Event preview: GESS Dubai

GESS Dubai 2017will be held at Dubai World Trade Centre from March 14-16 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

The annual event is one of the leading platforms for suppliers of educational products to showcase their wares, including innovations that improve the quality of teaching and learning across schools in the Middle East.

According to Matt Thompson, project director at F&E Education, the organisers of GESS Dubai, the event "has provided an effective platform to engage school decision-makers and present their products, services and solutions covering a broad spectrum of business categories — from books and uniforms, to gadgets and technologies as well as furniture that can significantly impact the delivery of instruction, improve student learning and performance, enhance teacher effectives.

"These exchanges not only contribute to business growth, but ultimately have an impact on raising education standards and developing the education market in this part of the world," he told Education Journal ME.

Running alongside the exhibition, the Global Education Forum will see experts sharing their insights on some of the pressing challenges confronting the education sector in the region, as well as the latest trends in pedagogy and teaching methodologies, curriculum advances, and other important issues shaping discussions on quality education, learning improvements, future learning, health and wellness, among others.

"We have lined up over 200 workshops, panel discussions and other sessions where they can learn from experts, share experiences with peers, and discover best practices for teaching, school operations and management and others.

"It is important to note that the GESS Dubai has over 200 conference sessions that offer CPD-accreditation which they can use for professional advancement that could lead to career progression," Thompson says.

Discussions and workshops have been split into various categories this year. Education in Action will focus on what happens in schools, and the sessions will be led by teachers, students or consultants, covering all aspects of education and will demonstrate best practice to improve and enhance teaching and learning.

Master NLP practitioner David Hodgson will be back this year to lead the Neuroscience in Education sessions, covering topics such as happiness in education and the neuroscience of memory.

Learning Essentials is a series of sessions that will look at different aspects of training from specialist trainers in early years and primary. Future Learning will feature digital and STEM workshops by educators for educators, and will focus on topics such as coding, Google Apps for Education, and more. Additionally, the innovation Stage will host a series of workshops showcasing innovations in products, techniques and classroom outcomes for teachers and students alike.
Another new concept at GESS this year is the VIP Leadership institute. Thompson explains: "We have introduced a new show component called VIP Leadership Institute where we offer education leaders and decision makers an opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills in a masterclass environment, equipping them with the latest skills on operational efficiency, improving performance standards and other navigating the current and future educational landscape that will help drive the growth of their schools.

"GESS Dubai is also thrilled to provide attendees a brand new and exclusive training concept to the event this year. The GESS Leadership Lab, powered by NoTosh, has never before been seen in the Middle East, Africa and Asia and will provide a creative training space where active participants can tackle their own leadership challenges with NoTosh's innovative tool kits."