Big plans for Porsgrunn Campus

Telemark University College and "Statsbygg" invited several different interest groups to a meeting on Monday 27th of February to discuss further development of Porsgrunn Campus. Representatives from Skien and Porsgrunn Municipality, students, SiTel and representatives from local businesses met to start making a plan for the development of Porsgrunn Campus area.

The goal is to make Porsgrunn and the Campus area an attractive place to study.

Three project groups will be working with separate tasks. One group will be looking at facilities and infrastructure in Porsgrunn Campus area, another group will look at traffic in Grenland and to and from Porsgrunn Campus. The last group will look at how to establish and develop knowledge-based businesses in the campus area.

More than a place to party
A new student house is also a topic in the discussions, and this was the issue that Henrik and Kristoffer was most interested in. Today Porsgrunn students are located in Elverhøy student house about 500 metres from the university college. The house was built in 1790 and has a capacity of 250 people, which means it is often full.

- We are pleased to hear that the university college and the community is interested in this issue and that they want to develop the campus area, and to consider the students' needs, says Civil Engineering student Henrik Stemsrud.

He is a member of the Studentersamfunnet i Grenland (Student Community in Grenland) and involved in the discussions about a new student house in Porsgrunn. After Henrik finishes his studies in the spring, Kristoffer Lorentsen will take over the leadership position.

- We want a student house that is more than a place to party. It should be a place that can host a number of events, and that can be used by the student community's many member organisations. It should be located close to the campus, so it can be used every day. The building could also function as a study room and for other purposes during the day, says Henrik.

Increasing number of students
Telemark University College has more than 6100 students, more than 2300 of which study in Porsgrunn. The number of students in Porsgrunn has increased from 1400 to 2300 since 2002. The infrastructure, buildings and municipal services must be adjusted to this development in student numbers.

- TUC has had a positive development. We have more students than ever. We have recently been awarded the right to offer a third Ph.D programme, and this is the moment to think about further development, says TUC-rector Kristian Bogen. He thinks it is realistic that the students could have a new student house in the near future.

- Building a new student house should be realistic within a time-frame of three years if financing and cooperation with the community falls into place, he believes.

The municipality as a partner
The municipality is currently writing a report on students in Porsgrunn that will be presented to the town council in May. The report will make some recommendations to make Porsgrunn an attractive place to study. TUC-students have participated in this process with comments and suggestions.

- We are very conscious of our role as a host municipality and want a good relationship with the students and TUC. We feel that we have a good dialogue and a positive process here, says Øyvind Solbakken, head of business development in Porsgrunn Municipality.

- The municipality wants to help the students, and we appreciate that very much, says Henrik.

New auditorium and expansion of the library
This spring work will also begin to build a new large auditorium with 360 seats in Porsgrunn. In addition the library will be expanded. By the new auditorium, a new cafeteria will most likely also be established.