Celebrating 75 years of Keele University

Keele University is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024, with a series of exciting activities and events planned to mark this milestone.

Founded 75 years ago, Keele was the first new university of the 20th Century and was created to meet the demands of a new kind of society, economy and world.

Keele was born from a pioneering vision, one of a different kind of university. Established in 1949 by Lord Lindsay – the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University – in a country still recovering from the Second World War, the University’s founding aim was to produce graduates who not only had the technical and specialist knowledge to move society forward, but who understood the social and political landscape that drove this need.

Fast-forward 75 years and this original ethos remains at the core of the University’s mission, with over 12,500 current students and a global network of over 100,000 alumni in 120 countries who are creating positive impact across the world in a range of diverse careers.

Keele’s campus has grown and changed much over the last 75 years, but they continue to transform lives through the power of education and research – and their commitment to the local area is as strong as ever. They’re proud of their sector-leading work in sustainability, partnerships with the NHS, and ground-breaking research.

Professor Trevor McMillan OBE, Vice-Chancellor of Keele University, said: “It is a privilege, but also quite humbling, to be celebrating our 75th anniversary in 2024. So many students, staff and partners have been part of our remarkable journey and contributed to making Keele the fantastic place it is today, and it’s important to remember them at this milestone.

“We’re extremely proud of how much Keele has achieved in the space of 75 years, and how our education and research continues to transform lives across the globe. The University has grown considerably and looks very different now to when it opened in 1949, but our core values and mission remain the same. We’re as committed as we’ve ever been to supporting our local communities, and playing our part in driving innovation, growth and opportunities across the region.”