New University Centre Rotherham welcomes students for first day of term

24 September 2018

The new £10.5 million University Centre Rotherham (UCR) will open its doors to students and adult learners for the first time today (Monday 24 September).

The university centre in Rotherham Town Centre on Doncaster Gate will provide access to degrees and higher-level qualifications in the heart of Rotherham, accredited by Hull University and Sheffield Hallam University. Tuition fees will be under the £9,000 charged by many universities, making degrees more accessible for people in the town.

UCR is operated by leading education and training provider RNN Group and is part of the Rotherham Plan 2025, a strategy set out by the Rotherham Together Partnership to improve the economic and social wellbeing of the borough. Currently only 17 per cent of the population in Rotherham and Bassetlaw have a higher or degree-level qualification (level 4 or above), compared to the national average of 27 per cent.

RNN Group expects to run 50 different university-level courses by 2020, adding to the 32 higher-level courses currently on offer, and has been working closely with employers to develop courses covering digital, creative, health, technical construction, engineering, and leadership and management, to meet the needs of the local economy. The target is to attract 1,000 additional students over the first five years.

Chief Executive of the RNN Group, John Connolly, said: “We are delighted to welcome students to the brand new UCR campus this autumn.

“Studying at UCR means students can achieve their career aspirations without the need to live away from home or travel long distances and offers opportunities for those already in employment who want to study a degree or higher-level qualification around their work and family commitments. We’re aiming to inspire students at UCR to become the business leaders and entrepreneurs of the future.”

Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council and Chair of the Rotherham Together Partnership, which has helped drive the plans for the facility, said: “Having a university centre here in Rotherham will develop both education and business for future generations here in Rotherham.

“It makes sense to attract new students and local businesses in order to offer the best educational and business experiences. This centre will play a pivotal role in closing the skills gap in the town and support the local economy by increasing access to higher-level skills.”

UCR is part-funded by the Sheffield City Region which contributed £3.5m of Local Growth Fund money.

UCR offers a wide range of courses in areas such as business enterprise, graphic design, performance, education, computing and media and photography. The 3,300m² campus houses a range of dedicated facilities including seminar and lecture rooms, independent group study spaces, a fully-equipped library, a café and exhibition spaces.

Notes to editors

For media enquiries please contact Charlotte Goldthorpe on 01226 766900 or at charlotte@capitalbmedia.co.uk

Image shows the University Centre Rotherham

About UCR

University Centre Rotherham (UCR) is part of the RNN Group, alongside Rotherham College, North Notts College, Dearne Valley College, RNN Training and a number of other subsidiary training organisations.

UCR will offer a wide range of university courses and degrees, foundation degrees, higher national certificates and diplomas, and other professional courses, from Level 4 up to Level 7. The courses are accredited by the University of Hull and Sheffield Hallam University. https://ucr.rotherham.ac.uk/

A time-lapse video of the UCR build can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/emH3J9Iivi4

About RNN Group:

RNN Group, based in Rotherham and North Nottinghamshire, is a leading education and training provider, meeting the needs of thousands of employers, adults and school leavers each year across Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

The RNN Group includes three colleges of further and higher education (Rotherham College, North Notts College and Dearne Valley College), the University Centre Rotherham and five training organisations, to educate school leavers, undergraduates, employees and those rejoining the workforce.

RNN Group works in partnership with employers to find the workforce needed for their future and delivers training, apprenticeships and recruitment solutions. RNN Group is rapidly growing its higher education courses including full degrees and degree apprenticeships, offered locally in South Yorkshire and connected to employers.

Further information can be found at:

For enquiries please contact the RNN Group marketing team on 01909 559205 or by email at marketing@rnngroup.ac.uk

This press release was prepared by Capital B Media, a public relations and media training agency based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. For more information, please visit www.capitalbmedia.co.uk.

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