Heriot-Watt University is a public university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Originally established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the world's first mechanics' institute, it was granted university status by royal charter granted in 1966. It has campuses in Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Orkney, United Arab Emirates and Putrajaya in Malaysia. It takes the name Heriot-Watt from Scottish inventor James Watt and Scottish philanthropist and goldsmith George Heriot