New university proposed for Dearne Valley

A new university is to be established in South Yorkshire after being backed by the Government last week.

The new university is to be built in the Dearne Valley area, near Rotherham, with plans for the development to get underway in the new year.

Under the ‘New University Challenge’ initiative, 20 new universities and colleges will be built nationwide within the next six years.

Professor Paul White, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at the University of Sheffield, said: "The University of Sheffield has worked in the Dearne Valley for many years to try to enhance educational achievement in the area and to attract more people into Higher
Education.

"A variety of data sources show that educational achievement in the Dearne is well below the national average and that Higher Education participation rates are amongst the lowest in England.

"The possible creation of further educational opportunities within the Dearne Valley is welcomed by the University as it would provide added diversity in what can be offered to the region."

The proposed new university would prove beneficial for students of Rotherham and Barnsley, whose councils wholeheartedly approve the idea. Doncaster council are still in discussions over the matter.

Union Education Officer Rebecca Watson said the new Higher Education facility would provide countless benefits to South Yorkshire, as Higher Education can transform local economies and the lives of younger generations.

She said: "It’s important that both universities work in collaboration to increase communication with the local community, and to keep those relations strong.

"Institutions have large and extensive impacts upon the community, both in a positive and negative sense.

"It’s essential that both universities work as collaborative partners to secure a strong community relationship by branching out and contributing to the community."

Yorkshire is already home to several Higher Education institutions and it is feared that another university could lead to the current institutions attracting less students and see a decline in funding.

However, the University of Sheffield should not feel threatened, said Rebecca Watson.

"Currently, we support other unions in the area such as Leeds, York, and Hallam on various campaigns and events," she said.

"The proposed university at Dearne Valley would give us a great opportunity to extend our network further."

The decision on whether the development will go ahead is yet to be taken by the Government.

Roz Glynn