Heriot-Watt University Dubai (HWUD) has announced the opening of its brand new campus within the Dubai Knowledge Park.
The new building occupies 218,000 sq ft, which are distributed over seven floors, with eight different types of teaching spaces that have been carefully designed to deliver a myriad of learning experiences.
The dedicated campus will be serving nearly 4,000 students – representing 105 nationalities from around the world – who have joined Heriot-Watt seeking research-informed, industry-focused British education of the highest standard in the UAE.
Prof Ammar Kaka, Provost and Vice Principal at Heriot-Watt University Dubai said: "I am extremely pleased to open doors to our new campus today. The development of this campus is a testament to our continued commitment towards offering world class education and enviable infrastructure to our students."
"Our new campus building has been designed keeping the future student experience in mind; we believe that the supportive environment will allow us to deliver inspiring learning, increase academic success, cutting edge research and the holistic development of our students," he stated.
Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Director-General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, said: "In 2005, Heriot-Watt University Dubai became the first campus of an international university to open in Dubai Academic City."
"Since then, Heriot-Watt University Dubai has made an invaluable contribution to higher education in Dubai, helping to transform the sector into the international study destination it is today," stated Al Karam.
"Students at Heriot-Watt University Dubai benefit both from the university’s rich culture and history, and its dynamic, future-focused approach. The new campus will not only enrich students’ academic learning, but also the authentic experiences and memories that will last a lifetime," he added.
Classrooms have been designed to be interactive. Rather than traditional lecture theatres, the new campus houses collaborative lecture theatres which offer booth-style seating to encourage small-group discussions and group challenges at appropriate points; pod rooms which are designed to offer group-based learning and the sharing of learning between teachers and peers via interconnected PCs and screens; and teaching and seminar rooms which have been designed as flexible spaces for a range of classroom learning and teaching activities.
The many laboratories and workshops cover automotive, chemical, civil, mechanical, electrical, energy, robotic and structural engineering, and offer facilities for students to learn through practical application as well as through formal timetabled classes.
The new campus also features the Watt Inc., a business incubator run by the Edinburgh Business School, which will develop and support founders and start-ups, as well as the Bloomberg Trading Room where students can work with a simulated market environment using actual, real-time data, and a variety of functions simulating both trading and non-trading workflows.
The building also features a multipurpose venue, aptly named the Town Hall, with a cafeteria and auditorium-style seating suitable for hosting Open Days, presentations, and other interactive events.-TradeArabia News Service
