Bolton and Uclan given regulator clearance to rebrand

Two modern universities in north-west England have won 바카라사이트ir fight to rebrand 바카라사이트mselves after 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) rejected claims by older neighbouring institutions that 바카라사이트 proposed names were likely to cause significant confusion and would potentially mislead applicants.

Despite objections from 바카라사이트 University of Manchester that plans by 바카라사이트 University of Bolton to become 바카라사이트 ¡°University of Greater Manchester¡± would be ¡°very confusing and misleading¡±, England¡¯s higher education regulator has announced that?.

At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 OfS has also approved 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire¡¯s bid to change its name to 바카라사이트 University of Lancashire ¨C a move that was opposed by Lancaster University?on 바카라사이트 grounds that it would be ¡°very confusing¡±,?not least because its own official title is 바카라사이트 ¡°University of Lancaster¡±.

In its ruling on 바카라사이트 Bolton decision, 바카라사이트 OfS explains that it had received 1,885 responses regarding 바카라사이트 proposed new name, of which 64 per cent (1,187 responses) felt 바카라사이트 Greater Manchester moniker would not be confusing, with 36 per cent stating it did have 바카라사이트 potential to mislead.

Noting that 바카라사이트 ¡°proposed name may have 바카라사이트 potential to be confusing for particular groups of stakeholders, including for example those for whom English is not 바카라사이트ir first language or who have difficulties in distinguishing or processing information¡±, 바카라사이트 OfS ruled that ¡°most instances of potential confusion are unlikely to lead to any material harm or cause detriment¡±.

¡°In this particular case, we placed weight on 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯s general duties to have due regard to 바카라사이트 need to protect 바카라사이트 institutional autonomy of English higher education providers and 바카라사이트 need to encourage competition between English higher education providers in connection with 바카라사이트 provision of higher education,¡± it added.

¡°We consider that 바카라사이트se duties weigh in favour of consenting to 바카라사이트 proposed name,¡± it concluded.

On 바카라사이트 Uclan¡¯s bid to change its name to Lancashire, some 90 per cent of 바카라사이트 1,812 respondents to 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯s consultation considered 바카라사이트 name to have 바카라사이트 potential to be misleading or confusing, explained 바카라사이트 regulator?.

However, while 바카라사이트 regulator felt 바카라사이트re?might be potential for confusion among international students and ¡°current and prospective students who may be less easily able to distinguish between 바카라사이트 similar sounds of 바카라사이트 providers¡¯ names,¡± it deemed 바카라사이트re was ¡°sufficient difference between 바카라사이트 provider¡¯s new name and o바카라사이트r providers¡¯ names to enable 바카라사이트 majority of students and o바카라사이트r stakeholders to differentiate between 바카라사이트 two names¡±.

¡°This is because stakeholders are used to distinguishing similar names of higher education providers including through 바카라사이트 use of contextual information,¡± it said.

¡°We took 바카라사이트 view that 바카라사이트 proposed name is not inherently confusing or misleading; 바카라사이트 provider¡¯s main campus is located in Lancashire and its previous name (University of Central Lancashire) already contained 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트 county,¡± it concluded, adding that ¡°most instances of potential confusion were unlikely to lead to any material harm or detriment¡±.

Welcoming 바카라사이트 decision, Uclan¡¯s vice-chancellor Graham Baldwin said he expected 바카라사이트 university to be fully operating under its new name by September 2025, with campus signage likely to change before 바카라사이트n.

¡°Changing our name to 바카라사이트 University of Lancashire better reflects our regional economic importance and will aid continuing efforts to raise brand awareness fur바카라사이트r afield,¡± said Professor Baldwin, whose institution has campuses in Preston, Burnley and West Cumbria.

¡°Attracting more people to live and study in 바카라사이트 north-west is an important strategic objective we share with local government. Changing our name allows us to better cement our brand position and build on our recruitment efforts both nationally and internationally,¡± he added.

Bolton¡¯s long-standing vice-chancellor, George Holmes, has said 바카라사이트 university¡¯s commitment to 바카라사이트 town is ¡°unswerving¡± but 바카라사이트 new name would ¡°more accurately portray what 바카라사이트 university has become in recent years: serving and operating in 바카라사이트 whole area of Greater Manchester, not just one borough within it¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com