The Isle of Wight College has been granted the title of “University Centre, Isle of Wight” by the Department for Education (DfE), in support of its successful history of delivering higher education (HE) courses in collaboration with university partners.
The college has successfully delivered high quality university level courses for over 15 years in a range of areas including Engineering, Early Years, Teacher Education (including Learning Support). Computing, Business and Creative industries.
The University Centre, Isle of Wight title will enable the college to further expand opportunities for those who wish to study locally but still take advantage of the opportunities that possessing higher level qualifications can provide. Undergraduate provision will be based at the main site in Newport and at the CECAMM Centre at The Island Technology Park, Whippingham Road, East Cowes.
Principal of the College, Debbie Lavin CBE, said:
“I am delighted that the good work which the college has undertaken for many years in the area of higher education has been acknowledged by the title ‘University Centre’ for the Island. This will allow the college to continue to develop its HE programmes in order to meet the needs of many more students seeking to secure these qualifications.”
Professor Paul Hayes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth, who supported the college’s application to the DfE and works in partnership with the College to provide full-time and part-time courses, said:
“The College, with the support of the University of Portsmouth, is a key supplier of higher education on the Isle of Wight. We are working with the College to develop and broaden their higher education offer, and the new designation and associated branding, we believe, will strengthen the higher-level offer on the island”.
For further information on the college’s higher education offer and the University Centre visit the college website.
This is excellent news. There is a lot of world beating tech being created on the island. If they play their cards right the island could see a boom in the tech industry. Make the island then place to come in the UK to study information technology.
When will we realise that it is neither necessary nor desirable for everyone to go to “university”. IW College does a great job at vital vocational training and doesn’t need to waste time and resources on pseudo-uni posturing.
University status won’t stop it also being a college it’ll just be granted better opportunities for broader education and funding
Hopefully more sciences
I really hope this means the top up from FdA Business to BSc Business will be available on the island.