Educational Seminar to Enable Home-Grown Universities and Academic Community to Broaden Perspective and Form CollaborationsDubai-UAE - Sunday, September 9th 2012 [ME NewsWire]
Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the region’s premier destination for higher education and a member of TECOM Investments’ Education Cluster, in conjunction with QS Education Trust, is set to host an inaugural seminar offering best practices and strategic advice to Middle East universities that seek to internationalise and achieve global recognition.
London-based QS Education Trust is a not-for-profit arm of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the provider of the annual QS World University Rankings and other successful conferences.
Theevent titled ‘QS in conversation’follows on from the success of the QS-MAPLE event in 2011 and will be held at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers on 18 September. Representatives from top-tier global universities and decision makers from the Ministries of Higher Education in the region will attend the seminar. The initiative will also draw the participation of rectors, vice-rectors and thought leaders involved in the globalisation process of home-grown universities.
Addressing Middle East countries’ special circumstances, global experts headlining the event will present vital information about rankings and allied forms of evaluation in the global context, and their impact on institutions and students. They will also advise on branding, marketing, online communications and innovative solutions for achieving global recognition.
Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director, TECOM Investments’ Education Cluster, said: “Our partnership with QS recognises the importance of addressing issues linked to the internationalisation of higher education in the Middle East. With increasing globalisation, the internationalisation of education offers both opportunities and challenges. We are confident the first of its kind event in the region will offer the preliminary blueprint for initiating the process.”
Mandy Mok, Managing Director, QS Quacquarelli Symonds for Asia, Middle East and Africa, said: “Well-known for its expertise in organising successful conferences and seminars such as QS-MAPLE, QS-APPLE and QS WorldClass, QS is proud to initiate a first of its kind conversation in the Middle East. We aim to bring the same renowned expertise to put together ‘QS in conversation’.
“The event provides Middle East universities with a valuable and unique opportunity to learn and network among themselves and the rest of the world. We are bringing a wide variety of international universities to the Middle East and universities in this region should not miss this convenient opportunity to attend this seminar that is taking place right at their doorstep.”
Sessions at the event will cover current developments and future trends in important issues, including the strategic development for university internationalisation, building, achieving and sustaining quality in higher education, international marketing and branding of universities and making it as a world-class higher education institution. Country case studies will also be presented, and the seminar will conclude with a panel discussion engaging the audience on how higher education institutions can achieve world-class status.
Speakers at the event include Dr. Warren Fox, Executive Director of Knowledge and Human Development Authority (Dubai), Prof. Bruce Taylor, Commission for Academic Accreditation, Ministry of Higher Education (Abu Dhabi), Prof. Wajih Owais, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Jordan), Prof. Nelson Ijumba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), and Dr. Kevin Downing, Director, Knowledge, Enterprise and Analysis, City University of Hong Kong.
Dr. Downing said: “’QS in conversation’ is a seminar that promises to be exciting and stimulating. Middle East universities will benefit from high-quality, expert speakers and forge contacts with their peers from other universities. Hopefully, this will result in valuable partnerships. Region-based universities must leverage this opportunity to attend the seminar that is specially designed for them and addresses their unique circumstances.”
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About Dubai International Academic City
Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is the world’s only Free Zone dedicated to Higher Education. Established in 2007 as part of TECOM Investments, DIAC aims to develop the region’s talent pool and establish the UAE as a knowledge-based economy.
DIAC is the premier destination for Higher Education in the region, located on a fully-appointed 18 million sq ft. campus with state-of-the-art modern facilities. DIAC currently has 27 Academic institutions from 11 countries.
The DIAC campus is host to nearly 20,000 students from 137 nationalities. DIAC students also have access to over 300 Higher Education programmes.
DIAC Phase III achieved a “Green” status and was awarded Silver LEED certification. DIAC provides an established educational environment for academic institutions and caters to students from around the world.
DIAC is also ranked top 10 in the Middle East under “Best Transportation” category and top 25 in the Middle East under “Best Overall” category according to 2011 Financial Times Rankings.
About QS Education Trust
QS Quacquarelli Symonds was founded in 1990 and steadily has become the world's leading network for top careers and education. Its mission is to enable motivated people around the world to fulfill their potential by fostering international mobility, educational achievement and career development. QS’ regional vision is focused on helping Asian, Middle East and African higher education institutions and students to compete on the world stage.
QS is dedicated to encouraging talented individuals to benefit from international higher education and hence for many years has provided funds towards educational scholarships for young people. To formalise this charitable commitment, in 2005 QS founded QS Education Trust – a not-for-profit arm. In 2012 QS Education Trust offered over US$1.2 million in scholarship funding for selected applicants from around the world.
QS is well known for its annual QS World University Rankings where over 700 institutions are ranked globally for their performance, and is considered the most trusted university ranking available of all time.
QS Education Trust also organises the annual QS-MAPLE (QS Middle East & Africa Professional Leaders in Education Conference & Exhibition) and QS-APPLE (QS Asia Pacific Professional Leaders in Education Conference and Exhibition) - that addresses the fast emerging globalisation of Middle Eastern, African and Asian scene of higher education. QS also organises the annual QS WorldClass seminar for leaders in higher education who can network with like-minded peers in a relaxed environment.
Contacts
Tara Basrur
APCO Worldwide
+9714 361 3596 (direct)
+9714 361 3333 (switchboard)
E-mail: tbasrur@apcoworldwide.com
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