British University welcomes future UK university leaders

The UK Higher Education Leadership Foundation's top Management Programme is the source of 80% of British Vice-Chancellors who were appointed last year.

The programme was established to enable senior academics and administrators to run Universities more effectively. The programme contains a module on International strategies which until this year took place in Brussels. In response to growing interest in the UK about changes in Dubai, the Foundation switched the venue of this module for the first time this year.

David Lock, Registrar and former Chief Executive of the British University in Dubai, who is himself a graduate of the Top Management Programme, was asked to put together a programme for the future leaders in Dubai. The programme included presentations at Zayed University and Wollongong in addition to the opening event at BUiD and a formal luncheon and address at the British Embassy.

The British Council Regional Director Rob Lynes spoke of the growing interest in British Higher Education being experienced in the Middle East and in Dubai in particular. The group was given case studies of BUiD, Middlesex and Herriot-Watt Universities and examined in detailed the distinctive features of each Higher Education provider. To compare and contrast, presentations were given about Wollongong and Zayed University.

To put the universities in the context of Dubai's successful economic growth Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Head of Academic City, and Clive Reed, Senior Vice-President for Training at Emirates Airline, made presentations to the group.

In describing the group's reaction to Dubai, David Lock said "They were gobsmacked by what they described as the stunning economic development taking place in Dubai and the highly focused and high quality contribution that Universities were making to that growth through the high level training of the future leaders of organisations in Dubai and the development of a research capability. The group was greatly impressed by the confidence that Dubai had in itself and its courage in the future.

"Hosting the programme in Dubai was a coup for the Emirate and would serve to develop further the growing relationship between UK Higher Education and Dubai as more of the UK's education leaders became aware of Dubai's significance," he added.

The success of the programme has resulted in Dubai being asked to host future international modules on the programme.

"The development of Higher Education represents an investment in the future of a country and its developing relations with other countries. The UAE is the ninth largest trading partner of the United Kingdom and with more people in the UK becoming aware of the benefits of operating in UAE, the education opportunities for the population are set to grow. The success of Institutions such as Wollongong and Zayed can be an inspiration for collaborations to further enrich the education and research partnerships in Dubai,"

said David Lock.