The total number of students in the GCC is projected to reach 11.3 million by 2020, intensifying the demand for high-quality education programs, said the organisers of an upcoming major education show in Dubai.

Getex Spring 2013 will run from April 17 to 19 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The UAE’s $7.31 billion education market is propelling growth within the region’s education sector, with government education spending that has reached a new high of Dh9.9 billion ($2.69 billion) from Dh4.6 billion in 2011.

Getex Spring 2013, which marks the 25th edition of the forum for student recruitment in the Middle East and Asia, will again gather thousands of education stakeholders, provide them with a dedicated networking platform, allowing students to meet with education providers and chart out further learning options.

This silver jubilee edition of Getex will feature exclusive segments that broadly cater to varying student profiles, including general education, higher education, vocational & occupational training as well as professional development categories.

Moreover, areas such as sports education, education tourism, education resources and supplies, and education technology showcase will also be highlighted to deliver a well-rounded approach towards education.

“As we celebrate over a quarter of a century’s service to the region’s education landscape, Getex Spring reaffirms its commitment to promote academic excellence, backed by the tremendous support of our strategic partners, exhibitors and visitors each year,” said Anselm Godinho, managing director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), organiser of the event.

“In keeping with its mandate, Getex Spring has in store new and innovative offerings which will reflect the groundbreaking shifts in patterns and trends that we are witnessing in the global education marketplace,” he added.

“We have worked on incorporating new segments that create an opportunity for learners to experience next-generation education, while helping expand the breadth of choices to address a much broader range of academic requirements and preferences.

“The number of students in the region will dramatically increase over the next few years and this is a great opportunity for Getex to help build up the strong foundations that will ensure high level of excellence in the academic sector for many years to come,” Godinho concluded. – TradeArabia News Service