University to expand and be 'world leader'

Published on Thursday 6 November 2008 00:39

HERIOT-Watt University is set to increase its staff by 50 per cent over the coming decade as part of major expansion plans, it has emerged.

There are currently 450 members of staff, but the aim is to raise that number to 625 by recruiting academics in key areas. However, to raise the 3 million necessary for the plan, voluntary redundancies in other non-priority areas were announced in March.

Over the next five years, 10 million will be ploughed into increasing research and improving infrastructure at the Edinburgh university's campuses.

The strategy, Focus on the Future, is designed to reshape the university and place Heriot-Watt at the forefront of research. It has been linked to the needs of the Scottish and UK economies and will build on key areas such as petroleum engineering, mathematics, translating and business education.

Alex Salmond, the First Minister, launched the strategy at the university yesterday. He said he had no doubt the move would contribute to building a successful and sustainable economy.

He added: "Scotland's universities are world-renowned for their educational excellence. Universities, like Heriot-Watt, play a fundamental role in equipping people with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed as individuals and towards ensuring they contribute towards Scotland's economic future."

Heriot-Watt University has an international reputation for science, technology, business education and research. It produces more graduates than any other Scottish university across the physical sciences, mathematics and engineering.

Funding of 2 million has been approved for the first phase of the scheme, covering the development and appointment of up to 25 key academic posts.

In preparation for the expansion, a root-and-branch review of the university's activity was carried out to identify strengths ripe for expansion. Professor Anton Muscatelli, the principal of Heriot-Watt, said: "We are in a unique position to combine our academic strengths to take on the challenges of the 21st century.

"By promoting excellent research and opportunities for learning and teaching, we aim to become a world-leading university – a university which will produce the next generation of global leaders in business and technology.

"To deliver this ambition, we are committed to growth and investment, both in staff and infrastructure. We will build on a firm foundation of collaborations with business and industry and look to increase our international footprint either through distributed learning or overseas campuses."

The five areas expansion will focus on are: energy; environment and climate change; life and physical sciences; risk and modelling; and transport and infrastructure.

A spokesman for Universities Scotland said: "University teaching and research is one of the areas where Scotland has not only an international reputation, but is also really internationally competitive.

"We have to be bold and ambitious and put our money where our expertise is – this is what we are good at."