External System - renaming
New name for the External System programmes from 1 August 2010
Following extensive consultation and debate, we adopted a new name to describe our programmes. The University of London International Programmes responded to feedback that told us we needed a clear, simple and inclusive name that describes what we offer our 50,000 students in 190 countries.
Our programmes are developed through a unique collaboration between the Colleges of the University and the University of London International Academy (our new name for the central academic body of the University).
All of us at the University of London are very proud of what the External System stood for and achieved, but we knew the name had become dated for our student body, now over 50,000 worldwide. That's why we changed.
All our materials will carry the name University of London International Programmes. The name University of London International Academy, the central academic body that collaborates with the Colleges of the University to offer these programmes, will mainly be used internally.
This remarkable collaboration works because the Colleges of the University contribute deep subject matter expertise and therefore lead on curriculum, assessment and the development of learning resources as well as in certain cases playing significant roles in supporting independent teaching institutions and promoting the programmes. The University of London International Academy leads on managing the student life-cycle and with quality matters, for which it is responsible to the Collegiate Council and the Board of Trustees. Our new names help us to explain this more clearly.
We continue to have exactly the same commitment to offering worldwide access to the opportunity of a life-changing education of an international standard, as we have done since 1858.
To save costs and minimise waste, we're making a gradual change from our old name through our normal annual cycle of updating materials. So, you may still see both the old and new names around.