Learning anytime, anywhere

Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business

Technology adds tempo to life. One of the major sectors that is reaping benefits out of the technology marvels is education.
E-classrooms have started dominating the traditional form of learning, providing countless online resources for students. Draft a roadmap for the future, leading global technology stalwarts are converging in GESS Dubai next month (March 1-3).
Besides exchanging revolutionary ideas, participants will showcase the very latest advances in the education sector, as experts estimate technology spend in the region could reach $150 billion in the next five years.
“In gathering the world’s technology superpowers and connecting them with teachers and school decision-makers in the GCC, we hope we can contribute to the advancement of the education sector in this part of the world, and raise quality standards to a level that is at par with the best in the world,” said Matt Thompson, Project Director, F&E Group, organisers of GESS Dubai.
“Our theme this year is ‘Shaping the Future of Education’, and we have a distinct opportunity to do that by helping schools adopt the technologies that will make them effective learning hubs of the future,” pointed out Thompson.
Among those who have confirmed participation in the leading regional education exhibition and conference include Benq, Bosch, Brother, Casio, Edutech, Epson, Google, Hitachi, Intel Education, LEGO Education, LG, MacGraw-Hill, Microsoft, Panasonic, Pearson, Promethean, Samsung, Sharp Middle East, SMART Technologies, Sony and VEX Robotics.
“Google’s technology solutions are supporting teachers in making learning more accessible, measurable and motivating to millions of students. In this session, I will share Google’s vision for education with practical examples from schools in the Middle East and beyond,” said Google’s Head of Education in the EMEA Region, Liz Sproat, who will share the company’s vision of what technology in learning could look like, and how to encourage innovation in teaching and learning practices.
As the leading regional business platform for connecting suppliers of educational supplies and solutions with key decision-makers in schools throughout the region, GESS Dubai has paved the way for schools in the Gulf to keep up with technological advances that make teaching and learning more engaging and effective.
The Gulf region is at the forefront of technology-driven education initiatives in the Middle East with such programmes as the UAE’s Smart Learning Initiative, which aims to provide personal tablets to all K-12 government schools by 2017; and Qatar’s Supreme Education Council’s e-Bag project, which provides students and teachers with tablets to enhance learning and reduce school bag weight.
Already, over 90 percent of GCC educational institutions use laptops and tablets, while 60% have Bring Your Own Device policies for students, according to IDC.