Plans to build new university campus for 2,000 students

CARDIFF Metropolitan University has revealed ambitious plans to build a new campus for 2,000 students in the city.

The School of Technologies project could potentially form part of a wider scheme that could also include a new indoor arena for up to 15,000 people.

No preferred location for the scheme has yet been confirmed. But it is understood a city centre site at the south side of Callaghan Square, which is currently owned by the Welsh Government, could be a frontrunner.

If that site is chosen, it could be extended to take over a number of large industrial units currently owned by the Welsh Government and Cardiff council adjoining it. This would provide enough space not just for the campus and student accommodation for nearly 2,000, but an indoor arena for the city, a long-stated aim of Cardiff council, and commercial developments too like a hotel and multi-storey car park.

Such a wider scheme could cost several hundred million pounds to finance. However, the university would only have to finance its own element.

The university said discussions over a number of possible locations were continuing. This includes sites at the Cardiff Waterside development in Cardiff Bay. The Cardiff School of Technologies would look to partner with technology-focused companies across the Cardiff Capital Region to support its growth plans. The School of Technologies would: Aim to open for the 2020-21 academic year;

potentially also include the university’s existing School of Education, currently based at Cyncoed;

house student accommodation for nearly 2,000 students;

reach 2,000 students by 2024 – as well as 1,200 in the School of Education; create 300 full-time jobs; and support a further 1,500 roles in the wider Cardiff Capital Region.

Vice-chancellor of the Cardiff Metropolitan University, Professor Cara Aitchison said: “This project would address student demand and employer need, and would also respond effectively to the evolving economic strategy in Wales and the wider UK.

“This new proposal has been developed following extensive research and consultation, and will have significant impact on the economy of the Cardiff Capital Region. The proposed new school is focused on education, research, innovation and higher-level skills in digital media, data science and design technologies.

“These are key sectors of national and international student demand, leading to highly paid graduate-level employment, and have been identified as having significant growth potential in south-east Wales, the UK and internationally.

“The new proposal therefore responds more effectively to economic strategy in Wales and the wider UK, and to educational and industry needs from the Cardiff Capital Region to the global stage.”

The Cardiff School of Technologies builds on plans announced last year by the university for a new school of media campus in the centre of the capital.

The university entered into a memorandum of understanding with Chinese education and media group Phoenix to develop options.

Discussions focused on Phoenix effectively developing the new campus and student accommodation, with the university entering into a long-term lease deal.

For the School of Technologies, the university is looking at a number of financing options to fund the project itself, but is still talking to Phoenix as a potential educational partner.

The university currently has a fulltime equivalent workforce of 1,600, as well as 10,000 students in South Wales and a further 9,000 overseas.