New home for university

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Oct 17, 2008

THE Open University is moving to a new home in Gateshead.

The education organisation will be the first occupier of premises at Gateshead Council's Baltic Business Quarter development.

The university's regional office is moving from its present home at Regent Centre, Gosforth, to a new office in Abbots Hill, near the new Gateshead College campus.

The last day at the current site was yesterday and the university will re-open for business in the new premises on Tuesday.

Coun David Bollands, Gateshead cabinet member for economy, housing and transport, said: "The university has grasped the chance to put themselves at the centre of what is becoming a vibrant and creative business and educational environment. "

David Knight, regional director of the OU in the North, said: "We look forward to working to raise the profile of higher education and providing a better service to our 12,000 students from our new offices."

Some 70 university staff will be based there, supporting around 550 part-time associate lecturers and more than 12,000 students.

The new phone number for the OU in the North East is (0191) 477 6100.

CAPTION(S):

VIBRANT SITE: says Coun David Bollands