Dedicated Centre for Higher Education Students Opens at Hartpury
The Vice Chancellor of the University of the West of England (UWE), Professor Steve West, opened UWE Hartpury’s new centre for higher education on Thursday 12th July.
With more students choosing to study for degrees and post-graduate qualifications at UWE Hartpury, a building dedicated for higher education teaching and research has been opened.
The Niel Curwen Building (Centre for Higher Education) is named after one of Hartpury’s first students and long-serving former Vice-Chair of Governors. Niel Curwen MBE was a student at the College shortly after it first opened in 1949 as the Gloucestershire Farm Institute and served on the governing body for a number of years.
Hartpury’s first higher education programme started in 1992 and in 1997 became an Associate Faculty of UWE. This year the Government, through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) awarded Hartpury 352 directly funded student places – the largest allocation of places to any College in the UK – so more students have the chance to study for degree or foundation degree starting in September.
The Niel Curwen building provides an IT suite, flexible study and tutorial rooms for students as well as offices for staff teaching on the programmes offered by the College in equine, sport, animal and land sciences.
Niel Curwen said: “I have been involved with Hartpury for more than 60 years and seen it transformed beyond all recognition. Today the campus provides students with fantastic resources and this is another important step in the development of Hartpury to have dedicated space for our higher education students.”
Professor Steve West said: “I am very proud of the partnership between UWE and Hartpury. The strength of the partnership lies in the fact that both institutions are focussed on delivering an excellent student experience that provides outstanding teaching that prepares students with the knowledge, skills and experience they need to stand out in the employment market.
The higher education courses have gone from strength to strength at Hartpury and a building dedicated to higher education learning will ensure students and staff can work side-by-side in an environment dedicated to excellence.”
Dr Stephen Waite, Vice-Principal (Higher Education), at UWE Hartpury said: “When Niel Curwen first enrolled at Hartpury the College offered only one course in agriculture with just a handful of students studying on it.
“During Niel’s time as a Governor, higher education at the College has in his words ‘come to life’ and today more than 1500 students are working towards degrees or postgraduate qualifications at UWE Hartpury. We are delighted to be able to honour Niel’s commitment to Hartpury by providing students with a high-quality environment for their studies.
“UWE Hartpury’s specialist courses in sport, equine or land and animal sciences are already extremely popular and with the Government allocating over 350 extra places for September we are expecting a record intake.”