9:15pm Thursday 12th February 2009
By James Rush
Bradford University is to open its first regional office abroad in a bid to attract more Middle Eastern students.
The university hopes to double the number of students from the region wishing to study in Bradford over the next five years by opening an office in Dubai.
Chancellor Imran Khan will officially open the 1,000 sq ft regional office in Dubai Knowledge Village, a purpose-built complex of educational institutions, on Monday, February 23.
The university says it has ambitious plans to expand delivery of its world class executive MBA to a consortium of high profile business in Dubai.
The University already has students from more than 110 countries, who make up 22 per cent of the student body Dr Haydn Bartlett, director of the international office, said: “This is the university’s first regional office overseas, and is a major investment for the university.
“It represents a great opportunity for the university to further enhance its brand across the Middle East in executive education and to expand its distance learning programmes.
“The Middle East office will provide students and corporate clients with the support they need to find the right course or programme of study to meet their needs.
“The office will also act as a focal point for student applications from across the region for study at the university campus in Bradford.”
The office secured its trade licence in September and is undergoing refurbishment before it is ready for the opening.
A manager and assistance manager will be based in Dubai while the head of the office will be based at the University in Bradford and travel to the Middle East frequently to co-ordinate business opportunities.
In 2006 the university’s International Office was named best in the world for international students.
It topped a global poll measuring overseas students’ views, beating competition from universities such as Cambridge, Durham and Edinburgh, as well as institutions in America, Australia and New Zealand.
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