HE/FE NEWS
Staffordshire Campus Living, the joint venture partnership between the University of Staffordshire, HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions (HOCHTIEF) and investor Plenary, has celebrated topping out the new 21,000 sq ft student village hub at the University’s Stoke-on- Trent campus.
Built by Willmott Dixon and designed by Corstorphine &
Wright, the Village Hub has reached its highest point in construction. When complete it will include accessible and low energy study spaces, social and welfare facilities as well as student accommodation services over four levels.
Work has also started on the residential phases of the development which includes 700 new build student bedrooms in cluster blocks and town houses, as well as the refurbishment of a further 300 bedrooms of existing student accommodation. A new footbridge and boardwalk across the River Trent will link the student village to the University campus and the full project delivery is targeted for completion in time for the
Major milestone for University of Staffordshire’s new student hub student intake in September 2026.
HOCHTIEF was awarded the contract twelve months ago by the University of Staffordshire to design, build, finance and operate the student village and Willmott Dixon has made swift progress on delivery to date.
At the topping out event a plaque was presented by Chris White, Construction Manager for Willmott Dixon to Professor Martin Jones, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Staffordshire. Professor Jones said: “With sustainability and well-being at its heart, the Student Village will provide more than high-quality accommodation. It will create a vibrant campus community where students can connect, grow and achieve their best.”
Ian Prescott, managing director of HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions UK and Ireland added: “We are very proud to reach this first significant milestone just 12 months after being awarded the contract by the University of Staffordshire. We have developed a low energy and low carbon solution for the entire village, ensuring sustainability and carbon reduction are at the heart of the design, build and operation, in line with the University’s carbon neutral targets for 2030. We’re looking forward to seeing the Village Hub and student accommodation used and enjoyed by students next Autumn term.”
University of Sunderland named among best in UK for Student Support and Teaching
The University of Sunderland has been named among the Top 10 in the UK for the support it offers students, its high standards of teaching, and its commitment to getting more first-generation students into higher education.
According to the Daily Mail University Guide 2026, the University is 4th in the UK for its excellent student support services, 6th for encouraging first generation students into university, and 8th for teaching excellence. Overall, Sunderland is ranked 83rd in the country, on the back of a number of accolades in recent years, including being shortlisted for University of the Year by the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards in 2024.
The University was also ranked as 13th in the country for overall student experience, according to the new Daily Mail Guide. Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University, said: “We are incredibly proud to be named among the top 10 universities
in such a diverse range of categories.
“These accolades reflect our deep commitment to putting students at the heart of everything we do – from world-class teaching and learning, through wellbeing support, to preparation
for life beyond graduation. It is recognition too of the hard work of our staff, and the determination of our students to thrive and succeed.” The University’s courses in Computer Games and Animation, Social Work, and Computer Science ranked 2nd, 3rd and 5th in the UK respectively.
New Chief Data Scientist joins Edinburgh University subsidiary Smart Data Foundry
Gordon Baggott has been appointed as Edinburgh-based Smart Data Foundry’s new Chief Data Scientist. He will be responsible for the development of the data science strategy for the University of Edinburgh subsidiary, driving forward research that promotes
financial wellbeing, economic resilience and policy change. Gordon has more than 20 years’ experience across healthcare, banking and insurance, employing data science, machine learning and generative AI approaches to derive insight from all kinds of data. He has helped pioneer the use of machine learning and AI in major high street banks in areas such as risk operations, insider fraud and cyber security. He is also the co-founder and commissioning editor for the Business AI Alliance, a cross-party parliamentary group which is helping small and medium organisations to safely harness the power of AI and drive growth in the UK.
Dougie Robb, CEO of Smart Data Foundry said: “Gordon’s skills and ambitions fit perfectly with our mission to unlock financial data for the
10
www.education-today.co.uk
good of all and to drive real societal change. His technical expertise coupled with his commercial acumen will play a key role as we develop our range of data services into new areas.
“This is a pivotal time for the business as we get ready to expand our Economic Wellbeing Explorer from Scotland to the whole of Great Britain and continue our work as the Financial Data Service (FINDS), one of the six research data services which form Smart Data Research UK.” Launched in April, the Economic Wellbeing Explorer uses near real time data from over 5 million bank accounts to track economic resilience and wellbeing at national, regional and local levels and between age groups and income ranges.
Gordon added: “I’m thrilled to be joining Smart Data Foundry as Chief Data Scientist. It’s a great opportunity to bring my experience of analytics, machine learning and AI to help the team unlock the huge potential that financial data holds.
“With much of the focus of modern data technology being applied to the accumulation of wealth for the few, it’s critical to use our capability to better support positive societal change and work towards a more equitable UK.”
September 2025
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