University Academy 92

University Academy 92 (UA92)
Established 2017
Principal Professor Craig Gaskell
Location Greater Manchester, UK
Campus Urban
Website www.ua92.ac.uk

University Academy 92 (UA92) is a higher education institution / university in Greater Manchester. It will be located in Stretford in Trafford, England.

History

UA92 was announced in September 2017 and plans to offer “broader courses than traditional degrees, designed to enhance life skills as well as employability”.[1][2][3] The university would work in partnership with Lancaster University[4] and Trafford Council[5] and will have a start-up budget of £15 million.

The name comes from the Manchester United football players who won the 1992 FA Cup, including Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt. The players wanted to open a university which would attract students who "otherwise might not go on to higher education".[1] The approval by the Department of Education to allow UA92 the use of 'University Academy 92' was questioned with critics claiming the decision to approve the use of the name makes it 'too easy' for new providers to use ‘university’ in a new institution's name.[6]

UA92 will also partner with Microsoft[7], Trafford College[8], KPMG[9] and Lancashire Cricket Club.[10]

In July 2018 it was revealed that UA92 had filed a lawsuit against Brendan Flood, who founded the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB). The lawsuit claimed trademark infringement after Flood incorporated a series of companies and trademarks using the name UA92 soon after the announcement of University Academy 92, and sought at injunction to stop Flood using the name.[11]

Proposed campus

The plans were approved by Trafford Council in a vote in January 2018. The main campus will be located on Talbot Road and the university will eventually cater for up to 6,500 students.[12]

Local opinion on the project was divided as it reached the planning application stage.[13][14]

In June 2018 plans were submitted for building work at the former Kellogg’s building next to Old Trafford Cricket Ground, which would see the building refurbished and modernised ahead of the new university’s opening in September 2019. Initially UA92 will take up space in the building on a phased basis taking part of the basement, and the ground and first floors, totalling circa 50,000 sq ft. There is also an option for the university to take the upper two floors, again totalling around 50,000 sq ft, in subsequent academic years.[15]

Alongside this there are plans to buy a vacant office block on Chester Road and redevelop it into student accommodation for UA92[16] and development plans have been submitted for Warwick House office as an office-to-student accommodation project, and will be developed under the newly-established UA92 Student Living brand.[17]

Degree programmes

UA92 is promoting seven undergraduate degrees for September 2019 entry - Accounting and Finance, Business Studies, Journalism, Media and Communications, Physical Education, Psychology and Sports Science.[18] Students will apply via UCAS.

Staff

Professor Craig Gaskell was appointed as Principal and CEO of UA92, and will commence his post in September 2018.[19]

References

  1. 1 2 Cooper, Imogen (20 September 2017). "Manchester United's 'class of 92' unveil plans to open university" – via www.theguardian.com.
  2. ↑ Britton, Paul (12 February 2017). "Fancy a degree from the Gary Neville University?". Manchester Evening News.
  3. ↑ "Gary Neville joins with Lancaster to create University '92". Times Higher Education. 20 September 2017.
  4. ↑ "New education project launched in Manchester". Lancaster University. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  5. ↑ "Game-changing education project launched". Trafford Council. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  6. ↑ Morgan, John (23 September 2017). "DfE allowed 'university academy' name for Class of '92 venture". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "Former Manchester United footballers launch pioneering university". Microsoft. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  8. ↑ "Trafford College partners with new 'University Academy 92'". Trafford College. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  9. ↑ Hodgson, Neil (20 July 2018). "KPMG and UA92 join forces to help tackle social mobility in Higher Education". The Business Desk. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "Gary Neville's UA92 partners with Lancashire Cricket Club as higher education partner". Manchester Evening News. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  11. ↑ Kelly, Liam (29 July 2018). "Class of '92, including Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, cry foul". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  12. ↑ "Ex-Manchester United players' university plans approved". BBC News. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  13. ↑ Williams, Jennifer (20 February 2018). "Campaign against Gary Neville and the Class of 92's plans for sports university on green belt land". The Mirror. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  14. ↑ Gilmour, James (16 February 2018). "Lancaster's UA92 project granted permission to continue after rocky start". SCAN. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  15. ↑ Schouten, Charlie (11 June 2018). "UA92 aims for 2019 opening as plans go in for Kellogg's building". Place Northwest. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  16. ↑ "Student accommodation to kickstart UA92 plans". Place Northwest. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  17. ↑ "UA92 continues at pace as Kellogg's building set for approval". Place Northwest. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  18. ↑ "Undergraduate Courses". University Academy 92. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  19. ↑ Ribbeck, Michael (8 June 2018). "Class of 92 university announces first principal". The Business Desk. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
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