The University of Sunderland has unveiled plans for a decade-long, £250m investment programme which will transform its facilities in the North East and beyond.
The bold project - set to start this year - will see the university plough £100m into the redevelopment of its St Peter’s campus on the riverside. The site is home to the faculties of technology, arts and creative industries, business, law and tourism and education and society, and new investment will create a new library and student centre, providing study facilities to support learning and teaching.
Education and research facilities will also be improved in the vital growth areas of computer science and engineering, as part of the university’s commitment to further its work in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). University leaders have hailed the programme as a major step-change in its ambitions, with the programme also being closely aligned with Sunderland City Council’s regeneration programme currently unfolding across the city .
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The huge investment follows on from the £75m already invested in facilities over the last five years. Investment on the St Peter’s campus will also support the growth in student numbers in business-related programmes, by creating a new International Business School. Work will also be carried out to improve the ‘look and feel’ of the campus.
The first phase, running from 2023 to 2027, will also include a multimillion-pound investment in the University’s London campus, including a new location in Canary Wharf and investment in student and staff facilities.
Meanwhile, the second phase will build on earlier investment in health-related innovation at the city campus, including the development of the Sunderland Health Innovation Zone as well as a new sports ground. On top of the headline developments, existing buildings will be refurbished and there will also be improvements in digitisation and existing student accommodation.
The chair of the University’s Board of Governors, Farooq Hakim, said: “Such an investment will protect and enhance the long-term educational and financial sustainability of the university for both students and staff. It also reflects the university’s care for its people, as we want everyone here to have access to the best possible facilities on our different campuses.”
Vice-Chancellor and chief executive of the University of Sunderland, Sir David Bell said: “This investment reflects the standing and confidence of the University as it seeks to fulfil its life-changing purpose. It reflects too the transformational change that is taking place in the city of Sunderland, making it a great place to study, live and work. Alongside that, a new campus building in London will support the outstanding work we do in the capital, building on more than a decade of growth there.
“Students and staff will benefit from state-of-the art facilities in both Sunderland and London, enhancing our strong reputation for high-quality learning and teaching, and our society-shaping research and knowledge exchange activity.”
Katherine Cooper, chief executive of the Sunderland Students’ Union, added: “We warmly welcome today’s exciting announcement and what it means for our students. So, consistent with Sunderland’s ambition to be a student-focused institution, the Students’ Union will continue to work in partnership with the University as these estate plans come to fruition in the coming months and years.”
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