Richard A Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, speaks to Gulf Business about utilising the institution's past strengths for building a future-ready workforce that is climate-aware and equipped for the transition.

Heriot-Watt, the first British university to open a campus in Dubai in 2005, has grown to become the largest international university in the UAE.

Williams says, “When our university was founded more than 200 years ago, it set out a clear purpose to benefit society by making education accessible, inclusive, and industry-focused – helping our students and academics to have a positive impact on the world.

“We are committed to taking a global lead on sustainability and, as the UAE hosts COP28, we will be showcasing some of our deep expertise in areas including industrial decarbonisation, energy transition and sustainable logistics.