Soon-to-be-opened Milton Keynes University (MK:U) has received a £30m donation from Santander.
The brand-new university will be the first in the UK to specialise in digital courses, offering qualifications in cybersecurity, robotics and artificial intelligence.
MK:U is set to open in 2023 with support from academic partner Cranfield University, the postgraduate science and business school based between Milton Keynes and Bedford.
The donation from Santander will fund “iconic building” on the new campus which is set to cover more than 10 hectares. The bank recently opened its technology headquarters in Milton Keynes and employees 5,000 staff in the town.
Our degrees will constantly evolve as the economy evolves through training and re-training, with our graduates being ideally placed to fill national skills gaps.
– Prof Lynette Ryals, MK:U and Cranfield University
The new HE provider will offer range of courses, including two-year degrees and higher-level apprenticeships. Aside from its core offering of technology qualifications, MK:U will also offer courses in business, enterprise, smart cities and design thinking – all tailored to prepare students for the digital age.
Prof Lynette Ryals, MK:U’s chief executive and pro-vice chancellor of Cranfield, said: “MK:U will be a key force in turbocharging the economy of our region and help realise the world-leading potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. Our degrees will constantly evolve as the economy evolves through training and re-training, with our graduates being ideally placed to fill national skills gaps.”
More information can be found at Cranfield University’s website.