University of Hertfordshire

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University of Hertfordshire
UK COA University of Hertfordshire.svg
Motto Latin: quaere scientiam tota vita
"Seek Knowledge Throughout Life"
Established 1992 - University Status
1952 - Hatfield Technical College
Type Public
Endowment £2.17 million[1]
Chancellor The Marquess of Salisbury
Vice-Chancellor Quintin McKellar[2]
Students 27,725
Undergraduates 21,170
Postgraduates 6,040
Other students 515 FE[3]
Location Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England
Campus Urban
Colours      Hertfordshire Purple
     White
Affiliations Non-Aligned Universities
Commonwealth Universities
Website www.herts.ac.uk
UH purple.jpeg

The University of Hertfordshire (informally "Hertfordshire University") is a British new university based largely in Hatfield, in the county of Hertfordshire, England, from which the university takes its name. It has more than 27,500 students, over 2500 staff, with a turnover of over £181m. It has over 5200 international students and a global network of over 160,000 alumni. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, over 85% of the submitted research was judged to be of international quality in terms of originality, significance and rigour.

The University of Hertfordshire was shortlisted for the University of the Year Award in 2008 and 2009. It was declared the 'Entrepreneurial University of the Year' 2010 by Times Higher Education.[4] It is regarded as one of the UK's greenest universities.[5] The university has been awarded a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Chair for Information and Computer Ethics; the fourteenth to be established in the UK.

For seven consecutive years, members of staff have achieved lifelong Fellowship Awards as outstanding teachers, as part of the National Teaching Fellowship. The university's Collaborative Provision in April 2006 found that broad confidence can be placed in the university's present and likely future management of the academic standards of its awards made through collaborative arrangements. Throughout its history, the university has been strong in aerospace engineering and computer science. More recently, it has built up its strengths in other areas such as pharmacology, history, business, geography and astrophysics. The university has a unique history in training aerospace engineers. The university is ranked 9th for physics by the Guardian University guide for 2011.[6]

Contents

History [edit]

Origins [edit]

Hatfield Technical College
Hatfield Polytechnic

In 1951, the de Havilland company gave land in Hatfield adjoining the A1 to Hertfordshire County Council for educational use in perpetuity. In 1952, the Council used this to build and operate Hatfield Technical College. The college rapidly became a centre of excellence in mechanical and aeronautical engineering, training engineers for Hatfield’s then dominant aerospace industry. In 1992, the institution received University status.

20th Century [edit]

Hatfield Technical College became one of the first three polytechnics in the UK in 1969. With particular strengths in technology and science, it was one of the first to offer courses in the emerging discipline of computer science. The renamed Hatfield Polytechnic was given corporate status in 1989, giving it more control over how it was run. This was followed by the Polytechnic merging with The Hertfordshire College of Art and Design. 1992 saw the institution awarded university status and became self-governing, adopting the name of University of Hertfordshire. The university then joined forces with four associate colleges across the county - Hertford Regional College, North Hertfordshire College, Oaklands College, and West Herts College - to make higher education more locally accessible to people.

21st Century [edit]

2002 saw Hertfordshire was described as "the flagship of the former polys" by the Independent in 2002.[7] The year 2003 saw the de Havilland campus open, providing a state-of-the-art teaching and learning environment, as well as the opening of the Hertfordshire Sports Village and the Innovation Centre, providing 800 square metres of hi-tech office space for spin-out and start-up companies. The university also opened a new £500,000 Automotive Engineering Centre. In 2004 University receives the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade. The University of Hertfordshire is one of five universities nationwide to be selected by funding body HEFCE to deliver a unique[clarification needed] £4.2 million project aimed at driving employer activity. 2005 saw the University launch The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Postgraduate Medical School and the School of Pharmacy to enhance medical education, training and research in the region. The university was also rated 11th in the Times Teaching Quality Ranking.[citation needed]. 2006 saw the university open new School of Film, Music and Media. The university officially opened the MacLaurin building in 2007, named in honour of its former Chancellor Lord MacLaurin, designed to support its business facing activities. This was followed by the University opening its new £10million Law Building in 2011. The university is a lead academic sponsor of Elstree University Technical College, a new university technical college which is due to open in Septemner 2013.

Campuses and facilities [edit]

The university is primarily based on two campuses, College Lane and De Havilland. Some specialist facilities still exist on other campuses; however the university is moving towards unifying its schools under the two main campuses. Opening of the new Law building in summer 2011 will see the School of Law move from the St Albans campus to the De Havilland campus. The two primary campuses are situated less that a kilometer apart. A network of pathways, cycle routes and free shuttle buses connects the two sites.

