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UHOVI (Universities Heads of the Valleys Institute) launched today
01 January 2011
Today (Wednesday 3rd November) sees the official launch of UHOVI, the groundbreaking Higher Education initiative for the Heads of the Valleys region. Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Education, Leighton Andrews AM will formally launch the project during an event this morning in Llanhilleth, Blaenau Gwent.
UHOVI is a key part of the Assembly Government’s strategy to improve skills and opportunities in the Heads of the Valleys region, and will be based on a unique 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 4000 full time places for students and is a key part of the Assembly Government’s aim of increasing level 4 qualifications in the Heads of the Valleys. UHOVI will focus on subject areas defined as priority within the region such as: technology, green skills, community development, creative industries and business.
As well as full and part time Foundation Degrees, UHOVI will also focus on delivering Bite-Sized Learning and Work-Based Learning courses.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Minister for Education, Leighton Andrews AM 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."
“Higher Education is in a unique position to drive regeneration by bringing together the power of local people, local businesses, local government and the voluntary sector. UHOVI is unique in that it will deliver courses locally in a supportive and accessible environment."
“There is a large pool of talented and able people living and working within the Heads of the Valleys region and UHOVI will play an important role in helping them achieve their true potential by providing employer focused, relevant, higher education courses in their local community.
“With increased local access to learning and a greater choice of courses, more local people will be able to study right up to degree level locally, meeting the needs of local businesses for skilled staff and raising aspiration across the region.”
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