Top Marks for Medway from Higher Education Minister
Top marks for Medway from Higher Education Minister
The role of the Universities at Medway in widening access to higher education has won warm praise from Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell.
The Minister visited the Medway campus on Monday, 30 April to perform the opening ceremony for the newly-refurbished Pilkington Building, and unveil a plaque marking the occasion.
In his speech, the MP said the Universities partnership – which consists of Greenwich, Kent and Canterbury Christ Church universities, plus Mid-Kent College – was playing a vital part in spreading the message about higher education. This would, he said, raise aspirations among people of all ages in the community and contribute to a highly skilled, professional workforce.
‘It is clear that the partners are deeply committed to working with schools, businesses and communities to drive up levels of participation in higher education,’ he said. ‘A thriving higher education sector, which we are now seeing at Medway, is simply key to the social and economic renewal of our communities.
‘It is a crucial development if we are to create a highly skilled and highly trained workforce, which will support the economic growth and regeneration in the region.
‘I believe that the future of higher education will be driven by many of the innovative degree programmes and work-based learning initiatives we see at Medway. The scale of the achievement here is quite unique and is a credit to all the partners.’
Mr Rammell, who is Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Higher and Further Education, also had a tour of the campus during his visit, including trips to Medway School of Pharmacy and the Drill Hall Library.
The Minister said that he was impressed with the buildings and facilities on offer to students. ‘The layout, design and architecture at the campus is stunning and shows that this is a great environment in which to study,’ he said.
Jointly owned and run by Kent and Greenwich universities, the Pilkington Building received a £6 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.
The opening ceremony was attended by more than 100 guests, including the Vice-Chancellors for Greenwich and Kent universities, Baroness Blackstone and Professor David Melville, and the Vice-Chancellor for Canterbury Christ Church University, Professor Michael Wright.
Also attending were Medway MPs Paul Clark, Robert Marshall-Andrews and Jonathan Shaw, and Leader of Medway Council Cllr Rodney Chambers.
As part of the opening ceremony, students at the Medway campus held an informal discussion with the Minister on a variety of topics, including student elections, fees and sports activities.
Academic staff from the partner institutions also made a series of presentations to the Minister, focussing on their role in regional regeneration.
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.
ENDS
For more information and images
Nick Ellwood
Marketing and Communications Officer
University of Kent at Medway
01634 888879
N.J.Ellwood@kent.ac.uk
Caron Jones
Head of Public Relations
University of Greenwich
020 8331 8248.
caron.jones@greenwich.co.uk