Newport Campus refurbishment improves facilities for users

Our commitment to providing the best possible learning, teaching, research and working spaces for colleagues, students, and the community has taken a step forward with changes being implemented at our Newport Campus.

Over recent months a number of refurbishment works have been carried out at the campus, which are specially designed to improve the facilities for those who work and study at the University, and to provide support to the wider Newport business community.  

The new facilities have been designed to enhance the Campus environment and give students access to both shared spaces and areas for dedicated one-to-one learning, as well as collaborative spaces for colleagues. The upgrade has also seen the introduction of group seating in a new collaborative lecture theatre, with desktop power supporting mobile devices.

The refurbishments have also involved the development of two new specialist spaces on the Campus.

The Hydra Research and Innovation Centre (HRIC) allows users to develop specific skills and understanding of a variety of professional situations, by providing them with a scenario - through video clips, audio clips, and written tasks - which then test their ability to take decisions and action. It is used by a variety of sectors, including the emergency services, health care, and the military, and also many in both the UK and international private sectors.

The HRIC is unique among the almost 100 Hydra systems in use worldwide as it has been developed to use data generated by users to inform research projects, which aim to improve organisational culture and decision making, with one project designed to aid the understanding of significant cultural challenges facing policing and other emergency services.

A new Newport Engagement Hub has been developed as part of our commitment to further build strong relationships across Newport and Gwent, offering assistance to a variety of organisations seeking to grow their business and collaborate with USW’s staff and student expertise.

The new Engagement Hub will be home to Start-up Stiwdio Sefydlu, USW Exchange and Events teams - providing access to one-to-one advice and signposting on collaborating with USW’s academic expertise; business support and guidance for graduate entrepreneurs and business start-ups; access to free-to-use meeting spaces, and event facilities.  

Co-locating USW’s business and community engagement services within the new Newport Engagement Hub will create an easier-to-access approach to supporting our business and community partners across Newport and Gwent whilst creating a vibrant and diverse network of partners with which to collocate and build future partnerships. 

Professor Donna Whitehead, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “The latest refurbishment works offer a fantastic addition to the campus for colleagues, students and our partners. The new spaces aim to enhance our engagement with local businesses and partners who are accessing our services and expertise along with the introduction of additional Hydra facilities to further our applied research work in this area.

“There are also new dedicated areas for our graduates to receive support for their businesses via the Start-Up Stiwdio, along with a student hub to help provide our students with additional space at the campus to help improve their experience.

“All of this complements other refurbishment works that have taken place at the campus over the past year to enhance and modernise our facilities.”