Dubai-UAE: 1 May, 2011 - Higher education institutions in the Middle East and Africa region are steadily developing global collaborations and enrolling a larger number of international students, in addition to seeking a more active participation at major education conferences worldwide, according to Mandy Mok, Managing Director, QS Asia Quacquarelli Symonds.

Mok's comments came on the sidelines of the inaugural QS Middle East and Africa Professional Leaders in Education (QS-MAPLE) Conference and Exhibition that opened today at the Dubai Knowledge Village. Under the theme 'Globalising Higher Education in the Middle East and Africa', the two-day QS-MAPLE Conference and Exhibition has attracted over 200 international educators from around the world to discuss key issues that dominate higher education in the region.

Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), a member of TECOM Investments' Education Cluster, has partnered with QS to bring the conference to Dubai for the first time.

Established in 1990, QS (Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd) is the leading global career and education network for ambitious executives looking to further both their personal and professional development.

Mandy Mok, Managing Director, QS Asia Quacquarelli Symonds, said: "QS Asia saw the need to provide a forum for academics and administrators that promotes the development of higher education in these regions in the global context, addresses key issues that are specific to their international development, and stimulates international partnership. QS-MAPLE was also conceived to support the processes of institutional evaluation and upgrading to help universities in the region gain greater worldwide recognition."

On the opening day of the conference, Dr Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director, TECOM Investments' Education Cluster, presented a report on 'Development of Higher Education in the UAE over the Past Two Decades'.

Dr Kazim said: "UAE has witnessed a steady shift towards globalisation of higher education. From being local-focused in the '70s and '80s, the sector has adopted a more international outlook since the year 2000 especially after the creation of major free zones such as Dubai Knowledge Village, Dubai International Financial Center and Dubai International Academic City. This offers both opportunities and challenges for all stakeholders working in higher education.

"Dubai International Academic City facilitates an environment that fosters student and faculty exchanges, research and development collaborations, and shared facilities amongst others. This is a rich opportunity that did not exist in the past and could be well leveraged by students and faculties alike. "

The QS-Maple conference in Dubai is being organised around six main topics: Managing Quality Assurance; Teaching and Learning, Regional Perspectives; Internationalising the Student Experience; Cross-border/Transnational Education and International Partnerships; Branding, Marketing and Recruitment, and Research, Development and Collaboration.

Speaking on the subject of 'The challenges and opportunities for academic professional development', Dr Lois Smith, Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Middlesex University Dubai, said: "Professional development for academics in offshore institutions tends to be a neglected area of international education, but with the rising number of such institutions, especially in the UAE, there is a need to ensure that the quality of teaching and learning meets the growing demand. Thus, professional development programmes should be an important part of investment in the international education context."

QS Asia has opted to hold the first series of QS-MAPLE (www.qsmaple.org) in Dubai and partner with Dubai International Academic City for its proven dedication to promoting higher education. Hosting over 18,000 students from over 100 nationalities, DIAC is representative of the cosmopolitan and multicultural fabric of the region. In 2012, the conference will be hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

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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 over 18,000 students from more than 100 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 2010 Financial Times Rankings. 

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© Press Release 2011