New Mauritius campus building named after former London site

The new MDX Mauritius Cat Hill facility includes a new lecture theatre, IT laboratories and production studios 

Middlesex University’s campus in Mauritius has celebrated the grand opening of its new Cat Hill building, which is named after a much-loved former MDX site in North London.

Featuring a new state-of-the-art lecture theatre, the modern 2,300 m² facility was officially opened in Mauritius in September.

The old Cat Hill campus of Middlesex University in Cockfosters, North London, which closed in 2011, was originally built by Enfield Council in 1969 and used by the Hornsey School of Art before it merged with Middlesex Polytechnic.  

Dignitaries who attended the opening in Mauritius included the Honourable Dr Kaviraj Sharma Sukon, PFHEA, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Research, along with representatives from the British High Commission, Medine, Middlesex University London, and members of the university community.

The campus also includes IT laboratories, an executive training room, production studios, and a cutting-edge mechatronics and robotics laboratory built to industry standards. The facility also marks the launch of new programmes, including the BEng Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering, BSc (Hons) Artificial Intelligence & Data Science, and several master’s programmes in science and engineering, providing students with hands-on experience.

“The expansion of our campus marks an exciting milestone. What began as a bold idea has now become a remarkable reality."

Dominique Arlanda, Chief Operating Officer of Middlesex University Mauritius

As part of its international expansion, Middlesex University Mauritius has signed a an agreement with Darajapan, Creatair, and Wings Robotics, opening opportunities for recruitment, applied research, internships, and collaboration in Japan. These partnerships reinforce the campus’s role as a centre of education and innovation in Mauritius.

Middlesex University Mauritius’ campus, which opened in 2009, now welcomes more than 2,000 students from 40 nationalities and in total 99% of its graduates are employed, pursuing further studies, or starting their own business within six months of graduation.

Professor Mari Jansen Van Rensburg, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Director of the Mauritius campus, said: “Cat Hill is far more than a building – it stands as a symbol of our mission. It reflects our commitment to combining British academic excellence with Mauritian realities and aspirations, while equipping the next generation of graduates to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.

"This year, we are proud to welcome more than 2,000 students for the academic year, consolidating our position as the largest private higher education institution in terms of both enrolments and revenue. This space offers students not only the opportunity to learn, but also to collaborate, to innovate, and to grow into professionals ready to make a difference on a global scale.”

Dominique Arlanda, Chief Operating Officer of Middlesex University Mauritius, who has driven the project from its outset over the past two years, added: “The expansion of our campus marks an exciting milestone. By working closely with our colleagues at the Hendon campus, we ensured that the very best innovations and practices were brought right here to Mauritius. What began as a bold idea has now become a remarkable reality. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our teams and partners, whose professionalism, commitment, and dedication have been instrumental in making this achievement possible.”