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HRH Duchess of Cornwall to open University of East London's new Centre for Clinical Education

Monday 28 January 2008

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall will visit the University of East London (UEL) on Tuesday 29 January, to open a magnificent new Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy, Complementary Medicine and Sports Science.

The Centre for Clinical Education, part of the School of Health and Bioscience based at Stratford campus, builds on UEL’s excellent reputation for teaching and research in professional health sciences, sports science, and subjects allied to medicine. She will also visit the SCORE in Leyton, a unique facility for community sport, health and regeneration and a partner in UEL's applied sports science programmes.

Her Royal Highness will look at a range of clinical, teaching and research facilities, and meet staff, students and partners including Lord Rix, Chancellor of the University of East London, Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin Everett, Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham, Tessa Sanderson CBE, Mike Gatting, and representatives of Newham Primary Care Trust.

The University of East London was the first UK institution to launch a physiotherapy degree programme in 1984, originally run at the Royal London Hospital. In 2003, UEL successfully bid for the NHS training contract to deliver Podiatry in London, previously held by University College London.

Prof Martin Everett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East London, said: "We are thrilled that her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be opening our new Centre for Clinical Education. This unique facility, developed in partnership with the NHS, is a major milestone in the provision of clinical education in London, and marks a new phase in the development of our university here in Stratford.”

The new Centre was designed by Richard Murphy Architects and built by Wallis Special Projects, part of the Kier Group. It was begun early in 2005, and completed a year later. It offers state-of-the-art clinical facilities in podiatry, and teaching laboratories and clinics for physiotherapy, sports science and complementary medicine.

UEL’s clinical facilities for podiatry, run in partnership with Newham Primary Care Trust, are among the best in the country, and co-locating clinical and professional education has created a number of innovations in the design and layout of the Centre. The upper floor houses orthotics laboratories, minor operations suite, and teaching laboratories for Physiotherapy, Complementary Medicine, including acupuncture and herbal medicine, and Sports and Exercise Science.

This area has seen a significant boost with the advent of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. UEL is working in partnership with British Swimming, the London Borough of Newham, Newham PCT and other agencies to improve health and fitness among local residents of all ages.

UEL’s School of Health and Bioscience is expanding its programmes in professional health sciences, health services management, biomedical science, and applied sports science, as well as delivering professional development programmes for health workers across the region. The School has a vibrant research culture with strengths in Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Public Health and Biomedical Sciences, and UEL's Institute for Health and Human Development is a partner in the £9.4 million Well London project.

Areas for future development include sports coaching and development; working with local authority partners to deliver sports programmes for young people, facilities and event management training; engaging and empowering local communities; and developing disability sport in partnership with the National Paralympic Association. UEL is working in partnership with other universities including Loughborough and Bath to meet the needs of elite athletes and develop sport in the community.

Ends/.

For details and pictures contact Daniel Cherry: 020 8223 2194

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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