GESS and GEF 2014 kick off with over 7,000 Education Professionals

Gulf Educational Supplies and Solutions (GESS)
exhibition and Global Education Forum (GEF)

More than 7,000 education professionals are expected to attend the 7th edition of the Gulf Educational Supplies and Solutions (GESS) exhibition and Global Education Forum (GEF) that kick off today at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Highlights of today’s conference include the Opening Address to be delivered by His Excellency Dr Humaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education for the UAE, Ministry of Education; to be followed by the Ministerial Panel Session, featuring HE Dr Majid Al-Naimi, Minister of Education for the Kingdom of Bahrain; HE Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, Director General of Abu Dhabi Education Council; and HE Dr Ali Al Karni, Director General of Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States.

Brian Lewis, CEO of US-based, global non-profit International Society for Technology in Education, will lead discussions on Innovative Professional Learning for a Connected World which hopes to provide a framework for evaluating the skills educators need to teach, work, and learn in an increasingly connected global and digital society, using the ISTE Standards - the definitive framework used by educators to implement digital learning strategies that will help foster the transformation of learning and teaching in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director, Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City, Education Cluster, TECOM Investments chairs a special session on Skill Gaps and Trends in the Education Sector - DIAC and Deloitte’s Regional Work Force Planning Study which presents key trends in post secondary education, enrolment trends, the growth of the education sector in the UAE, as well as top skills in-demand in the labour market.

"The exhibition promises an interesting mix of the latest gadgets and gizmos that support the region’s growing appetite for technology use in classrooms; as well as enlightening conference sessions where delegates can glean invaluable insights anywhere from becoming a more effective teacher, collaborating to develop mobile apps among teachers and students; there is even a session on English and Football, two of the world’s most recognisable ‘languages’," said Matt Thompson, Project Director, F&E Group, organisers of GESS.

For its significant role in advancing the cause of education, GESS and GEF have earned the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and is supported by His Excellency Humaid Moh’d Al Qutami, Minister of Education for the United Arab Emirates.