Gateshead has vision of its own university
Oct 21 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
A NEW university could be built south of the Tyne as Gateshead leaders prepare to bid for Government higher education cash.
Long-term plans are slowly forming which will see either a Gateshead College bid to become a university or a new university built.
It could take up to 20 years for a significant university and research presence to be established in Gateshead but moves are already under way to secure Government support.
Council leaders are today expected to agree to ask ministers for a share of a £150m higher education fund.
They want to make it easier for pupils to stay in education after leaving school as part of their Vision 2030 which if successful will see a university built in the borough.
Councillors have said their main aim is to drive up demand for post-compulsory education but admit that the funding requested links to the eventual aim of a new North East university.
The move has won the support of Blaydon MP Dave Anderson, who said: “We have the Open University at Gateshead now and of course we have the new Gateshead college with 13,000 pupils every year. I have spoken to the college and I know they would love to one day consider going for university status.
“The time is not right just yet but eventually they will want that status and I don’t think there is anything to stop them with the way they are going.”
Gateshead is not alone in its plans to encourage a university presence.
North Tyneside council bosses are planning a Marine Technology Park along the north bank of the river which would include a university as part of a plan to create a world-leading research centre.
Last night Gateshead Council said that while it was committed to its long-term plan, the funding bid was currently more concerned with increasing the number of teenagers from Gateshead going on to higher education.
Gateshead director of policy Lindsay Kirkley said: “This links directly to our longer-term aim of increased university presence in Gateshead. This is the first step in increasing participation rates in higher education of Gateshead’s adult and younger residents.”
Kim Davies, deputy principal at Gateshead College, added: “We already have in place a wide range of successful higher education programmes and we are currently working with Gateshead Council, employers and our partner universities to improve awareness, access and aspirations to higher level skills throughout Gateshead.”
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