The money – from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teaching capital projects fund – is in addition to £40 million that Anglia Ruskin has already earmarked for the project.
The new Anglia Ruskin Science Centre, part of the exciting Cambridge campus redevelopment, will incorporate a 300-seat lecture theatre adapted for science and a 200-station biosciences laboratory.
The centre will bring together teaching, postgraduate and staff facilities for four departments: Life Sciences; Biomedical and Forensics Sciences; Computing and Technology; and Psychology.
Anglia Ruskin has achieved a 51% increase in STEM students between 2007/8 and 2012/13, and the new centre will enable the recruitment of an extra 600 STEM students across anatomy and physiology, biomedical science and computer science in the next three years. Work is expected to start in July 2015 and should be completed by September 2017.
Anglia Ruskin has invested in STEM-related provision for subjects allied to medicine in both Cambridge and Chelmsford. The Anglia Ruskin Science Centre is part of a sustained and long-term strategy to rebalance the mix of courses on both campuses to offer provision for more STEM students and take account of changes in demand and the needs of industry.
On the Chelmsford campus, Anglia Ruskin is giving greater weight to STEM by offering more courses allied to medicine and life sciences.
Professor Eamon Strain, Dean of the Faculty of Science & Technology, said: “The demand for our courses in science has grown significantly over the last four years, and this award will allow us to meet this need and to continue to provide truly world-class teaching and research facilities for our students and staff in our new science centre.
“Continuing to grow the number of students graduating from Anglia Ruskin in anatomy and physiology, biomedical science and computer science will work towards filling the skills gap in our region.”
The £5 million funding for Anglia Ruskin is part of a £200 million package of STEM support recently announced by HEFCE, which is overseen by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Vince Cable, Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, said: “Inspiring young people to take up STEM courses is vital to the success of the UK economy. This investment will mean world-class teaching facilities to build tomorrow’s skilled workforce. It’s just one way we are ensuring the UK remains a world leader in science and research.”
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For more press information please contact:
Jon Green on t: 0845 196 4717, e: jon.green@anglia.ac.uk
Jamie Forsyth on t: 0845 196 4716, e: jamie.forsyth@anglia.ac.uk
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Anglia Ruskin receives £5m funding boost
6 January 2015
Anglia Ruskin University has been awarded £5 million of Government funding towards a new science centre on the Cambridge campus.