Sheikh Nahayan inaugurates Murdoch's Dubai Study Centre

Raising the profile of Australian education in the United Arab Emirates, H.E Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, arrived by helicopter to inaugurate Murdoch University’s International Study Centre Dubai campus.

The campus was established this year in Dubai International Academic City to cater for the expanding Dubai Media and Financial sectors, and support Dubai’s ambitions in providing an ongoing reserve of regional graduates connected to the demands of the region’s booming industries.

In his inaugural speech, Sheikh Nahayan stressed the importance of opening new world class universities in the UAE to support the country’s efforts to drive higher education in the region to world class standards.

A leading research university in Australia

Based in Perth, Western Australia, Murdoch University is one of the leading research universities in Australia, ranking in the top eight for research intensivity.

Murdoch University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor John Yovich, expressed his appreciation of the support the University has received from the UAE Government.

“Murdoch University acknowledges the support and foresight of the UAE Government in providing world-class academic infrastructure to encourage the development of quality higher education and training for the benefit of its workforce,” Professor Yovich said.

Continuing to work towards high quality education in Dubai

Dr Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director of the Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City said the Study Centre would continue the work towards promoting an environment that nurtures the delivery of high quality education.

“We are confident its presence in Dubai will bring us one step closer to the education objectives outlined in the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015.”

Initial course offerings at the Murdoch University International Study Centre Dubai for the Academic Year 2008-2009 include the Bachelors of Commerce, Media and Mass Communication, as well as a highly recognised postgraduate degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

These are expected to expand in future to cover a wide range of disciplines at all levels.