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Coordinates: 52°29′10″N 1°53′22″W / 52.4860°N 1.8895°W / 52.4860; -1.8895
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'''Aston University''' is a [[plate glass university|"plate glass"]] [[campus university]] situated on a 40-[[acre]] (0.16&nbsp;km²) campus at [[Gosta Green]], in the city centre of [[Birmingham]], [[England]].<ref name="TheIndependent">{{cite web| url = http://education.independent.co.uk/higher/az_uni_colleges/article1208485.ece| title = Aston University| accessdate = 2007-03-24| last = Tarleton| first = Alice|date=2006-08-01| work = A-Z Unis & Colleges| publisher = The Independent}}</ref>
'''Aston University''' is a [[plate glass university|"plate glass"]] [[campus university]] situated on a 40-[[acre]] (0.16&nbsp;km²) campus at [[Gosta Green]], in the city centre of [[Birmingham]], [[England]].<ref name="TheIndependent">{{cite web| url = http://education.independent.co.uk/higher/az_uni_colleges/article1208485.ece| title = Aston University| accessdate = 2007-03-24| last = Tarleton| first = Alice|date=2006-08-01| work = A-Z Unis & Colleges| publisher = The Independent}}</ref>


Established in 1895 as the ''Birmingham Municipal Technical School'',<ref name="HERO">{{cite web| url = http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/universities___colleges/west_midlands/aston_university.cfm| title = Uni. finder > West Midlands > Aston University| accessdate = 2007-03-24| publisher = HERO}}</ref> Aston achieved university status on [[22 April]] [[1966]]. Following from its background in Technology, Business, Sciences, Engineering and applied subjects, Aston continues to have a focus on industry and commerce.<ref name="TheIndependent" /> The University also has a thriving School of Languages and Social Sciences. A majority of undergraduate students are registered on courses leading to a [[Bachelor of Science|BSc]]<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.aston.ac.uk/prospective-students/ug/pros/astonlife/14degrees.jsp| title=Our Degree Programmes| accessdate=2007-03-24}}</ref> and 70 per cent of eligible undergraduate students at Aston are enrolled on four-year "sandwich" courses, spending a year abroad or on [[work experience|industry placements]].<ref name="TheIndependent" /><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.aston.ac.uk/prospective-students/ug/| title=Undergraduate Study at Aston University| accessdate=2007-03-24}}</ref> The university emphasises its focus on industry placements and graduate employment record:<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.aston.ac.uk/about/| title=About Aston University| accessdate=2007-03-24}}</ref> in 2007-8, 83 per cent of first degree graduates found "graduate level" employment within six months of graduation, compared to the UK national average of less than 70 per cent. <ref name="ReferenceA">source Sunday Times University Guide 19/9/08</ref> This was the 8th highest proportion of all UK Universities and Colleges.
Established in 1895 as the ''Birmingham Municipal Technical School'',<ref name="HERO">{{cite web| url = http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/universities___colleges/west_midlands/aston_university.cfm| title = Uni. finder > West Midlands > Aston University| accessdate = 2007-03-24| publisher = HERO}}</ref> Aston achieved university status on [[22 April]] [[1966]]. Following from its background in Technology, Business, Sciences, Engineering and applied subjects, Aston continues to have a focus on industry and commerce.<ref name="TheIndependent" /> The University also has a thriving School of Languages and Social Sciences as well as a [[Centre for Project Management Practice]]. A majority of undergraduate students are registered on courses leading to a [[Bachelor of Science|BSc]]<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.aston.ac.uk/prospective-students/ug/pros/astonlife/14degrees.jsp| title=Our Degree Programmes| accessdate=2007-03-24}}</ref> and 70 per cent of eligible undergraduate students at Aston are enrolled on four-year "sandwich" courses, spending a year abroad or on [[work experience|industry placements]].<ref name="TheIndependent" /><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.aston.ac.uk/prospective-students/ug/| title=Undergraduate Study at Aston University| accessdate=2007-03-24}}</ref> The university emphasises its focus on industry placements and graduate employment record:<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.aston.ac.uk/about/| title=About Aston University| accessdate=2007-03-24}}</ref> in 2007-8, 83 per cent of first degree graduates found "graduate level" employment within six months of graduation, compared to the UK national average of less than 70 per cent. <ref name="ReferenceA">source Sunday Times University Guide 19/9/08</ref> This was the 8th highest proportion of all UK Universities and Colleges.


Aston also performed well in the 2008 National Student Survey, with the 10th highest average satisfaction score of all UK mainstream Universities at 80.6% and the 13th highest percentage of all UK Universities <ref name="ReferenceA" />. In the same survey 89% of Aston students were satisfied with the quality of their course (UK average 82%).
Aston also performed well in the 2008 National Student Survey, with the 10th highest average satisfaction score of all UK mainstream Universities at 80.6% and the 13th highest percentage of all UK Universities <ref name="ReferenceA" />. In the same survey 89% of Aston students were satisfied with the quality of their course (UK average 82%).

