Pictured from the left: University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Linton; Chief Executive and Principal at Loughborough College, Jo Maher; University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Jennings; and Chair of the College Governors, Stuart Lindeman.

Thriving partnership between University and College formally recognised

The shared goals of the University and College to help lead, support and shape the educational and skills ecosystem within Loughborough and the wider region have been formally recognised.

At a celebratory event today (5 April) leaders from the two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), further cementing the successful partnership between the University and College. 

The signing underlines a collective ambition for Loughborough to be a national exemplar of what can be achieved when higher and further education institutions work closely together. 

In recent years the University and College have collaborated on a number of new initiatives, these include the creation of an East Midlands Institute of Technology, community engagement through the Careers and Enterprise Hub, and the broadening of a partnership around sport through the NFL Academy. 

Historically, the University has also validated the College’s undergraduate sports science programmes, and will now do the same for its engineering courses. 

Speaking about the MOU, the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Jennings said: “For many years our two organisations have worked together to provide a unique educational ecosystem for the local area and beyond. 

“We want this partnership to continue to grow and develop. The signing of this MOU underlines our joint commitment to creating an education provision that delivers exceptional outcomes to local communities, helping to build a culture of aspiration and success for young people across the region.” 

Jo Maher, Chief Executive and Principal at Loughborough College, added: “We are so proud to be in partnership with Loughborough University. After years of hard work and innovation, our shared history demonstrates what we achieve when we collaborate for the communities we serve. To formalise this relationship through a clear, coherent, and place-based approach we can create positive outcomes for our students, stakeholders, and the region.”

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: PR 23/53

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2023 QS World University Rankings – the seventh year running – and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.

Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2023, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2023 and 11th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

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