The British University in Dubai signs contract with the UK's University of Birmingham

The agreement was signed in the UK by His Excellency Mirza Al Sayegh, a member of the University's governing body and Professor Michael Sterling, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham.

BUiD is the Middle East's first research-based, graduate university. It will open its doors to students in September when it will offer full- and part-time Masters programmes each of which is backed by an elite British university, thereby enabling it to offer the best of British Education in the Middle East.

The partnership agreement with the University will enable BUiD to offer masters degrees in Education. The programmes, for those with teaching experience, will include specialisations in international policy and management, special needs education and the teaching of English as a second or foreign language. The University of Birmingham will provide the programmes, help to select and support the BUiD staff professionally, assure quality and facilitate joint research opportunities. This will enable the University to develop its research capability much more quickly than would otherwise be the case and help it to take its place in the world wide research community.

BUiD's Registrar and Acting Chief Executive, David Lock said, "This is a most significant agreement with one of the top British universities. The University of Birmingham has a leading reputation in the subject of Education and has played a significant and highly supportive role in guiding the development of BUiD. The association will bring great benefit to students in the Gulf and beyond and through them it will aid the development of education."

Birmingham's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sterling said, "The University of Birmingham is very pleased to be associated with the launch of BUiD and looks forward to continuing to support its development into the future. I wish BUiD well in the achievement of its goals."

Mirza Al Sayegh said, "With the support of its British partners, BUiD is well placed to introduce a research capability in the Gulf and to provide opportunities to study on high quality programmes locally. The signing of the agreement with Birmingham means that contracts have now been concluded with all of BUiD's current partners. BUiD's creation by a law of Dubai as a not-for-profit institution with the support of the rulers enables it to focus on providing research and programmes of high quality."

BUiD has achieved official candidacy from the Ministry of Higher Education in the UAE and has submitted all of its programmes for accreditation, the outcomes of which are expected within the coming weeks.