Heriot-Watt's new £35m (ED200m) purpose-built campus has been opened by First Minister Alex Salmond at Dubai International Academic City (DIAC).
Mr Salmond was accompanied on a tour of the new 28,000 sq m (300,000 sq ft) state-of-the-art campus by Principal Steve Chapman, meeting with students and academic staff. The September 2011 intake saw an increase of 55 per cent on the previous year, with a total student population of 2,500.
First-class facilities
The high-quality Scottish education available at Heriot-Watt's Dubai Campus will provide thousands of students with the skills to become future leaders, managers and innovators to create a stronger business world
The campus has been designed to be modern and eco-friendly, and doubles the level of provision to 4,500 students. Investment in the campus has been supported through the University's partnership with Eikon International Holding.
Bespoke fashion labs, design studios, well-equipped engineering laboratories, and ICT labs with video-conferencing facilities have all been incorporated into the new facility. Phase two of the campus is currently underway, which will encompass modern student accommodation (with associated food court and banking facilities) and a multipurpose auditorium with capacity for 800 people. Smart card and fingerprint technologies are also incorporated.
Development of the new campus will allow expansion of recently introduced courses in Civil Engineering and Construction Management; Logistics and Supply Chain Management; Architectural Engineering; Water Resources; Interior Design; Management and Psychology; and Computer Systems.
High-quality Scottish education in the United Arab Emirates
Alex Salmond said, "This 21st century campus will quite rightly help establish the high quality reputation of Heriot-Watt University in the United Arab Emirates and will pave the way for the University's expansion in the region and further afield. However, even more than that, it will showcase the advantages of gaining an education in a Scottish university.
"For centuries, a Scottish education has been much treasured and today it is no different. Heriot-Watt University was the first overseas university to set up in Dubai International Academic City, offering top quality British education to students and executives from the Gulf and further afield.
"The high-quality Scottish education available at Heriot-Watt's Dubai Campus will provide thousands of students with the skills to become future leaders, managers and innovators to create a stronger business world."
Heriot-Watt's pioneering success in Dubai
Our new, state-of-the-art, eco-friendly campus... demonstrates our ambition and continued vision for providing relevant Scottish higher education in the region
Professor Steve Chapman said, "The opening of our new, purpose-built campus heralds an exciting new chapter in Heriot-Watt University's history in Dubai and builds upon our considerable and pioneering success here.
"As Scotland's international university, the official opening of our new, state-of-the-art, eco-friendly campus, built in partnership with Eikon International and offering world-class facilities, demonstrates our ambition and continued vision for providing high quality and relevant Scottish higher education in the region."
International focus
This new campus will place further international focus on both Heriot-Watt University and Scotland and will pave the way for a new generation of business leaders
Dr Lena Wilson, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, Scotland's main economic development agency, said, "Opening up new opportunities and possibilities with other nations is vital to secure Scotland's long-term economic growth. This new campus will place further international focus on both Heriot-Watt University and Scotland and will pave the way for a new generation of business leaders.
"Scotland has strong reputation in education and this new venture further highlights the high value that other nations place on Scotland's knowledge, skills and expertise as world leaders in education and academia. In fact, The Sunday Times recently recognised Heriot-Watt as the Scottish University of the Year 2011/12, stating that its graduates are 'highly regarded' throughout the world."
"By collaborating with Dubai we can proactively make it easier for Scottish companies to trade within the UAE, ultimately boosting the Scottish economy."