From 2000 Onwards

The new Millennium began in positive fashion. Teaching quality and research were improving and there had been major improvements in sporting, living, learning and research facilities. But was the University moving forward fast enough?

"Being an ex-Lukie my best memories during my three year course revolve around St Luke's. There is a real community spirit about the place. Everyone looks out for each other and the fact that a third year will always take the time to get to know a fresher is one of its most appealing qualities."

Paul Dunsford, Exercise and Sport Sciences 2002

The University's connections with businesses had grown to the point in 2000 where the University opened the Innovation Centre on the Streatham campus, providing workshop units for small high technology businesses. That same year Exeter's connections with the Middle East bore fruit again when the Ruler of Sharjah donated funds to create an impressive new building for the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies. Another big benefaction followed in 2001 with a multi-million pound donation from an anonymous donor to create the Xfi Centre for Finance and Investment.

The same year saw major investment in research thanks to an £8.3 million 'win' in a research bidding competition. This enabled the creation of new research centres in sediments (including a building that 'rains indoors'), biocatalysis and magnetic resonance imaging. A fourth major research centre in genomics followed shortly.

The pace of development was accelerating. The Peninsula Medical School opened its doors in 2002, a joint project with Plymouth University. Further improvements to student accommodation (worth £35 million) began to come on stream with the opening of Holland Hall in 2004. A new tennis centre was opened in 2005. Out of the ashes of the University's Cornwall campus plans was rising the phoenix of Combined Universities in Cornwall, a joint project involving all of Cornwall's higher and further education providers. Exeter's operations are based at a state-of the-art £69 million campus which opened in September 2004 (funded with UK government and EU Objective One money). Planning is well advanced on a second £25 million phase.

In 2005 the University has grown to 13,000 students. It has 2,600 staff and an annual turnover of £121 million. A new corporate plan to take the University up to 2009 has just been produced with the overall aim of making Exeter a top 20 research-led university.

After 150 years of growth, the University is poised to take the next step in its development.