Strategy 2009/10 to 2013/14
Facilities
Supporting Strategy One - To be a university housed in
modern campuses, with infrastructure fit for the twenty-first century.
The University will continue to provide the highest quality academic,
cultural, sporting and residential facilities across its campuses.
The
University will improve academic facilities for teaching, learning and
study. This will include a programme of increased audio-visual and e-facilities
in teaching rooms and reconfiguration of current accommodation to match
evolving needs, including the creation of dedicated high quality space for
Essex Business School and expanded laboratory facilities for the Faculty of
Science and Engineering.
The central boiler house on the Colchester Campus will be converted into
a Learning Centre that will provide multiple seminar rooms configured in
flexible accommodation. Open learning space and expanded library provision
will be incorporated within plans for a new Student Centre adjoining the
Albert Sloman Library. At the Southend Campus, enhanced library provision
and new teaching accommodation will be developed as part of the Elmer Square
project.
The University will expand the wireless network coverage on all campuses,
improve off-campus access to resource and facilities and improve the
resilience of the network and upgrade the e-mail service. There will be
deployment of increased functionality across administrative systems with the
new integrated human resources system and Planet FM for Estate Management.
The University will expand and enhance research facilities, including the
refurbishment of outdated laboratories in Biological Sciences; the on-going
renewal of science equipment; new investment in equipment for Language and
Linguistics; and the development of a state-of-the-art media laboratory that
will include 3D work linked to world-leading projects. The University will
have an institutional repository for research outputs and information in
place for 2010.
Cultural, sporting and residential facilities will also be enhanced. A
new entrance to the Lakeside Theatre will provide greatly improved disabled
access and a new catering outlet with views onto the lake, whilst
development of the Sports Centre will include expanded fitness room
facilities. New student accommodation is currently under construction at
Southend and there are plans for further residential accommodation within
the Knowledge Gateway.
In the development of all these projects the University will continue to
monitor and reduce carbon emissions, focus upon its green agenda and monitor
its performance against the sector. The University has a
sustainability
policy (.pdf) promoting models for healthy and sustainable living.
The Green Task Force seeks to
reduce the costs incurred by the University by improving waste, energy,
transport and catering management, working with existing human resources and
enthusiasms.
Our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) explain the
targets.
A list of projects in the Capital
Investment Plan is available.