BUILDING CAPACITY IN CONTEXT –

The Power and Impact of Higher Education

Professor Richard A Williams OBE FREng FTSE

Principal and Vice Chancellor

• Scottish Institution,

founded in 1821

• First Mechanics

Institute, starting a

worldwide movement

• Pioneer of access to

education for men,

women and the working

classes

Rooted in mission to create and exchange

knowledge for the benefit of society

From Mechanics Institute to International University

• 9,100 students in UK

• 32,000 students globally

• 35% of students in UK from overseas

• Students from 123 countries

• 88,000 alumni worldwide

• Campuses in UK, Dubai & Malaysia

• International network of academic

partners for research and teaching

• Global student and staff mobility

Delivering impact through Economic and

Human Capital Development

• The pioneering university in Dubai International Academic City in 2005

• Now 3,750 students delivering Foundation to PhD study

• Major annual economic impact valued at £94m (2014/15)

• University annual expenditure of £5m in the UAE economy (2014/15)

Power of People – Graduates Working with Industry

• Professional postgraduates driving the economy, creating solutions for industry

• High percentage of graduates in professional careers contributing to the region

• Every job at the campus supports a further 8 jobs in the wider UAE economy

• Heriot-Watt alumni managing the Burj Khalifa

Adding impact in Asia – the Heriot-Watt University

Malaysia Campus in Putrajaya

• Opened flagship campus in September 2014

• Government awarded status as special Economic Development Project

• Already 1,000 students from Foundation to Postgraduate, capacity for 4,000

• Programmes relevant to Malaysian economic development in engineering,

accounting, business, actuarial science, built environment

Making a difference – Go Global with Heriot-Watt!

• Global research with relevant impact

• Effective partnerships with industry,

universities and government

• Increasing student mobility

• Developing citizens of the world and

graduates who are: Specialist; Global;

Creative & Professional

• HWU Dubai Making an Impact

report: www.hw.ac.uk/GG16

• Student Blogs:

https://globalhwum.wordpress.com/