UNIVERSITIES Secretary John Denham today announced that Thurrock is among 27 areas in England interested in establishing new higher education (HE) centres.
Thurrock is one of the first places in the country to express an interest in the Government’s ‘New University Challenge’ which was launched earlier this year to expand the opportunities for new local HE provision.
Ministers believe that a local high quality higher education centre can open up the chance of higher education to more young people and adults who previously may never have thought about a degree while helping drive local economic and social regeneration.
Economists estimate that every extra job a university creates is matched by another elsewhere in the economy.
Mr Denham said: "In these challenging economic times never have universities and colleges been more important to education, economic development, regeneration and the cultural life of our rural areas, towns and cities.
“It is my ambition is to build on the successes of the last few years which have seen new centres of higher education transforming local economies and the lives of local people.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will consult on the criteria by which any formal bids for new HE centres should be assessed and will publish proposals in the New Year.
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