Dubai Research Students See Latest British Work on Sustainability for the Built Environment

Dubai Research Students See Latest British Work on Sustainability for the Built Environment

The British University in Dubai Visits Welsh Partner and Strengthens Sustainable Design Program for Students.

August 18, 2010 12:17 by Rasha Reslan

The British University in Dubai (BUiD), the Middle East’s top research-based postgraduate university has announced the success of its biannual student visit to The Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) at Cardiff University, a trip supported by leading design firm, Atkins.

The trip is offered as part of BUiD’s Sustainable Design of the Built Environment (SDBE) Masters programme, offered in partnership with the WSA, as part of a vision to expand and provide world-class education to UAE graduate students. The next step in the process is the launch of newly accredited MSc in Intelligent Building Design Architecture (IBDAA) this September.

“The students visited the Building Research Establishment (BRE) Innovation Park which hosts demonstrations of buildings showcasing different technologies that make buildings more comfortable, energy-efficient and sustainable. This helps them become familiar with the latest trends in sustainable construction, a subject that is extremely important for the Middle East at this time,” said Professor Bassam of BUiD.

Students were also taken to visit the headquarters of top design firm, Atkins.

“Our support for BUiD and its students is an important part of our commitment to improve skills and knowledge as the world moves towards a low carbon future. This biannual trip to the UK is a great opportunity for students to broaden their understanding and see some of the live projects where sustainable design skills have been applied,” said Richard F Smith, Technical Director and Group Chair of Carbon Critical Buildings for Atkins.

A trip to the Architectural Associate School of Architecture, the UK’s renowned and oldest school of architecture based in London, was also a treat for visiting students who had the opportunity to discuss new research projects and attend presentations.

BUiD also supports a long-distance collaborative PhD programme in Sustainable Design of the Built Environment awarded by Cardiff University’s Welsh School of Architecture.

The WSA has been voted the UK’s top School of Architecture in the Times Higher Education Supplement league table for the last four years. In 2008, a Research Assessment Exercise concluded that 90 percent of the school’s research activity is globally recognized.

BUiD is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and is recognized around the world for its high level of quality education which is on par with British standards thanks to its association with UK-based universities including the Universities of Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and King’s College London

It is expected that the IBDAA launch and BUiD’s other collaborative activity will further enhance local access to many key players in sustainability for the built environment over the next year.

Student Reem Mohd Omar who took part in the UK trip, said: “This trip was a combination of a fantastic visit to Cardiff, Reading and London and also provided us with an insight into the latest practical and academic research and experimentation for a sustainable built environment. It really was a splendid and informative experience,” she said.