Dr Warren Harrison, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), performed the opening ceremony at the MENA Office alongside George Hunt, Director of International Development, and Dr Gordon Marshall, Associate Dean (International) in the School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies.
The launch event was organised by the University’s in-country leads, Regional Director Syed Abidi and Support and Business Development Officer Nasir Mirza. Also in attendance were key international stakeholders including agents, strategic partners, and representatives from the British Council.
Dubai is already an international hub for higher education and is a focus for Teesside University, along with the wider Gulf region, across the full range of internationally-facing activities.
The Teesside University alumni network currently consists of more than 130,000 former students across 150 countries and the opening of the Dubai office will support the ongoing growth of its global partnerships.
Dr Harrison said: “The opening of Teesside University’s MENA Office, our sixth in-country initiative of this kind, provides a clear indication of our global ambitions and ever-widening international footprint.
The opening of Teesside University’s MENA Office, our sixth in-country initiative of this kind, provides a clear indication of our global ambitions and ever-widening international footprint.
“The establishment of a permanent presence in this part of the world will not only support student recruitment from the region but will also allow us to develop new and exciting partnerships around research and innovation, enterprise and knowledge exchange as well as student and staff mobility.”
Syed Abidi, Regional Director, added: “We are thrilled to announce the opening of Teesside University's Dubai Regional Office, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to providing high-quality education and support to students joining Teesside University UK programs from the MENA region.”
Nasir Mirza, Support and Business Development Officer said: “Teesside University's expansion into Dubai as a regional office marks a significant stride in our commitment to offering quality education and support services to students from the MENA region. We're excited about the opportunities this venture will create and the positive impact it will have on students' lives."