SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has praised Wrexham University for reaching a major research milestone.
Mr Rowlands, who constantly praises the achievements of Wrexham University, was commenting after it was announced that they have been awarded Research Degree Awarding Powers, RDAP, which allows them to grant their own doctoral degrees for the first time since gaining university status in 2008.
He said: “I am absolutely delighted to see more success for this extremely popular and award winning university which continues to go from strength to strength.
“Earlier this year it was named best university in Wales for its lecturers and teaching, the student support it provides as well as for career prospects at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards, WUSCAs and it is great to see that recognition keeps on coming.
“Every time I visit there and meet up with Vice-Chancellor, Joe Yates, I am always impressed with their future plans for development and congratulations must go to everyone at the university for all their hard work and for continuing to put the place firmly on the higher education map.”
The awarding of RDAP reinforces the University’s vision for delivering impactful, applied research that benefits communities and industry partners both regionally and globally.
Speaking about this recognition and what it means for the University, Professor Joe Yates, Vice-Chancellor, said: “Being granted Research Degree Awarding Powers marks a major milestone in the University’s evolution – and our ambition of being a world-leading, modern civic university that delivers skills and impactful research which will drive economic growth and innovation for the wellbeing of current and future generations.”
Professor Richard Day, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research at Wrexham University, added: “This is an incredibly proud moment for our university and research community.
“It affirms that our processes for supervising and examining doctoral research meets the highest standards, as well as empowering us to design doctoral programmes that align with our strategic priorities and the needs of society.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank colleagues at the University of Chester for their fantastic support over the past decade, through providing research degree accreditation for our students, while we have been working towards gaining our own Research Degree Awarding Powers.”
Wrexham County Borough Council Leader, Cllr. Mark Pritchard said “This is fantastic news for Wrexham University, and I would like to offer my congratulations on this especially important milestone.
“This achievement really highlights the university’s role in supporting skills, innovation, and opportunities for our growing city.”
Wrexham University’s first cohort of research students to receive degrees awarded under its own powers will start in 2026, symbolising a new era in the institution’s academic independence and contribution to the UK’s knowledge economy.
