UWE Bristol receives £5.8m funding award for investment in immersive skills lab
See all news![A prototype showing an inside of a building](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/news-immersive-skills-lab-760x422.jpg?la=en&h=422&w=760&mw=847&hash=2CD8459EDB63D668E8721754D6C21E15)
UWE Bristol’s ambitious vision to build a centre of excellence in healthcare education and innovation in the South West has taken an important step forward, with the award of £5.8 million as part of a capital funding initiative from the Office for Students.
The funding will see investment in an Immersive Future Skills Lab supporting high-quality, flexible, practice-led, skills-based learning for students and the region. This project will convert existing space on Frenchay campus to provide an accessible-for-all learning environment that includes physical and digitally immersive learning spaces and a range of digitally enhanced simulators and supporting software/hardware. The funding will be spent over the next three years and also forms part of the creation of a new space for the future home of the School of Health and Social Wellbeing, within the College of Health, Science and Society, which is currently located at the Glenside Campus.
The University’s Strategy 2030 sets out the University’s commitment to solve future challenges through outstanding learning, research and enterprise, and its ambition to transform Frenchay campus into a world-leading University Enterprise Campus, supporting innovation, collaboration and creativity – bringing significant benefit to local communities and the wider region.
This project will further advance the University’s drive to develop new and inclusive ways of learning based on strong engagement and collaboration within the University and with industry, employers and communities, preparing our students for the far-reaching possibilities and challenges of the future, and maximising their role in transforming lives across our communities.
Upon receiving confirmation of the funding from the Office for Students, Professor Marc Griffiths (Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of the College for Health, Science and Society at UWE Bristol), Principal Investigator for the bid, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for our University and a real opportunity to further enhance the learning and assessment environments for our students. As we progress our vision, we will be working closely with external partners across the health and care sector, working together to help shape the future workforce and testing new integrated approaches to meet the changing needs of future patients and users.”
Related news
![A sign with branding of the Future Space lab at UWE's Frenchay campus](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/future-space-expansion-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=EA4ACD0587C4C09E99C8DB97E1D4F4F4)
21 May 2024
Growth for tech innovation in Bristol as Future Space expands
UWE Bristol’s award-winning innovation centre, Future Space, has opened its doors to 10,000 square feet of brand-new office and laboratory facilities.
![UWE Bristol becomes an Adobe Creative Campus](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/adobe-creative-campus-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=402B4C617D3176AF7ADB843F4732D890)
03 October 2023
UWE Bristol becomes an Adobe Creative Campus
The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Adobe, becoming an Adobe Creative Campus.
![A computer generated image of the proposed new School of Health and Social Wellbeing building at Frenchay campus](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/glenside-relocation-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=EEF60481586235BD53691F4BE4E580B2)
28 September 2023
Building a School of Health and Social Wellbeing for the future
UWE Bristol is developing proposals to relocate its School of Health and Social Wellbeing from Glenside campus to Frenchay campus.
![School of Engineering building at Frenchay campus](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/tef-results-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=0D500090FD93374139975E182E0863E1)
28 September 2023
Teaching Excellence Framework: UWE Bristol provides an outstanding student experience
The student experience UWE Bristol provides has been judged to be outstanding in a new sector-wide assessment of teaching quality.
![Incubation space at UWE Bristol](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/incubator-enterprise-zone-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=CB83D5178CD72763DADFD106AA087600)
16 May 2023
UWE Bristol expands support for start-ups with new incubation facilities
UWE Bristol has transformed its incubation space on campus, bringing together two technology incubators into one area.
![People sitting at a table participating in a creative workshop.](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/new-public-artwork-for-uwe-bristol-frenchay-campus-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=DD3A6FB30CD790B56C7F21853D31F1C9)
16 January 2023
New public artwork for UWE Bristol's Frenchay Campus gathers pace
A project to create a public artwork for Frenchay Campus has got off to a flying start, with people sharing their ideas for the new public space.
![University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) logo white text on red background](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/uwe-bristol-logo-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=67146A1DB9B997F10E73868B2777DF7E)
17 November 2022
UWE Bristol statement on industrial action – November 2022
UWE Bristol is one of a number of universities whose Unison and UCU (University and College Union) members are undertaking industrial action.
![University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) logo white text on red background](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/uwe-bristol-logo-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=67146A1DB9B997F10E73868B2777DF7E)
13 October 2022
UWE Bristol statement – Industrial Action October 2022
UWE Bristol is one of a small number of universities whose Unison members are undertaking industrial action today (Thursday 13 October).
![A picture demonstrating public art project at UWE](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/news-juneau-projects-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=323399C98AB60898C72B03F0623C398B)
04 October 2022
Arnolfini and UWE Bristol launch public art project with Juneau Projects
UWE Bristol and Arnolfini are launching community workshops enabling students and local residents to get involved in a public art project on Frenchay Campus.
![University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) logo white text on red background](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/uwe-bristol-logo-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=67146A1DB9B997F10E73868B2777DF7E)
20 September 2022
UWE Bristol statement – Industrial Action September 2022
UWE Bristol is one of a small number of universities whose Unison members are undertaking industrial action today (Tuesday 20 September), in relation to a national dispute regarding the 2022/23 higher education pay offer.
![University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) logo white text on red background](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/uwe-bristol-logo-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=67146A1DB9B997F10E73868B2777DF7E)
13 September 2022
Bank Holiday arrangements
UWE Bristol would like to express its deepest sadness following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
![A scenario of a commercial airliner disaster and students practicing their medical skills](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/news-aviation-disaster-training-exercise-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=CF9EF6715A578F8905DA802CC8B5C311)
24 June 2022
Aviation disaster is the scenario for major incident training exercise
A commercial airliner disaster was the scenario for a major incident training exercise for students at Glenside Campus.