GETEX – Dubai 2009

By William Franklin, Client Relations Director at Maven Training.

"So, why do you want to take an MBA?" was our common response to the question from delegates of "Do you run MBAs?". After four days at the most significant educational and HR exhibition in the Middle East, we were able to gain an extraordinary insight into the psyche of their educational environment.

GETEX, the largest education fair in the Middle East & Asia, held in Dubai from the 15th to the 18th April 2009 in the International Convention Centre, was opened by H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research. During his review of the exhibitors, he stopped to discuss the services Maven Training was offering to Emiratis as well as to the Gulf region as a whole. As can be seen from the photographs, the conversation was both engaging and amusing.



Delegates attending the exhibition over the four days ranged from school children to experienced professionals but all were looking for one thing: how to develop their own educational base to improve career prospects, whether in the U.A.E or overseas. As Maven Training was the only provider of internationally accredited qualifications that would be gained through undertaking short courses of only 5 days, our stand attracted a lot of attention. In particular, the concepts of PRINCE2® and PMI® were well received as these offer delegates access to Best Practice international project management skills for application both in the Gulf as well as facilitating moves to Australia, the UK or Europe.

The most surprising outcome from the exhibition was the level of enquiry surrounding our internationally recognised 3-day Change Management course. Approximately 70% of the qualified conversations we had were from individuals or organisations looking to address the massive organisational changes being experienced in the Gulf at the moment. What they found attractive was that through a Best Practice approach to addressing change, they would be able to maintain stability, if not growth, in the current economic climate. Unusually, we were even able to obtain commitments to training on the day rather than the usual 4-8 week buying cycle usually associated with exhibitions.

On the subject of MBA's, when most delegates were asked to qualify what they would get from one, most could not. So, if any of you reading this are thinking about spending your time and money on such an in-depth qualification, make sure you understand what you will get out of it and how you will apply the learning when you re-enter the work place. Many delegates found comfort in discussing their outcomes and also saw the benefit of taking an international qualification alongside their MBA to further improve chances of career development.

Overall, GETEX 2009 was a successful event and we wish all those that came to visit us the best for the rest of 2009.