College Lane Campus [edit]

The main site of the university remains the College Lane campus, which houses the original Hatfield Technical College building, though the site has had many new buildings added since. Notable among these is the Learning Resources Centre, a combined library and computer centre. There is also a substantial collection of halls of residence and student houses, and the University of Hertfordshire Students' Union based on this campus.

The University of Hertfordshire Students' Union (UHSU) hosts frequent events at the College Lane campus. These formerly took place in the Union's Hutton Hall or the peculiarly shaped building commonly known as the "Elehouse", named due to its original architecture being similar to the elephant house at London Zoo. 'The Forum', a new student social space offering an entertainment venue, bars, shops, and cafés, opened in October 2009.

The University of Hertfordshire is also home to HIBT, part of the Navitas group, providing a direct pathway for international students to the University.[8]

De Havilland Campus [edit]

De Havilland Campus

The £120-million de Havilland campus opened in September 2003. Humanities and Education and Business are based on this campus. De Havilland campus is situated within 15 minutes walk of College Lane, and is built on a former BAe site. This campus also has its own Learning Resources Centre, a combined library and computer centre.

The new law school situated on the entrance of the de Havilland Campus opened to students in September 2011. The Law school boasts bright and pure learning areas[clarification needed] with panoramic glass and clean, sleek walls.[citation needed] Most importantly, a full size, mock up court to simulate the experience is situated in the middle of the building.

Previously a Saracens training ground[9] and currently used by Arsenal Ladies.

The de Havilland Campus Accommodation Office contains a small Police Office which is staffed by the dedicated University Officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary. The Police Office opens week daily from 12-1pm & 4-5pm.

St Albans Campus [edit]

The Law School used to be based in St Albans, near to the law courts. There were formerly campuses in Watford (Wall Hall) and Hertford (Balls Park), but these were closed when the de Havilland campus opened. In Summer 2011 the School of Law moved to a new purpose built building on the De Havilland campus.

Bayfordbury Campus [edit]

A fourth site in Bayfordbury houses the university's observatory and the biology plus geography field stations.

Libraries [edit]

The University of Hertfordshire has three libraries also known as Learning Resource Centres[why?] (or LRCs) each of which provide a variety of tools and facilities to assist students in their studies. There is a centre on each campus - Hatfield College Lane Campus LRC, Hatfield de Havilland Campus LRC and the St Albans Campus LRC. All three centres are open to students registered at the university and each student is encouraged to make use of all three areas according to their study requirements.

College Lane LRC [edit]

The Learning Resources Centre on the College Lane Campus is an award winning[10] building and is one of the largest LRCs in the UK. With more than 1500 study places and nearly 600 computer workstations including spaces for laptops with power sockets and internet connection points provided on certain tables on each floor, wireless internet access is also available for laptop users. The LRCs includes group study rooms, single study rooms, silent study rooms, café study area, video studios, specialist multimedia laboratory, and disability support and access to all University online services. The media preparation centre is also available in the College Lane LRC which provides facilities for printing, photocopying, colour photocopying, laminating, guillotining and binding. Laminating pouches and binding sets can be bought for a small fee (30p for a 100 page comb binding set) at the helpdesk. The helpdesk is open between certain hours to assist students with any problems they may have or for large format printing needs. Books and printed journals for the following subjects are held at the College Lane Learning Resources Centre: Art, Biosciences, Computing, Careers & employment information, Computing, Design, Engineering, Health, Mathematics, Midwifery, Music, Nursing, Paramedic Sciences, Physical Sciences, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Radiography, Social Care, Social Sciences, Sports Science, Technology. The LRC has an automated lending service with all book/journal loans and returns which is done using computerised methods. The café study area is located below the ground level of the LRC serving coffee, tea and a variety of hot and cold drinks available. Including freshly made toasties, paninis and baked potatoes[citation needed] are available as well as pre-prepared snacks.

De Havilland LRC [edit]

Learning Resource Centre, de Havilland

The de Havilland LRC is slightly smaller than the one based on the College Lane campus. However it does still provide all the features for a successful learning environment with both group and single study rooms and 1100 study places with 650 computer workstations. Printing & photocopying, large format printing, colour photocopying are all also available but in a slightly smaller scale than the facilities on the other campus.

Lending services akin to those at the College Lane LRC are available, however the book & printed journal subject collection differs. The topics available at the de Havilland LRC are Accounting, Business, Economics, Education, Film & Theatre, History, Journalism, Languages, Linguistics, Literature, Management, Marketing, Philosophy, Tourism. A request collection point is also available for books and journal articles on loan from major libraries and universities in the UK through the inter-library loan service. A café study area is also available in the de Havilland LRC providing the same refreshments as its College Lane counterpart.

