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==Research==
==Research==


In 2009 the University applied for Research Degree awarding powers, to enable it to confer the awards of [[MPhil]] and [[PhD]]. Before this the University of Coventry assisted in the academic awarding of these degrees. In August 2010 it was awarded these powers, and can now award its own research degrees. The university includes six national research centres:
In 2010 the University was granted Research Degree awarding powers, enabling it to confer the awards of [[MPhil]] and [[PhD]].<ref>[http://www.worc.ac.uk/about/news/15139.html]</ref> Before this the University of Coventry assisted in the academic awarding of these degrees. In August 2010 it was awarded these powers, and can now award its own research degrees. The university includes six national research centres:
*'''The National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit''' (NPARU) [http://www.pollenuk.com/] from where all UK national pollen forecasts originate, and testing of new hayfever and anti-allergen devices is conducted.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/herefordandworcester/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8368000/8368104.stm BBC News] Retrieved 14 January 2010</ref>
*'''The National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit''' (NPARU) [http://www.pollenuk.com/] from where all UK national pollen forecasts originate, and testing of new hayfever and anti-allergen devices is conducted.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/herefordandworcester/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8368000/8368104.stm BBC News] Retrieved 14 January 2010</ref>
*'''The Centre for Rural Research''', which examined the psychological effects of the mass flooding in the UK in recent years.<ref>http://www.worc.ac.uk/businessandresearch/specialist/1026.html</ref>
*'''The Centre for Rural Research''', which examined the psychological effects of the mass flooding in the UK in recent years.<ref>http://www.worc.ac.uk/businessandresearch/specialist/1026.html</ref>

Revision as of 15:33, 1 October 2010

University of Worcester
File:Univ Worcs logo.JPG
Logo of the University of Worcester
MottoAd Inspirandum Aspiramus ("Inspire to Aspire")
TypePublic
Established2005 - University Status
1997 - University College Worcester
1976 - Worcester College of Higher Education
1948 - Worcester Teacher Training College
1946 - Worcester Emergency Teacher Training College
ChancellorHRH The Duke of Gloucester[1]
Vice-ChancellorProfessor David Green
Students7,750[2]
Undergraduates6,140[2]
Postgraduates1,610[2]
Location
Worcester
,
Worcestershire
,
United Kingdom
Websitewww.worcester.ac.uk

The University of Worcester is a British university in Worcester, Worcestershire, England. It was granted university status by a Royal charter in September 2005. Applications have risen 100 percent over the 5 years since then, and the student population will be allowed to grow a further 1,500 places in 2010, despite national trends.[3] The university guide of the Times newspaper rates the university at place 81 (shared with Teesside University) out of 114 institutions.[4]

History

In 1946 an Emergency Teacher Training College for the University of Birmingham was established in Worcester. In the 1970s the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) validated the degrees for the Worcester College of Higher Education. The Herefordshire and Worcestershire College of Nursing and Midwifery was absorbed in 1995. In 1997 the Privy Council affirmed the institution's degree-awarding powers and it subsequently became known as University College Worcester. In 2005 the Privy Council granted university status. The institution was renamed "University of Worcester" in September of that year. On Thursday 10 April 2008, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, was installed as the founding chancellor of the university in a ceremony at Worcester Cathedral. The duke officiates at degree ceremonies, major events and promotes the University overseas.

Growth

Applications

Applications increased by 10.6% in 2009 and by 100% since 2004.[5] The University has consistently recorded the largest increases in applications of any UK University for 7 years in a row.

Expansion

The University of Worcester is graded as the UK's fastest growing University. The current St Johns site is being joined by a City Centre site in September 2010, a Riverside site within 2 years, and a further development site within 10 – 15 years.

Funding

In March 2010 the University of Worcester was awarded the biggest increase in funding of any institution in the UK (13%), despite national trends of cuts.[6] This was accompanied by an approved rise in student numbers of 410, more than any other UK University.

Research

In 2010 the University was granted Research Degree awarding powers, enabling it to confer the awards of MPhil and PhD.[7] Before this the University of Coventry assisted in the academic awarding of these degrees. In August 2010 it was awarded these powers, and can now award its own research degrees. The university includes six national research centres:

  • The National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit (NPARU) [8] from where all UK national pollen forecasts originate, and testing of new hayfever and anti-allergen devices is conducted.[8]
  • The Centre for Rural Research, which examined the psychological effects of the mass flooding in the UK in recent years.[9]
  • The International Centre for Children's Literature, Literacy and Creativity is, with Cambridge and Roehampton, one of the three UK university centres to employ full time Children's Literature Professors.
  • The Motion Performance Centre (MPC) which looks at sports injuries, and rehabilitation techniques using motion capture technology. The Human Performance Laboratories work alongside to provide data on exercise and how it affects the body.[10]
  • The Centre for People @ Work
  • The Centre for Applied Health Research
  • The Association for Dementia Studies was launched at the University in February 2010. It will work with sufferers of dementia, their families, health professionals, care providers, commissioners, and government agencies to provide high quality research, training and education.[11]

Locations

St Johns Campus

The main campus is known as St John's and is the main base for all courses, support departments and academic institutes, except those related to business, computing, marketing or management. The site contains Halls of Residence with over 800 rooms, a sports centre, sports pitches, facilities for training nurses and midwives, a commercial standard digital arts centre, motion performance centre and a university library, known as the "Pierson Library".

