Cardiff Metropolitan University has announced plans to develop a Cardiff School of Technologies in the capital city.
The proposed school will provide for 2,000 students and offer courses in digital media, data science and design technologies. It is expected to welcome its first intake in 2020.
Cardiff Metropolitan’s president and vice-chancellor Professor Cara Aitchison said: “This new proposal has been developed following extensive research and consultation, and will have significant impact on the economy of the Cardiff Capital Region.
“The proposed new school is focused on education, research, innovation and higher-level skills in digital media, data science, and design technologies.
“These are key sectors of national and international student demand, which will lead to highly paid graduate-level employment, and have been identified as having significant growth potential in South-East Wales, the UK, and internationally.
“The new proposal therefore responds more effectively to economic strategy in Wales and the wider UK, and to educational and industry needs from the Cardiff Capital Region to the global stage.”
Prof Aitchison said the new school was a project which would address student demand and employer need, and would also respond effectively to the evolving economic strategy in Wales and the wider UK.
The school builds on a proposal first announced by Cardiff Metropolitan in February 2016 for a city centre School of Media.
In addition, the University believes the project is better aligned with existing educational provision in South-East Wales, and will deliver a ‘pipeline of education and aspiration’ through closer links with schools, the further education sector, and employers across the Cardiff Capital Region.
Cardiff and Vale College is the first such partner to be confirmed, and discussions are continuing with others.
Proposals also include the relocation of the current Cardiff School of Education from its existing location on the University’s Cyncoed campus.
Prof Aitchison said: “The University’s educational technology and computing staff have been at the forefront of designing the new Digital Competence Framework for the new Curriculum for Wales.
“The intention is for Cardiff Metropolitan to co-locate the School of Education with its new School of Technologies, thus driving forward innovation in educational technology to support teacher education and training and the development of new educational technology in schools in an effort to raise aspirations and attainment in STEAM education.”