University of Cumbria

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University of Cumbria
University of Cumbria logo.jpg
Established 1 August 2007
Type Public
Chancellor The Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York
Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Strike
Students 12,410[1]
Undergraduates 9,695[1]
Postgraduates 2,715[1]
Location Ambleside, Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancaster, Penrith, London, England
Website www.cumbria.ac.uk

The University of Cumbria is a university in Cumbria, England. Its headquarters are in Carlisle.[2] and other major campuses are at Lancaster, Ambleside, Barrow-in-Furness, Penrith and London. It was established in 2007, following the merger of St Martin's College, the Cumbria Institute of the Arts and the Cumbrian campuses of the University of Central Lancashire. Its roots extend back to the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts established in 1822 and Charlotte Mason teacher training college in the 1890s.[3] The university is based upon the idea of a "distributed learning network", so that teaching takes place both at the university's main campuses, and at colleges of further education around Cumbria, a rural county that includes the Lake District.

Contents

History[edit]

The University of Cumbria was formed by the merger of St Martin's College, Lancaster, the Cumbria Institute of the Arts (CIA)- formerly Cumbria College of Art & Design (CCAD) - [4] and the Cumbrian campuses of the University of Central Lancashire on 1 August 2007.[3] These institutions formerly ran degree programmes accredited by Lancaster University and the University of Central Lancashire. In order to facilitate the change, St Martin's College applied for independent degree-awarding powers in March 2005 and was successful in July 2006 after nine months of scrutiny by the Quality Assurance Agency.[5] In January 2007 official university status was granted by the Privy Council.[6]

Campuses[edit]

Brampton Road campus, Carlisle.

The University is based upon the findings of a report by Sir Martin Harris.[4] This plan envisaged a university based upon a "distributed learning network".[7] This network is based upon the idea that teaching will take place both at the University's main campuses, and at colleges of further education around the county. This will solve problems of access for remote areas that did not previously have direct access to higher education.[4]

The headquarters of the University are in Carlisle.[2] Its other major campuses are at Ambleside, Lancaster (formerly St Martin's College) and Energus in Lilyhall. The University also has sites in London and Penrith (formerly University of Central Lancashire in Cumbria). Furness College in Barrow-in-Furness has also joined forces with the university as part of the new build at the college is owned by the University of Cumbria.

Penrith[edit]

Degree programmes including Forestry, Conservation, Outdoor Studies, Outdoor Leadership and Applied Sciences are taught from the Penrith campus based at Newton Rigg.[8] The National School of Forestry was set up here in the 1960s and has a long history of educating forest managers, which continues to the present day. Programmes will be moving to their new home in Ambleside in 2013 (Outdoors programmes) and 2014 (Forestry, Conservation, and Applied Sciences).

Further education provision and assets of the Newton Rigg campus were transferred to Askham Bryan College in March 2011, but the university will continue to run higher education courses there for 3 years.[9]

Ambleside[edit]

On 1 December 2009, it was announced that the Ambleside Campus would be 'mothballed' at the end of July 2010, and will no longer take new undergraduate students. The action by the University of Cumbria ended over 175 years of heritage[3] and a protest was held on the 1 December 2009 by the student body. The closure was in the face of fierce opposition from the Ambleside students,[10] the townspeople of Ambleside, and in spite of the support that Tim Farron MP who pledged support to the campus and students. The timing of the closure had led many to believe that the decision was made 'a long time ago'[11][12][13]

In July 2011, University announced a plan to reopen the campus and increase student numbers at the Ambleside campus beginning in 2014.[14]

Lancaster campus, Bowerham Road[edit]

The site was an army barracks for the King's Own Royal Regiment. In 1962, it became a teaching college.[15]

Carlisle campus, Fusehill Street campus[edit]

The site started its life as The Carlisle Union Workhouse in 1863. The buildings were used as a military hospital during World War I from October 1917 to June 1919 during which time nearly 10,000 soldiers were treated. In 1938, it was converted into a municipal hospital. After another stint as a military hospital during World War II, it became City General Hospital until it closed in 1999. [16]

Workington[edit]

The University has a campus at the ENERGUS facility in Lillyhall Business Park, Workington. The facility opened in June 2009 and was the university’s first presence in West Cumbria.[17]

Brampton Road[edit]

The Brampton Road campus was formerly the Cumbria Institute of the Arts, founded in October 1822 as the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, later Carlisle Art College and College of Art and Design. Notable undergraduates include Penny-Jayne Poulton.

