Bolton seeks Greater Manchester name to ‘level the playing field’

A University of Bolton proposal to change its name to the University of Greater Manchester has been put out for consultation by the Office for Students (OfS).

The institution wishes to drop the name of the town from its title to reflect its growing presence across the region, but it has faced accusations that it is disregarding its heritage.

Views are being sought by the English regulator on the new name, with stakeholders being asked whether they see the change as having the potential to be “confusing or misleading”.

It is not yet known whether institutions with a similar name to the one proposed, including the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, will oppose the change because neither has commented publicly. Both institutions were contacted by Times Higher Education for comment.

Bolton’s pro vice-chancellor for academic strategy, Greg Walker, said the university had “expanded and changed beyond all recognition in the last 20 years”, growing out from its campuses in Bolton to now have a presence in Trafford, central Manchester and Wigan, with future plans to move into Bury as well.

The university also has “several thousand students now studying beyond our campuses with partners in the UK and overseas”, Dr Walker was quoted as saying in the consultation documents.

He said the “student voice” had been a key driver of the proposal, with the past three students’ union presidents “demanding a university title that is instantly recognisable across the world and has the standing and credibility in the employment market which matches the current profile of the university”.

“The current and misleading provincial university name holds back determined efforts by the institution to enhance graduate employment,” Dr Walker added.

“The university board seek a title that is unique, distinctive and appropriate for competing on a level playing field.”

The university has been based in Bolton since 1824, when it was founded as the Bolton Mechanics Institute. It has undergone several name changes in its 200-year history, before being granted university status in 2005.

When plans for the name change were first announced in September last year, councillors told the local newspaper, The Bolton News, that they felt people in the town would be disappointed by the proposal and hoped the institution would think again.

But George Holmes, the vice-chancellor, has said the proposed new title “would benefit the town significantly” and further the economic development of the region.

The move comes after the University of Central Lancashire (Uclan) also lodged plans to change its name to the University of Lancashire, prompting objections from its near-neighbour, Lancaster University, which said it would be “very confusing” for students.

Solent University has recently applied to change its name to back Southampton Solent University, and last year Wrexham Glyndwr University dropped the Glyndwr from its title to become known as Wrexham University, or Prifysgol Wrecsam in Welsh.

The OfS consultation on Bolton’s proposals runs until 2 May, after which the regulator will decide whether to approve or reject the change.

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com