Cumbria County Council will welcome Kate Murray from the Higher Education Funding Council for England to the meeting of full council tomorrow.
Kate Murray is the Director of the University Education in Cumbria project. Her report will update the council on the latest developments in work towards the anticipated University of Cumbria as well as advising on the next steps necessary to progress the scheme.
A report prepared by Sir Martin Harris and released in September this year proposed a path towards a University of Cumbria. Currently proposals outlining the developments that could lead to the creation of the new university are being considered by the institutions participating in the project with repsonses due by end of calendar year.
Tim Stoddard, Leader of Cumbria County Council says:
"Cumbria County Council is pleased to be receiving this report from the Higher Education Funding Council and we are looking forward to hearing about the next steps to be taken. We welcomed the proposals that Sir Martin Harris detailed in his report earlier this year and we look forward to working with agencies and partners across the county to do all we can to make the project a success.
A University of Cumbria is an aspiration that the county council has been working hard to help realise for a number of years. Should it come to fruition, the social and economic benefits that will follow will not only help in the education of our young men and women but will draw in others from all over the country.
There is a lot of work and negotiation still to be done but there is now a sensible and achievable path towards a University of Cumbria. This is a very exciting proposal which would pay economic and cultural dividends for the whole county and we will work hard with all partners to progress the scheme."