Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), a member of TECOM Investments and the region’s leading destination for international higher education, has announced a partnership deal with Times Higher Education (THE) - Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, a UK-based network for careers and education.

Under the agreement, Dubai International Academic City will serve as a sponsor for THE-QS World University Rankings’ seminars and workshops scheduled to be held during 2008. Based on several multiple indicators, THE-QS ranking confers recognition to universities based on factors such as quality of research, research training, peer and recruiter reviews, along with the competency of students and faculty.

The announcement was made by Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director, Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City, on the sidelines of the 60th NAFSA: Annual Conference and Expo, which ran from 25 - 30 May in Washington D.C.

Dr. Ayoub Kazim said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with the prestigious Quacquarelli Symonds for Times Higher Education. As a gold partner for top universities, we are aware of the crucial role the leading academic institution plays in developing an individual’s capabilities and providing platforms for educators and industries to identify talent.”

The NAFSA 2008 Conference and Expo attracted the largest number of participants in the history of NAFSA, drawing more than 9,000 delegates, including international educators and administrators from over 100 countries. The NAFSA: Association of International Educators promotes the exchange of students and scholars to and from the US through offering awards and scholarships.

Dubai International Academic City sponsored three distinctive seminars at the event that brought together institutions of higher learning from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Dr. Kazim added: “NAFSA 2008, the largest educational event in the world, provided an excellent platform to announce our key partnership with THE-QS World University Rankings. The forum also enabled us to showcase the strategy, vision and mission of Dubai International Academic City that is set to become the regional hub for international higher education with its 21 international academic partners.”

Jason Newman, Top Universities Portfolio Head, QS Ltd, said: “Quacquarelli Symonds is delighted to have onboard DIAC as our sponsor for the Times Higher-QS World University Rankings’ series of seminars. We look forward to this continued partnership, and are confident the synergy will result in far reaching outcomes for the benefit of the student community worldwide.”

Complementing Dubai’s strategic mission to build a holistic knowledge-based economy, Dubai International Academic City endeavours to offer programmes that foster the creation of a rich talent pool, matching the country’s range of booming sectors. The cluster provides enabling opportunities for top-tier global universities to create their distinctive identity by establishing their campuses in Dubai.