Uni of Wollongong celebrates 25 years in Dubai

The University of Wollongong has notched up 25 years of delivering education in Dubai.

University of Wollongong vice-chancellor Paul Wellings says that, 25 years after it began, the Dubai operation has become ”a distinguished, dynamic and diverse institution”.

In today’s Higher Ed Daily Brief: silver anniversary, two new appointments

25 years in Dubai

The University of Wollongong has notched up 25 years of delivering education in Dubai. What began as a gathering of eight students in an apartment is now a campus of 3,600 students and over 10,000 alumni. In 1999 the University of Wollongong became the first foreign university to get a licence from the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which allowed it to provide accredited courses to UAE government departments. This has became an integral part of the operations of the University of Wollongong Dubai.

Last week University of Wollongong vice-chancellor Paul Wellings told a celebration gala dinner: “From humble beginnings in 1993, the University of Wollongong in Dubai has evolved to be a distinguished, dynamic and diverse institution delivering the highest standards of education in one of the world’s fastest growing economic centres.

“Many of our graduates are now captains of government, of Dubai’s thriving industries and increasingly its start-up communities.”

Originally the University of Wollongong Dubai taught English, commerce and business. Today it also teaches computer science, engineering, education and the humanities and has an increasing research profile.

New Southern Cross appointment

Southern Cross University has chosen UTS art and social sciences dean Mary Spongberg to be its deputy vice chancellor (research). At UTS Professor Spongberg launched the Centre for Advancement of indigenous Knowledges which helped boost the number of indigenous students doing higher degrees by research to record levels. Her own research areas are women’s and gender history, literary history and historiography.

New CSHE director

William Locke is the new director of the University of Melbourne’s Centre for the Study of Higher Education. He comes to the role from University College London where he is a reader in higher education studies at the UCL Institute of Education and led the development of the MBA in higher education management. He takes up his new role in February 2019.