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Search forSwindon, Somerset and Herefordshire in new university challenge
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 20:45
Swindon, Somerset and Herefordshire were yesterday announced as being among 27 places officially competing for a new university campus.
Universities Secretary John Denham wants another 20 universities open or agreed to within six years.
He told MPs yesterday it was not too late for other towns to register for the New University Challenge, which has £150 million set aside for it.
The 27 bids have been put together by colleges, other higher educational institutions or councils, and are in different stages of development, he said.
Mr Denham says new universities transform local economies and the lives of residents, and help create a highly skilled workforce.
"We have been overwhelmed by the support for our New University Challenge," he said. "More and more people want to study without leaving home, and more businesses want to reap the commercial benefits that come from being able to collaborate with a university."
The Swindon bid is well under way, and was yesterday welcomed by Labour MP Anne Snelgrove, who has been campaigning for it. The South Swindon MP has met the chief executive of the Bristol-based Higher Education Funding Council of England and discussed the bid with Higher Education Minister David Lammy. She said: "A new university campus in the town centre would bring a wealth of opportunities to people in Swindon. It would create jobs, help local businesses, and help people get the top-level training they want without them having to move away from home to get it.
"Today is just the first step. There will be stiff competition, which is why I'm committed to working with the council and local businesses to make our bid win for the people of Swindon".
The University of the West of England, Bristol, which already has a presence in Swindon, is developing the proposal.
The Somerset University Partnership Project involves Somerset College, Taunton, and Yeovil and Bridgwater colleges.
It says: "Plans are at a very early stage to form a university partnership that would encompass all three campuses. All three institutions already offer degree-level courses in conjunction with university partners in a wide range of subjects."
The Herefordshire bid is likely to involve the University of Worcester, and is being backed by Conservative parliamentary candidate Jesse Norman.
He says the Edgar Street Grid regeneration project in the heart of Hereford has allocated space for a campus, but a new university could also have a presence in Ross-on-Wye and other county towns.
Other towns bidding for a new university include Doncaster, Basingstoke and Milton Keynes, and Sally Hunt of the University and College Union (UCU) said she welcomed the plans.
But she added: "We a little perplexed that the Government has chosen to make this announcement just a week after it cut financial support for students from next year.
"Widening participation is a laudable aim and one that UCU fully supports. However, we want a system that ensures students have the opportunity to realise their full potential."
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