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 Huxley University

Although Huxley – in the North of England – has hosted a post-secondary educational establishment since the turn of the 20th Century, it wasn't until 1992 that the [then] Polytechnic was awarded University status. In this period Huxley – it was awarded city status in 1992 – has reinvented itself as a centre for service (particularly in digital industries) rather than the shipbuilding and mining industries for which it famous in previous generations. There are four other universities within a 30-mile radius of Huxley, though the two other 'new' ones are considered serious competitors as the other two are 'traditional' – appealing to a completely different market. Huxley is the smallest of the three 'new' establishments. Student numbers for the current academic year are:

 Full-time Home and Overseas Undergraduate; 7713

 Home and Overseas Postgraduate; 2632

 Postgraduate Research; 281

 Part-time Home Undergraduate; 7515

Like many UK universities, prior to the COVID pandemic overseas students represented important income to Huxley, with those from China and SE Asia representing the greatest percentage of these. However, the pandemic has reduced the number of these students significantly. The impact of Brexit has also reduced the number of EU students by around 80%. To recoup some of those number, the university has extended its recruitment into a much wider geographic profile, mainly Africa. A new School of Medicine has brought an influx of students which has gone some way to making up for lost income from COVID and Brexit issues.

Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Quincy Adams Wagstaff, is keen to position the university very much as a civic entity – something that is reflected in Huxley being one of the UK's leading universities for widening participation, particularly in its own region.

Like other UK universities, Huxley's marketing department is involved mainly in the recruitment of students – both UK and overseas. Most operational marketing activities are conducted in-house, though some specialised areas (eg PR and advertising) are out-sourced. Digital - like Huxley's competitors - has an extensive role in the university's marketing efforts and is handled in-house. Any marketing strategy (eg branding) is a function of the University's senior management team.