Editing Preston, Lancashire (section)

===Education and research===
The [[University of Central Lancashire]] ("UCLan ") has become a major employer and source of economic growth not just for Preston in recent years, but for Lancashire as a whole, providing direct and indirect benefits to the local economy through employment, housing and retail.

The Regeneris Report commissioned by the [[Lancashire County Council]] in 2013/14 found that UCLan:
* contributed over £200m to the North West economy
* was one of the largest employers in Preston and supported an estimated 4,300 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs in the North West through its core economic footprint and through the expenditure of students
* with 36,160 students was the largest university in Lancashire and the third-largest in the North West, with the 9th largest undergraduate population of all UK universities
* graduates add on average £24m to the North West economy per annum through increased skills and productivity<ref name=UCLanRegeneris>{{cite web| url=https://www.uclan.ac.uk/news/report_highlights_uclans_importance_to_regional_economy.php| publisher=University of Central Lancashire| title=Report Highlight's UCLan'S Importance To Regional Economy| access-date=10 February 2020| archive-date=9 January 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109144957/https://www.uclan.ac.uk/news| url-status=live}}</ref>

In terms of direct economic benefits, in 2013/14 UCLan:
* directly employed 3,290 staff 
* spent £15 million on suppliers based throughout Lancashire and the wider North West area
* had 18,390 full-time students residing in the North West who spent a total of £210m throughout the region, with £155m of that being spent in Lancashire.<ref name=UCLanRegeneris />

In 2015, UCLan announced its intention to create historic and transformational change at its Preston Campus through a £200 million development programme entitled '''Campus Masterplan 2020'''. UCLan's vision over the next five years is to create a unified, sustainable and welcoming campus which will enhance the experience for all those visiting the university.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://uclanmasterplan.co.uk/| publisher=University of Central Lancashire| title=Campus Masterplan 2020| access-date=10 February 2020| archive-date=9 January 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109144955/https://uclanmasterplan.co.uk/| url-status=live}}</ref> The long-term vision is to spark a major focus on regeneration and business investment in the university quarter, reinforce the university's ties to the local community and create wider benefits for Preston and beyond.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://uclanmasterplan.co.uk/our-vision/| publisher=University of Central Lancashire| title=Campus Masterplan 2020 – Our Vision| access-date=10 February 2020| archive-date=9 January 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109144955/https://uclanmasterplan.co.uk/our-vision/| url-status=live}}</ref>

September 2019 saw the opening of the £35 million Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC), a facility with integrated teaching and research space.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.uclan.ac.uk/about_us/| publisher=University of Central Lancashire| title=About Us| access-date=10 February 2020| archive-date=9 January 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109145014/https://www.uclan.ac.uk/about-us| url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:UCLan_Gateway_20200212.jpg|thumb|Construction of [[University of Central Lancashire|UCLan]]'s new student centre and public square]]
[[File:University Square Preston 20211113.jpg|thumb|The newly opened Student Centre and University Square]]

Also under development is the £57 million Student Centre and public square, which will provide a new campus reception building housing several student services, meeting rooms, office space, event venues and a rooftop garden. The new public square, provisionally known as ''Adelphi Square'', will span over 8,400 square metres<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.uclan.ac.uk/news/flagship-project.php| publisher=University of Central Lancashire| title=University's flagship project will complete in 2020| date=27 August 2019| access-date=12 February 2020| archive-date=9 January 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109145017/https://www.uclan.ac.uk/news| url-status=live}}</ref> and will be constructed in front of the new student centre and opposite the EIC, on empty land that was previously the site of the Fylde Building and public land bought by UCLan from the council. The project has seen the demolition of existing housing in St Peter's Square opposite the UCLan Library and St Peter's Arts Centre, and redevelopment of the A583 and other nearby public roadways, including the Adelphi roundabout, which will result in revised traffic flows. Construction commenced in the third quarter of 2019 and is expected to be completed in 2021.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://uclanmasterplan.co.uk/highways/| publisher=University of Central Lancashire| title=Campus Masterplan 2020 – Highways| access-date=10 February 2020| archive-date=9 January 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109145026/https://uclanmasterplan.co.uk/highways/| url-status=live}}</ref> On 30 July 2021 UCLan officially took ownership of the new Student Centre and University Square (which had provisionally been known as Adephi Square) when a ceremonial key was presented to the university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Baldwin, by the project's major contractor [[Bowmer + Kirkland]]. The building became operational in September 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uclan.ac.uk/news/uclan-takes-ownership-of-60-million-student-centre-and-university-square |title=UCLan takes ownership of £60 million Student Centre and University Square |publisher=University of Central Lancaster |date=30 July 2021 |access-date=15 November 2021}}</ref>

As UCLan increases in the global rankings,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.uclan.ac.uk/news/uclan-cwur-rankings-2017.php| publisher=University of Central Lancashire| title=UCLan Listed In Top 3.3% Of Universities Worldwide| access-date=10 February 2020| archive-date=9 January 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109144958/https://www.uclan.ac.uk/news| url-status=live}}</ref> it continues to attract more international students, researchers and Fellows, as well as partnerships with international learning institutions. It is anticipated that further economics benefits from increased foreign investment and business opportunities should entail.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.economist.com/international/2018/05/19/how-global-university-rankings-are-changing-higher-education| publisher=The Economist| title=How global university rankings are changing higher education| date=19 May 2019| access-date=10 February 2020| archive-date=9 January 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109144955/https://www.economist.com/international/2018/05/19/how-global-university-rankings-are-changing-higher-education| url-status=live}}</ref>