HRH The Duke of York becomes Patron of the University of Huddersfield
University of Huddersfield receives royal patronage
HIS Royal Highness The Duke of York, KG, has agreed to become Patron of the University of Huddersfield. The University and His Royal Highness share a commitment to boost the UK economy via entrepreneurship and enterprise.
The Duke of York has been a regular visitor to the University and in May 2013 he was on campus to officially open its new £12 million 3M Buckley Innovation Centre and to bestow the first Duke of York Young Entrepreneur Awards.
He has lent his support to a wide range of initiatives designed to encourage entrepreneurially-focussed education, which is a key specialisation at the University of Huddersfield – named Entrepreneurial University of the Year by the influential Times Higher Education magazine, and the winner of two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise this year.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, Professor Bob Cryan, is delighted that the Duke accepted an invitation to become a Patron.
“We share the same ambition to develop, support and encourage creativity and innovation,” said Professor Cryan. Earlier this year Professor Cryan attended a function at Buckingham Palace, hosted by The Duke of York, to launch the Student Ambassador Programme for the Government’s Start-Up Loans scheme.
“His Royal Highness’s commitment to the agenda of developing an entrepreneurial spirit among young people is widely recognised and admired,” said Professor Cryan. “Now that The Duke of York has become a Patron of the University of Huddersfield, this will enable us to develop new joint projects designed to encourage enterprise and economic regeneration.”
The Duke of York’s activities in the field include The Enterprise Education Trust, of which he is Patron. He has the same role with The Peter Jones Foundation, which runs a series of enterprise academies.