CONSTRUCTION has begun of a new hub for educational innovation at Durham University.

A turf-cutting ceremony for the new centre for teaching and learning was held at the Lower Mountjoy site, Durham, yesterday.

The £40 million centre will host a wide range of learning environments and technologies, including new classrooms that will allow students to share courses in real time with students from peer institutions around the world.

There will be lecture theatres, teaching rooms, education laboratories where new teaching and training methods will be developed, student learning zones and catering facilities.

The university anticipates the centre becoming operational in autumn 2019.

Professor Alan Houston, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) at Durham University, said: “The centre for teaching and learning is a key part of our university strategy, 2017-2027, to ensure Durham is world-leading in research, education and the wider student experience.

“It is the first new-build development to come forward under the strategy, and this reflects the fact that enhancing our teaching and learning – our students’ education – is a key priority for us. We are excited to begin work on site and we look forward to the centre welcoming its first students in 2019.”

Sabrina Seel, postgraduate academic officer at Durham Students’ Union, said: “I’m really pleased that Durham students will be benefitting from this new, cutting-edge learning space.

“As students we work incredibly hard in our areas of study, and the importance of the right resources and spaces to helping us make the most of our time at Durham can’t be overestimated.

“My hope is that the centre for teaching and learning will meet the changing and evolving needs of students now and into the future.”

Work will be undertaken to enhance pedestrian movement around the site. On South Road, a footway will be widened and a crossing point relocated. Pedestrian access to nearby colleges and Departments will also be improved.

The University is also developing other proposals to improve infrastructure.

Once operational, the Centre will create 32 FTE jobs, in addition to 186 direct construction jobs and 281 indirect jobs during the construction period.

Outside of term time, the centre will allow the university to host major academic conferences with the the potential to attract 4,500 delegates over the 15-week vacation period.