| Colchester Institute | |
| Established: | _ |
| Type: | College |
| Academic Affiliation: | University of Essex |
| Principal: | Alison Andreas |
| Students: | 8,000 |
| Undergrad: | Yes |
| Postgrad: | Yes |
| City: | Colchester, Essex, England |
| Coor: | 51.8932°N 0.8896°W |
Colchester Institute is a large provider of further and higher education based in the city of Colchester. Colchester Institute provides full-time and part-time courses for a wide variety of learners including 16 to 19 year olds, apprentices, adults, businesses and employers. Undergraduate and Postgraduate Higher Education courses are delivered through University Centre Colchester and validated by the University of East Anglia, University of Huddersfield and University of Essex.
Colchester Institute has its roots in the North East Essex Technical College. It widened to include degree level programmes in Music (through accreditation by the University of London), Hospitality & Catering and Art. In 1992 it joined with a number of colleges and "Anglia Higher Education College" to enable the latter to acquire university status as Anglia Polytechnic University (now Anglia Ruskin University). The other colleges in the Higher Education aspects of the "consortium" included City College Norwich, and the Norwich School of Art and Design. The "consortium" was dissolved in 2006 under a ratification programme proposed by the Higher Education Funding Council (England), and from that time Colchester Institute Higher Education awards were accredited by the University of Essex.
The institute's buildings were completely refurbished in 2000 with internal demolition, structural repairs and reconfiguration of the existing 1950s buildings, providing 4,000m2 of new internal floor space for workshops, laboratories, classrooms and a library in which to study. In 2003, a new Construction Craft Centre opened, to provide specialist facilities for Plumbing and Electrical Installations.[1]
On 1 January 2010, Colchester Institute took over Braintree College rebranding this as The College At Braintree[2] and subsequently Braintree Campus.
The £10m STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Centre and South Wing building opened in 2016 at the Sheepen Road Campus. The advanced equipment and facilities incorporates a HAAS CNC machining centre, simulation rigs, commercial 3D printers, auto-CAD, and specialist science equipment.
Another facility at the Colchester site is the £5m Centre for Health and Social Care Professions. Launched in 2020 with the addition of another storey to the South Wing building.
Facilities opened in 2022 include the Early Years Centre and commercial hair and beauty salons.
Colchester, Sheepen Road Campus
The Colchester Campus is situated just outside Colchester's old Roman walls.
University Centre Colchester, Sheepen Road Campus
Located on Colchester Institute's Sheepen Road Campus.
Braintree Campus, Church Lane, Braintree
Colchester Institute's newest campus (following the merger with Braintree College).
The Energy Skills Centre, Harwich
Supported by the Skills Funding Agency, Essex County Council and Tendring District Council the Centre first opened in 2013.
Adult Skills Centre at Colchester
Located on the Colchester Institute Sheepen Road Campus, this centre offers courses specialising in English, IT and maths.
Adult Skills Centres at Braintree, Clacton, Dovercourt and Witham
Online courses offered in maths, English and IT.[3]
Colchester Institute has many faculties covering a variety of subject areas including:
Colchester Institute has around 8,000 students and runs approximately 120 full-time courses.[4]