UNIVERSITY Campus Suffolk (UCS) could help the county become a 'Silicon Valley' for the creative arts it has been suggested today. Richard Lister, director of external relations at the University of Essex, said that when built, the Ipswich-based UCS could tailor its curriculum to encourage a burgeoning creative arts industry in the county.

UNIVERSITY Campus Suffolk (UCS) could help the county become a 'Silicon Valley' for the creative arts it has been suggested today.

Richard Lister, director of external relations at the University of Essex, said that when built, the Ipswich-based UCS could tailor its curriculum to encourage a burgeoning creative arts industry in the county.

A project led by the universities of Essex and East Anglia, UCS is due to open its doors to its first students in September 2007.

Mr Lister said the UCS development team would be discussing the curriculum at a top-level meeting this week.

He added: "Suffolk is developing clusters of small businesses involved in the creative arts. We are still in the early stages but we would like to see if we can develop the curriculum of UCS to support these clusters. It could be a kind of creative arts 'Silicon Valley' for Suffolk."

Other subjects on the UCS curriculum may include transport logistics.

Mr Lister said students studying the subject could fill a skills gap in one of the region's fast growing and expanding industries.

Brian Summers, registrar and secretary at the University of East Anglia (UEA), said the UCS development team had divided into a number sub-committees.

He added: "We have a group working on the administration of UCS. It might sound a bit dull but it is critical to get in place the right IT systems the UCS will use."

Mr Summers said plans for UCS were going well.

He said: "There is a mind set of co-operation between the two universities that goes right to the two vice chancellors. The UEA is pleased and excited the two institutions have managed to draw together this level of support."

Mr Lister added: "This is a huge opportunity for Ipswich and the University of Essex is delighted to be involved in such a partnership."

N What do you think of the UCS scheme? What subjects would you like to see on the curriculum? What do you think? 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 and Ipswich Borough Council. 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