The Forum [edit]

The Forum building is the universities new £38 million pound entertainment venue. With a total capacity of 2,000, the Forum houses three entertainment spaces, a restaurant, a cafe, bars and onsite parking for 400. The Forum Hertfordshire is a partnership between the University of Hertfordshire and the University of Hertfordshire Students’ Union.

EleHouse [edit]

The EleHouse is a pub like venue with a relaxed atmosphere. Serving hot food and a range of drinks. The EleHouse also has 3 pool tables and a range of gaming machines including Fusball. This venue is particularly popular on match days and notable televised sporting events. The EleHouse is so-called due to its resemblance to the Elephant House at London Zoo.

Religious Facilities [edit]

The university provides a Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Service housed in the Key Centre. Facilities include a prayer room and Wudu facilities.

Accommodation [edit]

College Lane Accommodation [edit]

The Halls of Residence, UH

This campus contains six halls of residence, as well as groups of student houses. All rooms on the College Lane Campus have network points so you can access the University's high speed internet connection. Butler, Fern, Chapman, Broad and Coales Halls are older-style halls where a large kitchen is shared between twelve rooms off a corridor, except Telford which shares its kitchen with 6 room mates. Most of the rooms are singles, but Butler, Fern and Chapman Halls have some double rooms. All rooms have hand washbasins and shared bathroom facilities. Telford Court is the most modern hall, with eleven blocks of seven or eight self-contained flats. Each flat accommodates six people in single rooms. All rooms have hand washbasins. Roberts Way consists of houses for eight people, with six single rooms and one double room with bunk beds. Some of the houses have a hand washbasin in each room.[citation needed]

De Havilland Accommodation [edit]

Eleven purpose built halls on the new de Havilland campus made up of self-contained flats. Each flat has an average of eleven students. The flats are made up of single study-bedrooms all with their own en-suite shower rooms, fridges and network points for fast broadband internet access. The kitchens/common rooms are spacious and well-equipped with up-to-date appliances. Furniture and equipment are of a high standard.

University symbols [edit]

The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans is the location of the University's annual conferring ceremonies. Degrees are awarded by The Marquess of Salisbury in front of the ceremonial mace and in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor, Deans, academic faculty, graduants and their families.

Academic dress [edit]

The University of Hertfordshire prescribes academic dress for its members.[11] Both dress and undress are prescribed, though only dress is used in practice - for example, at the graduation ceremonies, held in St Albans Cathedral.

The academic dress of bachelors of the university is a black stuff gown, with facings and long open sleeves gathered to a point at the elbow with a button. The master's gown is similar, but with spade sleeves. With these, on formal occasions such as graduations, is worn a hood of grey or white silk and stuff. In dress, grey hoods are worn by holders of diplomas below bachelor's level, and white hoods by bachelors. Masters add a border of purple silk. Because of the university's emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, there is no distinction between the academic dress of the various faculties.

In dress, holders of initial doctorates wear red gowns with purple facings; higher doctorates have purple gowns with white facings. In undress all doctors wear master's gowns. The university is unusual among former polytechnics in also prescribing academic dress for undergraduates - the black stuff bachelor's gown with no hood - although, again, this is not used in practice. For more information on the classifications of academic dress, see Groves classification system.

Coat of arms [edit]

The University's coat of arms was granted in 1992. The shield is charged with an oak tree taken from the coat of arms of the former Hatfield Rural District, the constellation Perseus and a representation of the letter "H" recalling the emblem of the former Hatfield Polytechnic. The crest, a Phoenix, represents the University's origin in the aviation industry. The two harts supporting the shield represent the County of Hertfordshire. A scroll bears the motto "Seek Knowledge Throughout Life".

Ceremonial mace [edit]

The ceremonial mace was produced in 1999 by craftsman Martyn Pugh. Its design supposedly symbolises the University's origins, expertise and associations. Its shape is inspired by the shape of an aeroplane wing symbolising the university's origin in the aviation industry. The head of the mace is engraved with zodiac symbols representing the university's contribution to astronomy and also contains the DNA double helix representing the biological sciences and microprocessor chips representing information and communications technology.[12]

Reputation [edit]

The University had an excellent reputation for learning and teaching, with consistently high scores for teaching quality awarded by the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency.[citation needed] For four consecutive years, members of staff have achieved lifelong Fellowship awards as outstanding teachers, as part of the National Teaching Fellowship.[citation needed]

Awards [edit]

The university was sixth recipient of the award.

