Southend could finally get its own university.

New Government rules could mean the dream of Southend having its own dedicated hub for higher education being realised - but not in the short term.

The plans, which would scrap the internationally recognised definition of a university that it must conduct research, were revealed by higher education minister Margaret Hodge.

She said that the requirements would be that the college should have at least 4,000 students and the decision would rest on the quality of its teaching staff.

Mrs Hodge said a specialist focus should not be a bar to becoming a university and quality and standards would be the over-riding factor for granting degrees.

A public consultation will start shortly on the proposals with seven colleges in the country coming on stream from September next year.

Jan Hodges, principal and chief executive of South East Essex College, in Carnarvon Road, Southend, said: "After the new college building in the town centre is completed, then it could be a possibility for us."

Published Friday, June 6, 2003

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