Organisation and structure[edit]

Previous Vice-Chancellors included; Professor Chris Carr (Jan 2007-Apr 2009), Dr Peter McCaffery (July 2009-May 2010) and Professor Graham Upton (May 2010-Jul 2011). The current Vice-Chancellor is Professor Peter Strike, formerly Deputy Vice-Chancellor of University of Sunderland.[18][19][20][19][21]

At one stage the University had debts totalling £13,000,000 and in March 2010, the University received a cash advance from HEFCE to enable it to pay staff.[22][23] It has since pulled itself out of debt and is profitable.[24]

Academic profile[edit]

As well as its work in the areas of the arts, health and teacher training, the university has a faculty of Arts, Business and Science which, as well as the subjects in its title, incorporates a full range of courses including law, computing, and police studies. Sciences include Forestry, Land Management, Forensic Science and Environment.

Student life[edit]

Sports[edit]

The majority of University of Cumbria campuses have sports teams which represent them in the BUCS leagues. Teams include: Cricket, Netball, Football, Hockey, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Badminton and Pool. All teams play their home games on Wednesdays afternoons at various University's sport venues.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2009/10" (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet). Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 2011-12-08. 
  2. ^ a b Green light for University of Cumbria plans Macleod, Gordon; The Guardian; 1 February 2005; Accessed 30 March 2006
  3. ^ a b c "County university opens its doors". BBC News. 2007-08-01. Retrieved 2007-08-05. 
  4. ^ a b c Initial Proposal for a New University of Cumbria Harris, Sir Martin; 2005; Accessed 30 March 2006
  5. ^ MacLeod, F. "College wins right to award own degrees". News & Star. Retrieved 22 February 2012. 
  6. ^ St Martin’s College awarded University title University 4 Cumbria; 7 January 2007; Accessed 10 February 2007
  7. ^ The Distributed Learning Network (DLN) for Cumbria University 4 Cumbria; 2006; Accessed 10 February 2007
  8. ^ "Courses by location > University of Cumbria at Newton Rigg College, Penrith". University of Cumbria. 
  9. ^ "News & Star | News | £500,000 paid to pair who 'rescued' Cumbria university from cash problems". Newsandstar.co.uk. 2011-12-09. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  10. ^ "Facebook Petition Group". Facebook. Retrieved 01-12-2009. 
  11. ^ "Tim Farron presenting rational argument to UoC Chancellor, to keep Ambleside open". Tim Farron. Retrieved 01-12-2009. 
  12. ^ "Mp Recruits New Students In Fight To Save Ambleside Campus". Tim Farron. 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  13. ^ "Mp Takes Ambleside Campaign To Westminster". Tim Farron. 2008-11-10. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  14. ^ "News & Star | News | Cumbria university plan to reopen mothballed Ambleside campus". Newsandstar.co.uk. 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  15. ^ "St Martin's College - University of Cumbria". Cumbria.ac.uk. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  16. ^ "News & Star | News | Memories wanted of Carlisle's former City General Hospital". Newsandstar.co.uk. 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  17. ^ "Secretary of State opens ENERGUS". Nda.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  18. ^ "Debt university executive leaves". BBC News. 19 May 2010. 
  19. ^ a b "News & Star | News | Cumbria university appoints acting vice-chancellor". Newsandstar.co.uk. 2010-05-21. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  20. ^ "Cumbrian debt university executive leaves". BBC News. 2010-05-19. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  21. ^ Morgan, John. "Cumbria chooses new v-c". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  22. ^ "Cumbria University got cash advance to pay staff". BBC News. 2010-04-19. Retrieved 19 April 2010. 
  23. ^ "Cumbria admits 'unacceptable' financial results". 
  24. ^ "News & Star | News | University of Cumbria makes 'profit' for first time". Newsandstar.co.uk. 2011-12-03. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 

External links[edit]

Universities and colleges in North West England
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Further Education colleges
Sixth form colleges

Coordinates: 54°53′27″N 2°55′20″W / 54.89083°N 2.92222°W / 54.89083; -2.92222

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