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University Academy 92

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University Academy 92 (UA92)
University Academy 92 (UA92) campus, Manchester, UK.
TypeHigher Education Institution
Established2017
Officer in charge
Sara Prowse (CEO)
Students800
Undergraduates400
Location
Old Trafford, Greater Manchester
,
England
CampusUrban, 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2)
Colours     
Red, black, white
Websitewww.ua92.ac.uk

University Academy 92 (UA92) is a higher education institution in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England.

History

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UA92 was announced in September 2017 and offers “broader courses than traditional degrees, designed to enhance life skills as well as employability”.[1][2][3] Degrees have a focus on personal and character development, and the skills needed for the workplace.

UA92 was co-founded by Lancaster University and members of the Class of '92, the Manchester United football players who won the 1992 FA Youth Cup, including Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt. Following their successful careers after football, the players wanted to open a university which would attract students who "otherwise might not go on to higher education".[1]

UA92 has been described by The Times as “a venture setting out to help disadvantaged young people in Manchester get a better education, with a new university that explicitly draws on the strategies and mindset of elite sport".[4]

It opened in September 2019 in Old Trafford, Manchester.[5]

UA92 works in partnership with industry to develop a curriculum inspired by business needs. Current partners include Microsoft,[6] Trafford College,[7] KPMG,[8] Manchester United[9] and Lancashire County Cricket Club.[10]

In January 2021, UA92 was accepted into the Office for Students register of higher education institutions following an inspection by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).[11]

In December 2021, it was awarded £2m funding by the Office for Students to develop a new digital academy on campus.[12] UA92 said “the new academy will increase UA92’s student capacity for digital students almost tenfold – from 65 to 634”.[12]

Initiatives

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In 2021, UA92 launched its 'Make It For Real' campaign to support disadvantaged students.[13] Students eligible for the grant will each receive a Microsoft Surface Pro laptop and unlimited TalkTalk data for three years, Co-op lunch vouchers (five days a week, 52 weeks of the year for the length of their course), £150 Dunelm home vouchers and free travel to get to UA92.[14] To qualify for the package, students needed to currently be in receipt of free school meals in their last year at school or college.[14]

The campaign was inspired by fellow Manchester United player Marcus Rashford’s campaign for free school lunches in primary schools across the UK.[13]

In November 2021, Wes Streeting MP, the Shadow Child Poverty Secretary, visited the campus to discuss the initiative and best practice in levelling up across education. He said the package, worth £5,000, was “a shining example of positive action to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education”.[14]

Disputes

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In August 2017, 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.[15]

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.[16]

The campus

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Although local opinion on the project was divided as it reached the planning application stage,[17][18] plans for the development of UA92 were approved by Trafford Council in a vote in January 2018. In August 2018 the campus plans were approved by Trafford Council.[19] Work commenced in October 2018 on converting the former Kellogg's building into UA92's campus.[20]

The main campus totals 100,000 sq ft.[21] UA92 took up space in the building on a phased basis initially occupying 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.[22]

The campus was officially launched on 20 September 2019 on Brian Statham Way, Old Trafford, Manchester and the first hundred students started in October 2019.[23][24] It will eventually cater for up to 6,500 students.[25]

Gary Neville described the project as 'potentially the biggest thing we've ever done'.[5]

Academic profile

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Degree programmes

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UA92 launched on 20 September 2019[23][24] with six undergraduate degrees for September 2019 entry - accounting and finance, business studies, journalism, media and communications, physical education and sports science.[26] Further courses launched in 2020, including Computer Science and Sports Management, with a further four courses launching in September 2022: Event Management, Sports Coaching, Sports Event Management, and Sports Media and Communications. Students apply via UCAS. Certificates in Higher Education (CertHE) are also offered.

