A £10m education scheme to get more people involved in higher education was officially launched yesterday.
The Universities Heads of the Valleys Institute (UHOVI) is a partnership between University of Wales, Newport, University of Glamorgan and local Further Education Colleges.
By 2015 UHOVI is expected to provide the equivalent of over 4,000 full-time places for students and is a key part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s aim of increasing higher education qualifications in the Heads of the Valleys area.
As well as full and part-time foundation degrees, UHOVI will also provide small “bite-sized” learning and work-based courses.
Leighton Andrews, Assembly Minister for Education, said: “UHOVI is a unique partnership between Universities, Colleges and training providers which will increase skills levels in the Heads of the Valley, playing a key part in the economic resurgence of the area as a whole.”
“Our Heads of the Valleys Education Programme has promised more than £110m of funding aimed at delivering transformational change and improvement for all-age education across the region £10m of this funding has been allocated for UHOVI over the next four years.
“UHOVI will develop and deliver an exciting range of higher-level educational programmes, building on the strengths of existing provision in the region – but most importantly it will make higher education more accessible for those who want to learn.”
Helen Marshall, UHOVI Project Director said: “The Assembly Government has rightly seen that a key element of future economic development and increased prosperity for the area will lie in increasing skills and economic opportunity.”
Plaid Cymru Assembly Member Jocelyn Davies also welcomed the launch.
The South Wales East AM said: “I am delighted that Plaid in government has played such an important role in the commitment to regenerate the Heads of the Valleys region.
“This facility will help develop a new generation of people with skill levels that will play a vital role in securing the economic revival for a part of Wales that has often been overlooked.
“The UHOVI will provide a top quality education provision which will offer the opportunity for people in the valley’s to further their education on their doorstep.”