U's back new chapter for Colchester Insitute.
U's General Manager Tim Waddington, Media Manager Matt Hudson and Eddie the Eagle were all part of the launch of University Centre Colchester ahead of an exciting new chapter for education in the town.
Colchester United teamed up with their friends at Colchester Institute this week to help the educational establishment with a relaunch of their Higher Education arm.
Colchester United teamed up with their friends at Colchester Institute this week to help the educational establishment with a relaunch of their Higher Education arm.
The only change is in the name, but this rebranding is the outward sign of very significant success and acknowledges 50 years of excellence in delivering degrees.
Before you think they’re moving to a new campus, they’re not, but their buildings will be renamed UCC, and students in further education will continue to attend Colchester Institute campus.
And, from this week, its undergraduates and postgraduates will become students at University Centre Colchester (UCC).
Today it is renowned as one of the largest and most successful providers of vocational qualifications, in both further and higher education, in Essex.
Colchester Institute has been an integral part of the town since 1885, when it was the Colchester School of Art.
Before you think they’re moving to a new campus, they’re not, but their buildings will be renamed UCC, and students in further education will continue to attend Colchester Institute campus.
And, from this week, its undergraduates and postgraduates will become students at University Centre Colchester (UCC).
Today it is renowned as one of the largest and most successful providers of vocational qualifications, in both further and higher education, in Essex.
Colchester Institute has been an integral part of the town since 1885, when it was the Colchester School of Art.
UCC also represents the culmination of the journey the senior team, led by its Principal and Chief Executive Alison Andreas, has taken to deliver degree courses that are the best of their kind and that directly relate to employers' needs.
For undergraduates, UCC is a recognition of their ability and potential and now they can genuinely say "we’re off to Uni!".
For undergraduates, UCC is a recognition of their ability and potential and now they can genuinely say "we’re off to Uni!".
Speaking about the name change, Alison Andreas said: "Although we’ve been running degree courses for over 50 years, many prospective undergraduates are unaware of this and go further afield to study.
"Having 'university' in our name is the best way of directing people to take a degree on their doorstep. The name change also follows three years of intense activity where we have invested over £15m at the Colchester campus to give all our students the very best facilities in which they can learn."
"Having 'university' in our name is the best way of directing people to take a degree on their doorstep. The name change also follows three years of intense activity where we have invested over £15m at the Colchester campus to give all our students the very best facilities in which they can learn."
UCC's payoff line 'Research-informed. Employer-led.' is new too, but these sentiments are in its DNA where UCC is more than a place where students go to study for a degree; it provides an environment in which they can learn, develop their talents and sharpen their competitive edge. Currently 66% of UCC’s undergraduates achieve a First or Upper Second honours degree.
Thanks to UCC’s strong links with industry and employers, all students are already highly employable with 94% of graduates working in their chosen field, or going on to further study, within just six months.
If employability rates can be improved, that will be impressive as they are already one of the highest in the country.
Thanks to UCC’s strong links with industry and employers, all students are already highly employable with 94% of graduates working in their chosen field, or going on to further study, within just six months.
If employability rates can be improved, that will be impressive as they are already one of the highest in the country.
To celebrate the new name students have been out and about collecting selfies and soundbites from employers and supporters to make into a short film, with an original soundtrack care of the School of Music. This is available to view online now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af0l0maOzPE
The new mayor of Colchester, Cllr Julie Young, who spoke at the launch event at the Colchester campus, just hours after being inaugurated at the Town Hall, said: “This is an exciting development to our already-excellent provider of Further Education. It will give students the clarity of the College’s full range of educational opportunities and I am sure will act as a huge recruitment tool. I wish UCC the best of luck for the future."
The final word goes to artist Grayson Perry, a former student and honorary graduate, who said: “Going to university is a big, expensive step to take, but it is more than in investment in your future, the most important thing it gives you money cannot buy. At university you find yourself amongst people who are passionate about the same things you are, and you will learn as much from fellow students as you do from tutors. A university is a community, make the most of it. The friends you make at Uni are very often friends for life.”
www.colchester.ac.uk