British University in Dubai marks 10 years of excellence

The British University in Dubai (BUiD)

The British University in Dubai (BUiD) marked the occasion of its 10th anniversary with a splendid celebration. The day began with a meeting for the Council members at the office of the BUiD Chancellor, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

His Highness thanked the Council members for the outstanding effort in supporting BUiD’s growth over the past 10 years. Recognition trophies were presented to current and original, Council members and advisors by the Chancellor in appreciation.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “BUiD’s contribution to the knowledge – based society in Dubai in the last 10 years has been remarkable. It gives me great pride and satisfaction to witness the progress and success of BUiD with each class of masters and now doctors graduates year after year.”

The British University in Dubai began by offering master’s programmes in Education initially, then it steadily added new programmes in Engineering and Information Technology and Management programmes, and it now boasts of 12 masters programs, in addition to post graduate diploma programmes. Furthermore, BUiD started offering its first Doctorate of Education in 2010, and in 2012 PhD in Project Management was offered.

BUiD has most recently obtained accreditation for PhD in Architecture and Sustainable Built Environment, and is now in the process of obtaining approvals from Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for PhD in Computer Science. It is worth noting that about 500 students have graduated from BUiD to date.

This year 2013, will be a landmark year for the University as it will witness the first accredited Doctorate of Education graduates for both BUiD and the UAE in general.

The British University in Dubai will remain true to its mission statement, to become the premier institution in the UAE in research -based higher education. Within this context of rapid expansion and progress BUiD aims to become the number one institution in promoting and developing a high standard of education and open up new horizons in and for the UAE.

The celebration continued on the day with a luncheon hosted by BUiD at the University campus in Dubai International Academic City.

Prof. Abdullah Alshamsi, BUiD’s Vice Chancellor, welcoming the lunch guests, thanked BUiD’s friends for their valued support and he added: “BUiD is grateful for the continued support and patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and all current and former Council members. BUiD’s success is the result of hard work and dedication from these great people. Thanks to all of you, BUiD has become an important institution in UAE’s education landscape.”

Several of the Council members expressed their happiness and pride in the progress BUiD has achieved.

H.E. Mirza Al Sayegh , BUiD Council member, and Director, Office of HH Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, said on the occasion: “Please accept my warmest congratulations on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the British University in Dubai. It is a great honour for me to be a member of BUiD and to be associated with His Highness the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor and Members of the Board. I would also like to thank those partners who stood by us from the beginning and have witnessed what the University has become today.”

May I take this opportunity of wishing the staff and students, continued success and prosperity in the coming years.”

Dr. Ahmed Saeed Bin Hezeem, BUiD Council member, and General Manager Dubai – Courts, commented: “BUiD started 10 years ago with distinguished academic associations which enabled it to be one of the top higher education institutions in the UAE, providing the local and regional labor market with graduates of Master’s and doctorate programmes.

Jennifer Bibbings, BUiD Council member, and partner at law firm Trowers and Hamlins, commented: “I am immensely proud to have been associated with BUiD since its inception, which involved a dedicated group of people determined to see its establishment through to reality. That reality is now a thriving institution of international quality with over 500 postgraduate students. I look forward to BUiD continuing to grow from strength to strength.”

David May BUiD Council member, and Managing Director at MKM Commercial Holdings LLC said: “I wish to congratulate BUID on the high standards that it has achieved and maintained, which in doing, has brought to the UAE a benchmark of achievement with a diversity of courses, giving Emirati Students unparalleled opportunities in attaining five star post graduate education including opportunities for research.

I wish BUID Chancellery ,Professors and all staff continued success in their pursuit of proven excellence together with their councils support for expansion into both undergraduate and post-graduate sectors of what is an exceptionally successful and noteworthy not-for-profit Institution “

Dr. Ayoub Mohammed Kazim BUiD Council member and Managing Director Dubai Knowledge Village & Dubai International Academic City: “I would like to congratulate BUID on its remarkable achievements over the last decade. The university has played a leading role in elevating the quality of higher education by working in partnership with leading specialized UK universities to offer research-based education in key modern disciplines. The educational project is contributing to the creation of a knowledge-based economy and the development of UAE nationals. It has been a privilege to be a Council member of the university for more than seven years and I wish them continued success.”

Dr. Abdalla Mohammed Al Amiri , BUiD Council member, said : “It’s been 10 years for BUiD with strong academic programmes and we are very proud we have a good number of graduates in the Masters and Doctorate level which makes the University stand out and it has proven itself as we are aware there are a lot of universities here in UAE coming from all around the world but this is first unique British University in Dubai”.

The lunch was attended by a wide group of representatives from the higher education sector and from government, business and semi- government organization many of which enjoy strategic partnerships and relations with BUiD.

Martin Prince, BUiD Registrar commented: “It is crystal clear – “wadheh” – that developing and shaping a local not-for-profit university concerned with scientific research and educational opportunities in all fields of knowledge is a long-term project. I think both BUiD and Dubai are fortunate to have the intellectual and social capital of strong UK-UAE relations as the foundation for our progress over the last ten years, and for the challenges of the coming years.”

BUiD is the first research-based postgraduate university in the region and it is licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and internationally the UK Education equivalency Agency (NARIC) acknowledge BUiD’s education qualifications, which are recognized as equivalent to British standards thanks to its association with UK-based universities including the University of Edinburgh, the University of Manchester, the University of Birmingham, Cardiff University, King’s College London, and the University of Reading.

The British University in Dubai as it marks the first successful decade of its establishment with pride looks forward to many decades of contributions, development and success, as a progressive social enterprise being a local not for profit university dedicated to successful development of the ambitious and talented people of Dubai.