Information on Loughborough

Loughborough University and the British University in Egypt consider energy research focus

Posted on 28/12/2008

Loughborough University Website

JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY AND THE BRITISH UNIVERSITY IN EGYPT

Loughborough University and the British University in Egypt consider energy research focus

Members of the British University in Egypt (BUE) Board of Trustees met at Loughborough University on 21 May to discuss how the two institutions could contribute to the globally important priority of energy and climate change research.

The meeting, which enabled staff and representatives from both institutions to discuss a range of strategic and collaborative developments, marked another milestone for the successful and developing partnership between Loughborough and the BUE.

Afterwards, Professor Shirley Pearce, Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University, said: “Loughborough has made a strategic commitment to support the UK’s energy and climate change goals and we would welcome the opportunity to develop this work internationally with the BUE.”

Loughborough has an enviable reputation in renewable energy research. Its Research School in Sustainability, established in 2005, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration between experts across the University in wide-ranging, world-class research activities. Last year the Midlands Consortium, comprising the universities of Loughborough, Birmingham and Nottingham, was selected to host the UK Government’s new £1 billion national Energy Technologies Institute. Its headquarters are based on the Loughborough campus.

Loughborough University signed a formal validation agreement with the BUE in 2007, as part of a wider partnership covering teaching, research and enterprise. Degrees have been validated in the Faculties of Engineering, Business Studies, Economics, and Political Science and Informatics and Computer Science. Students who successfully complete their degree programme will receive a degree from both the BUE and Loughborough University.

Since admitting its first students in 2005, the BUE has continued to flourish and staff and student numbers have increased substantially. There are now around 1,200 students registered on programmes and the first cohort will graduate in 2009.

A recent validation visit in March 2008 by a group of senior staff from Loughborough confirmed the continued successful development of BUE. The Loughborough group, which comprised both Subject Specialist Advisers and members of senior management, were impressed with the BUE’s rapid development and the standards being achieved in a short timescale.

Professor Ahmed Hamza, President of the BUE, said: “The BUE is committed to offering its students the highest standard of education. These latest enhancements to the BUE illustrate how the University is continuing to grow and develop. It is gratifying that BUE’s development has received endorsement from a prestigious UK institution such as Loughborough.”

Loughborough and the BUE continue to work closely on a range of activities to underpin its further development, including staff recruitment and training, as well as study skills and e-learning provision for students.