On 1 July 2004, the University of Hertfordshire was presented with the Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade in recognition of outstanding achievement. The University received a special message of congratulations from the Queen, and the Vice-Chancellor and International Office staff also attended a special reception at Buckingham Palace.[13] In 2004 the University of Hertfordshire was awarded £4.5M by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to establish a Centre for Excellence in blended learning. This award enables the university to establish its profile as a leading institution combining established ways of learning and teaching with the opportunities offered by technology to ensure students have the best possible learning experience.[14] In March 2005, University of Hertfordshire was officially certified as a Fair trade university.[15] Seven members of staff have achieved lifelong Fellowship awards as outstanding teachers, as part of the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme introduced in 2000 by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland.[citation needed] One of the engineering staff at the University of Hertfordshire, Mark Russell successfully[clarification needed] entered the e-Tutor of the Year in an annual national competition, launched in 2002 by the Higher Education Academy and the Times Higher Education Supplement. The University of Hertfordshire won the prestigious Times Higher Education ‘Entrepreneurial University of the Year’ award, 2010. It aims not only to encourage ground breaking activity in entrepreneurial activity amongst organisations, but also aims to foster business venture spirits on all levels.[16] The European Commission awarded a badge to the University of Hertfordshire for providing outstanding opportunities to its research staff.[17]

Rankings [edit]

Of the 2010 league tables published so far the University of Hertfordshire was ranked 41st overall in The Complete University Guide, published by The Independent,[18] which is a 4 place rise from the previous year. 15th in the Engineering schools,[19] which is a 9 place rise from the previous year[20] and 60th by The Guardian,[21] which is a 37 place rise from the previous year.[22]

Hertfordshire is also the only British new university (former polytechnic) to be ranked in the top 503 universities in the world by Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Academic Ranking of World Universities, being ranked equally with 100 other universities in the 402-503 range (after the first hundred the rankings are divided into large blocks to reflect the more approximate nature of the lower rankings).[23]

UK rankings
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
Times Good University Guide 68th[24] 66th=[25] 79th[25]
Guardian University Guide 76th[26] 72nd[27] 97th[28] 100th[29]
Sunday Times University Guide 75th[30] 71st[31] 71st[32] 67th[33]
The Complete University Guide 41st=[34] 45th[35] 54th[36] 94th
The Daily Telegraph
FT

Faculties & Schools [edit]

de Havilland Learning Resource Center.
The University of Hertfordshire's Law School with mock court within.
Another image of the Brand New Law School.

The university has fourteen academic schools arranged into four faculties.

Business [edit]

  • School of Business

Health and Human Sciences [edit]

  • School of Health and Emergency Professions
  • School of Life Sciences
  • School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work
  • School of Pharmacy
  • School of Psychology
  • School of Postgraduate Medicine

Humanities, Law and Education [edit]

  • School of Education
  • School of Humanities
  • School of Law

Science, Technology and Creative Arts [edit]

  • School of Computer Science
  • School of Creative Arts
  • School of Engineering and Technology
  • School of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics

Students' Union [edit]

University of Hertfordshire Students' Union represent all students at the university by organizing campus activities and running different clubs and societies, from sports to entertainment.

Sports Village [edit]

Sports Village, including 25m 8-lane indoor pool, de Havilland Campus

Hertfordshire Sports Village is principally for student use, however it is also open to the local community who can access the facilities and services available on a pay-as-you go or membership basis. At some times certain areas of the Sports Village are used exclusively by the University for sporting fixtures etc.

The sports village boasts a wide range of state-of-the art facilities for fitness, swimming, climbing and racquet sports as well as many more activities. There are two main types of membership on offer at Hertfordshire Sports Village. Sports Village membership offer discounts on pay and play sessions and provide advance booking and payment privileges. There is also a membership scheme for the gym giving unlimited use of the gym, group exercise classes and swimming. Non-members can use all pay and play activities but there is a guest fee of £1 for each non-member.

Hertfordshire Sports Village caters for all students fitness, sport and leisure needs. Hertfordshire Sports Village is located on the de Havilland Campus, which is only a free shuttle bus ride away from College Lane.

Facilities include:

  • Gym
  • Swimming Pool
  • Climbing Wall
  • Racquet Sports
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Cricket

Other Notable Achievements [edit]

Racing team [edit]

The University of Hertfordshire's Formula Student car in the 2006 class 1-200 event

The University of Hertfordshire has been a part of Formula Student since 1997, and historically, has been successful. UH Racing have competed in many countries and have won many awards. Engineering students may join the team, though it is an extra-curricular activity. There are over 400 universities that race at Formula Student events worldwide, and UH has placed consistently in the top 10.

