A multimillion pound donation from a former student is to fund a new institute of Arabic and Islamic studies at the University of Exeter. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Sharjah's ruler, who took a PhD in history from the university in 1985 and is an honorary professor, will fund two professorships in perpetuity and contribute towards new accommodation for the institute. Exeter has also been awarded a Pounds 380,000 contract to develop courses in engineering, English language, business and management at Sharjah University.