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University news

School of Architecture and Built Environment opens

Our impressive new building opened its doors at the Springfield Campus in October 2020, as part of a £120 million regeneration of Wolverhampton’s former brewery site. We’re proud to say that the site is now Europe’s largest architecture and built environment super-campus, covering 12 acres and helping to herald a new and thrilling era in construction education.

The campus also houses the West Midlands University Technical College and the Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills, and is central to the University’s vision of enhancing the student experience and supporting business growth.

The event was live-streamed

New NBI architect drawings Official opening with Councillor Claire Darke, Mayor of Wolverhampton

Professor Mohammed Arif Alumnus Liam Davies (ISG)

National Brownfield Institute – work begins

Work has started on the University of Wolverhampton’s National Brownfield Institute, which will be a world-class facility that develops modern, innovative new work methods for the construction industry.

The Institute will focus on practical methods of regenerating brownfield sites, through the pioneering work of professionals and research teams. Wolverhampton Council Leader, Cllr Ian Brookfield, spoke at the ground-breaking ceremony, saying, “This is a game-changing moment for the city as we break ground on the National Brownfield Institute development. “Once the NBI is built, it will enable Wolverhampton to secure its position as a world leader in sustainable construction, circular economy, and brownfield development, and will deliver new skills, jobs, and opportunities for local people.”

Vision 2030

Inclusive. Innovative. Impactful.

Vision 2030

The University of Wolverhampton outlined its exciting strategic plan for the next 10 years, which will focus on people and place to help the economy emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new plan, named Vision 2030, includes a list of goals that include a personalised approach to learning centred on individual students, research with clear benefits to society, and a network of science and innovation parks. To learn more, visit: https://www.wlv.ac.uk/

media/documents/Vision-2030-PDF.pdf

New Marches Centre of Excellence for Health and Social Care

The new £5 million health and social care training centre opened at the University of Wolverhampton’s Telford Campus in May 2021.

The Centre received £3.5 million Growth Deal funding from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), and will give students hands-on, real-life experience of their future profession, ensuring that they have the skills and knowledge to benefit employers.

Race Equality Charter

The University has been awarded a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award by Advanced HE, achieving national recognition.

The Charter aims to improve the representation, progression, and success of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff and students.

Judo partnership extended

The British Judo Association and the University agreed that their decade-long partnership collaboration will continue until 2032.

The Association’s Centre of Excellence will remain based at Walsall Campus for the next three Olympic cycles, preparing athletes for Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028, and beyond.

The next focus for the Centre will be the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

As part of this new partnership agreement, the University has submitted a planning application to extend the Centre of Excellence. This will see the introduction of more specialist facilities to support Olympic and Paralympic athletes who are based in the West Midlands.

British Art Show

Wolverhampton will now host British Art Show 9 (BAS9) in January 2022, after new dates for the touring exhibition were announced by organisers due to the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions.

The event, which is the biggest touring exhibition of contemporary art in the UK, will take place in Wolverhampton between 22 January and 10 April 2022. City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Cllr Ian Brookfield, said, “The exhibition will be a great way to kick off 2022, a year which will see world-class events coming to the city during the Commonwealth Games, Wolverhampton Literature Festival, and big-name gigs at our newly refurbished Civic Halls.”

Knowledge Exchange Framework

Research England’s Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) has confirmed that the University is one of the country’s top institutions for local regeneration and engaging with the public and community.

KEF’s data looks at the performance for universities from different perspectives, including public and community engagement, working with partners ranging from big businesses to small local firms, and how they commercialise their research. The University of Wolverhampton was identified in the top 10% nationally for public and community engagement and also in the top 10% for local growth and regeneration.

Sandwell Aquatics Centre

Students at the University of Wolverhampton will benefit from a partnership with Sandwell Council, centred on the Sandwell Aquatics Centre.

The Centre, which is sponsored by the University of Wolverhampton alongside others, will provide a world-class leisure facility for residents in Sandwell for decades to come.

As the exclusive higher education partner, the University will work with the council on legacy plans as well as workforce development and skills.

Sports students will study and train within the state-of-the-art aquatics centre as part of their curriculum through the 10-year agreement, which will start in 2023.

Sandwell Aquatics Centre (artist’s impression)

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