MIDDLESEX University has been honoured by the Queen for its continuing work to attract students from around the world.

The educational establishment, which has bases at Enfield, Cat Hill and Bounds Green, has received the Queen's Award for enterprise for international trade.

There has been a massive increase of overseas students coming to Middlesex since 1999, satisfying the criteria of continuously achieving in international trade.

University chiefs are particularly pleased with the 80 per cent increase of Asian students from 1999 to 2002, after the collapse of the south-east Asian economies in the late 1990s.

Other achievements include the building of partnerships with several international higher education institutions, to help provide quality teaching in other areas of the world, especially in English language.

Middlesex University has also added to its international network of regional offices with the opening of a Dubai office this year.

The university's deputy vice-chancellor, Dr Terry Butland, said: "The success in recruiting students from overseas countries has not only brought the university a significant expansion of revenue but has additionally brought a large amount of highly-motivated students who add greatly to the diversity of the university."

A special ceremony was held yesterday for all the winners of the award, and was attended by HRH the Duke of York.