Canadian student Robert Watts explains why an Australian university’s branch campus in Dubai is the perfect setting for his undergraduate experience.
How does a Canadian end up studying at an Australian university in Dubai? In this case, it seems, by following his parents’ advice.
Robert Watts’ parents were already based in Dubai, and recommended the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) to him while he was completing high school in Canada.
Three years on, nearing the end of a Bachelors of Commerce (Finance), he’s more than glad he decided to pursue their suggestion.
“Studying here is a great experience, especially coming from North America,” he says. “It has given me the ability to think from more than one perspective. I feel like I have more depth in the way I analyze things now."
Established by Australia’s University of Wollongong in 1993, UOWD was one of the earliest branch university campuses to open in the United Arab Emirates.
The university is based at Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), an area of Dubai which is dedicated to higher education.
Today, almost 30 organizations from more than 10 different countries run facilities at the DIAC site. Among them are the USA’s University of Phoenix, Russia’s Saint Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics, and the UK's Middlesex University.
The standard is high, but even so, UOWD remains one of the region’s “most well-reputed and respected universities,” Robert says.
He believes this reputation is justified, describing the quality of teaching as ‘excellent’. He also highlights the opportunities for exchanges or permanent transfers to UOW in Australia, and the wide range of events and activities going on at UOWD.
Personally, Robert has been a member of the Student Representative Council for the past two years, and is involved with organizing various events, including this year’s graduation ceremonies. He’s also about to start taking on some tutoring work, through the university’s Student Services Department.
Of course it’s not all work and no play. The university’s student clubs include acting, movies, comedy, dancing, debating, basketball, football, table tennis and cricket. Robert enjoys playing volleyball and golf, and says the UOWD community is a close one. “It’s not a massive campus, so you get to know most people and make friends easily.”
In terms of the future, like most people, Robert hasn’t planned out every single part of his career. But he does know he wants to work towards becoming a financial analyst, and is confident his degree will be ‘relevant and helpful’ in achieving this. After that, “with a few years’ experience, I can better pinpoint which career path I want to take.”
Wherever he ends up, UOWD certainly seems like a good place to have started.