Hot Local Issues
University Campus Suffolk
Educating future generations is probably the most important duty we all have.
We are fortunate to have a number of very fine schools and colleges in our area. These are staffed by hard working and dedicated professionals.
But at present there is one thing missing in our county. For many years Suffolk has been one of only four counties in England without a university campus.
This has meant many of our younger generation being forced to leave the county to further their education after leaving school.
But all this is changing, thanks to the unique partnership between the University of East Anglia and the University of Essex, along with the local further education colleges.
University Campus Suffolk will be based around the main campus in Ipswich but with an important site in the West Suffolk College at Bury St Edmunds.
I know that local students and the College authorities are excited about this project and there is already some expansion of buildings taking place at the West Suffolk Colllege to accommodate new students. This will bring a lot to both the college and enhance the employability for young people in our local area.
There will also be a series of small learning centres in other towns across the county.
This is great news for the county of Suffolk as a whole – and not just our young people. Encouraging people to stay and study and then work in the local area is vital to ensuring Suffolk remains a vibrant and exciting place to live.
Exciting opportunities for further education will play a big part in this.
We must always be looking for a fresh, new approach to further education. And the new University Campus Suffolk is just that.
Gone are the days when we have just the one job for life. People are changing careers and looking to retrain and learn new skills at all ages. We must therefore be able to provide these opportunities locally.
A university campus would bring an estimated extra £50million a year to the Suffolk economy.
We’ll see extra people here as students, and businesses developing to support them.
All of this is vital to improve the economic prosperity of our county.
A university campus in the county would give young people something to aim for, and with tuition fees and costs increasing, it will be good news for them to have the option of studying close to home.
Suffolk has not the largely agricultural based economy it did 50 years ago. So we must equip our young people for the challenges they will face in the future.
Our country is now faced with greater international economic challenges. In the age of globalization the future will be bright and full of hope for those with more skills.
It is great news to see University Campus Suffolk become a reality to benefit the whole county. It will be good for Suffolk; good for students in Suffolk; good for businesses and good for our local communities.