H. H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton at the first degree congregation ceremony held by the University of Bolton at its Ras Al Khaimah campus.
Sheikh Saud received the honorary doctorate from University of Bolton's Chancellor, The Rt Hon Baroness Morris of Bolton, OBE DL. The award was presented to Sheikh Saud in recognition of his services to education.
In his acceptance speech Sheikh Saud stressed the vital significance of education in determining the country's progress. He said knowledge was the cornerstone of any society and that the UAE had undergone great change in the past 40 years and education played a major role its advancement.
Also in attendance was H. H. Sheikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of the RAK Free Trade Zone. He is expected to receive an Honorary Doctorate at the University's UK graduation ceremony, to be held in July
Around 25 undergraduate students received their Bachelor's degrees in Business Management and approximately 30 postgraduate students received certificates or diplomas from the University's Vice Chancellor, Dr George Holmes at the ceremony held on Friday 19 February.
The event marked the graduation of the first cohort of students from the University of Bolton's first international campus, which was also the first and only British university operating in RAK under the RAK Free Trade Zone umbrella.
The Ras Al Khaimah campus is part of the University of Bolton's strategy, focusing on internationalisation.
The University of Bolton, RAK Campus currently has 300 students registered in a range of programmes, including Business, Computing, Engineering, Electronics and Supply Chain, all of which follow the control, assessment and curriculum of the University's UK centre. All progression and awards are conferred by the same UK examination boards assessing University of Bolton students in the UK. Therefore, the University is able to award a UK degree to RAK campus students.
Zubair Hanslot, Academic Director of the RAK Campus, is supported by the University's International Campus Learning Unit, based at the UK campus. The Unit provides support to ensure quality control over procedures and processes.
He said: 'The internationalisation agenda is providing global opportunities to many communities who otherwise would not be able to access UK education. It is also a mechanism by which the university reflects on its teaching and learning strategies and the manner in which the academic curriculum is put into practice.'