The state-of-the-art development, co-located with Dumfries & Galloway College, has been designed with the specific intent of providing a suite of modern, flexible and collaborative learning environments with a view to further addressing skills gaps within the region; with a particular focus on the health and social care sector.

INCH Architecture working in partnership with UWS, facilitated a fast-track briefing, design, interior design, furniture design, procurement and construction of 2000sqm of specialist teaching space, as well as facilitating the decant of specialist and teaching spaces for Dumfries and Galloway College, enabling the creation of the new campus.

Facilities at the new campus include ultra-realistic simulated healthcare wards, and an innovative immersive learning suite, which uses 360-degree video to simulate a range of complex indoor and outdoor scenarios allowing students to respond to real-life situations in a safe and controlled setting.

In addition, students will benefit from flexible, modern teaching areas and learning zones; open study spaces and a new IT studio.

Professor James Miller, principal and vice-chancellor at UWS, said: “Our investment in these fantastic new facilities for our students and colleagues demonstrates UWS’s firm commitment to delivering outstanding higher education for the benefit of the wider Dumfries community.

“We are extremely proud that our campuses are drivers of change and economic development in the communities in which they are based, and we are pleased to be able to continue – and build on – the important contribution we make across Dumfries and Galloway.”

Marcus Ross, Vice-Principal (Planning & Recruitment), added: “The campus has been designed to offer modern and contemporary learning environments; ensuring that our students have access to the best facilities possible.

“The development builds on an already exciting learning experience at UWS Dumfries, combining our world-class teaching, with facilities to match.”

The new campus almost trebles the number of specialist lab facilities, compared to the University’s previous home in the town.

Students will have access to specialist health facilities, designed to replicate real-life healthcare settings found across Dumfries and Galloway – such as hospital wards, a GP surgery and care home environment.

Julie Orr, campus manager for Dumfries, added: “We have worked closely with local partners to ensure our academic offerings are designed to tackle skill gaps which exist locally.

“The ultra-realistic healthcare environments, alongside the state-of-the-art technology in use, allows us to continue to produce career-ready graduates, capable of making an immediate impact in their chosen workplace.”