Review of the Year: Royal Agricultural College

Almost 170 years after it was founded, the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester changed its name to the Royal Agricultural University to reflect its newly granted university status.

Widely welcomed by college authorities, former students had nonetheless expressed alarm at the name change. An online petition, which gained more than 1,000 signatures, had been pushing for the institution to be known as the Royal Agricultural College University instead.

Principal Chris Gaskell said the new title would enable the university to emphasise the strength of its reputation, history and expertise on a national and international platform. “We will enhance our position as a world-class higher education institution.”

The university has more than 1,150 students, from more than 40 countries, studying its 30 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. Prof Gaskell added: “University status best describes what the institution does and aspires to do.”

For more on this topic

RAC gets university status and name change