Development of a Higher Education Centre in Shropshire

An exciting opportunity has emerged to bid for national funding towards the development of a Higher Education Centre in Shropshire through an initiative called the New University Challenge. The County Council and key education partners, including local colleges and universities, are fully supporting a Shropshire bid and need your views on what you want to see provided through a Shropshire Higher Education Centre. The current partners working on this bid are listed below. Our vision is for a Shropshire Higher Education Centre, working in partnership to provide local higher education and advanced skills development, such as apprenticeships, as part of a sustainable Shropshirewide strategy to stimulate, support and advance economic development, innovation and increased productivity.

We are inviting you to join one of four meetings across the county to find out more about the New University Challenge, to contribute to the development of a Shropshire bid and, most importantly, to provide their support.

The following meetings have been arranged:

• Thursday 2 October 2008, 8.00-10.00 am at the Shirehall in Shrewsbury
• Thursday 2 October 2008, 7.00-9.00 pm at the Shirehall in Shrewsbury
• Wednesday 8 October 2008, 7.00-9.00 pm at The Studio, Ludlow College
• Wednesday 15 October 2008, 7.00-9.00 pm at Sir John Talbot’s Technology College, Whitchurch.
Light refreshments will be provided at each meeting.

If you, or someone in your organisation, are able to attend any of the sessions, please complete and return the attached reply slip, either by fax or post. Alternatively you can reply by email to cpd@shropshire.gov.uk providing your name, organisation and the date and time of the session you would like to attend. Please reply by Friday 26 September 2008.

In the meantime if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact Jane Lycett on (01743) 252525 or email jane.lycett@shropshire.gov.uk .