Layout 2 - University of Central Lancashire
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And in a separate development the <strong>University</strong> has<br />
announced exciting plans to establish the UK’s first<br />
private university campus in Bangkok, Thailand.<br />
An <strong>of</strong>ficial agreement has been signed between<br />
the <strong>University</strong> and Thai-based entrepreneur Mr<br />
Sitichai Charoenkajonkul which pledges both<br />
parties to work in close collaboration to create<br />
a full-scale university campus. UCLan will invest<br />
£7.5 million in the venture.<br />
As with the campus in Cyprus, the Thailand<br />
development will be built to an exacting UCLan<br />
specification. Subject to the granting <strong>of</strong> an<br />
educational licence, the new facility will open<br />
the doors to its first cohort <strong>of</strong> students in<br />
September 2014.<br />
The campus will <strong>of</strong>fer full-time and part-time<br />
undergraduate, postgraduate and foundation<br />
degree courses in subject areas that include<br />
business, built and natural environment,<br />
engineering, performing arts and languages.<br />
Located within the Bangkok metropolitan area<br />
and within easy reach <strong>of</strong> the city centre, the new<br />
facility will initially be home to 800 students with<br />
a planned capacity <strong>of</strong> 5,000 in ten years.<br />
UK-based students will also benefit, helping the<br />
<strong>University</strong> achieve a crucial element <strong>of</strong> its new<br />
UCLan Advantage package, which guarantees<br />
every full-time, UK/EU undergraduate student<br />
enrolling in the autumn <strong>of</strong> 2012 with the<br />
opportunity to obtain a global experience or<br />
study period abroad as a standard part <strong>of</strong> their<br />
degree programme.<br />
It is envisaged that the student body will blend<br />
those from Thailand and South East Asia with<br />
expatriates, UCLan students based in the UK and<br />
those from other international locations to create<br />
a vibrant international community.<br />
Vice-Chancellor Malcolm McVicar said: “UCLan<br />
has made huge strides in the last ten years and<br />
the qualities <strong>of</strong> innovation, entrepreneurship and<br />
enterprise will remain at the heart <strong>of</strong> our ethos as<br />
we enter this new phase <strong>of</strong> exciting growth.<br />
“Our vision for both developments is to create<br />
international UCLan campuses which incorporate<br />
superlative teaching and learning, research<br />
excellence and extensive knowledge transfer for<br />
business interaction, all within first-class<br />
surroundings. The developments signal our intent<br />
to extend our global brand and become a major<br />
higher educational force on the world stage.<br />
“We believe our approach is inherently<br />
entrepreneurial and innovative and to this end the<br />
coming years will see UCLan establish a number<br />
<strong>of</strong> private campuses, taking world-class teaching,<br />
learning and research opportunities to students<br />
across the world.”<br />
Pictured: Artist’s impression <strong>of</strong> UCLan’s Cyprus Campus.<br />
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