International student enrolments on the rise - The three-day International Higher Education Exhibition (Ghedex) opened here yesterday under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Harib bin Thuwaini al Said, Secretary-General Assistant for Conferences. Following interactions with participating organisations, it became clear that surely the international student enrolment in Omani and other Asian educational centres is increasing.
Ghedex, the Sultanate’s largest higher education exhibition, is showcasing around 130 institutions from Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Cyprus, Jordan, Malaysia, India, Canada, Nigeria, Italy, New Zealand, Netherlands, Australia, UK and USA, among others. Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA), publishers of Observer and its sister Arabic daily Oman, is the media sponsor of the event. A new feature this year is that it includes a conference to be held today and tomorrow at Golden Tulip Hotel.
Under the theme “Thinking differently about education: Skills, training and nationalisation for the future of Oman”, the Ghedex conference will bring speakers who will shed light on the trends and challenges facing tertiary education and the necessary skills that shape the future of the industry. Ghedex-2010 will also hold a series of seminars alongside the expo to provide students and parents with better opportunities to learn about the various courses and education trends being presented during the three-day show.
The series of seminars to be held alongside the Ghedex exhibition provides students, parents and visitors with the opportunity to learn about the latest trends, updates on course offerings, training opportunities and career prospects. Trainex, a special platform that provides a vast range of learning resources, service and better training opportunities is set to help students develop skill sets and prepare Omanis for the job market.
Individuals particularly Omanis who are on the look out for better career opportunities should not miss the Jobex expo which showcases job vacancies and imparts organisations’ Omanisation achievements and future plans. Furthermore, parents who are looking for private, international and boarding schools can also check out various organisations at Schoolex as it presents an unrivalled opportunity to network with school faculties and management and learn the latest curricula, standards and facilities on offer.
Alongside these events is the Edutech expo which serves as an interactive learning environment integrating informative tools and innovations in technology to educators and students providing excellent opportunities that extend beyond traditional classroom methods. Ghedex-2010 is organised under the patronage of the Ministry of Higher Education and is supported by Unesco and British Council. Trainex and Jobex are organised under the patronage of the Ministry of Manpower, whereas Schoolex is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Education.
China is looking to Africa for students. Malaysia aims to become a regional educational hub. India has made it easier for foreign students to seek education and training at its universities. Middle East is emerging as a new magnet for higher education-seekers. The competition for foreign students has become heated and complex. Over all, students have a lot more choices today as it is clear from the ongoing Ghedex event, several visitors told the Observer.
Ramashesh C S, Deputy Registrar, Manipal University, said India is now a popular destination for international students. India's Manipal University boasts of 2,000 international students from about 50 countries. In the 56 years of existence, Manipal University has emerged as the leading higher education provider in India. Spread over 600 acres of green expanse, Manipal University is home to 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in diverse subjects.
Malaysia is also emerging as a major educational destination for students from the Arab world and approximately 32,000 Arab students are pursuing various courses in the country. Lee Wee Han of Malaysia's KDU College said: "Our college, established in 1983, is home to 4,000 students and over 1,000 of them are from Africa, Middle East and Europe. KDU offers a wide range of programmes at certificate, diploma, degree and masters level. The college prides itself with its impressive alumni of more than 34,000 graduates."
Oman too has seen an increase in the number of international students at its campuses. Sohar University, Sultanate's first private university since 2001, is home to 5,000 students. A number of international students from Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Palestine, Iran and India, have found it their first choice destination for an international educational experience, said Khaled al Rushdi. Similarly, Mazoon College, which is a wholly girls college in morning and co-ed in the evening, is home to international students from Pakistan, India, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Venezuela, Lebanon, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
Now in its 11th year, Mazoon College provides hostel facilities for girl students, said Nareen Naseer, a student of the college. Nizwa University, set up in 2004, is home to 3,000 students and over three per cent of them are international students from Iran, Jordan, UAE and Tanzania, said Ahmed al Abri, an official of the university. Gulf College, located in Madinat Qaboos, boasts of 2,300 students. Of these, more than 200 are international students from Sudan, India, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon and Iran.
Muscat University College, established in 1996 as a private academic Omani institution of higher education, is home to 1,200 students. Many of them are international students from different countries in the region. The Muscat-based International College of Engineering and Management (ICEM) boasts around 1,000 international students from Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE as it is one of the few colleges in the Middle East for the range of programme it offers, General Manager Kevan whitehead said.
Ali Akaak, Assistant Director for Registration and Admission, Dhofar University, echoed similar sentiments. He said Oman is emerging as an important destination for an international educational experience in the region. Dhofar University, set up in 2004, is home to international students from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and China, he revealed.
By the end of this year, when Dhofar University moves into its new purpose built campus, the university will be able to provide even more facilities for international students. A three-day event, Ghedex will remain open until April 22 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. Exhibition timings are from 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm.