News

Press Release

Thursday 3 February 2011

PRESIDENT OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TO ATTEND INAUGURAL GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY

The President of Trinidad and Tobago will be guest of honour on Saturday (5 February) at an inaugural graduation ceremony for Heriot-Watt University students, being held at the Regency Hyatt Hotel in Trinidad.

His Excellency, President George Maxwell Richards, himself an honorary graduate of Heriot-Watt, will join Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Steve Chapman, to see around 250 students graduate in a range of programmes from Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh Business School, the School of the Built Environment and the School of Management and Languages, all delivered through the University’s Academic Learning Partners.

Professor Chapman will also mark the occasion by announcing the extended programme of degrees which will be available from the start of the new academic year.

Students will be able to study additional programmes including;

• MBA and MSc in Marketing, Human Resource Management, Financial Management and Strategic Planning
• DBA (Doctor of Business Administration)
• BSc in Construction Project Management
• Pg Diploma in Safety Risk Management
• MSc in Civil Engineering and Construction Management
• BA in Management and Psychology and
• MSc in Business Psychology

The move will support and build on Heriot-Watt’s continued efforts to provide flexible learning opportunities overseas, establish solid relationships between partnering countries and offer graduates the chance to use their knowledge and skills in the development of industry and business in countries all over the world.

Professor Chapman said, “Our programmes are provided in partnership with many overseas colleges and universities, high-quality institutions that share our vision for the advancement of international education. We could not have achieved the success we are celebrating today if it were not for these Academic Learning Partners.

“Through both the current and future degree programmes available, it is fantastic to know that part of the West Indies’ future success will be, in some part, in the hands of Heriot-Watt graduates and I am incredibly proud to be here today to share in our students’ achievements.”

Dr. Robin Maraj, executive director of SBCS Global Learning Institute in Trinidad said, “Our strategic partnership with Heriot-Watt University commenced in 1994 and since then, it has grown from strength to strength.

“We are delighted to be part of this auspicious event and offer our heartfelt congratulations to the many graduates who are celebrating their achievements today.

“Heriot-Watt University is now a permanent fixture in the higher education landscape of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region, providing an unrivalled level of academic quality and flexibility. The University’s strength lies in its ability to offer students a variety of pathways to academic awards and we are delighted to be working with them and continuing to build on partner country relations.”  

Keith McDonald, executive chairman of the School of Higher Education Ltd in Trinidad, added, “The success of our partnership is reflected in the level of pass rates achieved and the growing demand for programmes which we are working hard to accommodate.

“It is vital for us to continue to create solid relationships to enable the stars of the future gain the academic qualifications which will help them achieve their potential. This is a very exciting time and I am delighted that we will soon be able to deliver even more choice for students.”

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Heriot-Watt University by Lally Cowell at McGarvie Morrison Media on T: 0141 221 9041 / lally@mmm.pr

Notes to Editors

•  Heriot-Watt University is Scotland’s most international institution with a total of almost 12,000 students in learning centres overseas or taking distance learning courses in 150 countries.
• As Scotland’s International University, 50% of the students overseas, who are awarded a Scottish degree, obtain that degree from Heriot-Watt University.
• Annually, nearly 95% of students take up full time employment and/or further study.
• Heriot-Watt University is a world-leading institution in science, technology and business, our research is world-class and cutting edge and we are in the top 5% of universities worldwide.  In the UK Research Assessment Exercise, 2008, 50% of HWU research was assessed as world leading or internationally excellent and 87% of was rated as of international quality.
• The University continues to attract significant research funding year on year and nearly 90% of academic staff are involved in research activity.
•  As well as English, the MBA is now offered in a range of languages including Chinese, Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish and most recently, Russian.
• Autumn 2010 saw the official launch of a major new scholarship scheme managed by the Edinburgh Business School. This opened up opportunities for disadvantaged individuals in all countries in Sub Saharan Africa and is one of the largest, fully-funded postgraduate scholarship schemes on the African Continent.
• The Financial Times review of the top 40 online MBA providers named the Edinburgh Business School MBA as the most popular world-wide in 2010.