‘Potential is phenomenal:’ Principal of Peterborough’s new university hopes to create ‘open community campus’

The principal of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) Peterborough has said the new city centre university will be an ‘open campus’ – inviting involvement from local businesses and the community.

The university, located on the Embankment off Bishop’s Road, will open its doors to students for the first time on September 12 this year.

Principal Professor Ross Renton was previously senior pro vice chancellor at the University of Worcester, before becoming principal of ARU Peterborough on Valentines Day (February 14) 2021.

"The University of Worcester was an interesting institution,” Professor Renton said.

“It’s one of the fastest growing universities in the country, but it’s also embedded into the community. Lessons from there sit well here.”

The ‘doors-open’ approach to campus life adopted by the university hopes to involve the wider community – and will be inviting businesses to contribute to teaching degree and degree apprenticeship courses.

"Permeability is built into our ethos," he said. "There are no blinds because we want people to see what is happening and if members of the community wants to walk in and ask questions, then somebody will invite them in and answer them.

“There is also our Wirrina Cafe, that will be open to everyone in the community.”

Professor Renton said the “potential is phenomenal” at ARU Peterborough and over the next ten years he hopes to “develop the university with research, teaching, learning and business.”

ARU Peterborough has worked with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to complete the university, which Professor Renton credits for its support.

The university has consulted businesses on the city’s doorstep about involvement with courses and teaching it will offer, for a chance to give back to the region.

"We’re here to support this region,” he said. “I’ve been pleased with the level of engagement businesses have had with the university.

"We’ve created an environment that is a business-like learning space. The teachers understand business and the industries that their students will be going into.

"People from businesses will come in and help to teach, making learning relevant for our students. It’s how people want to learn.

"The spaces have been designed for problem solving and benefitting from the experience of others.”

Professor Renton has ‘done his homework’ on Peterborough.

“It’s a diverse city,” he said. “We’ve got the opportunity to get people learning here from all backgrounds, sharing cultures.

"Inclusion and student welfare has to be at the heart of what we do. If we want to get the benefit of having students from all background we need to be thinking of that in everything we do.”

Of the early applications it has received so far, 47 per cent have been from prospective students from PE postcodes.

A university spokesperson said that it has had a "healthy number of early applications” – and it will have a clearer understanding of the number of students who will be joining its courses this September and, in January next year, after A-Level results day this Thursday (August 18) and clearing.

It predicts that approximately 50 per cent of its student body will be made up of mature students, over the age of 21 – many of which will be people already in employment in the region looking to re-train in new careers.