Heriot-Watt University Dubai opens new campus at Knowledge Park

Heriot-Watt University Dubai (HWUD) has opened the doors to its new campus at Dubai Knowledge Park, which is set to serve nearly 4,000 students – representing 105 nationalities from around the world.

The new building occupies 218,000 square feet across seven floors, with eight different types of teaching spaces.

The new campus houses collaborative lecture theatres which offer booth-style seating to encourage small-group discussions and group challenges at appropriate points; pod rooms designed to offer group-based learning and the sharing of learning between teachers and peers via interconnected PCs and screens; and teaching and seminar rooms which have been designed as flexible spaces for learning and teaching activities.

Meanwhile, laboratories and workshops cover automotive, chemical, civil, mechanical, electrical, energy, robotic and structural engineering, and offer facilities for students to learn through practical application as well as through formal timetabled classes.

The campus has a psychology laboratory that supports psychological experimentation and a IT laboratory for computer scientists as well as others. Design studies are also supported with studios and a Design Hub for those preparing for a career in fashion, architecture, and interior design.

The new campus also features the Watt, a business incubator run by the Edinburgh Business School, that aims to develop and support founders and startups, as well as the Bloomberg Trading Room where students are allowed to work with a simulated market environment using actual, real-time data, and a variety of functions simulating both trading and non-trading workflows.

In common areas, students have access to essential services and amenities, including a dedicated Student Council Hub; social learning spaces for independent and group study; a library with both physical books and online resources; and a Maths Gym for maths support, in addition to a central Student Services Centre for student administration.

The building also features a multipurpose venue – the Town Hall – with a cafeteria and auditorium-style seating suitable for hosting Open Days, presentations, and other interactive events.

The campus also offers an activity studio where dance, fitness, and yoga classes can be offered when permitted. This is in addition to Student Wellbeing Services that are offered to students seeking guidance and support to address personal challenges impacting their wellbeing. Heriot-Watt has also recruited more than 100 new professional services staff over the last one year.

Professor Ammar Kaka, provost and vice principal at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, said: “The development of this campus is a testament to our continued commitment towards offering world class education and enviable infrastructure to our students.

“Our new campus building has been designed keeping the future student experience in mind; we believe that the supportive environment will allow us to deliver inspiring learning, increase academic success, cutting edge research and the holistic development of our students.”

“In 2005, Heriot-Watt University Dubai became the first campus of an international university to open in Dubai Academic City. Since then, Heriot-Watt University Dubai has made an invaluable contribution to higher education in Dubai,” added Dr Abdulla Al Karam, director-general of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.

“Students at Heriot-Watt University Dubai benefit both from the university’s rich culture and history, and its dynamic, future-focused approach. The new campus will not only enrich students’ academic learning, but also the authentic experiences and memories.”