The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), UK, has announced plans to launch the first ever UK-led branch campuses in Cyprus and Thailand. Each campus will offer a variety of degrees taught in English and will conduct its own research. It is hoped both will have 5,000-student cohorts within five years.
This rolls in with UCLan’s competitive approach to international education – it is guaranteeing, from autumn onwards, its undergraduate students the chance to work or study overseas for a period via UCLan’s network of campuses or its partner institutions.
Both new campuses will be part of the university’s UCLan Advantage offer. Students can study at UCLan partner institutions in countries such as Mexico, Oman, China and India. Almost 8,000 of the university’s 35,000 students are on courses offered through partnership arrangements.
UCLan Vice-Chancellor Malcolm McVicar said: “We believe our approach is inherently entrepreneurial and innovative, and to this end the coming years will see UCLan establish a number of private campuses across the world, taking world-class teaching, learning and research opportunities to students.”
The Cyprus venture, due to open in October 2012, is based at Pyla and being built as a joint venture with the property development company Hassapis Group. UCLan will assume responsibility for the operational management and academic control of all programmes, which will initially include degrees in business and management, law, and computing and mathematics.
The Thai campus, based in Bangkok, is still subject to the granting of an educational licence but should open June 2014. Also a joint venture, it will offer degrees and foundation courses in business, built and natural environment, engineering, creative and performing arts and languages for students from South East Asia, the UK and elsewhere.
Almost 8,000 students are on courses offered through partnership arrangements
Said Vicar, “Those who choose to study at our campus in Bangkok will be equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to successfully secure employment both within the regional market and globally.
