UCLan to open new campus in Bangkok

UCLan, the University of Central Lancashire which has a campus in Burnley, is planning to establish the UK’s first private university campus in Bangkok, Thailand.

An official agreement has been signed between the university and Thai-based entrepreneur Mr Sitichai Charoenkajonkul, which will see UCLan invest £7.5m. in the venture. UCLan’s Burnley campus forms part of the new Burnley College building in Princess Way.

Subject to the granting of an educational licence, the new facility plans to open the doors to its first cohort of students in June 2014.

UCLan Vice-Chancellor Malcolm McVicar said: “UCLan has students from more than 120 countries and some 125 partnerships across the globe, but we are now entering a new phase of exciting development which will see us build campuses outside the UK.

“Our Thailand project will enable us to become the first UK university to build a campus in Thailand, thereby extending our international links, and bringing world-class higher education and our view of a superlative student experience to South East Asia.”

The campus will offer full-time and part-time undergraduate, postgraduate and foundation degree courses in subject areas that include business, built and natural environment, engineering, creative and performing arts and languages.

Located within the Bangkok metropolitan area, the new facility will initially be home to 800 students with a planned capacity of 5,000 in 10 years.

The new campus will undertake high-impact research, work closely with local employers and enable overseas students to study for a UK award.

UK-based students will also benefit, helping the university achieve a crucial element of its new UCLan Advantage package, which guarantees every full-time, undergraduate student enrolling in the autumn of 2012 with the opportunity to obtain a global experience, or study period abroad as a part of their degree.