The University of Sunderland has announced a £250m investment plan to transform its facilities in the region and in London.
Education leaders have hailed the pledge – to be carried out over the next 10 years – as a major step-change in the university’s ambitions, bringing it in line with Sunderland City Council’s far-reaching regeneration programme currently unfolding across the city. The huge investment is in addition to the £75m already invested in facilities over the last five years.
The first phase, starting this year and running until 2027, will see the university plough £100m into the redevelopment of its St Peter’s campus on the riverside, to create a new library and student centre, providing study facilities to support learning and teaching. This will be followed by investment in education and research facilities, in the key 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.
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The first phase 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.
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University leaders said the investment on the St Peter’s campus will 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.
Phase two will build on earlier investment in health and health-related innovation at the university’s city campus, including the development of the Sunderland Health Innovation Zone, and a new sports ground. Existing buildings will also be refurbished, alongside investment in digitisation and improvements to 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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