Campus is on a learning curve in capital

The city’s university is making the fifth birthday since it launched a campus in the capital.

Sunderland University set up the base in London’s Canary Wharf, Europe’s most important financial centre, as part of its strategic growth plans.

Since then, the campus has continued to see its student population rise and its alumni now numbers more than 5,000.

It offers a range of business-related programmes, from undergraduate to postgraduate level, with four student intake cycles a year to meet demand.

The university’s chief operating officer, Steve Knight, said: “Since launching the University of Sunderland in London in 2012, our reputation as a provider of first-class higher education and globally recognised qualifications has continued to grow.

“Bringing a slice of our Sunderland approach to London and having a physical presence in such an economically important area has raised our profile significantly.

“Our Canary Wharf site has opened up a range of new opportunities and attracts students from the UK and over 100 countries.

“Wearecontinuouslydevelopingnewopportunitiesforour university community to benefitfromourpresenceinLondon – such as our Student Mobility Pilot, which saw 250 Sunderland students experience life in London this summer.

“Celebrating the fifth anniversary of the University of Sunderland in London is an opportunity to thank the team for their flexible and innovated approach and for bringing our long-established ‘Life-Changing’ ethos to the capital.”

Ruth Wilson, head of services for students and marketing at the campus, said: “I am delighted to have been a founding member of the senior management team and to have seen London grow and change and develop to the thriving and exciting student and staff community it now is.

“I am so proud of everything we have achieved here in London, we modelled our approach on the good practice we learned in Sunderland but gave it a unique London twist.

“I think our staff and students are exceptional and working with them every day is a real inspiration for me.”