Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group has opened the doors to its new state-of-the-art Institute of Technology this week. 

The first students and staff will soon be entering the £22.5 million facility to begin Higher Education courses in areas such as advanced engineering, manufacturing, modern methods of construction, digital technologies and health sciences.

The Stafford-based 'Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology' brings together education providers across Staffordshire, including Keele University, Burton and South Derbyshire College, Axia Solutions, South Staffordshire College and Stoke-on-Trent College.

learners will find a virtual reality immersive space at the institute of technology. (NSCG)

Inside, learners will find a virtual reality immersive space, a mock hospital ward, testing laboratories, robotics and automation equipment, as well as an advanced manufacturing learning factory. Learners will also benefit from conference rooms, a lecture theatre, a bistro and a range of immersive teaching spaces.

Vice principal, Georgina Barnard, said welcoming students into the new facility is "an incredibly proud moment".

She added: "This landmark development represents a unique collaboration between education and industry, ensuring that learners across our region have access to world-class facilities, cutting-edge technology and the specialist training needed to thrive in high-demand sectors.

There is a bistro and range of immersive teaching spaces. (NSCG)

"By working hand-in-hand with employers, we are not only creating pathways into skilled careers but also supporting businesses with the talent they need to drive innovation and growth."

Supporting the development are a number of employer partners, including Dell, MOOG, Siemens and Hitachi. 

Their investment has already provided £500,000 worth of equipment and resources, such as two demonstration robots from KUKA, two collaborative robots from Siemens and a transformer donated by Hitachi Energy. 

Employer partners have invested £500,000 worth of equipment.(NSCG)

In addition, industrial and logistics specialist Indurent is developing digital tools to bring real-life projects into the classroom, further enriching the learning experience for students.

Find out more about The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology here.

Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group is a sponsor of Stoke Nub News.