Wakefield College will begin outfitting a new £6.9million building in early April following handover from Bardsley Construction.
The Advanced Skills and Innovation Centre will house University level courses and incorporate a higher education department, business school, engineering centre and industry-standard computer facilities within the Margaret Street campus.
Construction began in February 2016 with funding from Wakefield College, Wakefield Council and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Principal Sam Wright said: “The new facility will help develop vital high level skills and become a hub for enterprise and entrepreneurship helping train the business leaders of tomorrow,” at the topping out ceremony last October.
Teaching begins in September as Wakefield College partners with Leeds Beckett University and the University of Hull.
Stephanie Burras, Chair of the LEP’s Employment and Skills Panel, praised the building’s ‘business incubation’ areas, which will provide facilities for students, encouraging business growth and employment in the area.
Higher Education Director Clare Hagerup expressed aims to diversify future staffing opportunities, saying: “It might not necessarily be someone who is academic but someone who has been out in the workplace for 20 years and now wants to bring that wealth of experience into teaching.”
Foundation courses in Public Services Management, Social Health and Wellbeing and Business will be upped to Level 6 degrees while the introduction of Applied Biology, Photography and Travel and Tourism diplomas are in progress according to Mrs Hagerup.
She explained that alternative options for university study are valuable to students whose responsibilities restrict them from traditional university education.
Marketing Manager Stuart Parton said: “I think the perception in the district has changed in recent years and communities are more aware of the fact that Wakefield College offers an effective pathway to university or more academically-focused qualifications.”
The last five years have seen rising pass rates and applications for higher education and A-level courses which Mr Parton believes is thanks to the college’s investment in new facilities.
In January, a further planning application for Wakefield’s Deeds Office – a listed building on Newstead Road behind the Margaret Street campus – was submitted with the aim of collating courses within the city centre.
Mr Parton described the ‘resounding success’ of Wakefield College’s previous redevelopment of the Mechanic’s Theatre on Wood Street, saying: “Preserving the city’s history by providing modern educational facilities is a win-win situation which is excellent for the local community.”
Both Ms Haggerup and Mr Parton said Wakefield College will expand its course prospectus yearly with local employers – who supported its bid for funding the ASIC – assisting with curriculum development.
A formal opening ceremony for the ASIC will take place in October and will be attended by university partners and Wakefield Council members.
Contacts
Clare Hagerup
Director of Higher Education, Wakefield College
c.hagerup@wakefield.ac.uk
01924 789299
Stuart Parton
Marketing Manager, Wakefield College
s.parton@wakefield.ac.uk
01924 789190
Sam Wright
Principal, Wakefield College
s.wright@wakefield.ac.uk
Statement gathered via press release provided by Wakefield College.
(http://www.wakefield.ac.uk/college-life/news/2016/10/asic-topping-out/)
Stephanie Burras
Chair of the Leeds City Region Employment and Skills Panel
Statement gathered via press release provided by Wakefield College.
(http://www.wakefield.ac.uk/college-life/news/2016/10/asic-topping-out/)
The Wakefield Eagle 