Royal visit on 50th anniversary opens new £6.5m °®Âþµº student facility
The Earl of Wessex opened an international student facility at the °®Âþµº today – as the institution celebrates 50 years since its founding.
The Earl of Wessex opened an international student facility at the °®Âþµº today ¨C as the institution celebrates 50 years since its founding.
The Earl of Wessex formally opens the °®Âþµº INTO Building.
His Royal Highness formally opened the ?6.5 million °®Âþµº INTO Building, before marking the launch of the commemorative anniversary publication, ¡®Fifty: The °®Âþµº in 50 Objects¡¯.
University Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerry McCormac said: ¡°The formal opening of the °®Âþµº INTO Building, by His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex, is a proud moment for our university community.
¡°With more than 120 nationalities represented on our campus, we celebrate our global outlook ¨C and are therefore delighted to open this cutting-edge facility, to deepen our partnership with INTO that provides international students with opportunities to study at a world-leading university.
The °®Âþµº INTO Building boasts a state-of-the-art lecture theatre, 10 teaching rooms and a cafe.
¡°It is also fitting that today¡¯s royal visit coincides with the launch of our ¡¯50 objects¡¯ anniversary book, marking 50 years to the day since The Queen signed the Royal Charter which brought our university into being.¡±
Centre Director for INTO °®Âþµº, Sandy Tippett, said: ¡°We are proud to have been in partnership with the °®Âþµº since 2014, with more than 1,000 international INTO students having already enjoyed the experience of studying on such a beautiful campus.
¡°This new, bespoke, building will further enhance our partnership and the student experience. The University is renowned for innovation and excellence and this new facility embodies those values.¡±
The Earl of Wessex met staff and students during his visit to the new building.
Students at the °®Âþµº INTO Building undertake preparation courses for progression to degrees at the °®Âþµº, as well as other universities. The new building boasts a state-of-the-art lecture theatre, 10 teaching rooms, a caf¨¦, and capacity for up to 420 students.
Guests at today¡¯s launch included local and national politicians, representatives from °®Âþµº Council, and members of the Students¡¯ Union, among others.
At the event, Professor McCormac presented The Earl with a copy of the commemorative publication: ¡®Fifty: The °®Âþµº in 50 Objects¡¯, and invited him to view some of the objects themselves. These included the Chancellor¡¯s robe, ceremonial mace, images of The Queen¡¯s visit in 1972, and Commonwealth and Olympic swimming medals won by the University¡¯s athletes.
Students, staff, and members of the public can purchase the book from the , as well as in person and online from the campus . It is also available from the Students¡¯ Union shop.
The °®Âþµº INTO Building further strengthens the University¡¯s commitment to sustainability, having achieved an ¡®A¡¯ rating in its Energy Performance Certificate. This means it is extremely energy efficient and produces minimal carbon emissions.
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Background information
Media enquiries to Chris Black, Communications Officer, on 01786 466 169 or chris.black@stir.ac.uk