JEDDAH: MEETES, a major education expo with scores of stands from participating countries showcasing what they have to offer in terms of higher education, training and technologies, opened here last night.
“The display by both national and international exhibitors is splendid,” Technical & Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) Gov. Ali Al-Ghafees said during his tour after he opened the exhibition at Jeddah Center for Forums & Events. He hoped that Saudi students would take advantage of the variety of courses and training that are on offer by different local institutions and also overseas colleges and universities.
“Exhibitions like this serve as platforms for academic planning for the future,” Al-Ghafees said. The event marks the first among major international exhibitions to be held in Jeddah in 2009.
The event, which also incorporates human resources, aids and services, is being held with the support of TVTC. It will run through Wednesday. The event attracted a large number of students.
Dutch Ambassador Ron Strikker said Netherlands' Maastricht University and University Groningen were among his country's three universities participating in the event. In all, 200 Saudi medical students are studying in the two universities since 2006 under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Foreign Scholarship Program. The universities also have courses in humanities and sciences.
The universities were selected by Saudi authorities after they were satisfied with the quality of education imparted by them. “What is more, both universities have a modern approach to learning, an interactive problem-based learning,” he said, adding that Dutch universities are the first-time participants here.
Brazil is also taking part in this event for the first time, while Malaysia is repeating its participation for the fourth time. Canada, Britain, Germany, the United States, Turkey, Switzerland, Cyprus, Australia, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain and India are among the other overseas countries taking part alongside some of the local institutions.
General education, higher education, e-learning & distance learning, as well as training, careers & recruitment, and educational solutions are among the key areas the exhibitors are focusing on.
