From the ground-breaking Dubai Expo 2020, to the Queen's Baton Relay and the opening of the iconic new University of Birmingham Dubai campus – it has been a fantastic year for our students, staff and alumni in Dubai.
Students on the new campus
Although the University of Birmingham Dubai campus was established in 2018, this year it has really come of age. The landmark opening of the new campus building, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, was a milestone in the University's long-term commitment to positioning Dubai as a regional hub for world-class higher education, research and talent development. The campus has been welcomed by students, who value the strong emphasis on environmental sustainability, and the combination of flexible learning spaces and formal teaching spaces to encourage collaboration. With the ability to eventually support up to 4,500 students, it offers the perfect environment to grow the student community.
Baton visits campus
The University of Birmingham Dubai campus welcomed the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton. In a ceremony on campus that blended UK and Arabic culture, students joined Lord Karan Bilimoria, Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, as official Batonbearers. The following day, the Queen's Baton headed to UK National Day at the Expo 2020 Dubai. Alumnus John Bull (MA Heritage Management, 2001), Director of the Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020, carried the Baton as part of the Relay. He said: 'It is an enormous honour to carry the Queen's Baton on a short leg of its global journey. It is a symbol of hope and collaboration and one that is making a real impact on the world through the environmental data that it is gathering and sharing – allowing us all to better understand, and protect, our beautiful planet.'
Sharing big ideas at Expo
Outside of campus, millions of visitors had the chance to visit Expo 2020 Dubai between October 2021 and March 2022, enjoying the country and themed pavilions, and providing the opportunity to showcase University research. Professor David Hannah (Professor of Hydrology and UNESCO Chair of Water Sciences) spoke to a global audience on World Water Day, highlighting the impact of humans on the water cycle. Dubai students attended Expo with academics, helping to connect the classroom to knowledge being shared.
Find all the medals throughout the autumn 2022 edition of Old Joe to enter our Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games competition.