UWE Bristol receives £5.8m funding award for investment in immersive skills lab

UWE Bristol’s ambitious vision to build a centre of excellence in healthcare education and innovation in the South West has taken an important step forward, with the award of £5.8 million as part of a capital funding initiative from the Office for Students.

The funding will see investment in an Immersive Future Skills Lab supporting high-quality, flexible, practice-led, skills-based learning for students and the region. This project will convert existing space on Frenchay campus to provide an accessible-for-all learning environment that includes physical and digitally immersive learning spaces and a range of digitally enhanced simulators and supporting software/hardware. The funding will be spent over the next three years and also forms part of the creation of a new space for the future home of the School of Health and Social Wellbeing, within the College of Health, Science and Society, which is currently located at the Glenside Campus. 

The University’s Strategy 2030 sets out the University’s commitment to solve future challenges through outstanding learning, research and enterprise, and its ambition to transform Frenchay campus into a world-leading University Enterprise Campus, supporting innovation, collaboration and creativity – bringing significant benefit to local communities and the wider region.

This project will further advance the University’s drive to develop new and inclusive ways of learning based on strong engagement and collaboration within the University and with industry, employers and communities, preparing our students for the far-reaching possibilities and challenges of the future, and maximising their role in transforming lives across our communities. 

Upon receiving confirmation of the funding from the Office for Students, Professor Marc Griffiths (Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of the College for Health, Science and Society at UWE Bristol), Principal Investigator for the bid, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for our University and a real opportunity to further enhance the learning and assessment environments for our students. As we progress our vision, we will be working closely with external partners across the health and care sector, working together to help shape the future workforce and testing new integrated approaches to meet the changing needs of future patients and users.”