Expansion at University Campus Suffolk (UCS) is continuing apace today after it was awarded a further 200 student places.

IPSWICH: Expansion at University Campus Suffolk (UCS) is continuing apace today after it was awarded a further 200 student places.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has granted the investment for the 2010/11 academic year.

Richard Lister, acting chief executive officer at UCS, said: “The additional student numbers will allow us to grow further by developing existing and new courses, which will benefit our current and potential students as well as employers and the regional economy.”

The news follows the HEFCE's �19.6m investment in the university's landmark Waterfront building and other campus developments.

Work is already underway on the second dedicated academic building for UCS, while the new University Quay building (UQ1) is due to be completed in autumn 2010.

Nine higher education centres have received investment from the HEFCE as part of a programme to increase the skill levels and opportunities of those who have little or no experience of higher education.

Mr Lister said: “The support we have received from HEFCE has enabled UCS to grow very rapidly with modern attractive buildings in Ipswich, and for that we are extremely grateful.”

Sir Alan Langlands, chief executive of HEFCE, added: “We are committed to improving access to high quality learning and teaching.

“Developing existing higher education centres has enabled us to raise the relatively low levels of participation in many parts of the country. These centres have the capacity to transform people's lives and broaden their horizons.”

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