The year 2000 has been another one of sound achievement for the University with exciting cutting edge research and highly promising commercial spin offs, distance learning and nursing and midwifery courses in particularly strong demand, and excellent employment prospects for graduates.

Overall student numbers are similar to the previous year’s although there has been a slight fall in full-time students perhaps not surprisingly in a climate of uncertainty over payment of fees and student funding generally. Now that this has been resolved by government there are encouraging signs for student recruitment next year. Interestingly, student numbers were buoyant in areas - nursing and distance learning - unaffected by these policy changes.