SEEDA
At Chatham Maritime, the South East England Development
AgencyÕs (SEEDA) flagship site in the heart of the Thames
Gateway, the Universities at Medway has already seen student
numbers rise to nearly 7,000.
Made up of a partnership of the
University of Greenwich, University
of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church
University and Mid-Kent College,
this multi-million pound scheme is
supported by SEEDA, Communities
and Local Government (CLG),
Medway Council and the Higher
Education Funding Council. They play
a key role in providing the skills and
learning opportunities needed to
create sustainable communities
in the Thames Gateway area.
Each institution offers a wide
range of courses and welcomes
applicants without traditional
qualifications, as well as those
entering from higher education
through a more formal route.
The prestigious Medway School
of Pharmacy, also has its home
at the Chatham Maritime campus.
It was started by the universities
of Greenwich and Kent in 2004
and has been approved by the
Royal Pharmaceutical School of
Great Britain.
A number of listed former Naval
buildings have been converted for
the Universities, including the former
Grade II listed Drill Hall which is now
a £12m Learning Resource Centre
with teaching facilities and is open
to all students enrolled with the
Universities at Medway.
Until the mid 1990s when the
University of Greenwich first
decided to start up a campus at
Chatham Maritime, Medway Ð with
a population of 250,000 people Ð had
no university provision at all. Such
is the success of the Universities at
Medway today that student numbers
are now predicted to rise from 7,000
to more than 10,000 by 2012. Already
the student population is adding an
estimated £10m to the local economy
per annum.
Meanwhile the new University Centre
in Folkestone (UCF) opened to
students in September 2007. The
Centre draws together Canterbury
Christ Church University and the
University of Greenwich at a shared
campus in the heart of FolkestoneÕs
Creative Quarter. The £10m project
received funding and support from
the Creative Foundation; SEEDA; the
Higher Education Funding Council
and the two Universities.
The UCF aims to increase Higher
Education participation among
residents in Folkestone through the
provision of a range of courses at
undergraduate and postgraduate
level. The campus forms a key part
of the education-led regeneration of
Folkestone and the southern Kent
economy, and is already increasing
the social vibrancy of the town and
its perception as a place to live, work
and study.
For more information about
both schemes please visit
www.seeda.co.uk