Countdown to arrival of first undergrads at Shrewsbury's university
Shrewsbury's new university will welcome its first undergraduates in less than 50 days.
And Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, today hailed the institution for the cultural and economic impact it will have on the town.
University Centre Shrewsbury's undergraduates will follow in the footsteps of postgraduates who started their courses in autumn 2014.
The town's MP says it will strengthen the region by allowing Shropshire to retain some of its brightest young people.
Mr Kawczynski said the university would also provide a long-term economic boost for the town.
He said: "It is an opportunity for more investment in the town. That is a key factor in my view. Will this bring additional investment into Shrewsbury? Will it bring in tens of millions and create jobs? Yes, it will, and that is excellent news for Shrewsbury.
"The other thing is to keep young people firmly rooted in the centre of our town. For too long we have had bright young Salopians leaving Shrewsbury to go and study in other parts of the UK and then we have lost them.
"This is the thing, if people go to another part of the country, quite often they do not come back. I have every confidence this university will create a niche for itself in certain specialisms and will rapidly become a centre of excellence."
Byron Grainger-Jones, chairman of finance for Shrewsbury Civic Society, said: "We particularly welcome the university centre, as its staff and students will add enormously to the artistic, sporting and cultural quality of Shropshire's remarkable county town."
Councillor Claire Wild, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for University Centre Shrewsbury, added: "
I am very excited about having a university in Shropshire and working in association with the business community to provide opportunities in the county for both undergraduates and graduates."
Sir David Lees, chair of the University Centre Shrewsbury Advisory Board, said: "It is important that we have a new prominent place of higher education in Shrewsbury. The university centre is a significant development, to which I am very pleased to contribute." Sir David is a former boss of three FTSE 100 Index companies and head of the Confederation of British Industry's Economic Affairs Committee.
Paul Kirkbright, the university's deputy provost, added: "With 50 days to go until our undergraduates arrive, everyone is focused on making sure everything is in place to ensure they enjoy an outstanding experience."
