UNIVERSITY Campus Suffolk (UCS) is today advertising for a chief executive.The move, described as a 'milestone', is seen by observers as a crucial development in the UCS project as the chief executive will move the project forward to the next stage.

UNIVERSITY Campus Suffolk (UCS) is today advertising for a chief executive.

The move, described as a 'milestone', is seen by observers as a crucial development in the UCS project as the chief executive will move the project forward to the next stage.

UCS project manager Carol Macaskill said: "This is a very important step and it confirms the UCS project is progressing from an idea into reality.

"So far progress has been made on low levels of staffing. This is the first of a number of appointments we hope to make."

The advertisement, which has appeared in a specialist higher education publication and a national newspaper, offers an 'attractive salary' - estimated to be between £40,000 and £60,000.

Ms Macaskill, who is expected to meet candidates during the selection process, said the interview panel is likely to consist of representatives from the universities of Essex and East Anglia.

She added: "The new chief executive will be the person who leads the project into the next stage of its development. That person will preside over the launch in 2007 and the opening of the first buildings in 2008."

Ms Macaskill said the successful candidate will be announced in late September.

She added: "We have just started advertising but there has already been healthy interest."

The advertisement stated:"Of particular importance, candidates will need to share the vision of creating an exciting, radical and distinctive new university presence for the new century and of widening access in the Suffolk region."

Ipswich Borough Council chief executive James Hehir said: "This is a significant step in achieving the dream of UCS. I am sure there will be some excellent candidates."

What do you think about UCS? Do you think Ipswich will benefit from becoming a university town? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

ONE of the largest schemes of its kind in the UK University Campus Suffolk (UCS) is due to open its doors to students in September 2007.

Costing an estimated £150million over the next ten years UCS was handed a £15 million kick-start in February by the Higher Education Funding Council For England (HEFCE).

Land has already been set aside for the project and UCS, plus a new Suffolk College, will create an 'education quarter' stretching from Rope Walk to the Ipswich Waterfront.

A partnership lead by the universities of East Anglia and Essex, the UCS project is supported by Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Borough Council and the East of England Development Agency (EEDA). There will also be substantial private sector investment in the scheme.

N UCS is expected to be worth £1 million a week to the Ipswich economy.

N UCS will include the Ipswich campus and a number of linked centres in other Suffolk towns. This county-wide campus will be known as the Suffolk Learning Centres.

N The total cost of the scheme is expected to be £150million over ten years. Phase one is expected to cost £75m.

N In November 2004 Suffolk County Council pledged £13m towards buying land for the project.

N The plans include halls of residence for students and car parking.

Weblinks www.suffolk.ac.uk www.ucs.ac.uk