Universities minister David Willetts praised the “flair and flexibility” of the University of Bedfordshire at today’s (Monday) launch of a new £20million centre.
The new Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development Centre, in Park Square, Luton, is one of only 10 such centres in the country.
Mr Willetts said: “I am an admirer of this university for the way it transforms lives for many people in Bedfordshire.”
The minister urged people not to be put off going to university for fear of costs. He said: “Students do not pay fees up front and they only start to pay back when they are in a well-paid job.” He added the future of education shouldn’t be about making choices at a “fork in the road”. He saw the centre as providing training for all kinds of people, including apprentices.
The centre will enable people with or without degrees to benefit from research and learning in areas including business, management, law and linguistics and tourism, hospitality and event management.
Representatives of firms, including Microsoft, were also in attendanc. Bill Rammell, the vice chancellor of the University said the institution has a “focus onresearch and meeting the needs of businesses.”