Colchester Institute

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Colchester Institute
Colchester Institute, Sheepen Road, Colchester - geograph.org.uk - 58854.jpg
Colchester Institute - view from Sheepen Road, Colchester in 2005
TypeCollege
Established_
Academic affiliation
University of Essex
Principal Alison Andreas
Students8,000
Undergraduates Yes
Postgraduates Yes
Location
51°53′36″N0°53′22″E / 51.893199°N 0.889571°E / 51.893199; 0.889571
Website colchester.ac.uk
Colchester Institute Logo.png
Colchester Institute

Colchester Institute is a large provider of further and higher education based in the city of Colchester in Essex. Colchester Institute provides full-time and part-time courses for a wide variety of learners including 16- to 19-year-olds, apprentices, adults, businesses and employers. Undergraduate and Postgraduate Higher Education courses are delivered through University Centre Colchester and validated by the University of East Anglia, University of Huddersfield, and University of Essex.

Contents

History

Colchester Institute has its roots in the North East Essex Technical College. It widened to include degree level programmes in Music (through accreditation by the University of London), Hospitality & Catering, and Art. In 1992 it joined with a number of colleges and "Anglia Higher Education College" to enable the latter to acquire university status as Anglia Polytechnic University (now Anglia Ruskin University). The other colleges in the Higher Education aspects of the "consortium" included City College Norwich, and the Norwich School of Art and Design. The "consortium" was dissolved in 2006 under a ratification programme[ clarification needed ] proposed by the Higher Education Funding Council (England), and from that time Colchester Institute Higher Education awards were accredited by the University of Essex.

The institute's buildings were completely refurbished in 2000 with internal demolition, structural repairs and reconfiguration of the existing 1950s buildings, providing 4,000 m2 of new internal floor space for workshops, laboratories, classrooms and a library in which to study. In 2003, a new Construction Craft Centre opened, to provide specialist facilities for Plumbing and Electrical Installations. [1]

On 1 January 2010, Colchester Institute took over Braintree College, rebranding this as The College At Braintree [2] and subsequently Braintree Campus.

The £10m STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Centre and South Wing building opened in 2016 at the Sheepen Road Campus. The advanced equipment and facilities incorporates a HAAS CNC machining centre, simulation rigs, commercial 3D printers, auto-CAD, and specialist science equipment.

Another facility at the Colchester site is the £5m Centre for Health and Social Care Professions, launched in 2020 with the addition of another storey to the South Wing building.

Facilities opened in 2022 include the Early Years Centre and commercial hair and beauty salons.

Campus information

Colchester, Sheepen Road Campus

The Colchester Campus is situated just outside Colchester's old Roman walls.

University Centre Colchester, Sheepen Road Campus

Located on Colchester Institute's Sheepen Road Campus.

Braintree Campus, Church Lane, Braintree

Colchester Institute's newest campus, following the merger with Braintree College.

The Energy Skills Centre, Harwich

The Centre first opened in 2013. It is supported by the Skills Funding Agency, Essex County Council and Tendring District Council.

Adult Skills Centre at Colchester

Located at the Sheepen Road Campus, this centre offers courses specialising in English, IT and maths.

Adult Skills Centres at Braintree, Clacton, Dovercourt and Witham

In-person and online courses offered in maths, English and IT. [3]

Departments

Colchester Institute has several faculties covering a variety of subject areas, including:

Colchester Institute has around 8,000 students and runs approximately 120 full-time courses. [4]

Alumni

See also

References

  1. "Colchester Institute". saundersboston.co.uk. 2020.
  2. "Colchester Institute and Braintree College merger marks new milestone / Latest News / News & Events / Home - Braintree College". Archived from the original on 20 July 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  3. "Adult Learners – English, Maths and Functional Skills". colchester.ac.uk. 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  4. "Colchester AC - About us". colchester.ac.uk. 2020.
  5. "Interview with Patricia Allison". theitalianreve.com. 2019.
  6. "See former Essex student in this Netflix hit -Patricia Allison". eadt.co.uk. 2019.
  7. "Sade's First Album in 10 Years". The Daily Gazette . 20 January 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Colchester Institute". The Independent. 12 August 2013.
  9. "Essex Sam Ryder 'felt love' from home in Eurovision final". The Daily Gazette . 17 May 2022.