Celebrating 200 years of technical education in Huddersfield in 2025

Celebrations are under way to mark 200 years of technical and professional education in Huddersfield with a series of events and activities throughout 2025.

The anniversary marks the establishment of Huddersfield’s Scientific and Mechanic Institute in 1825, which was set up to bring the “acquisition of useful knowledge” within the reach of all, particularly the trading and working classes.

The University of Huddersfield and Kirklees College, along with other partners including Kirklees Council and Huddersfield Local History Society, are organising a range of events and activities to celebrate the learning environment across Huddersfield and the wider Kirklees district.

The institute itself hosted public lectures and evening classes for adults and helped lay the groundwork for the establishment of other adult education opportunities in the town including the Young Men’s Mental Improvement Society in 1841, from which both the University and College can directly trace their history.

The University began the year-long celebrations with its first event on 28 January - a public lecture in collaboration with Holocaust Memorial Day. Professor Caroline Sturdy Colls spoke about how the Holocaust continues to be remembered and investigated by the University’s Centre of Archaeology. Digging for the truth – How archaeology can help communities face the past, is part of the University’s Research in Conversation series of lectures held on campus.

The College has invited its students and staff to contribute short fiction, poetry or memoirs, as well as black and white artwork or photography to an anthology. The deadline for submissions ended earlier in January and successful entrants will be notified shortly, with the anthology expected to be published later this year.

It is also producing a bespoke book documenting the college’s roots and history in Huddersfield, Batley and Dewsbury. Throughout 2025, the College will also be hosting a number of outreach events with local schools to promote the anniversary.

In November, Huddersfield Local History Society is to devote the whole of its annual History Day to talks on the theme of Self-Help and Adult Education in Victorian Huddersfield.

Find out more about the 200-year anniversary here

The University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Thornton commented: “The year 1825 is a key milestone in the history of Huddersfield and the opportunities for education in the town. We are pleased to be marking 200 years of technical and professional education in Huddersfield throughout 2025 and encourage students, staff, alumni and the wider public to get involved.”

The College’s Principal Palvinder Singh commented: “We are delighted to be celebrating our 200 Year anniversary, a chance to shine a light on the power of vocational and technical education to change lives. We look forward to working with the University and other local partners on events throughout the year.”

Leader of Kirklees Council, Cllr Carole Pattison, commented: “The Council is delighted to celebrate this historic milestone with Kirklees College and the University of Huddersfield. Many thousands of people in our area and beyond have transformed their lives for the better by gaining skills and education. We have a proud history of adult education in Kirklees but I’m hugely optimistic for the future too. Both the University and College continue to go from strength to strength and they will continue to play a big part in our community for generations to come.”