New name plan for Leeds Metropolitan University
It helped Dame Kelly Holmes to two Olympic golds and counts Rugby Union boss Ian McGeechan as a former student.
And then there's the close association with the world's leading Rugby League club and Super League title holders Leeds Rhinos.
Now, Leeds Metropolitan University is set to crank up its association with top class sports by changing its name.
Bosses at the institution, which has about 30,000 students, have announced a consultation process that would consign the name Leeds Met to history.
Instead, three alternatives have been proposed: Carnegie University, Carnegie University Leeds and Leeds Carnegie University.
Chair of governors Ninian Watt said: "The governors have been considering whether 'Metropolitan' fully reflected our distinctive vision and character, our heritage and aspirations as we strive to become a world-class regional university.
"We were impressed with the spirit of the discussions in the recent consultation among staff and students, showing widespread enthusiasm for the university and a majority favouring the incorporation of Carnegie in our title."
Leeds's original Carnegie College of Physical Training was set up in Headingley in 1933 with funding from the philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, who was widely regarded as the world's second richest man, behind only John Rockefeller.
After merging with the city's teacher training college, the Carnegie centre became part of Leeds Polytechnic in 1976, which in turn became Leeds Met in 1992.
In recent years, the university has established a formidable network of 22 partner colleges as part of its "regional university network" that today boasts more than 300,000 students.
It has also forged close links with Yorkshire Cricket Club and the professional rugby sides in Leeds.
Leeds Met also sponsors a variety of sporting competitions, including Rugby League's main knockout cup competition, the Carnegie Challenge Cup.
Earlier this year, the university was chosen to host the UK Centre for Coaching Excellence, a Government-sponsored project central to preparations for the London 2012 Olympics.
Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2008
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