6.5 Million Pound University Centre Opens

Mansfield’s first ever, large scale university centre at West Notts College opening its doors to students this week and was immediately hailed as a ‘beacon of aspiration’ for our communities.

The 6.5 million pound centre situated on Derby Road has been created to improve access to higher education and plug the area’s skills gaps and shortages.

The college has almost 450 university-level students on courses ranging from higher national certificates to full honours degrees.

An extra 600 higher level students are set to be accomodated over the next three years as college chiefs say the centre was needed to address the traditionally low rates of people in Mansfield and Ashfield progressing to higher education.

West Notts College’s Principal and Chief Executive Dame Asha Khemka said, “This is a truly momentous occasion for Mansfield and Ashfield. Vision University Centre will bring higher education to people’s doorsteps like never before, while erving as a vital hub for businesses to acces highly-trained talent or up-skill their current workforce.”

Also created as part of the 50 million pound scheme to invest in the college’s estate across Mansfield and Ashfield is a multi-use, floodlit outdoor games area adjacent to the centre offering improved facilities for students whilts extending the college’s sports provision.

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