GESS Dubai 2024 Wraps Up Leaving a Lasting Mark on Education’s Future in the GCC

This year also highlighted significant collaborations in the education sector. HP and Skyline University signed an MOU to bring the HP Gaming Garage and HP Creator’s Garage programs to the university, enabling students to develop essential digital, design, and programming skills. Similarly, Schoolvoice partnered with Klickit, a leader in digital payment solutions, to offer efficient and enhanced payment options for schools and parents across KSA and the UAE, showcasing a commitment to seamless education administration.

Building on the success and momentum of this year's event, GESS Dubai will return from 11 to 13 November 2025, promising another exciting year of growth and collaboration. Looking ahead, education professionals can also anticipate the inaugural GESS Saudi Arabia, scheduled for Monday, 26 to Wednesday, 28 May 2025, at Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh. This premier event will offer educators in the kingdom unparalleled access to innovative products and solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s classrooms, empowering them to transform the learning experience for students. Accompanying the exhibition is a dynamic, free-to-attend conference program featuring three days of inspirational and innovative content, including seminars, live case studies, workshops, and panel discussions.

GESS Awards Winners Unveiled

This year, alongside the exhibition and conferences, GESS Dubai hosted a prestigious gala to celebrate excellence in education. The event recognized top educational products, services, and outstanding individuals. The GESS Awards highlighted the achievements of exceptional institutions and educators, promoting the advancement of quality in the sector. These awards aim to become a hallmark of excellence, inspiring further innovation and improvement within the education community.

The awards are divided into two sections – Teachers, Schools and Education Professionals; and the second for Suppliers and/or Distributors.

The category winners ranging from over 900+ entries and 60 countries are: Teachers, Schools and Education Professionals:

The Lifetime Achievement Award - Kevin Stedman (BEd, Hons, London; M.A, Sussex; FRSA)

Judges Commendation Award - Alan Smith - Jebel Ali School and Achille Kalinda - Green Hills Academy, Rwanda

Best Use of Digital Learning in the Classroom - Debra Gray - Hull College

Best Use of STEAM Learning in the Classroom—Smita Dhanke-Mayoor Private School

Ambassador for the Environment - Asha Alexander - GEMS Legacy School Dubai

Community Award for Citizenship - Lara Tseng - Small School Support Project

Innovation in Education - Ken Nee Chee - Sultan Idris Education University

Best Initiative to Promote Inclusivity—Selim Keçeli Academy and Shamaila Nawaz-Small Steps Learning Difficulties Centre

Best Wellbeing Initiative for Students or Staff - Kathryn King – GEMS Founders Schools Dubai

Positive Change in Education - Kamil Majeed - Nordic International School Lahore, Pakistan and Shaikhah Alzeyoudi - Empowering Emirati Girls – ESE

Outstanding Contribution in Education - Gavin McCormack

Suppliers and/or Distributors:

Judges Commendation Award: HP Middle East and Interact x Spinneys

Start-Up Company of the Year: 8 8billionideas

Best CSR Programme for Education—Voices of Future Generations Early Years Resource/Equipment

Supplier of the Year (TTS /RM) Educational Resources Primary Resource/Equipment

Supplier of the Year—White Rose Education Secondary Resource/Equipment

Supplier of the Year – Interactive Charts of Natural Sciences (ICONS) / Learnetic Higher Education Resource/Equipment

Supplier of the Year - Oracle Academy SEN and Inclusive Resource/Equipment Supplier of the Year—Incluzun

Best Free App/Software/Resource: Squirrel Education

Best Paid for App/Software/Resource - PowerSchool

Best Digital Educational Resource/Product - Quizizz Inc.

Best XR/VR/AI Product—Knowledge Hub—AutoAuto

Best Product to Promote STEM/Robotics/Coding—STEM PUNKS

Best Product to Promote Wellbeing—Lightspeed Systems

Best Product to Promote Arts, Music or Drama in the Classroom—StuDIYo Lab

Best Sustainable/Eco-Friendly Product - Oxford International Curriculum for Sustainability / Oxford University Press