Prime Ministers Gordon Brown in 2018 and Sir John Major in 2022.
=== University of Huddersfield (since 1992) ===
The Polytechnic became the University of Huddersfield in 1992.
Professor Ken Durrands was Vice-Chancellor at the time the institution achieved university status. He was later credited with having "transformed" it into "a thriving university". However, in 1994 he was forced to leave his post before the end of his contract, following a row over the removal of independently-elected representatives from the university's governing body.
Sir William Taylor served as Vice-Chancellor for a year during 1994 and 1995. He had previously been the Vice-Chancellor of Hull University. He only intended to remain at Huddersfield for 12 months, on an interim basis.
The next Vice-Chancellor was John Tarrant, appointed in October 1995. He served in the role until 2006, and was later Secretary General of the Association of Commonwealth Universities until his retirement in 2010.
The present Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bob Cryan, himself from the Deighton area of Huddersfield, took over the job in January 2007. At the time, he was the youngest Vice-Chancellor in the UK. His strategy for the university during this time has been to lead an "inspiring, innovative University of international renown". An engineer by background, Professor Cryan became the President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in 2023.
In May 2007, the university welcomed Queen Elizabeth for a visit to the campus, during which she unveiled the foundation stone for the new Creative Arts Building. The following year, the building was officially opened by the Duke of Kent. The university is closely associated with annual events, including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and Huddersfield Literature Festival, both of which are partly hosted at university venues.
In 2013, the University of Huddersfield was named University of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards. Accepting the award, Professor Cryan said: "It is a tribute to all …
