Heriot-Watt University Dubai campus inaugurates second phase expansion

Dubai: Heriot-Watt University Dubai campus inaugurated its Dh100 million second phase expansion on Monday to accommodate an increasing number of students.

The new structure features on-campus accommodation along with a variety of other student services that include two separate accommodation blocks for male and female students. Each block has five floors that have 16 rooms per floor and there are a total of 160 rooms.

The expansion also includes an auditorium that seats 700 students as well as leisure facilities such as a food court, coffee house and beauty salon. Speaking on the inauguration Professor Steve Chapman, principal and vice-chancellor of Heriot-Watt University Dubai campus, said:

“The Dubai campus, with its 3,500 students across a variety of disciplines, is of great importance to Heriot-Watt University’s international expansion. We look forward to building on success here with the opening of Phase 2 and to offering an enhanced student experience.”
 

The Minister of Education Humaid Mohammad Al Qutami and Lord Green, the UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment, attended the inauguration and toured the new campus

The university will also be launching a number of PhD programmes in an effort to develop research capability at the campus.
 

This effort will also include leading and hosting international professional and research conferences, such as the International Psychology Conference Dubai which will take place on November 1.

The university will also be offering a bachelor’s in chemical engineering with a focus on petroleum, oil and gas.

Last September the university experienced a 66 per cent increase in international student intake with that figure expected to rise again this year.

Heriot-Watt University, Dubai campus started in Dubai International Academic City in 2005 and its Dh200 million, state-of-the-art venue was opened in November 2011 by Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond.

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