Local MP, Steve Ladyman, has called on Canterbury Christ Church University and Thanet Council to take advantage of a new University Challenge to bring forward plans to expand Thanet Campus.

"Thanet Campus was built with money from the Labour Government on land donated by Thanet Council when it was Labour controlled. It has given the opportunity of a higher education to hundreds of our local young people and it is one of Labour’s achievements in Thanet of which I am most proud. Now we have the opportunity of bidding for more funds to expand it. We should not let this opportunity pass us by."

The call follows an announcement by John Denham, Secretary of State for Universities, that he is committing Government funds to expand institutes of Higher Education by10,000 places.

The Government’s ‘New University Challenge’, published today, underlines the importance of universities and Higher Education provision to the nation’s economic and social success. The paper sets out various ways in which local higher education benefits communities:

· Unlocking the potential of towns and people:

o widening participation and unlocking talent;

o attracting, nurturing and retaining talent in an area;

o contributing to social cohesion; and

o underpinning population growth strategies.

· Driving economic regeneration:

o creating a highly skilled workforce, with relevant skills for the local business community;

o job creation;

o stimulating entrepreneurship; and

o engaging with business to solve problems and boost innovation and competitiveness.

"The primary purpose of this University Challenge fund is to allow places with no university campus to create one. We are ahead of the game here in Thanet as we have already created Thanet Campus but that does not mean we shouldn’t make a case for it to grow bigger and offer even more opportunities to the young people of East Kent" said Steve Ladyman.