Berwick university bid wins a degree of success

Posted by Simon Honeysett on Jun 23, 08 11:47 AM in News

A BID to establish a new university in a Northumberland town is being stepped up with attempts to gain support across the region.

The Government published a consultation document in March this year - A New 'University Challenge' - outlining proposals to create 20 new universities over the next six years.

A number of individuals and organisations in Berwick have raised the idea of the town preparing a bid to host one of the new universities.

Spittal Improvement Trust has met Berwick Borough Local Strategic Partnership and Berwick Community Trust to discuss how such a bid could be prepared, and how the necessary support could be obtained locally and regionally.

Following this, the group is seeking in principle support from both Berwick Borough Council and the Berwick Borough Local Strategic Partnership's (BBLSP) executive board.

Approaches are also being made to Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Strategic Partnership and One NorthEast to gain their support.

In addition, the North East Universities Forum is being approached with a view to engaging a higher education partner, or partners, to help drive forward the project. At a full meeting of the borough council on Thursday night, members will be urged to back the plans.

Council head of regeneration Tim Kirton said: "Certainly Berwick can demonstrate that it would benefit hugely from such a project, and it meets the Government's aim of providing new universities in areas where access to higher education is currently very limited.

"Such a bid would also be able to build on the vocational skills centre project which is currently under development, by creating a clear progression for young people from secondary education to further education and on into higher education.

"In addition, adults who have not in the past had the opportunity to gain higher education qualifications will have access to courses on their doorstep."

The Government document outlines the benefits a university can bring to an area, particularly in terms of unlocking talent in those who participate in higher education, as well as improving community well-being, driving economic growth and creating new and better paid jobs.

These are all ambitions highlighted in the recently refreshed Berwick Borough Community Strategy which was adopted by the borough council last month.

The Government paper stresses that there is no single model for a new university. It states successful bids in the past have been based on strong partnerships, and that new universities are expected to demonstrate community support.

It is envisaged that a partnership steering body will be required to head up the Berwick project in future.

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