Partnership with Bharati Vidyapeeth University

Bharati Vidyapeeth University (BVU) joins the rapidly growing list of educational institutions that have chosen to establish campuses at Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ).

As one of the leading education providers in India, BVU hopes to impart its unique brand of academic excellence to the UAE when it first opens its doors on February 2009.  Current plans have Management courses being offered first, starting with an initial intake of 120 students, 60 each for the BBA and MBA courses.

Oussama El Omari, CEO and Director General of the RAK Free Trade Zone, is pleased that BVU has decided to establish a campus in Ras Al Khaimah, as it is a step closer to the realisation of one of the Zone’s goals to develop the education sector. “Education should be made available to everyone in the UAE,” said El Omari.  “Nationals and other residents should not have to look far to receive world-class instruction from internationally recognised institutions.”

Until recently, students did not have much choice by way of university education, with most institutions being established in the other emirates.

Hand in hand with encouraging universities to set up campuses in Ras Al Khaimah is the emirate’s goal to attract education providers that offer courses and training necessary to the emirate’s emerging industries. As CEO of RAK FTZ, El Omari has personally made efforts to attract academies to sign up in the free trade zone, with a focus on those specialising in the aviation, tourism and hospitality industries.  El Omari said, “We are after quality not quantity, RAK FTZ is actively pursuing educational institutions that offer courses that are relevant to the times.” 

As part of RAK FTZ’s strategy to encourage institutions to sign up, they are offering attractive benefits and trouble-free registration for educational organisations. The benefits on offer include RAK FTZ acting as a turnkey developer of their facilities; easy registration, with readily available administrative support when required; and fast and easy visa application procedures for staff.  A fully-serviced office in RAK FTZ is yet another benefit offered to institutions during their set-up period. 

El Omari said, “We want institutions of higher learning to focus on how they can improve education and not worry about registration procedures.”

In line with its education projects, the emirate plans to invest a billion dollars to create an education park.  The park’s planned five million cubic metres of buildings will eventually accommodate the international academies and colleges presently signed up in the free trade zone, as well as those who have yet to establish campuses in the emirate. 

Ras Al Khaimah’s ruling family fully supports the educational developments in the emirate, and  it is only a matter of time before dynamic RAK becomes a preferred destination for campuses in the UAE.