08/07/04 - Cumbria county council welcomes UCLAN move to Carlisle

Cumbria County Council today welcomed the news that Northumbria University’s campus in Carlisle is to transfer to UCLAN.   

County Councillor Joan Stocker, the council's Cabinet member for Education says:   

"This is good news for Cumbria. This exciting development allows Cumbria to build upon the work we have undertaken to increase the range and amount of provision available into the County.   

It is what we need if we are to help more young people in the county raise their ambitions and secure for themselves and their families the benefits which higher education can bring. Establishing a second significant UCLAN base in the county, to add to their existing campus outside Penrith, will help build better links between our schools and higher education.   

And it will begin to get us towards the sort of university presence which will give the boost to our economy which is long overdue. Other parts of our country know that effective links between universities and industry and commerce are a crucial part of economic regeneration. Now we can begin to build the same sort of foundations here."   

The County Council has long argued the need for a university for Cumbria. It is important both for the futures of young people in the county and for the regeneration of county's economy.    

The County Council has discussed with UCLAN how they can establish themselves as a university which feels a real part of Cumbria, not just a branch of a university based somewhere else. The move to Carlisle is the start of that process. The County Council is looking for further investment for UCLAN in the future and for the rapid development of the strategic partnerships with the other HE institutions in the county, such as St Martin’s and Cumbria Institute for the Arts.   

The overall aim must be to enhance the aspirations and opportunities for all pupils and students. The County Council wants to widen participation in higher education and having a university which is really part of the county will be important in achieving this.