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- New research predicts Dubai's student enrollments could reach 245,000 by 2025, further highlighting UAE as a growing international hub for higher education -
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA), the leading provider of student accommodation worldwide, identified Dubai as a leading emerging educational destination after undergoing significant new research on the potential of the higher education sector in the rapidly growing megacity.
"GSA research indicates that Dubai's student enrollments will reach between 146,000 and 245,000 by 2025," cited Bobbi Hartshorne, GSA's in-house Higher Education Expert. "These statistics are underpinned by the unprecedented change we are currently witnessing in the global higher education sector which presents considerable growth opportunities for Dubai and the UAE." she added.
The research, conducted with over 2,000 stakeholders, suggests Dubai has cemented its position as a study destination on account of multiple key drivers including the cultural diversity of its population, overall affordability of program tuition and the city's centralised location for travel and tourism.
This month, GSA opened the first off-campus dedicated student accommodation facility in Dubai, Uninest Student Residences at Dubailand, marking the group's entry into the Middle East. Professor Ammar Kaka, Vice Principal and Head of Heriot-Watt University, Dubai Campus said, "We at Heriot-Watt are really delighted to see that GSA has brought their Uninest brand to Dubai. Access to suitable student accommodation is an important part of the decision making process for students looking to study away from home. We believe this is an excellent boost for the higher education sector in Dubai."
To further support the growth of the education sector GSA has initiated a Dubai Universities Partnership Forum which will meet regularly to discuss how the sector can continue to thrive. The first meeting was held this month at Uninest Student Residences at Dubailand and attended by fourteen of Dubai's higher education providers. GSA encourages participation from other Universities in the Emirate.
"If our forecasts are realized, we believe that Dubai needs to at least double its current capacity, which can be achieved by expanding the existing institutions as well as attracting new market entrants offering a wider variety of subjects in the Emirate.' Hartshorne continues.
The report was compiled from statistical studies and information collated from successful branch campuses in Dubai, as well as surveys carried out with over 2000 stakeholders including students presently enrolled in institutions of higher learning, students enrolled in Dubai's high schools, parents, counsellors, University representatives and others.
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About the research
GSA conducted the 2015 comprehensive research study on the local tertiary educational sector, in an effort to highlight the considerations for the current and future state of higher education in Dubai and the UAE as well as document the source markets for the international student population. The report was compiled from statistical studies and information collated from successful branch campuses in Dubai, as well as surveys carried out with over 2000 stakeholders including students presently enrolled in institutions of higher learning, students enrolled in Dubai's high schools, parents, counsellors, University representatives and others.
Key research areas included:
· The changing nature of the Global Higher Education sector
· Rising emerging study destinations
· Factors impacting global student mobility
· Reasons students choose to study in Dubai
· Reasons students choose to leave Dubai to study elsewhere
· External perceptions of Dubai as a study destination
GSA is happy to answer more detailed questions about the research findings.
About Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA)
GSA is the first truly global leader in providing student accommodation. GSA provides communities for higher education students in the buoyant and emerging real estate and university markets. It is creating industry standards such as end-user research, university guarantees and partnerships, standard operating processes, innovative room designs, online bookings, student integration and customer service levels.
Over the next ten years the number of students enrolling at university is forecast to grow by almost 100 million worldwide. This will prolong the growing imbalance between supply and demand for student accommodation. The combination of an undersupplied market, high occupancy levels and stable income yields has made the sector attractive to investors looking for resilient capital and rental growth. GSA Group also sees continued interest across a broad investor base to invest in the student accommodation asset class.
For further information visit www.gsa-gp.com/
Media Enquiries
Najat Farhat or Alice Walker
Four Communications
Tel: +971 4 362 5129 and Email: Uninest@FourCommunications.com
© Press Release 2016
