University of Central Lancashire signs mulit-million pound deal with Middle East

The projects, worth a total of £6.5m will see the university extend its long-term partnership with the International College of Engineering and Management (ICEM) in the Sultanate of Oman for a further five years - meaning students will be able to do entire undergraduate degree courses in Oman, instead of having to study part of the programmes in Preston.

The two institutions have been working together for more than 15 years, delivering tailored undergraduate degree courses in fire safety engineering, well engineering, facilities management and health, safety and environmental management.

In a separate deal with the Ministry of Interior in neighbouring Qatar, UCLan deliver fire safety engineering management courses from the new state-of-the-art Ras Laffan Emergency and Safety College in Doha.

work closely with Qatar Civil Defence to develop a range of courses which will utilise the £302 million world-class facility, the Middle East’s leading training institution for fire services and emergency responders.

This the University’s first programme in Qatar, will be led by a dedicated team of UCLan staff based at the college working in partnership with Texas A & M Engineering.

Existing UCLan students based in Preston will be able to visit the college and use its cutting edge facilities to expand their own knowledge and experience. Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the University Board David Taylor, who led the visits to Qatar and Oman to agree the deals, said: “The extension of our partnership with ICEM is a real milestone and evidence of its past success, while the new relationship with Qatar Civil Defence will complement this and the University’s other global partnerships, such as those in China and Mauritius.”

Mr Taylor added: “ The programmes will generate graduates who are highly trained and highly employable, both vocationally and academically, ready to apply their skills to national and global challenges.”