The University of Hertfordshire has showcased it's new state-of-the-art Spectra building to Labour candidates who visited the establishment yesterday (June 6).

Set to open in September, the new facility will bring physics, engineering and computer science all under one roof, which will allow for exciting collaborations between the four schools.

"This has been four years in the making. We're bring four schools together under one roof and we couldn't be more excited," said professor Daniel McCluskey, the dean of physics, engineering and computer science at the university.

Darren Jones (left) and Andrew Lewin (centre) outside the Spectra building.Darren Jones (left) and Andrew Lewin (centre) outside the Spectra building. (Image: Alex Tyner)

"The rationale is that in the world around us, we are seeing more and more that engineers and computer science are collaborating more and more. Even in astronomy, some of their fundamental research is translating into technology to protect our crops.

"It's such multi-disciplinary world and we're able to bring it all under one roof here."

During a tour of the Spectra building, professor McCluskey excitedly showed off a room for cyber security students.

Equipped with its own servers, the facility provides them with the chance to take part in their own online wargames, as they attempt to break through each others cyber defences.

Mr Lewin and Mr Jones toured the facility which is set to open in September.Mr Lewin and Mr Jones toured the facility which is set to open in September. (Image: Alex Tyner)

It's just one of many rooms within Spectra that allows students the chance at practical learning, with professor McCluskey continuing: "Being able to teach that here is not just important, but it's critical.

"We need to make sure that the students who want to study these subjects have an opportunity for practical, hands-on learning that they can take in industry and employment.

"It's not just about the opportunities enticing people to come here, but it's also about having work ready graduates who are primed for the career ahead of them."

The university showed off their new building to Labour's Welwyn Hatfield parliamentary candidate Andrew Lewin and Bristol North West candidate Darren Jones, who both left very impressed by Spectra.

Mr Lewin and Mr Jones spoke to university students on their tour.Mr Lewin and Mr Jones spoke to university students on their tour. (Image: Alex Tyner)

"It's been inspiring and uplifting to see this new facility. I am so impressed by the passion I've seen from staff and the desire to embrace new technology," Mr Lewin told the Welwyn Hatfield Times. 

"If I get the opportunity to be the new MP for Welwyn Hatfield, I will be a champion for this brilliant university. It's a badge of pride that we have this university here in Hatfield, and we should be fostering links between local schools and the university."

"Labour's first priority is to get the economy back on track and growing again, which means creating new businesses and jobs," Darren added.

The university was pleased to show off what it has to offer.The university was pleased to show off what it has to offer. (Image: Alex Tyner)

"Universities play an important role in our economic growth story. As we've seen here today at the University of Hertfordshire, the new buildings will make a really vital contribution in the years ahead, not just for the emerging sectors in our economy but for public services too, with their plans to train more doctors and nurses for our health system."

And showing off what the university has to offer is an important part of professor McCluskey's job too.

"The ability to showcase what we have is so important, because the world needs to see what Hertfordshire can offer," he told reporter Dan Mountney.

"We've got a great suite of degrees here at the university, we work with business, and we have impactful research that helps make life-changing outcomes, and showing this off is a big part of it all."

The general election will take place on July 4, with Grant Shapps running as the Conservative candidate for Welwyn Hatfield, John Munro for the Liberal Democrats and Jack Aaron for Reform UK.