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UCLan joins University Alliance

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has joined University Alliance, becoming the mission group’s newest member.

University Alliance is a group of universities working together to shape higher education and research policy for the benefit of our students and business and civic partners – institutions which pride themselves on connections and partnerships with industry, employers and professions.

With its main campus in the city of Preston, UCLan is one of the UK’s largest universities with a student and staff community approaching 40,000. With a reputation for applied knowledge, UCLan has a fast-growing School of Medicine renowned for its innovative teaching methods.

In December, the university was announced as a partner of the Northern Powerhouse – one of 40 businesses, universities and other organisations pledging to support its delivery and drive forward the regional economic agenda.

In the last five years UCLan has helped over 1,000 students and graduates start a business or became self-employed – the second highest figure in the UK.

Professor John Latham, Chair of University Alliance and Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University, said:

“It is great news that University of Central Lancashire is joining University Alliance and we warmly welcome them.

“At a time when the higher education sector faces huge challenges – but also great opportunities – coming together, collaborating and working collectively gives our members a stronger voice and supports us to innovate.

“The addition of UCLan, a university with a proud history, strong civic mission and a focus closely aligned to the needs of the economy, will help us as we continue to go from strength to strength as a group of institutions.”

Professor Mike Thomas, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire, said:

“I’m delighted that the University of Central Lancashire is joining University Alliance. At this time of epoch-defining change in higher education, I truly believe that we will do better if we’re working alongside like-minded universities than we will as individual institutions.

“The Alliance emphasis on universities for cities and regions is very much in tune with our role as a civic, anchor institution – a university for the whole of Lancashire.

“I look forward to working with colleagues across the University Alliance network to influence and shape education, health, energy and industrial policy in what is a fascinating period not just for universities, but for the country as a whole.”

Notes to editors:

  1. UCLan was founded in 1828 as the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge, becoming a university in 1992. UCLan’s main campus is in the city of Preston, with further campuses in Westlakes in West Cumbria, Burnley and Cyprus, as well as strategic partnerships in China and Mauritius.
  2. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) became the first UK modern university to appear in the QS World University Rankings in 2010, and placed in the top 3.7 percent of all worldwide universities in 2015 (Centre for World University Rankings).
  3. Leading businesses announce support for Northern Powerhouse in a ‘show of force for the North’, 8 December 2016: www.gov.uk/government/news/leading-businesses-announce-support-for-northern-powerhouse-in-a-show-of-force-for-the-north

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