Education representation from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman; the Abu Dhabi Education Council, along with the Arab Bureau of Education from the Gulf States will also be present.
Matt Thompson, Project Director, GESS, commented: “We are delighted to be hosting the event for the first time at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Over the past five years, the event has expanded tremendously; we are seeing increased participation from participants and exhibitors, both on a regional scale and at an international level. We have seen a 7.5 per cent increase in exhibitors this year, which speaks to the success of the event.”
Global Education Forum Highlights
A total of eight conference halls, along with the GEF presentation theatre will be dedicated to the Forum where it will accommodate more than 100 industry leaders and provide a platform to discuss best-practices, teaching trends and the challenges facing the education sector. Visitors can also look forward to 160 seminars, exhibitor lectures, teacher training workshops, and a mobile learning feature. Industry topics include: social media in learning, the role of smart phone applications in the classroom, integrating iPads into modern education, and technology-assisted teaching and learning.
GEF keynote speakers Geoff Stead, Head of Innovation, Tribal; Elise Tarvainen, Director of Global Operations, EduCluster Finland Ltd; Prof. Abdullateef Hussain Haidar Al Hakimi, PhD, Professor of Science Education at Sanaa University; Dr. Khalifa Ali Alsuwaidi, Assistant Professor at Department of Curriculum & Instruction, Faculty of Education, United Arab Emirates University; and Dr. Khalid Ibrahim Al Awwad, Member of Shura Council, and Head of Masarat Group for Research and Development will be presenting at the Forum.
Mr. Thompson explained, “Visitors can look forward to an exceptional line up at this year’s show. The Forum’s mobile learning feature and lecture series are a perfect accompaniment to the GESS exhibition and we anticipate a great deal of interest in these daily attractions. GEF’s teacher training workshops are another exciting aspect of this year’s show; taking GESS beyond the realm of the traditional trade exhibition, these workshops will facilitate hands-on learning, professional development, and networking opportunities for our visitors.”
GESS is a one-stop shop offering the latest products, technologies and a limitless range of useful resources. GEF is an innovative event concept which combines a unique mix of hands-on workshops, seminars and lectures for all educational professionals. The shows run from today until Thursday March 1st in Halls One and Two at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
For more information on the Gulf Educational Supplies and Solutions and the Global Education Forum, please visit http://www.gesseducation.com
