University of St Mark & St John
Coordinates: 50°25′14″N 04°06′36″W / 50.42056°N 4.11000°W
| University of St Mark & St John (Marjon) | |
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| Motto | Abeunt studia in mores ""out of studies comes character". |
| Established | 1923 (joint college) St John's (1840) St Marks (1841) |
| Type | Independent Church of England voluntary |
| Vice-Chancellor | Professor Cara Aitchison |
| Principal | Karen Cook (Deputy Principal) |
| Students | 5,000 full and part-time |
| Location | Plymouth, United Kingdom |
| Website | Official website |
The University of St Mark & St John (formerly University College Plymouth St Mark & St John, commonly referred to as Marjon), is a university located on the edge of Plymouth, England. The institution was awarded university status in 2012.[1][2]
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History [edit]
Marjon' s history in higher education goes back to the foundation by the National Society (now National Society for Promoting Religious Education) of the constituent London colleges of St John’s College in Battersea, London (1840) and St Mark’s College in Chelsea, London (1841) a contender for third oldest university in England debate.
The St Mark's was founded on the belief of Rev Derwent Coleridge, son of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge[3] and its first principal, that its primary purpose must be to widen the educational horizons of its students. Sir James Kay-Shuttleworth, together with E. Carleton Tufnell, established St John's to provide teacher training to meet the social and economic needs of industrialisation based on the concept of education as self-realisation. Both colleges stressed the importance of interchange between academic study and broader experience; and the role of an enlightened teaching profession in furthering social and economic development. They were among the first to open access to degree level study outside the universities.[citation needed] The colleges merged in 1923, establishing a single institution in Chelsea which developed a wider reputation for academic excellence and commitment to teaching. The college moved to Plymouth in 1973, and its educational activities have continued to evolve in response to local, regional, national and international needs.[citation needed] In 1991 the college became affiliated to the University of Exeter, which accredited it to run undergraduate and postgraduate programmes leading to degree awards of the university. In 2007, it gained university college status and it was able to award its own degrees. With the new status came the temporary name of University College Plymouth St Mark & St John.
In January 2013 it was announced that the first chancellor of the university will be Professor Cara Aitchison. She took up her appointment in May 2013. Professor Aitchison was previously Head of Moray House School of Education and Chair in Social and Environmental Justice at the University of Edinburgh and previously Dean of the Faculty of Education and Sport at the University of Bedfordshire.[4]
Campus [edit]
Marjon is based at a small campus located between Dartmoor National Park and the coast, a few miles away from the city centre of Plymouth around a 20 minute bus-ride.[5] The campus is between the hospital and airport.
The Peninsula Allied Health Centre (PAHC) on the campus enables 1000 University of Plymouth students from Devon and Cornwall to study a range of health therapies, providing opportunities for shared learning across health professions.
Academic life [edit]
Marjon has an academic community of 15,000 people[citation needed] and attracts students from all over the UK and overseas. The university offers almost 30 different BA and BSc degrees.[6]
In the news [edit]
In the 2007 and 2008 Sunday Times University Guide, Marjon was ranked in the top five university colleges. In two of the last four national student surveys, it has ranked in the top ten for overall student satisfaction. The latest national employability stats rate it at 95%[7] although fewer than average (63.2%) get graduate-level jobs. It was also ranked 8th for lowest average starting salaries. £16,908[8] compared to the national average of £24,048.[9]
Undergraduate and postgraduate courses are taught both on campus and overseas, with lecturers delivering learning in countries such as Mexico and Ethiopia.[citation needed]
In 2010, Graham Dawe, head coach at Plymouth Albion, received an honorary degree from from Marjon, for his "contribution to the fabric of society". [10]
Marjon, in partnership with Plymouth College, are building a new artificial hockey pitch at the rear of the campus at Derriford Road. The pitch is being built by contractors Thornton Sports who aim to have the pitch finished by mid April with an official opening being held with Plymouth College, Marjon and Plymouth Marjon hockey club.[11]
Alumni [edit]
- Bob Brunning, Founder member of Fleetwood Mac[12]
- Joy Carroll, Inspiration for the Vicar of Dibley[13]
- Sir Lewis Casson, Established the Actors' Association which became the British Actors' Equity Association.[14]
- Bernard Cornwell, Historical novelist
- Helen Glover, London 2012 Olympic Gold medal-winning rower
- Harry Greenway, Former MP for Ealing North
- Philip Kingsford, in 1912 held the best-ever triple jump record by an English-born athlete[15]
- George Leighton, Teacher, philanthropist, 1st Chairman of Georgewell Hall
- Ernest Millington, Labour member of Parliament for Chelmsford 1945-50
- Ron Pickering, Athletics coach and BBC sports commentator
- Paul Potts, English tenor. Winner of ITV's Britain's Got Talent 2007
- Anthony Willis, Paralympic games silver high jump and gold Pentathlon winner.[16]
References [edit]
- ^ Marjon press release 27 November 2012, accessed 14 February 2013
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20464013
- ^ Marjon official website, accessed 23 Jun 2012
- ^ Marjon press release 29 January 2013, accessed 14 February 2013
- ^ Web Team. "Plymouth City Council". Plymouth.gov.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ "BA/BSc Degree - University College Plymouth St Mark & St John". Marjon.ac.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ "MORE than 93 per cent of Marjon's graduates are either in employment or continuing in higher education, it has been revealed". Thisisplymouth.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
- ^ http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/pdfs/stug09/loweststartingsalaries.pdf/
- ^ Graduates starting salaries, accessed 13 April 2013
- ^ "A former English rugby international and tireless Westcountry charity worker has been handed an honorary degree". Thisisplymouth.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Artificial-hockey-pitch-college/story-15496307-detail/story.html
- ^ "Bob Brunning obituary".
- ^ "The real Vicar of Dibley gets her own TV role". Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ^ "Spartacus Educational". Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ^ "SR Olympic Sports". Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ "Cover Story". Marjon Today 6. 1999.
External links [edit]
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