State-of-the-art Health and Education Innovation Quarter officially opened at WGU
Date: Friday 3rd February 2023
Healthcare education provision in North Wales has taken a remarkable leap forward after Wrexham Glyndwr University today officially opened its state-of-the-art Health and Education Innovation Quarter (HEIQ).
A special ribbon cutting event took place at the University to mark the opening of the Health Simulation Centre, which is housed within the ground-breaking HEIQ at Wrexham Glyndwr University.
The HEIQ will transform healthcare education provision in the region by ensuring that Wrexham Glyndwr University is at the forefront of technology-led learning experiences and training the region’s future workforce to be experts in their chosen profession.
The facility will provide a physical home for the delivery of a range of both pre-registration and post-registration Nursing and Allied Health Professions courses – including Physiotherapy, Paramedic Science, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nutrition and Dietetics and Operating Department Practice.
The university was awarded the contracts for the delivery of the health programmes, following a competitive tendering process run by the Welsh Government via Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW).
The build of the HEIQ forms part of the University’s Campus 2025 strategy – an £80 million investment project to revamp and revitalise facilities across the university’s three campuses.
Maria Hinfelaar, Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham Glyndwr University, said: “The official opening and ribbon cutting on our Health and Education Innovation Quarter is an immensely proud day for all at Wrexham Glyndwr University. It’s also a big moment for the local community in which we serve as we are being entrusted to train the next generation of healthcare professionals.
“We have hundreds of fully funded places every year for students wanting a career in healthcare across North Wales. This means that the region’s hospitals and care providers will have a constant stream of qualified professionals trained by our exceptional teams looking to work and care for patients in the area.
“The HEIQ will provide cutting-edge facilities which will enable students to go even further with their learning experiences.
“Thanks must go to all who have made this happen, as well as partners from HEIW, the health board and service providers.”
Dr Simon Stewart, Faculty Dean of Social and Life Sciences at Wrexham Glyndwr University, said: “This is a landmark day for all of us within the faculty and at the university.
“The launch of the HEIQ means that we are providing the best possible experience and training ground for our region’s next generation of health professionals. Our facilities and the technology we’re using are at the cutting-edge and in some instances, industry-leading, which is extremely exciting.
“A huge well done to everyone, who has worked tirelessly to make this a reality.”
Local partners and dignitaries also gathered with university staff to help celebrate the occasion and be shown some of the cutting-edge technology being used within the Health Simulation Centre.
Some of the technology showcased as part of the day included, medical diagnostic t-shirts that simulates the assessment of real-life medical problems using mobile phone technology such as augmented reality and contactless interaction; a wound scanner with augmented wound stickers; gait analysis using motion capture and the use of 3D data for patient diagnosis and 360 streaming virtual headsets.