NSW Premier Mike Baird has announced a major expansion by the University of Western Sydney in the Liverpool City Centre.

“I’m proud to announce the University of Western Sydney will establish a state-of-the-art Higher Education Centre in the heart of Liverpool in 2016,” Mr Baird said.

“Liverpool is one of Sydney’s fastest growing and most dynamic cities. It’s a smart move for UWS to establish a presence in a city where almost half the population is under 30 years old.

“This new centre will further complement the strong education and health sector that is already in Liverpool. The city is at the forefront of health and medical research, with the Ingham Institute’s ground-breaking cancer research and Liverpool Hospital one of the largest hospitals in the Southern Hemisphere.

“More than 6,000 people are employed in health and education in this city. I can see a bright future for Liverpool and UWS.”

UWS Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover said the Liverpool Higher Education Learning Centre would meet the demand from the young growing city and expand UWS’s reach to key locations across Western Sydney.

“The Centre will comprise technology-rich teaching spaces, regionally targeted post-graduate offerings, the Centre for Western Sydney and a ‘Launch Pad’ Smart Business Centre,” Professor Glover said. “The up to 1,000sqm facility will accommodate over 150 students, staff and corporate partners in a flexible and highly-innovative workspace.

“We are delighted to add Liverpool to our network of sites across Western Sydney. Along with providing greater access to the highest-quality education opportunities for people of Liverpool, the Centre will be a pivotal contributor, along with government and industry, to the shaping of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.”

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun welcomed the university to Liverpool, saying the institution had made the right decision to establish itself in the Great South West.

“As the Airport City, Liverpool is seeing unprecedented development and growth across all sectors, including education and research,” Mayor Ned Mannoun said.

“Those who get in early will be able to make the most of the opportunities which Liverpool has to offer: a young tech-savvy population which speaks more than 140 languages; a growing population; accessibility by roads and public transport, as well as affordable industrial and residential land.

“This announcement aligns with our vision to create innovative education and employment opportunities through strategic partnerships. Partnerships such as this will enable us to harness jobs and business investment potential from the Airport for our local community.”

The University will reveal, over time, more detail about the course offerings this newest of sites will deliver. However the focus will be best-practice teaching and research programs that are both international in outlook and regionally aligned.