Paramedic Science [edit]

Hertfordshire was one of the first universities in the country to develop a Paramedic Science degree.[37] The university still provides BSc (Hons), BSc, FdSc, and Diploma level Paramedic courses[citation needed]. The University's 4 year Paramedic Science course also features a period of elective study which can be undertaken anywhere in the world, and a sandwich year working for the Ambulance Service[citation needed]. The university is also among the first four universities in the country to offer the Postgraduate Diploma in Physician Assistant studies, and the first in the UK to offer the option of an MSc in Paramedic Science[citation needed].

The University of Hertfordshire also employs a number of the leading voices in the field of Paramedic education, such as Dr Julia Williams, Bob Fellows, and John Donaghy.[38]

Professional accreditation [edit]

Alumni and Academics [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ http://www.herts.ac.uk/fms/documents/about-uh/Corporate%20publications/annual-report-and-accounts_2009.pdf
  2. ^ University of Hertfordshire website (Hatfield, Herts) http://www.herts.ac.uk/about-us/our-structure/key-people/home.cfm |url= missing title (help). 
  3. ^ "Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2006/07" (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet). Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 2008-04-09. 
  4. ^ RAE 2008 results - University of Hertfordshire
  5. ^ University of Hertfordshire in Top 10 of UK's Greenest Universities - University of Hertfordshire
  6. ^ "Physics". The Guardian (London). 2010-06-08. 
  7. ^ The Independent (London) http://web.archive.org/web/20090213210148/http://education.independent.co.uk/higher/az_universities/story.jsp?story=343501 |archiveurl= missing title (help). Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. 
  8. ^ HIBT
  9. ^ Home / Saracens
  10. ^ SCONUL library design award for College Lane LRC - SCONUL
  11. ^ Christianson and Piggott, Academic Dress in the University of Hertfordshire, ISBN 978-1-898543-01-5
  12. ^ Martyn Pugh, Furniture - at Commission a Craftsman
  13. ^ Award for Industry[dead link]
  14. ^ The Blended Learning Unit
  15. ^ Fair Trade News Archived July 22, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Hertfordshire named Entrepreneurial University of the Year - University of Hertfordshire
  17. ^ Leading Europe for Excellence in Researcher Development - University of Hertfordshire
  18. ^ The Independent (London) http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=6525 |url= missing title (help). Retrieved 28 May 2010. 
  19. ^ University League Table 2011 : The Complete University Guide
  20. ^ Highly rated University in Independent rankings - University of Hertfordshire
  21. ^ "University Guide 2011: University league table". The Guardian (London). 8 June 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2010. 
  22. ^ Shepherd, Jessica (2010-06-08). "Oxford tops Guardian's 2011 university league table". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 8 June 2010. 
  23. ^ http://www.arwu.org/rank2008/Top500_EN%28by%20rank%29.pdf Archived July 19, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ http://extras.thetimes.co.uk/public/good_university_guide_landing/institutions.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  25. ^ a b Watson, Roland; Elliott, Francis; Foster, Patrick. "University Rankings League Table 2010". London: Extras.timesonline.co.uk. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved 2010-04-26.  Text " Good University Guide – Times Online " ignored (help)
  26. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2012/may/21/university-league-table-2013.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. ^ "University guide 2012: University league table". London: guardian.co.uk. 17/05/2011. Retrieved 2012-06-12.  Text " Education " ignored (help)
  28. ^ "University guide 2010: University league table". London: guardian.co.uk. 2009-05-12. Retrieved 2010-04-26.  Text " Education " ignored (help)
  29. ^ "University ranking by institution". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2007-10-29. 
  30. ^ www.lancs.ac.uk/vc/planning/league/STUG2012.xlsx
  31. ^ Asthana, Anushka. "The Sunday Times University League Table". The Sunday Times (London). Archived from the original on 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2009-09-13. 
  32. ^ "University ranking based on performance over 10 years" (PDF). London: Times Online. 2007. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-28. 
  33. ^ "The Sunday Times University League Table" (PDF). The Sunday Times (London). Archived from the original on September 29, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-03. 
  34. ^ "The Complete University Guide 2011". Complete University Guide. 
  35. ^ "The Complete University Guide 2010". Complete University Guide. 
  36. ^ "The Independent University League Table". The Independent (London). 2008-04-24. Retrieved 2010-05-27. 
  37. ^ Paramedic Science degree
  38. ^ John Donaghy

http://extras.thetimes.co.uk/public/good_university_guide_landing/institutions

External links [edit]
Universities and colleges in the East of England
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Other higher education
Further Education colleges
Sixth form colleges

Coordinates: 51°45′12″N 0°14′38″W / 51.75333°N 0.24389°W / 51.75333; -0.24389

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