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Atkins, a sponsor of BUiD's Masters Degree programme in Environmental Design of Buildings in Dubai, supported the trip for students to introduce them to the approach that Atkins was developing towards sustainability.
They also analysed some of the environmentally-friendly construction projects that the company had developed, as well as offering them an opportunity to exchange ideas with some of the company's experts.
Among the developments discussed were a large scale master-planning project in the Middle East and a highly sophisticated, environmentally sustainable building that has attracted support from a local funding authority in the UK.
"The significant benefit of such trips is clear when you hear the students discussing what they have learned at the University with world class industry experts. They are able to apply their academic learning in an environment that allows them to question, conceptualise and gain first-hand experience of major real live projects,"
said David Lock, Registrar and Acting Chief Executive of BUiD.
"The support of Atkins for the University and the visit is invaluable, both for the current students and those who will follow them, and we are deeply grateful to them," he continued.
Green construction technology is becoming an increasingly hot topic in the region, as town planners and developers look to reduce the "ecological footprint" of the Gulf's building boom.
BUiD, the only dedicated research-based, postgraduate institution in the UAE, was established with the deliberate goal of bridging the gap between modern industry and academia.
By stressing the importance of collaboration and direct participation in industry, the University's Masters Programmes all include relevant research projects that enliven the programme and can solve relevant issues.
"The greater the interaction with real-world industry, the more relevant and useful the research topics become. This is not only beneficial to our students' career paths, but clearly provides great opportunities for companies who can look to recruit experienced graduates who add immediate value to their organisation," concluded Lock.
Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News Editor
