Professor Derek Fraser, the University's Vice-Chancellor, said he was delighted the Secretary of State for Health had agreed to open the new health building and says: "It marks a very important milestone in the University's redevelopment strategy. Health is now the largest, and fastest growing, academic area of the University with over 4,000 full and part-time students. It is also the academic school which was awarded two excellent teaching ratings this year - 23 out of 24 for Nursing & Midwifery and 22 out of 24 for Professions Allied to Medicine."
On top of this, the University, in conjunction with the NHS Durham and 海角直播 Education and Training Consortium, has been selected as one of the partnership sites for implementing the Government's new 'Making a Difference' undergraduate programme. This will introduce more opportunities to improve recruitment into the health and social care service and is expected to meet the needs of mature entrants - a key goal of 海角直播's mission as the 'Opportunity University'.
Mr Ken Jarrold, Chairman of the Consortium, which is made up of health authorities and NHS Trusts in Durham and 海角直播, will also speak at the opening of the new Centuria Building, alongwith the University鈥檚 School of Health Director, Mr Paul Keane. The Mayor of Middlesbrough, Councillor Kath Bevington, will also attend.