Layout 2 - University of Central Lancashire
Layout 2 - University of Central Lancashire
Layout 2 - University of Central Lancashire
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Artist’s impression <strong>of</strong> UCLan Cyprus campus.<br />
Being world-class in everything we do is our<br />
stated intention so I am delighted to open this<br />
year’s message with some fantastic news, just<br />
received from Quacquarelli Symonds, the<br />
compilers <strong>of</strong> the prestigious QS World <strong>University</strong><br />
Rankings. In order to highlight our excellence<br />
across the board, the <strong>University</strong> put itself through<br />
a rigorous quality analysis known as the ‘QS Stars<br />
Development Road Map’.<br />
I am pleased to report that overall the <strong>University</strong><br />
has been awarded four out <strong>of</strong> the maximum<br />
five stars, while in the sub-areas which make up<br />
our overall grading, we have been awarded the<br />
maximum <strong>of</strong> five stars for teaching, infrastructure,<br />
internationalisation and engagement.<br />
QS define a four-star university as: ‘highly<br />
international, demonstrating excellence in both<br />
research and teaching. The institution provides an<br />
excellent environment for students and faculty’.<br />
This result is a ringing endorsement <strong>of</strong> all we have<br />
achieved over the last ten years and is further<br />
evidence <strong>of</strong> our world-class credentials, helping to<br />
strengthen the UCLan brand at home and abroad.<br />
Independent endorsement <strong>of</strong> our educational<br />
provision is important. The world <strong>of</strong> higher<br />
education continues to change as we find<br />
ourselves moving into an expanding global<br />
market that requires us, as educators, to provide<br />
graduates with the skill set to meet the needs <strong>of</strong><br />
not just local business, but increasingly, the needs<br />
<strong>of</strong> international business. If our students are to<br />
succeed in the global jobs market, a superlative<br />
experience, which includes an international<br />
dimension to their studies, has to become a<br />
standard part <strong>of</strong> our <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>fer.<br />
Demand for higher education, particularly in Asia,<br />
is rising rapidly and as the economies <strong>of</strong> China,<br />
India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam and other Asian<br />
economies all strengthen year-on-year, there will<br />
be a sustained increase in demand for graduates<br />
and postgraduates. It is clear that a transformation<br />
is taking place in the location <strong>of</strong> world economic<br />
and political power and, although Europe and<br />
North America will still remain vitally important,<br />
we have to recognise that the growth <strong>of</strong> the new<br />
economies will change the pattern <strong>of</strong> world<br />
economic activity and world politics.<br />
The combination <strong>of</strong> our students’ needs at home,<br />
coupled with the demand for UK higher<br />
education from abroad, are the key reasons why<br />
we have announced exciting plans to launch two<br />
new campuses overseas. One will open in<br />
Bangkok, Thailand in September 2014 while<br />
another, at Pyla in Cyprus, will open its doors<br />
much sooner in the autumn <strong>of</strong> 2012.<br />
These two campuses are part <strong>of</strong> a goal UCLan<br />
has been moving towards for decades.<br />
Our commitment to international collaboration<br />
has seen us develop <strong>of</strong>fices in China, Vietnam,<br />
Pakistan, Nigeria and India. In the case <strong>of</strong> our<br />
Chinese <strong>of</strong>fice in particular, we have been<br />
working there for over 20 years. We have<br />
students from over 120 countries and some 125<br />
partnerships across the globe. Almost 5,000 <strong>of</strong><br />
UCLan’s 35,000 are on courses <strong>of</strong>fered through<br />
worldwide partnership arrangements.<br />
International collaboration is not new to us.<br />
Our campuses in Bangkok and Cyprus are part <strong>of</strong><br />
a gradual evolution <strong>of</strong> UCLan’s overseas<br />
relationships and the two locations have been<br />
carefully selected to act as hubs in what we see<br />
as key growth areas. Our Bangkok Campus will<br />
welcome students from across South East Asia<br />
and further afield. Similarly, Cyprus acts as a<br />
gateway between Europe, North Africa and the<br />
Middle East, so we hope to be able to attract<br />
students from these areas to study with us.<br />
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