Castle Point's own university campus was opened today with the pledge of offering students a degree course on their doorstep.

Anglia Polytechnic University (APU) has joined forces with SEEVIC in Benfleet to boost higher education prospects and, it is hoped, spark economic regeneration in south Essex.

It is envisaged that the campus will provide more youngsters with skills demanded by businesses while offering pupils of all ages the chance to take degrees.

Mike Malone-Lee, APU vice chancellor said: "South East Essex is one of our priority areas. It is an area ripe for economic regeneration and deserves its own campus.

"This is not just a launch but rather the next stage in an evolution in something that has been going on for many years. We want to make it as easy as possible for anyone who wants to get a university education."

APU has taken over the running of the college's White House facility in Runnymede Chase, where a breakfast launch was staged this morning.

Mr Malone-Lee added: "This is a modest building and that is a good thing. It is well known in the community and people will be encouraged to come here."

College principal Geoff Arnott welcomed the partnership and underlined the importance of providing higher education for all.

He said those previously put off by the fees and costs of going away to university, could now have the opportunity to take a degree on their doorstep.

He said: "We are about working together to meet the need of the community and to give equality of education. What we are underlining today is the importance of partnership."

The Benfleet campus will be the centre of a number of initiatives across south Essex. These include the Millennium Centre run by SEEVIC on Canvey, Greensward School in Hockley and adult eduction centres operated by the county and Southend council.

SEEVIC has been in partnership with APU since 1992 and will be looking to extend the range of courses it offers from September.

Partnership - Mike Malone-Lee, vice chancellor of Anglia Polytechnic University and Geoff Arnott, principal of Seevic

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.