WAY back in 1947, what is now University College Worcester began life as an emergency training college for teachers.

Sixty-three years on, it's set to graduate as a fully-fledged university and expand into a higher education facility of the city can be proud.

New courses, a new campus and a new image are all on the cards if the Government agrees that UCW has met the criteria it has been set.

A delegation from St John's met with Lifelong Learning and Higher Education Minister Margaret Hodge, last month, to fight their cause. Now, their fingers are crossed in anticipation.

UCW's Principal, Professor David Green, is confident the lobbying and application will be successful, especially after a visit from Education Secretary Charles Clarke last week.

"They know Worcester's a place that needs a high-performing university," said Prof Green, who took the helm in December. "It's nice to have senior people in Government smile upon the project.

"If UCW doesn't successfully meet the criteria for university students, nobody will. The Government has a simple decision on its hands.

"Is it going to have any more universities in the country? As they've said, they want more universities and we meet the criteria."

There are three demands UCW needs to satisfy in order to put its case forward for a change in status.

n It needs degree-awarding powers - the Privy Council awarded these in 1997 and UCW is now empowered to award all undergraduate degree and teach postgraduate degrees.

n It has to be large enough, and the Government has stipulated that must be the equivalent of 4,000 full-time students. UCW has 4,400.

n It must also be diverse in the range of subjects it offers. The criteria states there must be at least 300 students studying in five different categories. UCW has 300 students in six different categories.

"This is pretty well the only opportunity in the country to create a new university in a region of the country in which there isn't one," said Prof Green, whose CV includes turning the business school at Leeds Metropolitan University into a success.

"It's the only university-level institution in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and will be the only university in the two counties.

"Worcester's a wonderful location for a university-to-be as it has everything going for it. We can make it a thriving and prosperous university city with lots of life and culture. This is much more exciting than being one of 42 universities in Greater London."

As well as offering courses in nursing and midwifery, teaching, sports and physical education, business, science, the arts and much more, the creation of a university will open up many more doors - notably the former Worcester Royal Infirmary site, in Castle Street, Worcester.

"We keep getting told it's any day now to get signed off by the NHS estates team," said Prof Green. "But I'll believe it when I see it. We're going to leave no stone unturned in trying to get this deal done."

The old WRI site's being touted mainly as a library and learning centre to house Worcester City Library, the Chamber of Commerce's Business Library, Worcester College of Technology's library and the UCW library all under one roof.

"Children would grow up with the idea that university's for them and not some kind of strange place," said Prof Green. "That's very important, especially for students from the College of Technology.

"This would be a shared facility and, therefore, natural for them to go on to university. It'll help people lift their aspirations.

"If we could bring these all together on one site, and make it one service, we have a very exciting prospect."

The former hospital, which is where Charles Hastings founded the British Medical Association, could also become the home for undergraduate medical students, as well as the business school and further student accommodation.

"There's real potential for doing something exciting there," said Prof Green.

"I'm very enthusiastic for the potential of that site, but we're also committed to the site in St John's.

"It can be developed to be a better facility but we want to keep it pleasant and leafy."

Whether it becomes the University of Worcester or Worcester University, one thing is certain for the new man at the helm - the times are changing, and changing for the better.