Welsh Education Minister Jane Hutt has celebrated the future of higher education based in and dedicated to people living in the Heads of the Valleys. Funding for the first year of activities of £280,000 will be supported by additional resources made available to HEFCW by the Welsh Assembly Government, under its One Wales objective widening participation in Higher Education (HE) and Further Education (FE) for all ages.
The University of the Heads of the Valleys initiative will lead a drive to transform the performance and prospects of an area which has one of the lowest skill levels in the UK.
The aim is that within 10 years participation and higher education skill levels in the Heads of the Valleys will be on a par with the Welsh average.
The development is a result of agreement between two universities, the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales Newport, working with the Further Education sector, local authorities, the Assembly Government and the HEFCW, to commit to a long term joint approach to building a permanent base for Higher Education in the area spanning Ebbw Vale and Merthyr Tydfil.
Jane Hutt said: "This is a significant moment in the life of the region. On the day that I respond to Professor Merfyn Jones' report on the mission and purpose of Higher Education in Wales it's wonderful news that I can announce significant progress on the establishment of the University of the Heads of the Valleys.
"Universities have taken this bold step and have worked together with local partners and our backing to begin something that can grow and flourish and bring wider benefits to everyone in the Heads of the Valleys in the years ahead. This initiative will have a considerable impact on the economy for the Heads of the Valleys region.
"2009/10 will be all about getting started, and putting a marker in the sand that there is no going back."
In 2009 the initiative will offer about 80 places, and operating in a virtual capacity, through workplace and community-based programmes, as well as at the campuses of the universities and the FE colleges. It will grow year on year, with additional funding support from the Assembly Government, building on other developments proposed for reorganising post-16 provision in the area.
The subjects intended for delivery include those key to the economy and well being of the area, including Technology, Engineering and Science, Creative and Cultural Industries, Sport and Leisure, Business Development, Community Regeneration and Third Sector programmes, and Public Services, Health and Education.
Deputy Minister for Skills John Griffiths said: "This significant announcement will help turn around the economic prospects of the area delivering high levels of skills for local people."
Chair of HEFCW, Roger Thomas, said: "HEFCW fully recognises the power of higher education to transform the fortunes of individuals and communities in the Heads of the Valleys.
"Over the past two or three years, we have made a strategic investment of £3 million jointly to the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport to develop their locally based provision in the Valleys. We are delighted to see that our previous investment has been a catalyst to the development of this very ambitious plan for the area.
"We look forward to working further with the institutions, in the light of this additional funding announced by the Minister, to bring the plans to fruition."
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