City Campus

A new city campus is under construction on the site of the former Worcester Royal Infirmary in Castle Street. Work began in January 2007, and is expected to cost £120 million. Phase 1 will be completed by September 2010. As part of this, new Halls of Residence with accommodation for 250 students were completed on the site in September 2009. The Worcester Business School moved to the old Royal Infirmary building in September 2010 and now runs all of its Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses here. The Jenny Lind Chapel has been refurbished to its original state[12] as has the Boardroom in which the British Medical Association was founded in 1832.

Grove Farm

The University plans to develop a third Worcester City site on the dis-used Grove Farm, a 47 acre piece of land 1 mile from St John's campus. This third site is expected to take fifteen years to complete and will form part of a Business and Enterprise Park for the science, business and sport departments. [9] Masterplanners are in the process of designing the site and the facilities that will be based there.

Riverside and Worcester Arena

In addition, the University occupies a large site adjacent to the River Severn, now known as "Riverside". This includes an Art Space & Exhibition building, and will soon have a 2000-seat Sports Arena built as a new facility for sports, events, a base for the Worcester Wolves basketball team, and as a further teaching and office space. The facility, to be called Worcester Arena, will be accessible to the local community. [10]

Worcester Library & History Centre

The Univeristy of Worcester is working with Worcestershire County Council to create a new multi-million pound Library & History Centre in the St Clements area of Worcester, and will open to the public in 2012.

The building will bring a range of services under one roof:

  • A fully-integrated public and university library, the first in Europe
  • Worcestershire Record Office
  • Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service
  • Worcestershire Hub Customer Service Centre

Sport

The University is one of the official venues to be included in the London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide.[11][13] The guide features facilities and venues across the UK suitable for use by international sporting teams as a training base in the run up to and during the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.[13] The University is home to the Worcester Wolves basketball team, Worcester Allstars Football team and the Worcester Royals, an American Football team.

Performance

An Ofsted report for the overall standard of the Institute of Education's teaching programme rated the University as "Excellent".[14] The training of teachers was rated ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED in June 2010.[15] Results in the first four National Student Surveys have placed Worcester in the top 40 universities for student satisfaction in 2008, the most satisfied being in English, History and Teacher Training.[16]

In the National Student Survey students from the University rated their overall satisfaction at 80% in 2008/09. A number of subject areas received excellent levels of satisfaction, with an overall student satisfaction of 92% in Sports Science and 89% in Initial Teacher Training.[17]

Awards

The institution has been awarded the coveted Carbon Trust Standard.[18][18] and it was the first university in England to receive a Gold EcoCampus Award for the whole organisation, and in 2008 the Silver Eco-Campus status.[19] The Green League awarded the university 16th position out of 18, for the First Class award among a total number of 126 contenders for the First Class, Upper Second Class, Lower Second Class, and Third Class awards. Thirteen British universities failed to gain any of the awards.[20][21]

In March 2010, the University was ranked 54th of the top public sector places to work.[22]

Notable alumni

Students' Union

Worcester Students Union is the representative body for students studying at the University of Worcester.

Elected Officers

The Union is run by 10 elected officers who are chosen by free and fair elections by the student body once every March. Those positions include:

  • President - Full Time
  • Vice-President (Education & Welfare) - Full Time
  • Vice-President (Sports & Societies) - Full Time
  • International Officer - Part Time
  • Mature Students Officer - Part Time
  • Equal Opportunities Officer - Part Time
  • Environmental Officer - Part Time
  • Events Officer - Part Time
  • Campaigns Officer - Part Time
  • Communications Officer - Part Time

Facilities

The Students Union is based in a building on the University of Worcester campus. It provides a number of services and facilities including:[23]

  • A shop, which sells clothing, food, drink, and stationery
  • Offices, where the President, VPs and permanent staff work
  • The Dive Bar a popular meeting space on campus, opened in 1990
  • A sandwich shop operated as a franchise by an outside company called Berrys
  • A lounge and dining area
  • Open access PC's for any student to use
  • The Student Advice Service, for students to access information on health, accommodation, and finance information

References

  1. ^ Worcester AC: about
  2. ^ a b c Higher Education Statistics Agency, Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2006/07 Retrieved 12 April 2008
  3. ^ University is awarded extra 1,500 places
  4. ^ TimesOnline. Retrieved 14 January 23010
  5. ^ The Guardian 10 May 2009 Retrieved 14 January 2010
  6. ^ Universities facing 'first budget cuts in years'
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ BBC News Retrieved 14 January 2010
  9. ^ http://www.worc.ac.uk/businessandresearch/specialist/1026.html
  10. ^ [2]
  11. ^ [3]
  12. ^ Appeal for £15,000 to remember nurses with stained glass window
  13. ^ a b Podium News, 1 May 2009 Retrieved 14 January 2010
  14. ^ Ofsted Retrieved 14 January 2010
  15. ^ 13 July 2010
  16. ^ [4]
  17. ^ [5]
  18. ^ a b Worcester University Retrieved 14 January 2010
  19. ^ Worcester University Retrieved 14 January 2010
  20. ^ Green league Retrieved 14 January 2010
  21. ^ Green League test results for Worcester University Retrieved 14 January 2010
  22. ^ [6]
  23. ^ [7]
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