Higher education services

Tender description

The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) is intending to run a tender process to appoint a strategic development and investment partner to provide a London campus. This is an exciting opportunity to create a flagship London hub for the development of UCA’s postgraduate courses within the Business School for the Creative Industries alongside bespoke Art and Design courses, and to support growth in UCA’s Executive Education provision (short courses for working professionals in the Creative Industries). Further information in relation to UCA can be found via the link in section I.1). It is proposed that UCA London will begin operation no later than the 2023/2024 academic year. UCA is looking for an organisation to provide exclusive use of a building with street frontage and ensure the campus is fit for purpose for the delivery of UCA’s undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education courses in business, art and design, and architecture. It is intended that this exclusive use will be for a minimum of 10 years with the possibility of exit clauses at 3, 5 and 7 years. Following this, it is intended that arrangement can be made for either the sole running of the campus by UCA or continuing joint operation with specific operations by the selected organisation, or sole running of the campus by the selected organisation, this will be determined by negotiation. UCA will require that the proposed building is either already designated for educational use or will have the potential to be so designated. The premises will need to be able to accommodate a student population of approximately 1 000 students who are broadly spilt 70 % Business and 30 % Art and Design and Architecture, and 30 % Undergraduate and 70 % Postgraduate with weekend and night-time use for short courses for working professionals in the creative industries. In terms of the location of the building, it will need to be in a location which is easily commutable by public transport to an existing campus of UCA (locations of which can be found at the address listed in section I.1), within an inner London postcode and also easily commutable by public transport to existing educational resources and libraries such as the British Library or the University of London Senate House Library. UCA envisages that the campus will be no more than 10-15 minutes’ walk from a station of the London Underground. The building will need to have significant frontage and a location which enhances the reputation of UCA through its development. The provider will need to be able to fund the cost associated with the premises during the contact (including fit out) although it is envisaged that the UCA may take the lease to qualify for appropriate approvals for International Student recruitment, rates relief and approvals for education use, if not already granted. Fit-out will include provision of appropriate equipment and spaces that are available for the development of art and design and architecture teaching. The UCA intends to set out key requirements in relation to the course portfolio but envisages that the exact course portfolio will be a matter for negotiation as part of the procurement. The UCA considers that the revenue to fund the campus can be generated from a variety of sources including the provision of education services to or on behalf of UCA for which appropriate charges can be made. These services could include student recruitment and marketing services, online teaching or conversion activities and executive education provision. UCA do not intend to provide funding towards the initial set-up of the campus or to the fit-out and running of the campus but envisages that it will fund operational expenses such as academic and services staffing in order to deliver the courses. UCA are open to consider different funding models including the provision of student recruitment services for commission; provisions for a stake in a joint venture company for the campus alongside the UCA; or other models that may be of interest to both parties.