Bill Rammell, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, drove the 'Golden Bolt' on the University of East London's new Business School and Knowledge Dock Centre, currently under construction on the waterfront of the Royal Albert Dock, at a ceremony on Monday 20 June.

The new buildings are part of a £110 million programme of expansion at UEL's Docklands and Stratford campuses. UEL's Docklands campus is the first new university campus to be built in London for over 50 years. The minister toured the site and addressed an audience including college principals, local authority partners and business leaders.

The minister said: "Not only is this campus visually stunning, the University of East London is doing a great deal to widen participation to higher education and is actively engaging with the community, schools, colleges and businesses in the Thames Gateway."

"This new development is a testament to the strength of the partnership you are building here and long may it continue. The new Business School and Knowledge Dock are vitally important to deliver knowledge transfer, business services and enterprise in the region, and ensure that the economic development in the Thames Gateway proceeds in a sustainable way. You are clearly working with the London Development Agency and partners in industry to make that happen."

 

UEL Vice Chancellor Professor Michael Thorne said: "We are delighted to welcome Mr Rammell. Over the past four years we have expanded from 11,000 to over 18,000 students, and with this new investment we are creating a campus environment that supports the development agenda for our region - as well as working nationally and internationally."

The Business School and Learning Resource Centre building incorporates a 650 seat computing 'trading floor' - which simulates a commercial environment - and a 400-seat lecture theatre. The design is shaped around a winter garden overlooking the dock and London skyline, and features a dynamic curved roof which forms a wing-shaped protective canopy. The Knowledge Dock Centre will house UEL's School of Computing and Technology and knowledge transfer and expert centres for enterprise.

© Knowledge Dock 2005