OUR vision of creating an International Centre for Technology in the Isle of Man is closer becoming a reality.
That was the message from those behind the Manx Educational Foundation as they outlined progress made so far in developing an island centre for IT excellence. based at the former Castle Mona hotel.
Under the proposals, the historical seafront Castle Mona, which has been empty since it closed five years ago, will become a university providing degree-qualified students for the island’s IT sector and related industries.
The Manx government has provisionally agreed to underwrite the project to the tune of £5 million over the 10 year period of the proposed lease.
Some 80 members of the island’s business community and politicians attended an event hosted by the MEF at the Palace Hotel last Thursday which was designed to raise the profile of the project - and encourage local firms to contribute funding towards the venture.
An update on progress so far was delivered by the businessmen behind the Foundation – Skanco managing director David Butterworth, Kurt Roosen, head of group systems and international operations at Duncan Lawrie Private Bank and 3FM managing director Ron Berry, together with Kevin Streater, member of the British Computer Society’s Academy of Computing Board.
Among those attending the event were Economic Development Minister John Shimmin MHK, Education Minister Tim Crookall MHK and Steve Roden MHK, Speaker of the House of Keys.
Mr Butterworth said: ‘We were delighted to see in excess of 70 people come along to listen and share in our plans for the International Centre for Technology. With the support we have already received from manufacturers, government and founders, our vision is closer to becoming a reality.’
Directors of the MEF have garnered both on and off-Island support for their project from The Open University, the British Computer Society (the Chartered Institute for IT) and IT firm Huawei.
Their long-term vision is for the university to become a centre of IT excellence on the world stage, creating an expert body of IT professionals and entrepreneurs in the Isle of Man.
MEF directors are convinced that in the current global financial climate, its creation will be essential for the development of the island’s IT, e-commerce and educational tourism sectors.
Economic Development Minister Mr Shimmin said: ‘I feel optimistic and enthusiastic that we can work together to deliver this exciting project.’
