Middle East and African higher education institutions are slowly but surely emerging on the world stage. They are increasingly developing global collaborations and being seen at major international education conferences. Hitherto, universities in the region were perceived as remote and distant, with few linkages to the rest of the world.

More of the institutions have also changed their outlook, as they realize the need for recognition in the world’s academic community and fostering public trust among its members. While retaining their rich culture and social values, they see the long-term benefits of cultivating relationships in the global arena.

In response to this need for worldwide recognition among Middle East and African universities, we have conceived a special edition of QS SHOWCASE to serve them. This hard-bound, luxuriously produced book, sent exclusively to academic heads around the world, will offer their presidents the most prestigious way to show their global peers how they have developed their institutions over the last decade.

Through QS SHOWCASE - Middle East & Africa, readers will learn more about your university’s academic achievements, research breakthroughs, innovations and international expansion. As a result of such exclusive top-level exposure, it will attract more quality international faculty and partners, and they will in turn attract more overseas students to enroll in your programs. Under SHOWCASE - Middle East & North Africa’s spotlight, we hope that yet more institutions from the region will grow in academic stature and global recognition. In this prestigious publication, you can present the best of your university to your peers in American, European, Australasian and Asian institutions, while conveying your aspiration to make a key contribution to global higher education standards.

SHOWCASE - Middle East & Africa (MEA) will be published annually from 2011 – in high-quality print and online as an e-book. Through its comprehensive coverage, including articles from national presidents and top educationalists - it will serve to document the region’s progress in higher education each year.

OFFICIAL LAUNCH
Our inaugural edition will be launched officially at the 7th QS-APPLE international higher education conference, which will take place on 23-25 November 2011.

COMPREHENSIVE CONTENT
Similar to the Asia edition, SHOWCASE – MEA will offer a range of insightful and professionally written articles that present the importance of Middle East and African university education to the advancement of society in the region and the world. It will include the following articles:

• Exclusive profiles of presidents of top Middle East & African universities and education ministers from the region
• Feature interview with a global celebrity who passionately advocates the benefits of higher education
• Expert views on developments and trends in Middle East and African higher education
• Feature interviews with leaders of major Middle East and African corporations that support university-industry collaboration
• Updates on higher education developments in the regional countries contributed by guest writers whom we will invite to share their views
• Tables of QS World University Rankings with expert commentary

TARGET AUDIENCE

• Top university leaders worldwide
• Chairmen and chief executives of the world’s major corporations and other stakeholders in the output of Middle East and African universities
• World’s heads of state and top diplomats

AVAILABLE IN PRINT AND ONLINE
QS SHOWCASE – Middle East & Africa 2011 will be published in both print and online editions.

The printed book will consist of up to 160 pages, professionally and distinctively designed in full colour throughout and using high-quality paper. Its square format (25 cm x 25 cm) makes it both original and suitable for viewing its pages on a computer screen. A special finish and hard boards will be used for the covers, with thread-sewn case binding to ensure both sophisticated presentation and durability.

The online edition, hosted as an e-book at www.qsworldclass.com/showcase, may be freely accessed via web browsers. It will be publicised by emails sent to the QS-APPLE (www.qsapple.org) worldwide academic community comprising some 100,000 senior faculty and administrators in over 60 countries.

Search engine optimisation (SEO) expertise will be applied during the editing of the text to ensure that the pages will appear high in Google and other online search results.

EXCLUSIVE WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION

A complimentary copy of SHOWCASE - MEA will be presented to each of the top two executive heads (e.g. president and provost) of the following institutions worldwide:

• Top 500 universities as featured in the QS World University Rankings
• Top 200 universities as featured in the QS Asian University Rankings
• China's 106 "Project 211" universities
• Top 20 Indian universities

In addition, a copy will also be sent to:

• Heads of state of G20 countries
• Ambassadors and high commissioners of 250 major diplomatic offices worldwide
• Chief executives of the top 200 Middle East and African corporations

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

SHOWCASE – MEA will provide the regional higher education leaders with an unprecedented platform to share their achievements, strategies and philosophies with a distinguished audience of global thought leaders. They may choose from our cost-effective advertising packages comprising advertorial and/or advertisement.

Each president’s profile may comprise:

• A short summary of his personal philosophy in the academic context
• A brief biographical background, including career path and major personal achievements
• His personal motivation to succeed in achieving such high office and to take success yet further
• His personal vision and ambition for increasing his institution’s global recognition and improving its world ranking
• His wider vision for the future of Middle East and Africa higher education in the global academic scheme
  of things.

The institution’s profile may include:

• Its existing claims for global recognition, e.g. Nobel laureates
• Original teaching methodology that has led to globally accepted scientific or other advances
• Specialist institutes
• Professors with a high global profile and respect in their specialties
• Global industrial collaboration
• Strong position in general or specialist world rankings
• High position in national or regional rankings

It may also articulate the university’s:

• Forward strategy for internationalization (e.g. recruitment of international academic staff and students)
• Investment in enhanced facilities and community outreach programs
• Creation of institutional and academic partnerships
• Hosting of major international conferences (such as QS-MAPLE)
• Growth of courses taught in English or other foreign languages
• Research projects organised in collaboration with international partners

It could also describe the major features of the institution’s physical infrastructure and the services that it provides to
staff and students, both local and international.

CHOICE OF COST-EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING PACKAGES

Platinum
• 1 full-page personal profile of university’s president, with head-and-shoulders photograph
• 1 full-page institutional profile, with up to three pictures
• 1 full-page advertisement in full colour (25 cm x 25 cm)
• 200 copies of printed edition
Cost – US$80,000

Gold
• 1 full page personal profile of university's executive head with head and shoulders photograph
• 1 full page advertisement in full colour (25 cm x 25 cm)
• 100 copies of printed edition
Cost – US$65,000

Silver
• 1 full-page personal profile of university’s president, with head-and-shoulders photograph
• 50 copies of printed edition
Cost – US$50,000

Bronze
• 1 full page advertisement in full colour (25 cm x 25 cm)
• 30 copies of printed edition
Cost – US$30,000

To enquire or advertise, please contact