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Demand for higher education programmes on the rise

Four-day International Education Show will feature higher education institutions from all over the world, covering universities, colleges, polytechnics, high schools, business schools and others.

The $3 billion private education sector in the country is growing at a fast pace, propelled by a 30 per cent increase in the number of students and its expected chances of tripling in the next few years, according to industry experts at a higher education fair in Sharjah.

Marwan Al Sawaleh with other officials during the opening day of the International Education Show at Expo Centre Sharjah on Wednesday. — KT photo by M. Sajjad

They also pointed out the rising demand for career-oriented higher education programmes in the wake of hundreds of thousands of job opportunities that will be generated by mega events like the World Expo 2020 in Dubai, which is followed by FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

Reflecting the buoyancy of the industry, senior executives of educational institutions, academics, professionals, investors and students got together at the opening of the 10th International Education Show (IES) – at Expo Centre Sharjah on Wednesday. The International Education Show is a joint initiative of the UAE Ministry of Education and Expo Centre Sharjah, supported by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The show will feature higher education institutions from all over the world, covering universities, colleges, polytechnics, high schools, business schools, technical institutes, management training centres, medical schools, tertiary institutions, professional management bodies, distance learning institutes, career guidance centres, immigration consultants and banks.

The four-day show was jointly inaugurated by Marwan Al Sawaleh, Undersecretary of UAE Ministry of Education, and Saeed Musabah Al Kaabi, Chairman of Sharjah Education Council. It was also attended by Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

According to the latest available reports, for the 2012-2013 academic year, the number of government and private schools stood at 1,276 in the country, with a student body of 727,918. .

“The higher education sector in the country is growing at a fast pace currently on the back of increased private sector investments, rising demand as well as concerted efforts by the government to enhance the education system. The unprecedented rise in the number of exhibitors at the International Education Show reflects this boom,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa.

The IES has registered a 31 per cent rise in the number of exhibitors, with the four-day show featuring nearly 150 institutions.

The show timings are from 9am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm from January 29 to February 1. On Friday, it is open from 4pm to 8pm only.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com