Dubai: Dubai Silicon Oasis has launched a new Dh500-million campus of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT Dubai) at the free zone technology park, it has been announced.
The new premises, which will span a total area of 129,000 square metres with the capacity to accommodate up to 4,000 students, will be built to meet the increasing number of applications received annually at the American University.
Incorporating world-class educational facilities, sustainability elements and green building processes, the mega development will be completed in two phases and will feature an interactive learning courtyard with an innovation centre, it was revealed.
The first phase with an estimated cost of Dh200 million is slated for handover in 2019, while the second phase will be implemented by 2023 at an estimated cost of Dh300 million.
Announcing the plan, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), the regulatory body for Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), said the UAE leads the way in adopting cutting-edge innovation.
“We strongly believe education is at the core of innovation, and are proud to support RIT Dubai’s plans to build a brand new campus at DSO. Rochester Institute of Technology is a globally acclaimed academic institution that significantly enriches science-based knowledge, boosts academic standards, and promotes the spirit of innovation,” he said.
Featuring a centrally located interactive learning courtyard that includes an innovation and entrepreneurship centre, and a student housing area separated from the facilities buildings by a landscaped green belt, the grounds will comprise a shared academic space.
“Science and technology play a vital role in achieving the UAE Vision 2021, and I am confident that educational opportunities with esteemed international academic institutions that boast world-class facilities, such as RIT Dubai, will shape a scientific mindset in our students. I hope to see more such projects in the UAE in support of the country’s innovation drive,” Shaikh Saeed added.
The new campus is set to house the School of Electrical Engineering and Computing, the School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, the School of Science and Liberal Arts, and the School of Business and Management, as well as administration, facilities and operations, library commons, and an auditorium.
Dr Mohammad Al Zarouni, vice-chairman and CEO of DSOA, said once opened, the campus will contribute “to fulfilling the nation’s ambitions to advance knowledge and innovation through graduating well-educated and highly qualified future generations.”
Since its establishment at DSO in 2008, RIT Dubai has launched several academic programmes and courses that respond to the call of the leadership to transform Dubai into the smartest and happiest city in the world, he added.
Emphasising the university’s ability to drive innovation, Dr Yousuf Al Assaf, president of RIT Dubai, said: “Due to its leading global position in technology education, RIT Dubai has been attracting large numbers of students wishing to pursue higher studies in the sector. In response to the demand, we have decided to open a new campus at DSO, and I thank Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum for endorsing the project.”
The new home to the educational institution will apply distinctive education methods supported by the presence of multinational companies on campus, create an atmosphere conducive to learning, and cultivate a sense of belonging among their students, added Dr Al Assaf.
