Benefits of participation

This event is only for high school counsellors who have applied to participate. If approved, participation is free of charge and includes the following benefits:

• Return air ticket from the closest major international airport in your country to/from Dubai
• Two nights of deluxe hotel accommodation (on a twin-shared basis)
• Welcome cocktail reception and dinner on the evening of Tuesday 8 April 2025
• Networking cocktail reception and dinner on the evening of Wednesday 9 April 2025
• Buffet breakfast, coffee breaks, and gourmet lunches on 9 and 10 April 2025
• Participation in THE CAP professional development sessions
• 26 pre-scheduled individual meetings with international education institutions
• Full-colour profile of your school in the official event handbook given to all international universities
• Times Higher Education/BMI Certificate of Participation

Accommodation
All counsellors will receive up to two free nights of deluxe hotel accommodation depending on their location. Accommodation is on a shared twin-room basis, between from Tuesday 8 to Thursday 10 April 2025, at the Millennium Plaza Downtown Hotel in Dubai. The number of nights stay you will receive will be confirmed once your attendance to the event is confirmed.
 
Please note that there are a limited number of hotel rooms available, and they are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. We therefore cannot guarantee rooms to counsellors applying after 28 February 2025. Early registration is recommended, and we will confirm your room accommodation as soon as possible. Please note that If two counsellors from the same school are approved to participate, they must share the same room and must pay the air fare to Dubai for the second counsellor.

Hotel Check-in: 8 April 2025 
Hotel Check-out: 10 April 2025

Buffet breakfast on 9 and 10 April are included for counsellors who are staying at the hotel.

Networking Cocktail Reception and Dinner
The Cocktail Reception and Dinner is an important aspect of the event and will take place on the evening of Wednesday 9 April 2025. This is the perfect opportunity to meet other counsellors from across the region as well as the participating international education institutions in a relaxed environment.

In just three days, you will:

• Meet experienced representatives from International Universities who have been flown into Dubai by BMI/THE specifically for this event, as well as fellow counsellors from across the region.

• Receive the latest updates on undergraduate admissions criteria and application procedures to International Universities.

• Participate in a series of world-class professional development sessions as part of the Times Higher Education Counsellor Accreditation Programme (THE CAP).

The Gulf International Schools Forum & Workshop is therefore a must-attend event for gathering new insights on international education, enhancing the way you support students applying overseas, and staying up-to-date on undergraduate admissions.

Event timetable

Tuesday, 8 April

TIME	EVENT
15:00	Check in available at Millennium Plaza Downtown Hotel
15:30	Bus departs from Millennium Plaza Downtown Hotel to the university campus
16:00	Collect your badge at the university campus
16:15 – 16:45	Welcome tour around the university campus
16:45 - 17.30	THE Counsellor Accreditation Programme (THE CAP) – Session 1
17:30 – 18:30	THE Counsellor Accreditation Programme (THE CAP) – Session 2
18:45	Bus departs from the university campus
19:30 – 21:30	Welcome Dinner
21:40	Bus departs to Millennium Plaza Downtown Hotel

Wednesday, 9 April

TIME	EVENT
07:30 – 08:10	Registration – Pick up your Event Handbook and badge
08:10 – 09:00	THE Counsellor Accreditation Programme (THE CAP) – Session 3
09:10 – 10.45	Private meetings (4 x 20 minutes each)
10:45 – 11:00	Refreshment break
11:00 – 12:35	Private meetings (4 x 20 minutes each)
12:35 – 13:45	Networking lunch
13:45 – 15:20	Private meetings (4 x 20 minutes each)
15:20 – 15:35	Refreshment break
15:35 – 16:45	Private meetings (3 x 20 minutes each)
17:00 – 17:50	THE Counsellor Accreditation Programme (THE CAP) – Session 4
19:00	Bus departs from Millennium Plaza Downtown Hotel
19:30 – 21:30	Networking reception and dinner for institutions and counsellors
21:40	Bus departs to Millennium Plaza Downtown Hotel

Thursday, 10 April

TIME	EVENT
08:00 – 08:50	THE Counsellor Accreditation Programme (THE CAP) – Session 5
08:55 – 09:45	THE Counsellor Accreditation Programme (THE CAP) – Session 6
09:55 – 11:05	Private meetings (3 x 20 minutes each)
11:05 – 11:20	Refreshment break
11:20 – 12:30	Private meetings (3 x 20 minutes each)
12:30 – 13:45	Networking lunch
13:45 – 14:55	Private meetings (3 x 20 minutes each)
14:55 – 15:10	Refreshment break
15:10 – 15:55	Private meetings (2 x 20 minutes each)
16:00 – 16:45	THE Counsellor Accreditation Programme (THE CAP) – Session 7
16:45 – 17:00	Participation certificates awarded
17:00	End of the event