Under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the NAJAH exhibition is back, this year taking place from the 19th to 21st of October at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). The exhibition will continue to build on the success of previous years by providing a forum that spans the full spectrum of the region's education, training and employment sectors.
First held in 2007, the 4th consecutive NAJAH exhibition is an unrivalled event of its kind, not only in Abu Dhabi, but across the UAE. Having grown exponentially, the event extends over three days with a wide diversity of exhibitors and with a 20% increase in exhibitor floor space. Previous events have seen over 11,000 visitors, 57% increases in year-on-year visitor numbers – an achievement this year's event is expected to match.
Commenting on this year's event, Lucy Clarke, Exhibition Director, said: "We are very proud that NAJAH continues to exceed the expectations of our exhibitors and visitors in helping to advance the careers of Emiratis. Sponsors for the year include Al Hosn University, ADWEA and Abu Dhabi Advanced Technology Investment Company. Even at this early stage, we have already allocated over 80% of our floor space, with several leading exhibitors such as the Institute of Applied Technology, Khalifa University of Science, MASDAR, Etihad and HSBC. This helps ensure that our visitors will have the opportunity to engage with a variety of the region's leading education institutions and employers."
After a period of global restraint, Abu Dhabi's economic growth is expected to double during 2010, accelerating from 1.3% in the previous year to 3.2%. This growth is a direct result of the success of the Emirate's investment in non-oil related industries, whose human capital needs continue to evolve at a fast pace.
The UAE's higher education sector is one of the best funded and fastest growing in the world, offering UAE nationals a wider spectrum of educational opportunities than ever before. The UAE's leading universities will be present at NAJAH, including Abu Dhabi University, which recently launched a Masters in Engineering Management program in collaboration with the acclaimed Purdue University and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) which recently unveiled plans to continue its expansion through the opening of a new campus in Abu Dhabi in 2011.
NAJAH gives universities and companies the opportunity to meet thousands of UAE students and graduates from the region's leading universities specializing in important sectors such as business, engineering, hotel management and much more.
Commenting on the evolution of NAJAH, Lucy Clarke continues: "Building on past success, we are introducing a number of new and improved activities to enhance visitor experiences. These include the AIESEC Assessment Center, Career Advice Lounge and the popular Education & Career Forum that will provide a platform for prominent local leading figures to share their success stories and inspire visitors to make the right decisions about their education and career path."
Thanks to the Government's focus on economic and sector diversification, Abu Dhabi now offers students, graduates and jobseekers a multitude of education, training and career opportunities. NAJAH is the only annual event that brings these together in one place, giving visitors a one-of-a-kind platform for support and guidance in choosing the next step in their personal, educational and professional development.
