The British Council in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are planning to organise a visit in October 2013 for academics in the construction field, specifically regarding Postgraduate study and collaboration opportunities with UAE and Saudi Arabian institutions.

Following the UAE and Saudi Arabia construction and real estate sectors’ steady rise over the last couple of years, interest in relevant Postgraduate degrees has also begun to increase. Moreover, the UAE and Saudi Arabia governments have identified the construction and real estate industries as two of those which will assist in diversifying the country’s economy and, eventually, reducing dependence on the oil and gas sector.

Our aim is to introduce delegates from UK institutions to representatives from the scholarship agencies, education agents and educational institutions with the goal of helping the latter understand the structure and content of various programmes, opportunities for postgraduate study, and career prospects.

Areas of interest include:

• Construction Project Management
• Construction Management
• Facilities Management
• Quantity Surveying
• Real Estate Management & Development
• Construction Law
• Construction Cost Management
• Sustainable Construction

In an effort to ensure maximum exposure with minimal costs, the suggested itinerary will be over five days and include:

UAE (two and half days): Saturday 26 October to Monday 28 October
Saudi (two days): Tuesday 29 October – Wednesday 30 October

UAE itinerary:

• Briefing meeting with the British Council
• Briefing meeting with the scholarship agencies in Abu Dhabi
• Briefing meeting with education institutions in both Abu Dhabi & Dubai
• Open public forums and the opportunity for scheduled one-to-one meetings with education agents in both Abu Dhabi & Dubai

Saudi Arabia itinerary:

• Briefing meeting with the British Council
• Meetings with education institutions in Riyadh and Jeddah
• Open public session with the opportunity for scheduled one-to-one meetings with potential students and education agents in both Jeddah and Riyadh.

The total cost of the tour will be GBP3500.
UAE: GBP1500 and Saudi Arabia: GBP2000

Please note that while you are welcome, and encouraged, to indicate up to three areas of interest, we are only able to accept one institution per area of interest above. Additionally, in line with Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research practice, we will be allocating spaces to those institutions which rank highest for their indicated field of interest as per The Complete University Guide http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings.

We are aiming to share a detailed agenda and participation costs by the beginning of July once we have received your expressions of interest.