The Heriot-Watt University in Dubai launched its new £35 million (Dh210 million) campus recently at Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), which will now allow the Scottish institution to double its student capacity.
The First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, inaugurated the first phase of the 28,000 square metre development.
"This new campus will allow us to double our student capacity taking us to 4,500 students," said Professor Steve Chapman, Principal of Heriot-Watt University (HW). "This campus represents a huge investment and step change in the level of our commitment to education in the UAE."
Building of the second phase of the HW Dubai campus is set to get underway next year. It will house the university's auditorium, halls of residence, sports facilities and food outlets.
"This Dubai campus is the jewel in the crown of Heriot-Watt's international education and gives us a global platform to deliver quality education and research," said Professor Chapman.
‘Human resources'
HW Dubai was the first British university to open its doors at DIAC in 2005 and began offering programmes to 120 students. It has grown to now cater to 2,500 students from more than 100 nationalities in just over six years.
"When I was a student at St Andrews University in Scotland, the total number of students there was 3,500," said Salmond. "To have 4,500 students at this campus alone indicates the growth of education and an essential understanding that the wealth of a community doesn't depend only on natural resources but human resources."
Salmond added the idea of internationally credible goods and services and the positive utilisation of the human mind and its intelligence is the greatest wealth creator of all.
"The greatest natural resource of all is the ingenuity and talent of the people of this world," he said.
He added the international aspect of the HW Dubai campus is one of the university's greatest strengths as its diverse student body, upon graduation, will be better equipped to contribute to the progress of humanity.
‘The route forward'
"This campus illustrates an understanding between Scotland and the UAE that education is the route forward for our people and this planet," said Salmond.
The First Minster touched on recent news of the world's population now recorded to be seven billion.
He said the only way earth's population growth will be sustainable and compatible with the future of the planet is through the application of human ingenuity, achieved through education.
World's first education act
Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland, said Scotland is renowned for its innovation due to the fact that more than 500 years ago in 1490, it issued the world's first education act.
"We educated more people than any other country in the world," he said. "This [education act] is the essence of our success and has contributed to the mentality of our people." He relayed this bit of history while presenting a copy of Scotland's first hand-written education act to, Professor Steve Chapman, Principal of Heriot-Watt University.
