Good news as HEFCE back University Campus Suffolk bid

Feb 25 2005 12:00AM

A university campus for Suffolk is one step closer to reality, following news of a grant of up to £15million from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

At their board meeting yesterday, HEFCE decided to back the University Campus Suffolk (UCS) bid with one of the largest single awards to date.

This is an important milestone in the project to bring a university campus to the county, and will mean that the project team can start to turn pledges of support from organisations such as the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) into confirmed investment. Support from HEFCE is important, not only for the capital development but demonstrates support for increasing the numbers of students HEFCE is willing to fund in Suffolk for the next decade.

The capital costs of stage one of the project will be around £75million, with around £150million being invested over the next 10 years in three phases.

Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia, said: “The business case has demonstrated the economic, academic and social value of this university campus as well as the exceptional opportunities it will provide for students to fulfil their potential. We are delighted that HEFCE has recognised that the partners in this project have produced such an exceptional and innovative vision for the future of further and higher education in the region.”

Professor Ivor Crewe, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex, said: “The unique collaboration between the Universities of Essex and East Anglia, in association with Suffolk College, sets a clear blueprint for the development of university education across Suffolk. This boost from HEFCE will help to ensure the new University Campus Suffolk will transform Suffolk’s economic development potential, reverse its brain drain and provide a range of opportunities within the county for a new generation of students.”

Bryony Rudkin, Leader of Suffolk County Council, said: “We now have a great opportunity to develop a higher education base that will serve the whole of Suffolk for generations to come. The county council is totally committed to the project – and has already agreed a contribution of up to £13million towards land purchases – and we are pleased that HEFCE has backed our business case. The innovative nature of this project – bringing opportunities for higher education teaching and research to all parts of Suffolk – will provide a host of benefits which will be felt across the county.”

James Hehir, Chief Executive of Ipswich Borough Council, said: "The news of the HEFCE funding will help to bring a state of the art university campus to the Ipswich Waterfront, changing the educational landscape, not only of Ipswich but of the whole region, for ever. We continue to support this project and have already pledged £10 million of our own money in a land deal, and released a covenant on Suffolk County Council land purchased by the East of England Development Agency.”

Professor Dave Muller, Principal of Suffolk College, said: “We are delighted to hear this news from HEFCE, which we hope will be followed soon with positive news from the Learning and Skills Council for funding new buildings and facilities for Suffolk College. These two initiatives are inter-related, and once established will provide seamless progression from high quality further education and vocational training to university level education.”

In the next stage of development the project team and stakeholder group will be:

  • Continuing to develop the curriculum, building on the good practice already in place at higher education level in Suffolk. Areas where courses are being planned include the health profession, creative industries, renewable energies, telecoms and shipping and logistics.
  • Developing the Suffolk Learning Network, through continuing constructive conversations with other higher education providers across the county, and looking for suitable sites for local learning centres.
  • Linking with key interest groups such as schools and local employers to keep them involved and updated with the project.

Further Information

Contact

University Campus Suffolk Press Office
01473 338008
pressucs.ac.uk|