SHARJAH – For the first time ever, India's most popular education event that is held across Asia is coming to the UAE – the Great India Education Fair (TGIEF) will be held in Sharjah on Feb. 20- 22, 2013. The Great India Education Fair, one of the largest and most sought-after Indian education fairs, will be organized along with the ninth edition of the International Education Show (IES) at Expo Centre Sharjah. “The Great India Education Fair is the largest gathering of Indian educational institutions under a single roof and is a regular event in countries like South Korea, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Now, it will be held for the first time in the GCC in Sharjah,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General, Expo Centre Sharjah. With TGIEF on board, the exhibition space for the IES is also set to almost double this time. While more than 100 leading regional and international higher educational institutions have confirmed their participation for the IES, TGIEF will feature 65 top boarding schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions from India. TGIEF will be organized by AFAIRS Exhibitions & Media Pvt. Ltd (India) in association with Expo Centre Sharjah. “The Great India Education Fair will showcase the strength of the Indian education system and will enable students and parents from the UAE and the region to gather greater knowledge about the Indian education system and allow greater interaction between institutions' representatives,” said Vivek Shukla, Director - Marketing & Projects, AFAIRS Exhibitions & Media. The Indian expatriate population in the GCC countries stands at nearly six million, with a big chunk of the student population often deciding to complete their higher secondary education and graduation in India. “Together, the International Education Show and the Great India Education Fair will attract the whole Indian population looking at options for higher studies for their wards. While IES will offer them options within the GCC and across the world, TGIEF will open up the entire Indian education system for those who are interested in higher studies there,” added Midfa. TGIEF will feature residential schools offering Indian national curriculum of ICSE and CBSE along with the option of international baccalaureate, IGCSE ‘A' & ‘O' level of international curriculum, engineering colleges, medical & dental colleges, B-schools & management colleges, deemed universities, distance learning universities and professional & vocational institutions. Besides, the fair will offer quality education at affordable cost, spot counseling by experts, introduction to career options, a series of seminars on ‘Studying in India' and further information on Indian institutions and educational procedures. – SG
