News

University celebrates record number of visitors at Open Day

28 September 2015

Saturday (September 26) saw a record numbers of visitors attend the University of Derby’s Open Day, where more than 4,500 people arrived to explore its sites in the city.

A series of talks and presentations ran throughout the day at Kedleston Road, Markeaton Street, Britannia Mill, Deda, One Friar Gate Square and Derby Theatre to give visitors an insight into the different courses available and a taste of student life. Student ambassadors led campus and halls of residence tours for visitors and hundreds of people also attended the Open Day at the University’s Buxton campus.

University of Derby Open Day

This was the first in a series of ‘new look’ Open Days at the University of Derby, showcasing graduate work including an exhibition from Paul Cummins, Tower of London poppies artist, Rob Garner - who played a significant role in bringing the breath-taking visual effects of blockbuster movie Gravity to the big screen - and Sam Johnson, who is now a Designer at LEGO headquarters in Denmark.

The new £10.8 million Sports Centre, which boasts 70 station fitness suite, an 8 badminton court sports hall, spacious fitness and cycling studios, climbing wall, squash courts plus a three-lane indoor sprint track was also open for visitors to look around.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Derby, said: “Saturday marked my first Open Day since joining the University of Derby earlier this month, and it’s been a privilege to meet with so many prospective students and their parents.

“Open Days are an important way for prospective students to gain a real feel for both the City and the University. Here at Derby, we know that we have high quality facilities and that once prospective students have seen what we have to offer, they apply to Derby.

“We have had a record number of visitors and I am really pleased to see the increased interest, for all our courses, that university is able to attract.”

Derby County Football Club, Derby County Cricket Club, Noshi Noodles, Bluebells Dairy Ice Cream, Walkabout, Lola Lo, CAMRA and the Brownie Man were all in attendance to give away free samples and exhibit the city’s offering. There was also a dedicated chill out zone for visitors to enjoy some time out and a wood fired pizza oven to provide freshly cooked food for visitors.