ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JANUARY 29-30, 2021 2

Dubai International Academic City

Heriot-Watt University ’s New Campus in Knowledge City Murdoch University University of Birmingham Dubai New Campus, Drone Footage

UAE to enhance position as a leading hub for higher education Dubai’s higher education sector optimistic on ’21

ubai International Academic City and are col- youth. The optimism of youth is reason alone to be cautiously optimistic out of effective vaccines in 2021, we at Murdoch Dubai look forward to the Dlectively home to more than 27,000 students and believe the emirate’s about the future.” full activation of our amazing new campus in Dubai Knowledge Park and education sector has more than a few reasons to be optimistic about the For his part, Ben Bailey, Campus Director, University of Birmingham an eventual return to face-to-face teaching and events.” future. Dubai, said: “After what has been a challenging year, we were incredibly In October 2020, Dubai International Academic City, KPMG and The A COVID-19 vaccine roll-out encouraging more students back to cam- proud to see our University of Birmingham Dubai graduates qualify and Talent Enterprise launched the key findings of a collaborative research ef- pus, progress on key projects and the introduction of golden visas has cre- enter great employment destinations. Our team have worked tirelessly to fort called What About Youth? The study found that 72 per cent of students ated a favourable wind for the UAE’s academic community, despite ongo- ensure that high quality education has continued for all of our students are confident in their soft and hard skills to compete for work anywhere in ing global challenges. throughout 2020 and we are now looking forward to 2021 with great opti- . It represents the views of more than 153,000 young people across After breaking ground in 2019, construction on The University of Bir- mism. the region, revealing that nearly eight in 10 young people are excited about mingham’s state-of-the-art campus in Dubai International Academic City He added: “We will be opening our new state-of-the-art campus in Sep- what the future holds, with 88 per cent believing the best is yet to come. is in full swing. Ranked among the world’s top 100 universities, the elite tember, and as vaccines begin to help manage the ongoing impact of CO- Dubai International Academic City is the world’s largest academic British institution will accommodate up to 2,900 students upon completion. VID-19 in the UAE and around the world, Dubai and the UAE are well ecosystem and is home to 27 universities from nine countries including Meanwhile, the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) opened the positioned to support the continued growth and development of the Higher Middlesex University, University of Manchester, University of Strathclyde, doors of its 200,000 sq ft Campus of the Future in Dubai Knowledge Park Education sector in the . We remain committed to providing excel- University of Bradford, Hult International Business School, Curtin Univer- in August 2020. It features a modern architectural design that combines lent education and an outstanding and safe student experience, and look sity, SP Jain School of Global Management, Amity University, BITS Pilani contemporary and innovation-focused learning spaces with cutting-edge forward to welcoming new undergraduate and postgraduate students to and Manipal Academy of Higher Education. Dubai Knowledge Park, a technologies. As the first international university in the UAE, UOWD also our Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Psychology, Education and community focused on education, vocational training and human resources, generated the highest admissions intake in seven years in 2020, following a Law programmes for 2021.” is also home to an impressive roster of world-renowned institutions. series of successful marketing campaigns. Professor Mohamed Salem, President of University of Wollongong About Dubai International Academic City Heriot-Watt University Dubai has also been readying for a move into Dubai, noted: “University of Wollongong Dubai has a 27-year International Academic City (DIAC) is the world’s largest ecosys- a new state-of-the-art 218,000 sq ft campus in Dubai Knowledge Park in academic excellence in the UAE and is a leader in the regional tertiary tem dedicated to higher education. Established in 2007, as part of TECOM 2021. The digitally-enabled campus is conceived to adhere to the latest di- education landscape. Our new campus embodies UOWD’s commitment to Group, DIAC aims to develop the region’s talent pool and help establish the rectives from the government, guaranteeing students’ safety, from blended offering students the most advanced learning journey in the region, and UAE as a knowledge-based economy through the provision of multi-tiered learning to providing remote access to resources, allowing for the changing reflects our passion for innovation in the field of higher education. As the academic institutions that are internationally accredited. landscape of education post COVID-19. world shifts towards blended learning and the digitalisation of the conven- Australia’s Murdoch University also inaugurated a 27,000 sq ft campus tional education model, the launch of our new campus is particularly timely DIAC is located on a fully-appointed 18 million sq ft campus with state- in May 2020 in Dubai Knowledge Park, twice the size of its former prem- – incorporating traditional and modern teaching elements that are critical of-the-art facilities. It is home to 27 universities from 9 countries, including ises in Dubai International Academic City. It features world-class facilities for today’s students to excel.” Amity University Dubai Campus, Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus, including a dedicated cybersecurity lab and education-focused furniture Commenting on the 2021 outlook, Professor Ammar Kaka, the Provost University of Wollongong Dubai, BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, Hult Inter- and interiors to promote a collaborative teaching and learning environment. and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai said: “2020 has seen national Business School, Murdoch University Dubai, and The University All of the institutes are focused on future-proofing the next generation the pandemic impacting several industries, however with the roll-out of of Manchester Middle East Centre to name a few. of graduates, a task that has become more pertinent following the global the vaccine, we are confident that we will see the start of economic recov- DIAC provides more than 500 certificate, diploma, undergraduate, post- academic upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic. ery in 2021. We are eagerly looking forward to the new year and all that graduate and PHD programmes to over 27,000 students of 150 nationalities Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director of Dubai International Aca- it will bring. Most importantly, we have made significant progress in the and continues to grow as per the needs of its robust and talented academic demic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, said: “Education is facing its big- development of our new campus and will be readying for the move into community. gest upheaval in decades, but our communities are uniquely positioned to our new building in a few short months from now. Located as it is in Dubai About Dubai Knowledge Park adapt. With a number of future-focused campuses already open or poised Knowledge Park means we will now be right at the heart of the modern Dubai Knowledge Park is the world’s only ecosystem dedicated to hu- to do – alongside favourable rules and regulations from our wiser leaders business and digital community in Dubai. This makes the campus location man resource management and learning excellence. Launched in 2003 with – the emirate has become an even more attractive destination for learning a rich environment for industry-academia collaboration and will also open the aim of strengthening Dubai’s position as a destination for professional and development. up work-based learning opportunities for our students. We laud the wise development, DKP and its more than 500 business partners and 3000 peo- He added: “Education and talent are intrinsically linked to the UAE’s vi- leadership of the UAE for all the steps they have taken in mitigating the ple have helped introduce global best practices that have enabled Dubai’s sion for a knowledge and innovation-based economy. Recent studies have impact of COVID-19 and ensuring speedy availability of the vaccine and transition into a knowledge-based economy while creating a talent pool in shown that young people are confident about competing for jobs globally look forward to a bright and successful 2021.” the UAE to drive that transformation. and we have a responsibility to ensure they succeed. As the world’s largest Dr James Trotter, Dean and Academic President at Murdoch University DKP offers an ecosystem that enables empowerment through knowledge academic ecosystem, it’s our role to create the right environment with state- Dubai, added: “2020 has been a challenging year but not without recur- and the development of professionals, bringing together a unique blend of of-the-art infrastructure, space to scale, and business-friendly regulations ring instances of harmony and resilience, and the constant reminder that programmes encompassing human resource management (HRM), consul- to attract the best universities to Dubai to capitalise on the confidence of together we can overcome any challenge. With the hope of a successful roll tancy, training, and personal development.

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