Higher Education Minister Heads for Medway
Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell will visit the Universities at Medway campus at Chatham Maritime later this month to perform the official opening ceremony for one of its buildings.
The MP, who is Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Higher and Further Education, will open the newly-refurbished Pilkington Building on Monday 30 April.
In a joint statement, the Vice-Chancellors for Greenwich and Kent universities, Baroness Blackstone and Professor David Melville, said they were delighted to welcome Mr Rammell to Medway. 'The opening of the Pilkington Building is yet another endorsement of our unique partnership, which offers unrivalled opportunities for student choice and progression,' they said.
'With support from a wide range of stakeholders, we have been able to create a comprehensive university campus, which builds on the individual strengths of the institutions here.
'Staff and students from Universities at Medway look forward to welcoming the Minister to their fabulous new facilities in the Pilkington Building.'
Students will be on hand to tell the Minster about their experiences of studying at the campus, and academic staff will make a series of presentations focussing on their role in regional regeneration. The Minister will also visit Medway School of Pharmacy.
The Pilkington Building is jointly owned and run by Kent and Greenwich universities and is also used by Canterbury Christ Church University and Mid-Kent College, the other partners on the shared campus. It received a £36 million refurbishment as part of the Universities at Medway project.
Originally opened in 1902 as a mess for the Royal Navy, the building now houses a 175-seat lecture theatre, an exhibition room, seminar rooms, a cafeteria and social spaces.
A Grade II listed building with distinctive red brickwork, Pilkington was re-named in honour of its architect, Sir Henry Pilkington, who designed many of the major buildings on the campus site.
Universities at Medway is supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for England; The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA); Medway Council; and Communities and Local Government: Thames Gateway Funding.
Photo Opportunity:
Pilkington Building, Universities at Medway campus, Chatham Maritime Monday, 30 April 2007
Approximately 12.20pm - Photocall for Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell with students from the Universities at Medway;
Approximately 12.30pm - The Minister unveils plaque to mark the official opening of the Pilkington Building, with Vice-Chancellors Baroness Blackstone and Professor David Melville.
More Medway News: Launch of £3.85 Million Lifelong Learning Project, Record Funding for University of Greenwich at Medway, National Honour for Medway Campus
For more information and images:
Caron Jones
Head of Public Relations
University of Greenwich
020 8331 8248
Caron.jones@gre.ac.uk
www.gre.ac.uk
Nick Ellwood
Marketing and Communications Officer
University of Kent at Medway
01634 888879
N.J.Ellwood@kent.ac.uk
www.kent.ac.uk