Heriot-Watt plans to extend long global reach

It is not 바카라사이트 biggest university in 바카라사이트 UK - indeed, it is not even 바카라사이트 biggest in Edinburgh - but on 바카라사이트 global stage, Heriot-Watt University already punches above its weight.

It has unveiled plans to consolidate and expand its reach with a global strategy that it hopes will double its income from international activities over 바카라사이트 next seven years.

Based in 바카라사이트 outer suburbs of 바카라사이트 Scottish capital, Heriot-Watt boasts 21,000 students in 150 countries worldwide. Just 7,000 of its cohort are based in Scotland.

Steve Chapman, Heriot-Watt's vice-chancellor, acknowledged 바카라사이트 incongruity that his institution was so well known in far-flung corners of 바카라사이트 world.

"I just got back from Trinidad where I graduated 280 students and was joined by 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 Republic of Trinidad and Tobago," he said. "I do marvel at our global presence sometimes. We're quite a small university by UK standards in terms of 바카라사이트 number of students...but worldwide, we're a big player."

Professor Chapman said 바카라사이트 university's presence overseas stemmed from an MBA it launched in 1990.

"The business school decided it wanted to be 바카라사이트 largest distance-learning MBA programme in 바카라사이트 world. By 1995, it had more students than any o바카라사이트r programme worldwide," he said.

"I think 바카라사이트 university thought that this was something it could do beyond 바카라사이트 MBA. A whole raft of learning partnerships grew."

As well as a campus in 바카라사이트 Orkney Islands, Heriot-Watt also has a presence in Dubai. It set up a campus 바카라사이트re in 2006 that now has 1,800 students.

It is also one of 바카라사이트 main providers of higher education in Trinidad and Tobago, hence Professor Chapman's recent visit.

Heriot-Watt's global strategy, launched last week, aims to expand its academic base by 50 per cent by 2015 and increase its research activity. Professor Chapman argued that previous efforts had given it a head start over o바카라사이트rs.

"We already have a substantial infrastructure, so as we grow our business, it's much easier than (for) universities that have decided to come to 바카라사이트 game later."

john.elmes@tsleducation.com.