Next steps on development of higher education in Hastings released

The details are contained in a paper to be considered by the University’s Academic Board and have been finalised following a three-month public consultation and detailed discussions between the University of Brighton and Sussex Coast College Hastings.

The paper confirms that:

• The ambition to develop a new University Centre in Hastings remains the best option for the continuing delivery of Higher Education in the town
• This should be delivered via a portfolio of courses delivered by Sussex Coast College Hastings supported by robust validation arrangements with the University of Brighton and subject to all of its formal quality assurance processes including oversight of academic standards, academic appointments and examination boards

• Sussex Coast College Hastings would be responsible for the provision of all aspects of course delivery, marketing and student support
• Decisions on the initial size, location and future development of the new University Centre will be for the Corporation of Sussex Coast College Hastings to determine
• No staff or current courses at the University of Brighton’s Hastings Campus would transfer to the new University Centre, with courses either transferring to other University of Brighton campuses or closing
• As previously announced the University of Brighton Hastings Campus would continue to operate until 2019 with all current students being supported to successfully complete their studies. From 2019 onwards, the delivery of Higher Education in Hastings would all be through the new University Centre
• The new University Centre would be launched in January 2017 with new provision offered by Sussex Coast College ready for students to enrol for the 2017–18 academic year

The proposals are still subject to final approval by the Corporation of Sussex Coast College Hastings and Board of Governors of the University of Brighton.

The proposals build on key themes arising from the public consultation. A formal written response was received from Hastings Borough Council announcing that they will support the development of the University Centre if that is the option pursued.

Since the consultation closed an independent report commissioned from BiGGAR Economics by the Hastings & Rother Local Strategic Partnership has been published. This report fully validated the University of Brighton’s rationale and analysis for closing the Hastings Campus, highlighted the scale of the challenge in attracting sufficient numbers of students to study in the town, and confirmed that the University Centre model is currently the best available option to guarantee continued Higher Education provision in Hastings.

Commenting on the proposals, University of Brighton Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Pole said: “We have released these details now as we feel it is important to have transparency around the final stages of the decision-making process.

“Our recent consultation told us how important it is for people to see Higher Education continue to be provided in Hastings and for the new University Centre to have its own specific presence and identity. However, our original proposal for a standalone University Centre in its own building is not deliverable in the short-term. These revised proposals provide Sussex Coast College Hastings with the necessary flexibility to manage the sustainable development of the University Centre, its course portfolio and student numbers.”

Sussex Coast College Hastings Principal, Clive Cooke, said: “We know how much people care about the continuing provision of Higher Education in Hastings. We know that they will now get behind the development of our new University Centre and help us design a curriculum that best meets the needs of local people in Hastings, Rother and East Sussex in a sustainable way.

“I am confident that, if approved, the new University Centre will be delivered successfully and I am really looking forward to working further with local partners and businesses to ensure that it develops a range of courses that help to drive the continuing economic regeneration of Hastings, Rother and East Sussex.”