It is 10 years since the then First Minister of the Welsh Government Rhodri Morgan confirmed Glyndwr University with degree giving powers.

A decade on Jamie Bowman reflects on the process that saw the 'NEWI' transform into today's modern and successful university...

THIS summer sees Wrexham Glyndwr University celebrate 10 years since it was awarded university status and degree-awarding powers.

The accolade marked the culmination of a process which had started more than a hundred years previously with the establishment of the Wrexham School of Science and Art in 1887 - a forerunner to today's university which was part-funded by 'Whiskey Money', a tax on beer and spirits, reflecting one of Wrexham's major industries: Wrexham Lager.

By 1927, the school became Denbighshire Technical Institute, becoming Denbighshire Technical College in 1939 and North East Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI) in 1975 by the merger of Denbighshire Technical College, Cartrefle Teacher Training College and Kelsterton College of Connah's Quay, Deeside.

Related: Wrexham Glyndŵr University climbs 24 places in Guardian guide

In 2004 NEWI was admitted as a full member to the University of Wales, paving the way for 2008's announcement by the then First Minister of the Welsh Government, Rhodri Morgan, that university status had been achieved.

"It was a very rigorous assessment process," remembers Lynda Powell, the university's director of operations. "It took a lot of time and preparation because you have to make sure the educational standards are of a high quality.

"The preparation took two to three years and then there were a series of visits and interrogations where we had to show the quality of the education services we provided.

"It was important at the time for North East Wales to have its own university because we felt the people of Wrexham and the surrounding region deserved to have a university here."

From the academic year 2008/9 onwards, students enrolled with Glyndwr University as the new name for the institution, in honour of the medieval Welsh prince Owain Glynd?r, who first suggested the establishment of universities throughout Wales in the early 15th century.

"Local businesses were telling us 'we want a university'," says Lynda. "There was a momentum building and the time was right for us to go for degree awarding powers. "

For Lynda it was important that the estate and the facilities were up to a similar standard as the educational services.

"We had to make sure our library facilities were up to scratch and there was good access to IT resources," she says.

"We needed spaces for post-graduate students and research - there was a big expectation."

Those early days were a challenging time for the university as it found its feet at a time when the university sector in the UK witnessed huge expansion.

"We weren't given a lot of money to invest in the university at that time," she says. "We had to look at how we stepped up to become a university in the community and that's what we focused on. It was all about 'what type of university do we want to be?' We are not going to compete with Oxford or Cambridge and we haven't got millions of pounds sitting in the bank but what was always at the very heart of this university was the students themselves especially those who might not have typically come to university or gone into higher education. Putting the students first runs through the life blood of this institution."

Working closely with industry, local schools and the wider community in North-East Wales, the university has an incredible diversity of programmes, ranging from engineering and technology to marketing, accountancy, journalism and music technology.

"You have to have a vision as a new university and we wanted to be a market led, student centred university that had international significance but was open to all," continues Lynda.

"That's still something we continue to subscribe to. We have a high percentage of mature students, a high proportion who are in receipt of disability support and we have an incredible infrastructure to support them through their learning.

"I think we've been true to our mission and demonstrated how to be a community university."

Last year, the university launched its ambitious 'Campus 2025' strategy, aiming to transform the learning environment for students.

"The future for the university is really exciting," adds Lynda.

"We are in a position now where we can look at our overall estate now and some of it is tired and a little bit dated.

"We need contemporary facilities and we are planning for that now. There will be a series of refurbishments and reconfigurations of existing spaces with additional investment in IT and AV facilities as well as potential new builds onsite.

"It's about trying to create that environment for our students and staff where they feel comfortable and will help us grow the university in terms of student numbers - hopefully those numbers will ensure we are here for a long time to come."

As well as celebrating its 10th anniversary since becoming a university, this year also marks 65 years at Plas Coch as its main campus and the university's vice chancellor agrees there are exciting times ahead.

"I am sure our forerunners in the 1880s would have been proud of what we have become and our future trajectory," says Professor Maria Hinfelaar, vice-chancellor and chief executive.

"It was a lengthy process at the time and it must have been a proud moment when Mr Morgan came up to make the announcement because the ambition had been there for a long time.

"Every single year since we have seen between 1,000 and 1,500 students graduate and the vast majority have moved on to get jobs or post-graduate study. Their time with the university has actually set them up for life and that is what we are about.

"Think of the 17,500 students who have graduated who are now active citizens with fulfilling lives who are out there in the workplace and might have families now? They are in their early 30s now.

"What we need to do now is make sure all our teaching facilities are brought up to the high standard we see in our creative industries building and some of our laboratories.

"That is the kind of environment we will be rolling out for every single programme over the next ten years so - there is still so much to do but I am really enjoying my time here. North Wales is a fantastic environment."