Loughborough University is set to build a new post-graduate and research campus in 70,000 square feet of educational space at iCITY, the new 'digital hub' at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London. The campus will open in 2015, affording the university more opportunity to increase its outstanding academic reputation and capitalise on its extensive academic research.
Located amidst East London's flourishing creative scene, iCITY is a new digital area of the capital and pioneered as a "world-leading centre of innovation, education and enterprise" with stunningly, "the most advanced digital infrastructure in Europe", making it a premier destination for global business enterprise and cutting-edge innovation in ecology and science. The university's Vice Chancellor, Professor Robert Allison, personally informed all students and affiliates with the positive news via email that Loughborough University Council approved the decision to establish a new Stratford-based campus last Friday.
The campus will be located within a community focused centre of innovation and creativity with a technology and business community centre, start-up premises, conference areas and broadcasting hubs, so that the educational prospects offered at the new site will both "complement and expand that provided at the main Loughborough campus", with a variety of post-graduate courses, research assistant placements and fellowships. Courses will embrace business and management, media and communications, digital technologies, science and sport. The London campus will attract both UK and international students within the London orbit, a guarantee of high-calibre research and enterprise informed teaching, and all the while shaping and preparing students for their transition into professional industries.
An expanded campus will facilitate Loughborough University's respected reputation at undertaking relevant and invaluable research that benefits the economy and society on both a national and global level. Loughborough University is already in partnership with multinational companies and SME's in London. For example, university research teams have worked with Caterpillar UK Ltd, an automotive and optical engineering company which explores 'pioneering technologies' that will develop greener engines and low carbon transport technologies. The new campus in the capital will encourage networking, benefit the university commercially and financially and, as the hub of many international research networks and partnerships, will provide expert analysis and advice nationally and internationally.
A closer network with London will allow Loughborough University's world-leading sport and exercise expertise to aid public health, and sustain the media, technology and creative sectors within the city. London's speedy and reliable public transport means only a twenty minute journey to the city centre, reducing pollution and the need for an extensive car-parking area, and therefore providing more space for university buildings.
This London campus will become a unique training environment bringing together innovative researchers and companies working on the same challenges, to enable commercial partnerships that contribute to the development of real solutions to the 21st century.
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