County Council Chairman Praises ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ on Visit

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Cllr Tony Miller was given a guided tour of the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s facilities before meeting with the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor David Green and had the chance to speak to recent graduates and staff.

The visit included a tour of the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Worcester Arena, The Hive, the Infirmary medical museum at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s City Campus, and the Forensic House and healthcare teaching facilities at the St John's Campus.

"It's nice to see the way the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ is progressing and growing," he said.

"It is a beacon for the county.

"To see all the different facets that the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ has to offer is encouraging and it's up to the County Council to make sure that we promote the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ and what you can achieve here.

"What I would hope is that ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ students achieve their academic potential here, then go on to work within Worcestershire, live within Worcestershire and raise their families in Worcestershire."

Cllr Miller, who visited the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Worcester Arena when it was being built, said it was nice to see the variety of activities going on there from children's football to top flight basketball.

He welcomed the emergence of the new Severn Stars netball team, a joint franchise between Worcester and Gloucestershire Universities.

"It's a natural progression and it's good to diversify into other sports as much as you can, using the facilities for many things. It's sometimes thinking outside the box."

He also praised the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ and County Council's joint project, The Hive, adding: "It's a success in its usage, it integrates all different ages. There are so many different people that actually use it. I was speaking to a group of ministers from the church who prepare their sermons there because they like the ambience, the quietness.

"Because it's used by the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ and the public there's good interaction between students and the public as well.

"When you think a facility like that has been created and used by so many people it's a fine example of what we actually can achieve."

He was also impressed by the Forensic House that the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ provides for its forensic science students to do their practical work.

Cllr Miller, who worked as an electrical engineer and whose job included doing videos at crime scenes, said: "When you step into that house you are being assessed - what you touch, what you notice is important - as training that's essential for anyone going into forensic science."