The qualifications are built around four main specialist subject areas – business, media, sport and digital.[4]

The curriculum – delivered in fixed morning or afternoon slots for the duration of an individual's degree – is designed to allow students from a range of educational and socio-economic backgrounds to access high quality, higher education.[5]

UA92 works in partnership with over 30 industry partners to develop a curriculum influenced by business needs. Current partners include Microsoft,[6] Trafford College,[7] KPMG,[8] TalkTalk,[14] Manchester United[9] and Lancashire Cricket Club.[10]

Academic model

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UA92's academic model[27] takes place over a full academic year, worth 120 credits. Each degree is broken into modules, taught in six-week blocks, and students can join at six points in the year, rather than having to begin in September.[4]

Assessments are contained within each block, there are no traditional end-of-year examinations.

The academic year concludes in April, enabling students to pursue paid work/placements during summer.

Personal Character Development

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Personal Character Development[28] is a specialised programme of learning focusing on the personal skills and attributes required for life and the workplace, developing cognitive, emotional and social intelligence, an understanding of physical and mental well-being, and preparedness for employment.

Themes include: resilience, professionalism, leadership, health and well-being, team-working, financial and digital literacy, problem solving, career preparedness, reflective practice and communication skills.

This will be underpinned by support from a personal development coach, throughout study.

Staff

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Sara Prowse was appointed CEO of UA92 in 2021[29] following a 30-year career leading and building well-known names such as Hotter Shoes, Lands End and ISME at Shop Direct, which is now known as The Very Group.[4]

Professor Gary Pritchard was appointed Chief Academic Officer in January 2022

References

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  1. ^ a b Cooper, Imogen (20 September 2017). "Manchester United's 'class of 92' unveil plans to open university". Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2017 – via www.theguardian.com.
  2. ^ Britton, Paul (12 February 2017). "Fancy a degree from the Gary Neville University?". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Gary Neville joins with Lancaster to create University '92". Times Higher Education. 20 September 2017. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d Sylvester, Rachel. "Why footballer Gary Neville set up a university, UA92". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Media, Insider. "UA92 campus officially launches". Insider Media Ltd. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Former Manchester United footballers launch pioneering university". Microsoft. 5 October 2017. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Trafford College partners with new 'University Academy 92'". Trafford College. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  8. ^ a b Hodgson, Neil (20 July 2018). "KPMG and UA92 join forces to help tackle social mobility in Higher Education". The Business Desk. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  9. ^ a b Robinson, Jon (25 January 2022). "Manchester United and UA92 team up to boost job opportunities". Business Live. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Gary Neville's UA92 partners with Lancashire Cricket Club as higher education partner". Manchester Evening News. 10 May 2018. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  11. ^ Dunnett, Harry (21 January 2021). "Gary Neville's University Academy 92 given a "high confidence" approval by inspectors". Salford Now. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  12. ^ a b Robinson, Jon (18 January 2022). "UA92 secures £2m boost for new digital learning academy". Business Live. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  13. ^ a b Richardson, Alice (22 September 2021). "Gary Neville's university is giving free lunches to underprivileged students". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d "Wes Streeting MP praises UA92 initiative that tackles educational disadvantage". FE News. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  15. ^ Morgan, John (23 September 2017). "DfE allowed 'university academy' name for Class of '92 venture". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  16. ^ Kelly, Liam (29 July 2018). "Class of '92, including Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, cry foul". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  17. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  18. ^ Gilmour, James (16 February 2018). "Lancaster's UA92 project granted permission to continue after rocky start". SCAN. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Ex-Man Utd stars' university campus plans approved". BBC News. 10 August 2018. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  20. ^ Schouten, Charlie (22 October 2018). "Work starts on UA92 campus". Place Northwest. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Place North West | UA92 aims for 2019 opening as plans go in for Kellogg's building". Place North West. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  22. ^ Schouten, Charlie (11 June 2018). "UA92 aims for 2019 opening as plans go in for Kellogg's building". Place Northwest. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  23. ^ a b "UA92 campus officially launches". Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  24. ^ a b "University Academy 92 welcomes its first students". Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  25. ^ "Ex-Manchester United players' university plans approved". BBC News. 30 January 2018. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  26. ^ "Undergraduate Courses". University Academy 92. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  27. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
  28. ^ "Personal Character Development". Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  29. ^ "UA92 Announce The Appointment Of A New CEO". UA92. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
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