It was a pleasure to welcome Universities and Science Minister David Willetts to Harlow today to officially open the new University Centre.
The centre is a partnership between Anglia Ruskin University and Harlow College.
The East of England Development Agency (EEDA), Harlow-Stansted Growth Area Partnership, led by Harlow Council, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England contributed a total of £9.3 million for the new three-storey, 2,400-square metre higher education centre on the site at Harlow College’s Velizy Road campus. Seventy students were recruited to start courses in September 2010 in advance of the completion of the building work.
A further 100 students started in September 2011.
The initial degree level subjects offered were Graphic Design, Early Years, Playwork and Education, Journalism, Sports Journalism and Public Service.
Further student places for 2012-13 have been approved, and subject to approval from Anglia Ruskin University, degrees in Engineering, Life Sciences, Construction and Tourism Management will be added to the growing list.
The announcement follows recent positive news for Harlow College, which has seen it placed first nationally in FE College league tables.
I was delighted David Willetts had the opportunity to see what fantastic educational facilities we now have in Harlow.
The new University Centre is vital as the town continues to develop with the prospect of thousands of new jobs following its approval as an Enterprise Zone and with the possibility that Harlow could soon be awarded a University Technical College.
I have worked closely with the college, and will continue to do so, as it continues to achieve great things both with and for our young people.
The new University Centre in Harlow is helping to raise skill levels and increase opportunities for local people and business.
Facilities include state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities, a 96 seat lecture theatre, graphics design studio, journalism centre, video conferencing facilities and computer suites.
Harlow College principal Colin Hindmarch said: "We are delighted with the level of national interest in Harlow College.
"We have enjoyed visits from a succession of government and shadow ministers in recent months and it is a great credit to Harlow College, its students, staff and the town, that David Willetts has officially opened University Centre Harlow."
Prof Michael Thorne, Vice Chancellor at Anglia Ruskin University, said: “University Centre Harlow is part of Anglia Ruskin's major commitment to the development of Harlow.
“We are working closely with local partners, including industry and commerce, the local hospital and council and especially Harlow College - the number one FE college in the country.”
David Willetts MP said: “It's an honour to come and open this fantastic new centre which will allow two excellent institutions to bring higher education closer to local people. That is in the interests of students and employers, and will boost our future prosperity. I wish every success to those who benefit from this new resource.”
“We are working closely with local partners, including industry and commerce, the local hospital and council and especially Harlow College - the number one FE college in the country.”
David Willetts MP said: “It's an honour to come and open this fantastic new centre which will allow two excellent institutions to bring higher education closer to local people. That is in the interests of students and employers, and will boost our future prosperity. I wish every success to those who benefit from this new resource.”
The project was part of the national HEFCE programme to raise the skill levels and increase participation by people with little or no experience of higher education, and is one of a range of initiatives to address these priorities.
Its distinctiveness lies in making Higher Education (HE) available in areas not already well served with relevant HE.
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