UCO celebrates a ‘fantastic’ decade

Photo: Darren Robinson

UCO’s graduation day parade in Rock Street.

ITS mission was to boldly bring higher education to a new Odham generation.

So it was appropriate that University Campus Oldham was officially opened in May 2005 by Sir Patrick Stewart, the Hollywood actor most famous for his role as Captain Jean Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation”.

The building was part of a £15 million initiative by Huddersfield University - of which Sir Patrick was Chancellor - to encourage people who hadn’t traditionally gone into higher education to do so.

UCO also aimed to help transform the town culturally and economically — making higher education something more people could aspire to, and producing graduates with the skills needed for a modern economy.

UCO held its first graduation in 2006 and an annual degree procession through the town was introduced in 2010 to boost the profile of higher education. The colourful event has involved countless students with inspiring stories, as well as high-profile Oldhamers who have received honorary awards such as actresses Sarah Lancashire and Shobna Gulati, and artist Brian Clarke.

Science fiction met science fact when Oldham’s celebrity physicist Brian Cox received his honorary degree from Sir Patrick in 2012. Last year council leader Jim McMahon and entrepreneur David Bellis MBE were similarly honoured.

After receiving his honorary fellowship, Councillor McMahon said: “I have never been to university so it means a lot. It is quite an honour and it is fairly overwhelming for me and my family.”

Sir Patrick also opened a new £5.5 million building at UCO’s Cromwell Street campus in 2008.

But it hasn’t all run smoothly: Oldham College saved the institution from closure in 2012, taking it over from Huddersfield University following Government funding cuts.

UCO now has around 500 students. Its number of graduates should reach 2,000 this year.

Debbie Bridge, who has been its head since the beginning, said: “It’s been a fantastic 10 years — but also a rollercoaster.”

She believes UCO benefits not only graduates but their families and the town too.: “It has always been about raising aspirations. People have been able to see that they can access university-level qualifications locally. Today you can walk into many organisations and there are graduates from UCO.”