Latest news from Loughborough University
| 19 September 2007 | PR 07/118 |
Loughborough University to validate degrees at the British University of Egypt
Loughborough University has signed a formal agreement to validate existing undergraduate degree programmes at the British University in Egypt (BUE).
The agreement, part of a wider Loughborough-BUE partnership arrangement, will cover seven annual cohorts of students, the first being those who began their degree studies in September 2006.
Loughborough University will validate 16 degree programmes offered by the BUE, covering the areas of Engineering, Business Studies, Economics, Political Science, Informatics and Computer Sciences.
Students who successfully complete these programmes will receive a degree from both the BUE and Loughborough University.”
Professor Shirley Pearce CBE, Vice Chancellor Loughborough University, said: “The British University in Egypt has achieved much in its short lifetime. It represents an unprecedented extension of British education in the Middle East, and Loughborough is pleased to be working with partner organisations in both the UK and Egypt on such a pioneering project. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with the BUE.”
Dr Mostafa El Feki, BUE President, said: “The British University in Egypt is delighted to be working in partnership with Loughborough University.
Nick McHard, Registrar and Director of Corporate Services at the BUE, commented: “Although the BUE has its own degree-awarding powers, validation by one of the leading higher education institutions in the UK will be fundamental to building the BUE’s reputation, marketing its programmes and strengthening its recruitment.”
The BUE is a non-profit making, private, Egyptian university, situated at El-Sherouk city, 30km from the centre of Cairo, on a site of approximately 50 acres. Five buildings, affording 27,000 m2 of floor space, have been built so far.
It is a ground-breaking initiative, which provides a British style education and will produce graduates who are attractive to major Egyptian, UK and international employers. It also aims to build a strong research community, which will contribute to international research priorities, address issues relevant to the Egyptian economy, and help to ensure that the BUE attains worldwide recognition.
The University admitted its first students to the Preparatory Year in 2005 and will have over 1500 registered in 2007-08.
In order to ensure a British style of education, the BUE is seeking to appoint internationally recognised research-active staff, a high proportion of whom originate from and/or have experience of UK higher education.
The BUE was formally opened on 22 March 2006 in the presence of The First Lady of The Arab Republic of Egypt and Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
– Ends –
For all media enquiries contact:
- Hannah Baldwin, Head of PR, Loughborough University,
T: 01509 222239, E: H.E.Baldwin@lboro.ac.uk
Notes for editors:
The British University in Egypt – background
information
The initial steps towards the development of a British University in Egypt
emerged in 1998 when the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the then
Prime Minister of Egypt launched the Egyptian British Business Council
(EBBC), formed from major UK and Egyptian companies engaged in trade between
the two countries.
One of the objectives the Prime Ministers set was for the creation of a British University in Egypt supported by the EBBC and by UK Universities. Such a university would deliver UK quality degrees and produce graduates of UK standard. These high quality graduates would be attractive to UK and Egyptian companies as potential employees. Since then The BUE has enjoyed the support of both the British and Egyptian governments.
During the years 2004-2005 the BUE organisational and management structure was developed, phase 1 of the campus buildings was constructed and the first cohort of students started their preparatory year in September 2005.
Amongst the Board of Trustees of The BUE are Sir Derek Plumbly (the British Ambassador to Egypt), Sir David Davies, Sir David Blatherwick and Lords Coe and Stone ensuring a strong British presence at the highest levels of governance of the University. Distinguished Egyptians on the Board of Trustees include the major sponsors Farid Khamis (Chairman) and Raed Hashem as well as Boutros Boutros Ghali, Sir Magdy Yacoub and Mohamed Nosseir amongst others.
Background to the validation process by Loughborough
University
In early 2006 Loughborough University was invited to enter into discussions
leading to a strategic partnership with BUE.
For some three years prior to this, Loughborough University Enterprises Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary company of Loughborough University) had been providing advice – on a consultancy basis – on management, administration and organisation, and on the development of syllabuses and teaching materials.
In June 2006 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Loughborough and the BUE to set the context and establish the platform for the development of a broad collaborative partnership between the two institutions, with collaboration envisaged in research, teaching and enterprise, underpinned by Loughborough University’s validation of BUE programmes.
Following the formal agreement of a collaborative partnership, Loughborough University will validate the following programmes offered at the BUE:
BSc Civil Engineering
BSc Architectural Engineering
BSc Electrical and Communications Engineering
BSc Mechanical Engineering
BSc Petroleum Engineering and Gas Technology
BSc Economics
BSc Computer Science
BSc Information Systems
BSc Software Engineering
BSc Computer Networks
BSc Business Studies
BSc Business Studies, specialising in Accounting and Finance
BSc Business Studies, specialising in Management Information Systems
BSc Business Studies, specialising in Marketing
BSc Business Studies, specialising in Human Resource Management
BSc Political Science
About the University
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with
an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research, strong
links with industry and unrivalled sporting achievement.
It is a member of the esteemed 1994 Group – a set of internationally
recognised, research intensive universities – and has a reputation
for the relevance of its work. Its degree programmes are highly regarded
by professional institutions and businesses, and its graduates
are consistently targeted by the UK’s top recruiters.
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In the 2007 National Student Survey, the University was voted fourth in
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ranked in the top ten for overall satisfaction. Loughborough is also ranked
in the top five of UK universities in national league tables and was named
winner of the 2006 THES award for the UK’s Best Student Experience.
In recognition of its contribution to the sector, the University has been
awarded five Queen's Anniversary Prizes – an achievement bettered
by no other university.