The new £31.4m Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels has been officially opened by the Princess Royal today  (Monday 7 September 2009). The campus was created as a co-location venture between Borders College and Heriot-Watt University, a unique collaboration between further and higher education to maximise tertiary education opportunities for the Borders.

During a tour before the official opening the Princess Royal visited some of the new facilities and workshops and meet with students and lecturers from Borders College and Heriot-Watt University. Twenty four students who have enrolled at the College’s highly successful Preparation for the Army course, along with instructors from the scheme, formed a guard of honour on the Princess’ arrival. She also meet eighteen rugby players and a programme leader from the Borders Academy of Sporting Excellence (BASE) in the new Campus gym. They were joined by BASE Ambassadors Jim Telfer, the ex-Scotland and British Lions coach, and ex-Scotland player John Rutherford, who are now dedicating their time to youth rugby development in the Borders. Students and lecturers from Heriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles and Design were also displaying a range of fashion, textiles and interior designs, and the Princess also saw students working in the Borders College Painting and Decorating and Motor Vehicles workshops. She went on to meet members of the Borders College and Heriot-Watt Students Associations, as well as a group of Lifeskills students and staff from the Access and Supported Learning Department.

During the tour the Princess Royal was accompanied by the Principals of the University and Borders College and senior management figures from both institutions, as well as representatives of Scottish Borders Council and the funding bodies who have supported the co-location programme - the Scottish Funding Council and the European Regional Development Fund.