EDGE HILL LAUNCHES NEW CMIST BUILDING

Alan Johnson, Minister for Higher Education and Lifelong Learning formally opened the £4m CMIST building, Edge Hill?s Centre for Media, Information Systems and Technology, at the Ormskirk Campus yesterday.

The building, which houses degree programmes in media production, journalism and computing, provides students and staff with the very latest in new media technology. The CMIST is one of four new buildings forming the Western Campus development, where in the last six years building programmes have contributed to Edge Hill?s continued investment in its learning infrastructure.

Mr Johnson expressed his delight in seeing for himself the latest developments to the Ormskirk Campus, including the new Faculty of Education Centre of Excellence, currently under construction and due for completion this summer, as he took a tour of the campus and met students and staff. He said that Edge Hill was playing a vital role in widening participation for the socially excluded, by offering a variety of excellent courses in a stunning environment.

"Edge Hill epitomises everything that the government is trying to do in widening participation in higher education and investing in excellent facilities and resources, " said Mr Johnson. "Edge Hill should be a beacon for other universities."

Chief Executive of Edge Hill, Dr John Cater was pleased to welcome the Minister. "These are exciting times for Edge Hill as we continue to expand our learning facilities, resources, portfolio of courses and support for students to enhance the learning environment.

Alan Johnson commended Edge Hill?s low student drop out rate and praised its record of academic achievement and innovation in e learning developments.

"I am very impressed by the history of Edge Hill," he commented, "and I can see how you?ve built upon that history. You certainly put the edge into leading edge." ends EDITOR?S NOTES: For further information please contact: Roisin Rowley-Smith PR Manager Tel: 01695 584509 Fax: 01695 584355 E mail: rowlesr@edgehill.ac.uk or pressoffice@edgehill.ac.uk