DIAC Honours Outgoing President of University of Wollongong in Dubai

24 July, 2011 - Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the region’s leading destination for higher education and a member of TECOM Investments’ Education Cluster, honoured Professor Rob Whelan at the end of his three-year term as President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD).

Dr. Amina Al Rustamani, CEO, TECOM Business Parks, in the presence of Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director, TECOM Investments’ Education Cluster, presented Professor Whelan with a golden dhow as a token of appreciation for his noteworthy contributions to the university.

Backed by a deep understanding of the education sector, Professor Whelan brought about significant reforms within the university, moulding it into a coveted institution for higher education. During his term as President, Whelan tailored various courses to deliver shorter training modules to meet the demands of the students and diverse sectors in the region.

Professor Whelan also developed UOWD’s doctoral programmes in Business and Administration. His relentless efforts established the university as one of the leading international centres for research in ecology and genetics of endangered plant and animal species.

The university will announce a successor to Professor Whelan shortly.
Established in 1993 by the University of Wollongong in Australia, UOWD operates under the umbrella of Dubai International Academic City. It currently hosts approximately 3,500 students and is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the UAE.

About Dubai International Academic City:

Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is the world’s only Free Zone dedicated to Higher Education.  Established in 2007 as part of TECOM Investments, DIAC aims to develop the region’s talent pool and establish the UAE as a knowledge-based economy.DIAC is the premier destination for Higher Education in the region, located on a fully-appointed 18 million sq ft. campus with state-of-the-art modern facilities.  DIAC currently has 27 Academic institutions from 11 countries.The DIAC campus is host to over 18,000 students from more than 100 nationalities.  DIAC students also have access to over 300 Higher Education programmes.DIAC Phase III achieved a “Green” status and was awarded Silver LEED certification.  DIAC provides an established educational environment for academic institutions and caters to students from around the world.DIAC is also ranked top 10 in the Middle East under “Best Transportation” category and top 25 in the Middle East under “Best Overall” category according to 2010 Financial Times Rankings.

For further information on TECOM Education Cluster, please call:

Zeba Ahmad
APCO Worldwide (JiWin Public Relations)
Tel: +9714 361 3590 (direct)
+9714 361 3333 (switchboard)
Fax: +9714 388 8001
E-mail:  zahmad@apcoworldwide.com

Tara Basrur
APCO Worldwide (JiWin Public Relations)
Tel: +9714 361 3596 (direct)
+9714 361 3333 (switchboard)
Fax: +9714 388 8001
E-mail:  tbasrur@apcoworldwide.com