Three universities in Medway have contributed nearly £144m to the South East economy in 2015/16, with their students spending another £158m with local businesses and services, new research has found. Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of Greenwich and the University of Kent support almost 1,600 local jobs through their economic activity and welcome more than 1,200 students a year from the Medway area to their shared campus based at Chatham Maritime. Aerial shot of the shared 'Universities at Medway' campus - © University of Kent A new report published by higher education consultancy Viewforth and an analysis of wider impact data has revealed how the three universities bring jobs and investment to the region while forming a key part of Medway's growing local community. Local universities, regional impact Highlights of the Universities' wide-ranging impact include:
The 'Universities at Medway' is a partnership between Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of Greenwich and the University of Kent. Established in 2004, it has grown to welcome more than 10,000 students to its campus each year, with a focus on health and social care, engineering and science, business, journalism and the creative industries. Twelve per cent of all students at the campus are said to be from the Medway area, while more than 22,000 local young people with no family experience of university take part in outreach activities within the local community each year. The universities have also successfully retained more than 1,200 students who might otherwise have left Medway to study elsewhere. Drill Hall Library at University of Kent - © University of Kent The universities also work in partnership with Medway Council and the local business community to promote the area and support the wider ambition to transform Medway into a vibrant waterfront university 'city' by 2035. To support this, the University of Kent has recently received £4.3m in Government funding to boost creative industries in the area by supporting 'creative clusters'. Canterbury Christ Church University leads the development of local skills in Health and Social Care through its partnership with Medway Maritime Hospital, while the University of Greenwich supports the growth of start-up companies and tech entrepreneurs through co-running the Innovation Centre Medway on Maidstone Road. "We are determined to support plans to make Medway a core destination for the creative industries, bringing investment, innovation and long-term job prospects to the area..." Professor David Maguire, Vice Chancellor of the University of Greenwich, said: "It's very positive to see in such clear terms the economic benefits of the Universities at Medway.
"Our work in partnership enables us to ensure that we provide an excellent teaching and learning experience for our students while they are at university and that we give them the best possible start in their chosen careers." Professor Rama Thirunamachandran, Vice Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University, said: "We are proud to be part of the Universities at Medway. Together our universities, and our students, contribute millions of pounds to the economic prosperity of the region and help to support over 1,500 jobs. "Our courses help local people to start their careers and develop skills to support the health, wellbeing and education of our communities, and produce highly skilled, work-ready graduates to strengthen our local industries to make a lasting difference in society." Professor Karen Cox, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kent said: "I'm delighted to see the combined impact our joint work in Medway, demonstrating the vital contribution the Universities make to the region. "As the Universities at Medway, we play a key role in equipping students with the skills and experience they need to meet the area's needs – from degrees in innovative, creative and business-oriented programmes, to higher-degree apprenticeships and work-based learning. In particular, we are determined to support plans to make Medway a leading waterfront city and a core destination for the creative industries, bringing investment, innovation and long-term job prospects to the area." The new Kent and Medway Medical School, a collaboration between Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Kent, is also set to welcome students for the first time from September 2020. More than 100 aspiring medical professionals in Medway each year will benefit from work placements as trainee doctors at primary healthcare settings and hospitals to assist their studies, further adding to the range of higher education opportunities available in the area. You may read the full report by clicking here to explore the impact of the Universities at Medway collaboration to the wider area. Comments are closed.
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