Masters programmes forerunner to major collaboration with Bahrain

The visit by the delegation from Bahrain’s Royal University for Women culminated with the signing of memorandum of understanding

LECTURERS at the University of Huddersfield are to deliver a wide range of courses to students at a pioneering university for women in Bahrain.

A party of senior figures from the Gulf state’s Royal University for Women has paid a visit to Huddersfield and signed a Memorandum of Understanding.  It will eventually result in collaboration with all of Huddersfield’s seven academic schools.

Initially, lecturers at the schools of Business and of Art, Design and Architecture will travel to Bahrain to deliver University of Huddersfield Master’s courses on subjects that will include international fashion and business analytics.

In addition, students at the Royal University for Women will have the opportunity to travel to Huddersfield for research work, utilising facilities that impressed the deputation from Bahrain.

The visiting party was headed by Dr David Stewart, who is Acting President of the Royal University for Women, which was founded in 2005.  He was joined by International Officer Dr Vivien Exartier, Dr Hala Elias, who is Dean of the College of Business and Financial Services, and the Dean of the College of Art and Design, Dr Shweta Kinra.

They were welcomed by the University of Huddersfield’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Thornton, and there was a special presentation from Professor Andrew Ball, who is Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise.  Also in attendance was Project Manager Research and Enterprise Dr Mostafa Alghadhi, one of the Huddersfield team that played a key role in forging the new link with the Royal University for Women.

The visitors toured the Business School, escorted by its Dean, Professor Jill Johnes.  At the School of Art, Design and Architecture – now established in the new £30 million Barbara Hepworth Building – they met Dr Roderick Hunter, Director of Teaching and Learning for a tour of the new structure.

The initial stage is that the first Master’s courses, run in tandem by Huddersfield and the Bahraini university, will begin in 2020, with other subject areas – including engineering and education – coming on stream later.