Lancaster objects to ‘very confusing’ Uclan name change plan

A university has provoked a row with its neighbour by proposing to delete the word “Central” from its name.

The University of Central Lancashire has submitted an application to change its name to the “University of Lancashire”, and a consultation on the switch has now been launched by the English regulator, the Office for Students (OfS).

But Lancaster University has already said that it will object to the moniker, claiming that it would be “very confusing” for students – not least since its own official title is “The University of Lancaster”.

“As a research-intensive, globally significant university, ranked in the top 150 in the world and in the top 15 in the UK, we play a very different role from Uclan within the UK and internationally,” Andy Schofield, Lancaster’s vice-chancellor, told Times Higher Education.

“Our official name, as granted by Queen Elizabeth II by Royal Charter, is ‘The University of Lancaster’ and the name ‘Lancaster University’ is also registered to us.

“We object to this proposal on the grounds that it would be very confusing to students abroad and in the UK who are seeking us as a high-tariff university known for both excellent research and teaching – particularly given Uclan’s proposed name differs from our own in just the last few letters.”

The row comes just months after the University of Bolton applied to change its name to the University of Greater Manchester, a move which provoked opposition from the University of Manchester.

As well as Lancaster and Uclan, Edge Hill University and the University of Cumbria also have presences in Lancashire.

In a statement provided to the OfS, Graham Baldwin, Uclan’s vice-chancellor, said that “Central Lancashire” was “a central government construct from the 1980s which is now largely obsolete with little or no current relevance or meaning”, and highlighted that the institution was the county’s “largest provider of graduate-level qualifications”.

A Uclan spokesman told THE that the name change had “been a strategic ambition of ours for almost six years, but due to Covid and other changes the right mechanisms were not in place to make the request”.

“Our ambition continues to be a university of choice locally, nationally and globally, but the phrase ‘Central Lancashire’ is not a location that is particularly recognised,” the spokesman said.

“Also, given that the university now has a significant campus and wider presence in the east of Lancashire, the term is now also both factually inaccurate and misleading. The university is an established civic pillar across the whole of Lancashire and an important member of several pan-Lancashire partnerships.”

The OfS’ consultation, which runs until 22 February, is inviting views on whether the name change “is, or has the potential to be, confusing or misleading”. The regulator has the power to approve or reject the change.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com