21 April 2004

Queen's Award for Enterprise for University of Dundee

A highly prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise has been awarded to the Centre for Energy, Petroleum, Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) at the University of Dundee.

The Centre has been recognised in the international trade category for its exports and for the growth of these exports during the last three years - 90% of the centre's income comes from delivering courses to international students. The Centre is one of the few law centres in the UK to achieve such a high proportion of international income and achieve this award in the international trade category.

CEPMLP provides advanced postgraduate education and training of the highest quality in energy and natural resources law and policy to young and mid-career professionals from the UK, the EU and around the world.

In the last ten years CEPMLP has established itself as the leading international postgraduate institution in the field of energy and natural resources law and policy. It works with international organisations, governments and companies to formulate policies to address the challenges facing the world in the development of natural resources.

Principal of the University of Dundee Sir Alan Langlands welcomed news of the award: "Dundee's Centre for Energy Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy is known throughout the world for its excellence and expertise in this vital and complex field. Many key policy formers and decision makers in countries across the world have trained at Dundee and CEPMLP's work frequently has global impact. The Queen’s Award for Enterprise recognises an important aspect of this academic excellence - its potential for international export and enhancing the national, and local, economy. The award is a tribute to the quality, dedication and vision of the Centre's staff. We are very proud of their achievement."

Director of the CEPMLP Dr Philip Andrews-Speed said: "This award is very welcome recognition for the efforts put in by the staff over the last ten years or more to establish the Centre as a major player in its field. Particular credit must go to my predecessor as Director, Professor Thomas Walde. The Queen's Award shows that effective financial performance can sit comfortably alongside excellence in teaching and research."

The main activities are the provision of 1-2 year taught Masters degrees, a PhD programme and the delivery of short professional training seminars in the UK and abroad.

CEPMLP is constantly adapting the structure and content of its teaching programmes in response to changes in the market and to the suggestions of students and alumni. The last seven years have see new degree specialisations introduced in international business transactions and in water law and policy as well as new courses in such subjects as human rights and natural resources.

This is the first time the University of Dundee has won a Queen's Award for Enterprise. The University was awarded a Queen's Anniversary prize for keyhole surgery in 1998.

The University of Dundee will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant, the Queen's representative over the next few weeks.

Notes for Editors

To speak with Philip Andrews-Speed please call 0033 492924626 or the press office 01382 344021.

In 2001 the Research Assessment Exercise rated CEPMLP as "5", reflecting the international excellence of its research. In 2002 the Quality Assurance Agency placed CEPMLP's teaching programmes in the highest categories.

For more than fifteen years the Centre has been international in its outlook serving the world in the field of energy and natural resources. Academic staff come from more than ten different countries, including Russia, Ethiopia and China, and more than fifty nationalities are represented in the student body. The Queens Award recognises the educational value of this approach.

By Jenny Marra, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, j.m.marra@dundee.ac.uk