New-look facilities for Barony campus

_{SRUC has invested money in new teaching and social spaces.}

A £670,000 investment by SRUC has led to the creation of new teaching spaces and an upgraded dining room and external courtyard at the Barony campus.

Other improvements include a laboratory with smart screen and digital microscopes, and a new office for consultants.

With more students returning to the campus for face-to-face teaching following the easing of coronavirus restrictions, the new classrooms will support collaborative and active learning.

The refurbishment of three former offices and a conference room into spaces for student-focused learning and specialist research and teaching will also help accommodate the consolidation of students and courses from the Riverside campus in Ayr.

Each classroom has flexible and/or moveable furniture, smart screens and walls with a whiteboard paint finish to allow the writing up of ideas during meetings and tutorials.

In addition to the new classrooms, the dining hall has been revamped alongside improvements to the courtyard space to allow for outdoor social and learning activities.

There have also been upgrades to a communal corridor area, to allow more space for breakout sessions, and a research laboratory.

Finally, consultants from SAC Consulting – part of SRUC - have moved from their office at Hestan House in Dumfries onto campus following the refurbishment of Grieves Cottage.

Nick Sparks, Dean of the South and West Faculty, said: “During the coronavirus pandemic, when our focus was on enhancing remote teaching and delivering in-person practical sessions, we had an opportunity to modernise the spaces we use to engage with students.

“The upgrade will improve both the student and staff experience at SRUC by supporting more interactive and blended learning.”

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Posted by SRUC on 08/10/2021