Developing the future of the University of Brighton in Hastings

Published November 2010

The future of higher education in Hastings was the topic of a ‘Hear the students speak' event at University of Brighton in Hastings.

Guests were given a history of the university's involvement in the town and a run down on future developments.

Since opening in 2003, the university centre has become a real success story, and the University of Brighton is now a key player in the social, economic and physical regeneration of the Hastings area. It is building on this momentum with the construction of a second university building in the centre of Hastings, as part of the redevelopment of Priory Square.

As our students demonstrate the values and ambitions of the University of Brighton's centre in Hastings most effectively of all, the main part of Hear the students speak was handed over to members of the current student community. They each shared with attendees what the student experience means to them, and how important they believe it is to make it available to larger numbers of students in the future. 

Some of the highlights of the evening can be viewed in the short film below: (unfortunately due to fireworks going off outside at the time, the sound is rather low and patchy)

We are now aiming to identify supporters who believe in the transformative power of education, and who want to help develop experience offered by the University of Brighton in Hastings to benefit even more students in the future.

We are seeking mutually beneficial partnerships to support the University of Brighton in Hastings as it meets the range of challenges it faces. For example, the university's physical presence needs expanding to accommodate additional student numbers. We are also fundamentally committed to supporting the significant number of students coming to us from difficult backgrounds but who possess a strong desire to learn and develop themselves.

The opportunities for involvement are many and can be applied to each supporter's particular interests. Thanks to the matched-funding scheme offered by the government which provides an additional £1 for every £2 given until the end of July 2011, this is an excellent time to make philanthropic donations for higher education. Every donation supporting the University of Brighton in Hastings can be matched under this scheme until this date, significantly increasing the value of contributions at no extra cost to the donor.

Alternatively, some supporters may wish to make non-financial contributions and this is something that would be best discussed face to face.

This fundraising initiative has been boosted through the involvement of Annette Shelford. Annette, who graduated from University of Brighton, University Centre Hastings in 2010 with a degree in English Literature and Media Studies (and is also wife of the former High Sheriff of East Sussex, Bill Shelford) has kindly agreed to be named as patron of these activities. Annette feels extremely enthusiastic about the potential of expanding the numbers of people who can benefit from the student experience provided in Hastings:

"For three wonderful years, I attended University Centre Hastings. It was an experience that transformed my life and I firmly believe that the opportunities I enjoyed should be made available to many more students. I feel very honoured to have been chosen to be patron for UCH's new project and hope other will join me in contributing to such a worthwhile cause."

To find out more about the campaign, how to make a donation to this initiative or to offer other kinds of support, please contact development@brighton.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0)1273 643591.

Construction starts on new university building in Hastings

The creation of a second set of premises for the University of Brighton's Hastings campus (UBH) has taken a major step forward: site demolition has been completed and construction has begun. This marks a significant milestone for higher education in the area, with the new facility scheduled to be ready for the start of the September 2012 academic year. 

Demolition of the poor quality, 1960s rear extension to Hastings' Post Office has been carried out since February to make way for the new university scheme. With the final piece of the extension dismantled, McLaren Construction has now taken over as the main contractor to build the new facility.

The second UBH facility will be an impressive, twenty-first century learning environment. It will more than double the capacity of the University Centre - whose existing premises are now full - to over 1,000 student places. Over 800 of these places are already confirmed and funded.

The project is managed by Sea Space, the company set up by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and its partners to deliver economic development in the Hastings area.

To support the area's business community, the new facility will enable the expansion of UBH courses as well as the student population. It will incorporate a suite of laboratories and place a particular emphasis on science. New degrees will be provided in environmental biology, human biology, maths, computing, digital games production and broadcast journalism.

The development scheme involves the renovation and extension of the 1930s Post Office building in Hastings' Priory Quarter education and business district.

The new six-floor, 3,770m² University Centre building will have its main entrance from the town's recently created Priory Square. It will complete the enclosure of this public space by adding an impressive civic façade on the south side, complementing the One Priory Square offices on the north side and a new restaurant to the east. 

The Post Office will remain unchanged, in full operation on the ground floor of the building. The architecturally-notable façade will be cleaned and repaired. To create the new teaching premises, the vacant upper floors will be renovated and high quality new construction will replace the demolished rear extension, forming three sides around a central atrium. Illustrations are available.

The project is backed by funding from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), the University of Brighton - supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) - and bank financing.  

Pam Alexander, Chair of the Hastings & Bexhill Task Force and CEO of SEEDA, comments:  "We opened UBH only in 2003 to deliver higher education to Hastings for the first time and its success has been inspiring.  The opportunities it offers to local people are a core part of the economic development programme for the area. It's heartening that the existing premises are now full, with strong links forged with the local business community. The second UBH building will meet the burgeoning demand for student places, providing new courses which increase people's skills and help them to find work. An increasingly skilled workforce is already contributing to the expansion of local businesses and attracting new companies to the area - a win-win for the people of Hastings and the local economy." 

Councillor Peter Jones, Leader of East Sussex County Council, comments: "UBH has proved a big success story. Demand for places has been high and many local people have benefited from higher education, which they previously hadn't even thought was an option. By doubling student capacity with this wonderful new facility, we'll make sure an even larger proportion of the community has access to such a life-changing opportunity."