INTO University of East Anglia Centre officially opens

5 / 11 / 2008

The vision became a reality for INTO on Wednesday 29th October when the £30 million INTO University of East Anglia Centre was officially opened at a ceremony attended by more than 300 staff, University of East Anglia colleagues and guests.


The new INTO Centre at the University of East Anglia.

After two successful years in interim facilities on campus, the new state-of-the-art INTO international study centre provides 12,700 square metres of learning, residential and social facilities spread over five stories, including a multi-purpose lecture theatre, superbly equipped classrooms, IT and science laboratories, flexible teaching and self-study spaces. Modern study bedrooms for more than 400 students all have en-suite facilities. This inspiring building for students and staff will act as a template for the 16 further INTO Centres that are planned around the world over the next four years.

The Centre was opened by Professor David Eastwood, former University of East Anglia vice chancellor and currently chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, who said:
“The INTO project has delivered not just a student experience but a learning and residential environment that is uniquely adapted to the needs of international students.”
“It is a huge pleasure to see the quality manifest not just in the building and physical environment, but in the way in which the students are recruited, selected, supported and educated through the INTO brand."
“One of the great encouragements of the first cohorts coming through has been those very high levels of progression from INTO to further study at the University of East Anglia and to other universities in the UK.”

Professor Bill Macmillan, vice-chancellor of the University of East Anglia, described the Centre as a “considerable prize” for the University."
“To pull off something like this you need a good deal of luck and meeting Andrew Colin when we did and having our eyes opened to the opportunities a partnership with INTO could offer was central to the success of the venture."
“Last September, nearly 1,500 international students from 100 countries were studying and researching as part of our campus community. In 1963 there were only six – so we have come a long way."
“This community of international students has allowed us to build a diverse community which thrives on understanding and empathy between different cultures."
“As we strive through our corporate plan to make a difference, I hope our international community, with INTO at its centre, will make a substantial contribution to the way not only individuals but ultimately countries will work together in the future.”

Andrew Colin, chairman of INTO University Partnerships Ltd, said: “In the last two and a half years more than 800 students have passed through this centre to the University. Over 70 new jobs have been created and I am sure the campus and the local community has been enriched by the presence of so many young people from all around the world."
“This project is significant in scale and ambition and is helping to transform the international competitiveness of University of East Anglia, working together to deliver a truly outstanding international student experience. We believe that this innovative public/private partnership provides an answer for Universities needing to build and sustain flows of high quality international students.”
“Together with the University of East Anglia, we expect to build on the successes of the first years of the partnership. The numbers of international students are rapidly increasing as they transfer to degree-level study at the University of East Anglia."
“And we now see a steady flow of international students equipped with the right linguistic and study skills progressing to the demanding academic environment of the University.”