NEWPORT planners and the city's college have joined forces in a bid to find new sites for expansion.

Professor James Lusty, (pictured) principal of UWCN, said his team was working closely with Newport council in looking at sites for a new campus in the city centre. The college is currently planning a series of expansions which it says will revolutionise higher and further education in Gwent.

Proposals exclusively revealed by the Argus include doubling in size, creating an extra campus, widening access to higher education and developing stronger links with schools and colleges.

Professor Lusty said: "The vision for the university college must remain one of being a high-quality independent institution delivering a wide portfolio of courses, which serve the needs of both the local and international markets.

"We intend to build on our current reputation to expand both in student numbers and in our physical size so that we will create an outstanding centre of learning in South-East Wales," he added.

Professor Lusty said new courses would reflect the needs of industry and commerce, with others linking in to partnerships with schools and further education colleges.

He added: "We are entering an exciting era for the University of Wales College, Newport, and this, with Newport's city status, means education is going to go through an interesting and stimulating time over the next few years."

UWCN is in the top half of UK universities for research in a list compiled by The Times Higher Educational Supplement.

It is acknowledged as a leader in widening access to higher education. The college came top in Wales for the number of students from state schools (99 per cent) and was second for the number coming from areas which have not traditionally taken part in higher education.