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New university chief lays down plans for future of Stockton campus

The new chief of Durham University is undertaking his first official engagement at its Tees Valley campus to discuss its future and to congratulate some of the region’s future doctors on completing the first stage of their medical degree today.

Professor Chris Higgins, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, said: “Queen’s Campus, Stockton is critical to the long-term mission of Durham University. The campus is particularly important in ensuring the university is one of the key leaders of regeneration, working together with the region, and Tees Valley in particular. “Queen’s Campus has developed a reputation for excellent research and teaching, offering the people of Tees Valley access to a world class university on their own doorstep, with admission options for those from non-traditional backgrounds. It also attracts students and researchers from all over the UK and overseas, who contribute significantly to the local economy.”

The New Vice-Chancellor intends to develop Queen’s by building an academic strategy to tie into the development of the campus, looking at a range of options for expansion including the North Shore. A new Pro-Vice-Chancellor position will also be created with the intention of building more bridges between the university and key players in the region in industry, business, health and development.

Joe Docherty, Chief Executive of Tees Valley Regeneration, said: “Durham University’s Queen’s Campus in Stockton not only provides world-class education for the people of the Tees Valley, it also plays a crucial role in the area’s economic growth. Tees Valley Regeneration are working closely with the university on a number of initiatives including the potential expansion of the campus on to our North Shore development, and I look forward to continuing to work with Professor Higgins and his colleagues in the future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .