The University of Derby in Chesterfield will be opened officially on November 6, by Eric Morton, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Royal NHS Trust.

The centre will be aimed primarily at providing health education opportunities and health officials are among those invited to the evening reception.

However, as the centre matures, opportunities in other subject areas may also be offered by the University.

About 300 students on the Advanced Diploma in Nursing Studies course are the first to study at the centre, in Canal Wharf.

There is academic expertise to provide a range of other courses, such as an MSc Advanced Practice, community specialist programmes and short courses in areas such as Mentoring Progress and Verification of Death.

And will be further opportunities to host health and education conferences and network events at the centre.

The University has leased dedicated rooms and offices on the two-storey site from the Derbyshire Chamber of Commerce, and has invested £400,000 to introduce dedicated facilities to train healthcare professionals.

Facilities include:

* A fully-functioning Clinical Skills Suite with hospital beds, drug trolleys, hoist and other medical equipment.

* SimMan - an electronically programmed robot which simulates various aliments and illnesses to train nurses. This is alongside a range of other teaching aids.

* Five teaching rooms with conference facilities, and IT and hot-desk provision.

Centre managers, who hope the site will serve the north of the region's health education needs, are looking forward to showcasing the new facilities.

Alison Hogg, Acting Head of Subject, (Nursing and Healthcare Practice), said: "We are delighted with the new facilities, which are modern, fresh and provide students and staff with plenty of space as well an excellent working and learning environment.

"We look forward to welcoming visitors to the new University centre, and as well as our trainee nurse provision, are looking to provide courses to health trusts and other organisations in the region and will be finding out what sort of training requirements they may have."

Students and staff had previously been in rented accommodation at Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, hiring teaching rooms and space for academic staff.