Introducing the School of Computer Science, the new name for Computing at Leeds
The University of Leeds’ School of Computing has announced a significant change in its identity, rebranding itself as the School of Computer Science.
This decision, spearheaded by Head of School Professor Gordon Love, reflects the evolving nature of the subject and the role of computers in modern academia, and is a forward-looking move to position the School’s contributions to its rapidly advancing field.
Professor Love explained the rationale behind the change, saying: “Few subjects change as swiftly as Computing, and this update to our name reflects changes in the way computers, computing, and computation are approached in a modern university.
“Our former name of Computing reflects a time when the use of computers was a specialised activity that took place in its own School, whereas nowadays computing is at the heart of what many of us do right across the University.
“Computing and Computer Science at Leeds has a long heritage, and we will continue to engage in the full range of theoretical and practical computer science.”
The School originated as a department within Mathematics and is a pioneer in its field. In 1957, the University of Leeds became one of the UK’s first academic institutions to acquire a computer, marking a pivotal moment for university science and engineering, and this milestone laid the foundation for academic computer science at Leeds.
Our School of Computing can be traced back to 1957, when Leeds was one of the very first universities to acquire a computer.
Over the decades, the School of Computing became independent and expanded its focus to lead the way in cutting-edge areas like data science, robotics, cybersecurity, and AI. It enjoys a global reputation for excellence in teaching and research, attracting more than 1,500 students from 55 countries.
Professor Love added: “Computer Science more accurately reflects our discipline today and emphasises that we study the core and principles of computers and computation. I like to draw an analogy: the English language is something we all use, whereas linguistics is a specialised academic activity dealing with the foundations of the subject.”
