Dubai, 5 November, 2006 - BITS, Pilani - Dubai Campus, since its inception six years back, has grown 20 times in the past six years in its students' strength with corresponding growth in the number of programmes and faculty. It has been operating from Knowledge Village since the year 2003 and it has been its cherished goal to move to its own campus in Academic City.

The first major milestone of this goal is unveiling of the foundation stone by Mr Syed M. Salahuddin, Managing Director, ETA-Ascon Group, in a special function on 5th November 2006.  The function was graced by Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director, Dubai Academic City, Dr. S.Venkateswaran, Adviser to BITS, Pilani, Dr. L.K. Maheshwari, Vice Chancellor, BITS, Pilani, Dr. M. Ramachandran, Director, BITS, Pilani - Dubai, Mr M. Riazuddin, Director, ETA-NET and a host of important dignitaries.

Dr. K.K. Birla, Chancellor, BITS, Pilani and Chairman of Governing Council, BITS, Pilani - Dubai set his vision for the institute: "we are committed to quality education and with this new campus BITS, Pilani - Dubai will grow further and become an important centre of excellence.  We thank the Knowledge Village for allotting this land and also encouraging our activities. We also thank them for developing the Dubai Academic City with all the necessary infrastructure facilities so that our institute will be able to function properly. I commend Mr. Salahuddin, Managing Director, ETA-Ascon Group, for his commitment in building this campus which will go a long way for educational development in this part of the world."

The construction of the campus of BITS, Pilani - Dubai at Academic City will be completed by July 2007. It will be spread over 14 acres and will consist of an academic block, a Sports Complex and an Entertainment Complex along with the student hostels for boys and girls. It will have the distinction of being the first private institution to build its own campus in the Academic City.

The campus has been designed to accommodate 2000 students who will pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in Engineering, Management and Allied disciplines. The state-of-the-art construction will be best suited for conducive teaching in terms of seating, lighting, and acoustics. The hostels will have a capacity for 1200 students and the auditorium will accommodate 2000 students.

Dr. L.K. Maheshwari, Vice Chancellor, BITS, Pilani, in his speech said: "we are happy with our initiatives for the permanent campus of BITS, Pilani - Dubai in the Academic City.  Our philosophy has always been to encourage excellence and we believe that BITS, Pilani -Dubai Campus will become a significant centre of knowledge.  India has led the basic tenet of universal brotherhood and we are very pleased to extend our friendly ties with Dubai by enhancing higher educational facilities in this city."

The essence of the spirit of BITS, Pilani in its knowledge- transfer expertise and ETA-Ascon in its construction expertise will be personified in the Academic City campus of BITS, Pilani. The Knowledge Village authorities have always been totally supportive and cooperative in making this dream come true. BITS, Pilani - Dubai had the distinction of being the first major institution to operate from Knowledge Village from June 2003.

The BITS, Pilani - Dubai permanent campus will go a long way in meeting the aspirations of the student community of UAE and GCC countries to pursue quality higher education programmes of international standards, in their own place at very affordable cost.

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BITS, Pilani - Dubai
BITS, Pilani set up its Dubai campus in September 2000 in association with ETA - NET, a member of ETA- ASCON Group. The campus is located at Dubai Knowledge Village and offers a vibrant learning environment.

BITS, Pilani has a mission to develop students to the same caliber as BITS, Pilani, India through the same quality inputs, training and internships. BITS, Pilani - Dubai Campus (BPDC) has shaped students to be capable professionals through tested and internationally accepted course structures modelled on those of BITS, Pilani - India. BPDC has attracted a large number of students from the UAE, the GCC and India. It now has over 400 students enrolled.

BPDC has in all some 36-faculty members both for teaching in class and for guiding lab students. Most teaching staff are Ph.D. holders from reputed institutions.

For further information, please contact:
Nahid Afshan
Admissions Officer
BITS, Pilani - Dubai Campus
Tel: 009714 391 1977

© Press Release 2006