Leeds Trinity University? What’s in the New Name?

Lisa Farrell (@_lisafarrell_) tells us what it means for Leeds to get a third university …

What’s in a name?

You might have heard mutterings that Leeds is set to get another university. David Willetts himself has recommended to the Privy Council that 10 higher education institutions have met the criteria to be awarded the title of university, and Leeds Trinity University College is one of them.

In our 46 year history, we’ve answered to many names. Trinity and All Saints, Leeds Trinity and All Saints, Leeds Trinity University College and now, at long last, we will be known as Leeds Trinity University.

This news was picked up far and wide by local, national and even international press (thank you, The Australian!), and we were inundated with congratulations from students, staff, alumni and the twitterverse (including Culture Vultures, so thanks for that!)

It was a very proud day for Leeds Trinity, but not an unexpected one. We’ve been a higher education institution since our inception in 1966, and since we were granted the power to award our own degrees in 2009, we’ve been functioning as a university in all but name, held back by that (thankfully now abolished) arbitrary restriction of needing 4000 students to call yourself a university.

Our staff know Leeds Trinity as a university, our students know Leeds Trinity as a university… so what’s the big deal? What does this ACTUALLY change? And, why should you care?

Recognition of teaching excellence

I may be a tad biased, but the excellent quality of education that our students receive at Leeds Trinity is undeniable, and it’s about time we were recognised for this on a level playing field with other universities. From Radio Journalism to Forensic Psychology, Sport and Exercise Sciences to English and Writing, our lecturers are amongst the most passionate you’ll ever meet, having gained their experience in the industry that they teach about. They take the time to get to know our students personally, and because of our smaller size, are able to give students more one-to-one time than most other universities. If you went to a big university like me, where your lecturers would pass you in a corridor without the faintest idea of who you were, you’ll find this very refreshing indeed …

But don’t take my word for it, listen to our students. In the most recent National Student Survey, that higher education institutions and universities await each year with baited breath, our students declared themselves amongst the most satisfied in the country. Our teaching excellence was also rated in the top 10% of UK institutions in this year’s Sunday Times University Guide, putting us on a par with the likes of Oxford University, don’t cha know? I could go on but you get the picture… we may have been previously ‘too small’ to be regarded as a ‘proper university’, but we’re certainly no small fry when it comes to giving students a quality university education.

Employability-focused

It’s the buzz word in higher education at the moment, with every university falling over itself to report how well their students fare in the graduate job market. We all know that today’s graduates are facing a TOUGH job market, with that vicious circle of needing experience to get experience placing disheartening barriers before graduates wanting to start their careers. But students at Leeds Trinity don’t have this problem. For over a decade, every single student has been given a professional work placement, giving them the opportunity to gain relevant experience during their degree. In fact, we were the first higher education institution to pioneer this. Placements are assessed and count towards final degree classifications, and give students the opportunity to work for organisations as diverse as the BBC, Working Title, Leeds United and Oxfam.

This makes me particularly proud to work for Leeds Trinity. I went to a ‘much revered’ Russell Group University, and as prestigious and well-renowned as they may be, they certainly didn’t offer opportunities like this. I left university confused and without direction, and it’s taken me time to realise the career path I want to take. I would have loved the chance to get professional work experience as part of my degree, particularly given that I was an English Language student with absolutely NO desire to become a teacher, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be for me.

1000s of quality work placements are organised at Leeds Trinity every year, an astonishing feat given the modest team behind them. I’m not afraid to say it – we’re an amazing higher education institution that punches WELL above our weight given our size, and it’s about time we were formally recognised for this.

A clearer identity

When you’ve tried to explain to a parent, prospective student, or even your own friends and family for the millionth time exactly what a ‘university college’ is, you’d be jumping for joy too at the prospect of no longer having to do this! We have the power to award our own degrees, we only offer higher education degrees, but still we are confused as being a further education college!

It’s not just about the name though, it’s what the name symbolises. ‘University College’ fails to position us a ‘proper university’ and this devalues our entire raison d’être, despite us having functioned just like any other university for years. The actual changes that becoming Leeds Trinity University will bring are small, and even unnoticeable to some, yet it means we will finally be recognised as the university we have long been. And for staff and students who have long suffered with this damaging confusion, this is very welcome indeed.

A welcome addition to Leeds

So Leeds will soon have three universities, as well as a number of other institutions that offer higher education elements. Too many? We don’t think so. We’re certainly not trying to compete with the University of Leeds or Leeds Metropolitan University, nor are we going to expand. Leeds Trinity is a special place in its own right that offers a completely different university experience, and I strongly believe that we will be a welcome addition to the Leeds university scene.

Leeds is a brilliant student city, drawing in tens of thousands of students across the UK, but not everyone wants to go to a big city university. In fact, many students want a more personal experience, something that’s a little harder to find when you’re just one of 30,000 students. And that’s where Leeds Trinity comes in. ‘You’re a name, not a number’ is a strapline that’s been used in our marketing for years, and although it may sound clichéd, it couldn’t be truer. It’s the number one thing that our students comment on – the fact that all their lecturers know their name and the friendly, community vibe of ‘the island’, as Leeds Trinity is affectionately known. Our students love the fact that we’re smaller, friendlier and less intimidating than other universities (their words, not ours!), without compromising on quality. It’s not for everyone (which is just as well, given we’ve only got around 3000 spaces!), but I’m very proud to work for a university that gives students this sort of option for their university education.

There will always be critics who lambast the higher education system for diluting the value of university education, but I’d argue that this new wave of 10 universities represents no threat to its value. On the contrary. In David Willetts’ own words, we have been recommended to be awarded university title on the basis of our “high quality”, and Leeds Trinity University will offer a high quality alternative to big universities – great degrees, a great community in a great city. You can’t say fairer than that.

Lisa is Communications Officer at Leeds Trinity University (but also a real person in her own right.)