The University of Birmingham campus was officially opened in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC).
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the current campus on Block 2 of DIAC, the campus is 2,500 square metre, two-storey building that was renovated with a total cost of £2.5 million to serve the university current needs until 2020 when the future campus will be completed.
“We wanted to turn it into something that was very similar to the spaces we have in Birmingham, which is a very historic, red-brick building,” said Mr Payne. “It was a lot to do.”
Many of the design elements of the UK campus have been duplicated in Dubai, including the mint green and space grey colour schemes, furniture and study areas, said Trevor Payne, Birmingham’s director of estates.
Officials expect to welcome about 300 students during the first academic year, which begins in September. As the student population grows, additional study spaces will open on the main floor.
During its first year, most of the university’s operations will take place on the first floor of the campus, where a traditional lecture hall, computer and engineering labs, seminar and tutorial rooms have been arranged. The main level is composed of soft seating areas and study spaces.
Officials gathered for the ceremonial launch emphasized that the Dubai location is not a “branch,” campus of the 118-year-old red-brick institution in Birmingham recognized as the 84th best university in the world, according to the latest QS Global World Ranking.
The degree awarded by the Dubai campus, located in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), will be identical to the one in the UK, and accredited here by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) of Dubai, officials said on Tuesday.