By IANS,
Dubai : Britain’s University of Bolton has announced it will open a new branch campus in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Making the announcement, the university, along with its partner Western International College, said in a statement here the Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone has been chosen for the new campus because of the low cost of operations which could then be translated into highly competitive student fees.
The courses are set to start September 2008 and these will include both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Postgraduate programmes will be designed in such a way that students can continue in work while they study, according to the university statement.
“We deliver a blend of academic knowledge with practical applied skills employers need,” George Holmes, vice-chancellor of University of Bolton, said in the statement.
“Students gain professional insight and skills that enable them to advance at work and in their chosen careers,” he added.
All courses at the Ras Al Khaimah campus will be directly equivalent to those offered in Bolton. These will be assessed by the same examination boards and moderated by the same external examiners.
The university expects both British and international students to move freely between the two campuses. All degrees and transcripts will be issued directly by the University of Bolton in Britain and these will be identical to those offered to students at the parent campus.
“We aim to provide modern teaching facilities, state of the art laboratories and equipment and the broadest range of flexible degree options available from a UK university in the emirates,” said Zubair Hanslot, principal lecturer in computing and engineering mathematics and interim project manager for the Ras Al Khaimah campus.
“We’re also keen to develop relationships with local employers to meet their employees professional and high level skill needs,” he said.
According to Hanslot, the university will be providing transport to the nearby emirates of Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Um Al Qawain and Fujairah so that students from these places can attend the university.
“Dubai is only a 45-50 minute drive away. We will also be providing student visa options as well as accommodation for students wanting these facilities,” he said.
Welcoming the opening of the new campus, Sheikh Faisal Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone, said: “We have ambitious economic development plans for Ras Al Khaimah. Higher level skills are essential and the demand for graduates from employers is set to grow rapidly.”
Formerly known as the Bolton Institute of Higher Education, University of Bolton is based at Bolton in Greater Manchester, England.
It is also offering its courses in nine countries, predominantly in the Far East, Asia and Africa.