And what a challenge it was turning a neglected office block in to a modern university centre.
University Centre Hastings, or UCH as it’s known, was first opened in 2003. Since then the building has been improved and expanded, and is now one of the smartest in the town centre.
UCH is one of the best in its class, offering courses from some of the top UK and international universities, and it’s attracting more students every year. The building is managed by the University of Brighton, but also offers courses from Canterbury Christ Church University College, the University of Greenwich, Hastings College of Arts and Technology, the Open University and the University of Sussex.
An innovative business course has been added to UCH’s prospectus this year. The centre is now offering the new IT Management for Business course, provided by the University of Greenwich, which is one of only four universities offering the course in the UK. The degree course combines IT, business and communication and has been developed to get students contributing faster to overall productivity and reduces employers’ training costs.
The building stands out in Havelock Road. With its gleaming glass front and impressive atrium, it makes a statement. UCH is the perfect place to study, students like the building and they like Hastings too.
Council leader Jeremy Birch said: “Education is a big part of the regeneration of our town. Top-class education will generate jobs, attract students from across the UK and overseas and provide a great boost to the local economy”.
UCH offers some great benefits to local businesses too. The courses are commercially focused and have been designed in partnership with local employers. The idea is to produce graduates who will work in Hastings.
Polly Thornton, Head of Education-led Regeneration at Sea Space, said: “The University Centre provides courses that are attracting school leavers and more mature students who are returning to learning – anyone who wants to take the opportunity. We are very positive about the impact UCH is having on local businesses and students’ prospects.”
As you can see from the pictures, quite a transformation has taken place at UCH. Both the building itself and its students are bound for success and will make an important contribution to our town’s future.
It’s a modern and inspiring landmark –another sign our town is on the up!
There are a series of open lectures running at UCH. Open to all, they’re a great opportunity to get a taster of life at UCH. As well as a chance to hear from some fascinating speakers. For the open lecture programme please visit www.uch.ac.uk
At first glance, on a map, or from a car, Hastings is busy with houses, roads, and shops.
However, if you take some time to explore on foot a world of woodlands, meadows, sandstone ravines and gill streams is opened up to you.
There are woodlands where you would never expect them, nestled behind houses, hidden by bridges and hugging the sides of Hastings many glens and valleys.
BTCV’s Hastings Greenspace Project, in partnership with Hastings Borough Council, drew upon the wide pool of local knowledge to restore and conserve some of the less well known wildlife areas and woodlands in Hastings.
The Greenspace Project supported and trained groups of volunteers who now give their time to enhancing and creating habitats, monitoring wildlife, and improving access.
Their aim is to make Hastings’ green spaces diverse and dynamic to encourage a rich variety of wildlife as well as creating places that the people of Hastings can enjoy and treasure.
Each wildlife area, large and small, is a valuable component in the rich green network which spans the town from the firehills and glens of Hastings Country Park in the east, to the vast Filsham reedbeds in the west.
This green network supports an amazing variety of wildlife in Hastings, much of which is still being discovered by a dedicated and growing number of wildlife enthusiasts. You can find out about recent sightings on the Wild Hastings web site at www.wildhastings.org.uk
The Greenspace Project has given 154 free places on conservation training courses, taken 591 children on bat watches, bug hunts, and treasure trails, led 180 people on wildlife walks, and trained 140 volunteers in practical conservation.
In return the people of Hastings have given up free time equivalent to 4000 working days. That’s 11 years worth of work, with no days off!
“I am inspired and humbled by the generosity of spirit of the many volunteers who have worked tirelessly to improve areas which can now be enjoyed by all.”
BTCV’s Hastings Greenspace Project Officer
If you would like to find out about a Greenspace Project conservation group in your area call Anna at BTCV on 01424 446395
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This page last updated: 21/12/2005