Twenty-four universities from Australia visited Dubai and Al Ain last week as part of an 11-day IDP Gulf Road Show, an exhibition that spanned the region with visits to Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Students from the region have been showing increased interest in Australia as a higher education destination, according to university officials and experts from the fair. "Last year, 7,000 students from the Gulf went to universities in Australia. We are expecting a similar number to go this year," said Rashi Bhattacharya, relationship manager at IDP.
Over 300 students and parents attended the fair in its first two hours. Held twice a year, the road show provides information on education in Australia.
IDP assists with the preparation and submission of applications, both to educational institutions as well as for visas. It arranges pre-counselling sessions, pre-departure seminars, accommodation and airport pick-up in Australia. All these services are free of charge, said Bhattacharya.
Australian option
Students choose the country they want to study in for three main reasons, said Bhattacharya. "They're either familiar with the place because they've been there, or it's where their friends are, or it's where their seniors from school are."
Marwa Ahmad and Asma Al Muhairi from Al Khaleej National School were at the fair. "I am thinking of going to Australia because there is no good university choice here, while studying outside gives you a new experience and quality education," said Marwa, a grade 12 student.
Asma said: "I want to leave because I want a new experience; I love mixing with people of different cultures and I believe travelling will broaden my horizons."
For Jacqueline Chunj and her mother Jennifer, Australia provides a good package keeping in mind quality of education, expenses and services.
"My older daughters studied business in UK universities based here, but I would rather Jacqueline travelled abroad as the universities there are more strict," Jennifer said.
Expert guidance
One university represented was the Australian School of Tourism and Hotel Management (ASTHM), a hotel school offering degrees in English language, hotel and resort management, meetings and events, tourism and commercial cookery.
"We receive inquiries from all over the world, but the last six months we have had increased inquiries from the Gulf region because it's becoming a tourist destination. Due to the development of new hotels, they are in desperate need of staff so this is a great opportunity for students to study away from traditional majors," said Dianne Leslie, director of international marketing at ASTHM.
By Maysam Ali