University of Wollongong partners with the Australian Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai

Wednesday, 20 November, 2019

Australia’s University of Wollongong is the largest and first western university established in the UAE.

Opening in 1993, the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) has grown over the last 25 years from eight students and one course to more than 3,400 students from 108 countries studying 40 higher education programs across 10 categories. UOWD supports a network of more than 11,000 alumni.

The university is well known for its delivery of a dynamic curriculum tailored to local requirements and for producing highly sought-after graduates with internationally recognised qualifications. UOWD is consistently ranked by global employers in the top one per cent of universities in the world for the quality of graduates.

Such has been UOWD’s success that in 2020 it will open a new purpose-built campus in Dubai featuring cutting-edge technologies, modern architecture, and a mix of traditional and innovative learning spaces to cater to the full spectrum of needs of today’s student population.

WHY DUBAI?

Outside of Australia and the UAE, the University of Wollongong has international campuses in Hong Kong and Malaysia. Professor Mohamed Salem, President of UOWD, highlighted the opportunities on offer in the dynamic UAE market and the university’s intention to provide Dubai with the intellectual horsepower to turn the city into one of the world’s most innovative and progressive global centres.

“We see our business growing alongside the fortunes of Dubai. The Dubai economy is diversifying and growing. With one third of the world’s population within a four-hour flight of Dubai, the city is seen increasingly as a regional hub supportive of new and innovative businesses,” Professor Salem said.

“The UAE’s corporate regulatory arrangements support efficient and reliable business structures that have long-term growth front of mind. Taking the UOWD as a case study; we were granted permission to incorporate within a Free Zone. The exemptions that came with this has played a huge role in our growth in the region, so much so that we will be relocating to a larger, new state-of-the-art campus in 2020. It is an exciting time to be in business in Dubai.”

The UAE and wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are growing and diversifying, and with this comes significant trade and investment opportunities. Many Australian businesses and tertiary education providers have capitalised on these, bringing expertise, products and services to the region.

As a partner of the Australian Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai will connect UOWD with opportunities to promote its education services to a global audience in one location. The UAE is not only Australia’s largest trading partner in the Middle East but an important gateway to the world. With 70 per cent of the 25 million visits expected to come from outside the UAE, the world will be at Expo 2020 Dubai providing opportunities for Australian higher education services to expand and grow.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG IN DUBAI

The UOWD was the first international university in the UAE and the premier Australian university in the region. Established in 1993 by the University of Wollongong Australia, UOWD is accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the UAE Ministry of Education – Higher Education Affairs, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

Of the 40 higher education programs across 10 categories, UOWD currently offers 28 locally accredited undergraduate, post-graduate and PhD courses provided through the Faculty of Business and Faculty of Engineering and Information Services, as well as a number of research programs.

As part of its continued pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, industry engagement and student experience, UOWD will inaugurate a new purpose-built 200,000-square-foot campus at Dubai Knowledge Park in 2020.

DUBAI 2020 SHAPING UP TO BE THE BIGGEST WORLD EXPO IN HISTORY

Australia will join more than 190 countries at what is shaping up to be the largest World Expo in history. Expo 2020 Dubai, from 20 October 2020 to 21 April 2021, will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East. Visitors to Australian Pavilion will be immersed in the diversity of our landscape, culture and people and experience our longstanding innovative and inventive approach to finding solutions for challenges.