80 countries attending Dubai education meet

DUBAI: An international education conference that opened at Dubai World Trade Centre yesterday will discuss the role of higher education in developing successful international knowledge economies.
Over 1300 leaders of international education from 80 countries are attending the two-day conference titled ‘Going Global.’
“You have assembled from the four corners of the earth to reflect on what you are doing. That is going global. Today and tomorrow your world will demonstrate attitudes that we all deem essential for successful global activities, namely, cooperation, collaboration, and open-mindedness,” said Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al-Nahyan, UAE minister of higher education and scientific research.
The opening was conducted by Sheikh Nahyan; David Willetts, British minister of state for universities and science; and the Chief Executive of the British Council, Martin Davidson. Five pieces of new research will be launched at the conference, and 300 global experts will feature in around 50 sessions.
Willetts said: "At the end of this decade, there will be over 200 million people in higher education worldwide. That represents a massive challenge, but also a massive opportunity.”
The conference, organized by BC, is bringing together top government and private scholars, education policymakers and practitioners.