Teesside University welcomes Education Secretary to Middlesbrough

Teesside University has welcomed the Secretary of State for Education and has showcased the transformative impact it is making in the Tees Valley and beyond.

The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP visited Teesside University’s Middlesbrough campus, where she met with the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Paul Croney OBE, and toured the state-of-the-art facilities.

During her visit, the Secretary of State was able to visit the University’s £36.9m health and life-science building, BIOS, a key asset in Teesside’s ambitions to open a new medical school in the Tees Valley.

Teesside University is delivering on its mission to transform lives and economies. The University has been rated outstanding in every category for the wide-ranging apprenticeship provision as well as receiving a triple gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

Recently awarded Daily Mail Modern University of the Year 2026 and shortlisted for the Times Higher Education University of the Year 2025, Teesside University is widely recognised for the way in which its learning, teaching, research and knowledge exchange activities are driving economic growth regionally, nationally and internationally.

Crucially, all these achievements have been delivered without incurring any debt, including its £300m campus master plan investment, demonstrating the University’s strong financial stability and strategic foresight.

Professor Croney said: “I was honoured to welcome the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, to our award-winning university.

“Teesside University is a recognised driver of economic growth, directly and through our partnerships.

“Through close engagement with industry, our research and knowledge exchange activities are stimulating innovation and enterprise, while our world-class teaching and learning is providing graduates with the vital skills to make an immediate impact within the workplace.

“We were delighted to share these achievements with the Secretary of State and discuss our ambitions for a new medical school to support the health needs of the region and the future of the NHS.”

Education Secretary, The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson said: “Teesside University exemplifies how universities can break down barriers to opportunity in their local community while driving real growth and innovation nationwide, and it was a real pleasure to visit their Middlesbrough campus.

“Institutions like Teesside are critical to delivering our Plan for Change, bringing jobs and investment to their region, building the life chances of young people, and putting Britain at the cutting edge of the industries of the future.”

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