![\"KMMS](\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/development\/files\/2019\/12\/Kent_Medical-School-1708x1280.jpg\")
<\/a>The\u00a0South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP)<\/strong>\u00a0has agreed to provide the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University with \u00a34m of\u00a0Local Growth Fund<\/a>\u00a0(LGF) capital for the\u00a0Kent and Medway Medical School<\/a>\u00a0(KMMS), which is being delivered as a joint venture between the two universities. KMMS will work closely with NHS providers right across Kent and Medway.<\/p>\nThe South East LEP Accountability Board made the decision at its\u00a0latest meeting on 15\u00a0November 2019<\/a>, after the LEP\u2019s Investment Panel identified the project as a priority.<\/p>\n The two universities are seeking a\u00a0total of \u00a38m<\/strong>\u00a0from the LGF towards the delivery of the project. A\u00a0second tranche\u00a0<\/strong>of \u00a34m has been identified within the pipeline, should additional LGF funds become available.<\/p>\n When complete, KMMS will be the\u00a0first medical school in Kent and Medway<\/strong>, providing a centre in the region for\u00a0medical education and research<\/strong>\u00a0to develop the area\u2019s health workforce, and address the growing need for medical professionals in the area due to rapid housing and population growth.<\/p>\n KMMS students will study in\u00a0purpose-built facilities<\/strong>\u00a0on both Canterbury Christ Church University\u2019s and the University of Kent\u2019s Canterbury campuses and undertake\u00a0placements<\/strong>\u00a0within GP practices and NHS hospitals across Kent and Medway.\u00a0 \u00a0This will contribute to the development of the \u2018medical corridor\u2019 envisaged by the\u00a0Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission<\/a>.<\/p>\n At Christ Church, students will study in a new\u00a0Science, Technology, Health, Engineering and Medicine facility<\/strong>. This will include lecture theatres, an anatomy learning centre and a high-definition hospital simulation suite.\u00a0 At Kent there will be a\u00a0dedicated KMMS building<\/strong>\u00a0which will house lecture theatres, IT suites, seminar rooms, Kent and Medway\u2019s first simulated GP suite, meeting rooms and office space.<\/p>\n From 2020 KMMS will offer\u00a0100 places per year<\/strong>. All students at the medical school will use both sites, with the project expected to initially support 100 undergraduates per year with the potential for further growth to meet regional needs, and with\u00a0additional capacity<\/strong>\u00a0for postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development education.<\/p>\n South East LEP Chair Christian Brodie\u00a0<\/strong>said:\u00a0\u2018The delivery of Kent\u2019s first medical school will\u00a0strengthen\u00a0<\/strong>the entirety of the South East LEP area\u2019s\u00a0STEM offering<\/strong>, making it an even more\u00a0desirable place to study and work<\/strong>\u00a0in this highly skilled field by complementing the other educational facilities in this sector across the patch.<\/p>\n \u2018The South East LEP is very pleased to be able to support such an\u00a0important addition<\/strong>\u00a0to Kent\u2019s educational landscape. This investment, and this new school, will help attract the\u00a0very best talent<\/strong>\u00a0in this field, as well as\u00a0supporting the local community<\/strong>\u00a0by providing a boost in highly trained medical professionals serving the rapidly growing population in the area.\u2019<\/p>\n