North Yorkshire’s ‘university’ promises a £1 billion impact

It was revealed today that students will be able to start some courses at the new Coventry University Scarborough Campus this September.

Courses will initially be delivered at three locations in the town before the new institution moved into its long term home, which will be built on land next to the old Weaponess park and ride site, next September.

Ian Dunn, deputy vice-chancellor at Coventry University, said: “We have been working for some time with Scarborough Borough Council and local and regional businesses to develop what will be the most exciting educational development of this type in the country.

“Bringing high quality higher education to Scarborough is the start of a journey towards a full University Campus in the town and means continuity of HE provision and then significant growth for learners and skilled local people to fill the surge in new jobs planned in the borough.”

The new campus will employ around 100 people and will eventually cater for more than 5,000 students.

Courses on offer are expected to include law and policing, business, management and leadership, accounting and finance, science and engineering and health and social care.

It was announced last year that Scarborough Council had begun discussions with Coventry University over the future of higher education in the area following Hull University’s decision to leave its campus in the town in 2017.

Last month, it was confirmed a new campus will be built on a site shared with the proposed University Technical College Scarborough as part of a wider £45 million development which also includes a leisure village and new football stadium for Scarborough Athletic.

The new institution will be led by Professor Craig Gaskell, who currently is the principal of Hull University’s Scarborough campus.

Scarborough Council leader Tom Fox said: “We are extremely pleased that the new campus will welcome its very first students from this September.

“It signals the start of a new standard of excellence in higher education for the borough.

“Backed by local businesses that are committed to raising the skills levels of the employees of the future, the campus will be a fundamental part of the growth of the area’s economy from now on.

“Professor Gaskell’s appointment is fantastic news. He shares the vision of all the partners involved, who look forward to working with him to deliver Coventry University Scarborough Campus.”

Applications for the new campus, both directly and through the UCAS system, will begin to be accepted in the coming days for both part-time and full-time study.

Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill said: ”This really is a game changer for the local area.

“Although Scarborough is already well known for bucking the trend and leading the way in regenerating coastal communities, this really is big news for the economy both locally and regionally in providing North Yorkshire with its own university.”