17.10.2006
A £4.85 million centre that brings together Higher Education design students and museum and archive collections will be launched at the University of Brighton. This new Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning through Design (CETLD) will be opened by Professor Julian Crampton, Vice-Chancellor at the university and Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, Rector of the Royal College of Art, Chair of the Arts Council and Trustee of the V&A.
The Centre is a partnership, led by the University of Brighton, with the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Royal College of Art. The CETLD aims to use the collective expertise and resources of the partner institutions to create a distinctive model of experiential learning in design.
CETLD manager Anne Asha said: "Our aim is to enhance learning and teaching in design through research that brings together resources and expertise from Higher Education and collections-based partners. We are providing resources to link the four partners including funding for projects, equipment and learning space – personalised, virtual and actual. While the new centre at the University of Brighton provides a versatile, multi-purpose room for individual study, group workshops, seminars, small meetings or discussion groups, the collaborative nature of the CETLD opens up very exciting possibilities for enriching teaching and learning and provides access to a huge pool of knowledge, expertise and resources."
The CETLD will be providing resources for new ways of learning through the use of mobile technologies such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and iPods. Students and staff will be encouraged to capture, download and play video as well as using still images and text. Facilities will allow the production and sharing of keynote lectures, presentations, research seminars and other activities at partner institutions.
Vice-Chancellor Julian Crampton said: "The CETLD's activities aim to provide additional resources, equipment, time and space to discuss and develop ideas and undertake projects that will enhance the students' learning experience within the existing courses and learning environments of the partnership. It will equally support the development of new courses, staff scholarship and research in all aspects of design, drawing on the extensive experience offered by this exciting collaboration."
The launch will take place at 3.30pm on 30 October at Grand Parade.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
