University faces backlash after college deal collapse

THE University of Hull is facing a backlash after a deal with Hull College Group over its Scarborough campus fell through.

Students are protesting at the “ghost town” that the campus has turned into following the collapse of the deal in January.

They are demanding the return of their fees, of £9,000 a year, following plans by Professor Calie Pistorius (the second cousin of former Olympian Oscar Pistorius, currently serving out his sentence under house arrest for the murder of his girlfriend).

600 second and third-year students currently study at the seaside campus, a third of the number of students that studied there when it opened in 2010. Next year it will house only final-year undergraduates.

The University of Hull announced that the Scarborough campus would close in April 2014. In November 2014, the University announced plans to “transition” the campus to Hull College Group.

However in January this year, the group announced it would not be taking over the Filey Road site.

At the time it said: “The University of Hull and Hull College Group have now decided not to progress with their strategic partnership in Scarborough.

“The University of Hull is now reviewing the options for the future of its Scarborough campus on Filey Road. Current students of the University of Hull will continue their studies, at the campus, as normal until the July 2017 Graduation. The excellent student experience and learning environment will be maintained throughout.”