Leeds Met drops plan to add Carnegie name

THE HEAD of Leeds Metropolitan University has confirmed that plans to change its name to Carnegie have been scrapped for good.

Under former vice chancellor Prof Simon Lee the university had applied to rebrand itself as Leeds Carnegie to build on the sporting partnerships it had developed with Leeds’ rugby sides and Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

The Carnegie brand name has been used in both cricket and rugby teams at Headingley to reflect Leeds Met’s involvement.

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The Carnegie name comes from the Carnegie College of Physical Training set up in 1933 with money from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to train PE teachers. It became part of Leeds Polytechnic in 1976, which in turn became Leeds Met in 1992.

However current vice chancellor Prof Susan Price has said Leeds Met no longer has any plans to pursue a name change.

In an interview with the Yorkshire Post after a year in the job she said improving student satisfaction, research and enterprise were her key goals.

Last year Leeds Met developed a strategic plan, improved its National Student Survey (NSS) satisfaction ratings and appointed new deputy vice chancellors focusing on research and enterprise, strategic development and the student experience.

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Prof Price said: “These appointments will have a massive impact.

“These are important roles which have a crucial part to play in our success over the next few years.

“They are areas in which we really need to grow in order to compete in the marketplace and we’re confident we will be able to do this.”

She also said she was confident about Leeds Met’s ability to cope once the new tuition fee system is introduced next year.

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Prof Price said: “Quality, relevance and sustainability will underpin everything we do – I’m passionate about improving the student experience and it is important to continue to improve the staff experience.”