Revision as of 14:47, 29 September 2009

Aston University
File:Aston logo.png
Motto"Forward"
TypePublic
Established1966 - gained University Status by Royal Charter
1895 - Birmingham Municipal Technical School
Endowment£1.9 million[1]
ChancellorSir Michael Bett, CBE
Vice-ChancellorProfessor Julia King, CBE, FREng
Students9,555[2]
Undergraduates7,030[2]
Postgraduates2,530[2]
Location
Birmingham
,
West Midlands
,
England, UK

52°29′10″N 1°53′22″W / 52.4860°N 1.8895°W / 52.4860; -1.8895
Campus40 acres (160,000 m2), city centre, self contained, grass, trees and paving, pedestrianised, lake and other water features
AffiliationsAssociation of Commonwealth Universities
Websitehttp://www.aston.ac.uk/

Aston University is a "plate glass" campus university situated on a 40-acre (0.16 km²) campus at Gosta Green, in the city centre of Birmingham, England.[3]

Established in 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School,[4] Aston achieved university status on 22 April 1966. Following from its background in Technology, Business, Sciences, Engineering and applied subjects, Aston continues to have a focus on industry and commerce.[3] The University also has a thriving School of Languages and Social Sciences as well as a Centre for Project Management Practice. A majority of undergraduate students are registered on courses leading to a BSc[5] and 70 per cent of eligible undergraduate students at Aston are enrolled on four-year "sandwich" courses, spending a year abroad or on industry placements.[3][6] The university emphasises its focus on industry placements and graduate employment record:[7] in 2007-8, 83 per cent of first degree graduates found "graduate level" employment within six months of graduation, compared to the UK national average of less than 70 per cent. [8] This was the 8th highest proportion of all UK Universities and Colleges.

Aston also performed well in the 2008 National Student Survey, with the 10th highest average satisfaction score of all UK mainstream Universities at 80.6% and the 13th highest percentage of all UK Universities [8]. In the same survey 89% of Aston students were satisfied with the quality of their course (UK average 82%).

Research: In the 2008 RAE 86% of Research submitted was of "International Significance" and 45% "World Leading" or "Internationally Excellent". Aston also submitted a high proportion of staff (88% - higher than many Russell Group Universities) including over 25% of academic staff described as early career researchers. Under the old 5 point system (used up until 2001) Aston would have achieved Grade 5* or 5 in all submitted Units of Assessment. Further details and information on specific Research Groups is available on the Aston University website.

Aston is a relatively small university in terms of student numbers, serving just over 7,000 full-time undergraduates,[2] compared with the 18,840[2] of its near neighbour institution, the University of Birmingham. Aston also has 2,530 postgraduate students (1,315 full time) on MSc, PhD, PGDip and MBA programmes. Aston's smaller size in part contributes its reputation as a friendly University with a lively programme of student activities. Aston Business School (part of the University) celebrated its 60 year anniversary in 2007, one of the most established in the UK. [9]

History

Aston University's main building from the Aston Expressway

Separated from the Birmingham and Midland Institute in 1895 as The Birmingham Municipal Technical School[10], it changed its name in 1927 to the Birmingham Central Technical College[10], to reflect its changing approach to teaching technology. In 1951 The Technical College was re-named the College of Technology, Birmingham[10] and work began on the Main Building at Gosta Green[10]. In 1956, it became the first designated College of Advanced Technology and underwent a major expansion[10]. The first step took place when it moved to an area north of Jennens Road in 1955. It moved into buildings that were constructed between 1949 and 1955 to a design by Ashley & Newman. The college expanded again to a design by the City Architect of Birmingham Alwyn Sheppard Fidler between 1957 and 1965.[11] It officially became the University of Aston in Birmingham on receipt of its Royal Charter on 22 April 1966. Sir Michael Bett took over the position of Chancellor on 21 October 2004 from Sir Adrian Cadbury, whose younger brother Sir Dominic Cadbury is Chancellor of the University of Birmingham. Part of Birmingham City University's Institute of Art and Design is also located on the edge of the Aston University campus - called its Gosta Green site.

In 1983, Aston University, in partnership with Birmingham City Council and Lloyds Bank, established Birmingham Technology Ltd., which manages the Aston Science Park adjacent to the university site.

Coat of arms

File:Aston arms.jpg
The Aston University coat of arms

The University's arms were granted on 18 March 1955 by Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms to the Birmingham Corporation, for use by the former College of Technology. They were designed to show the College's connection with the City and with the teaching of technology. The arms consist of a shield and crest. The shield has two sections – the field (the main background) which is coloured blue and a chief (the broad band across the top of the shield) of silver. On the field is a diagonal line of five gold diamonds joined one to the other, similar to the first quarter of the Arms of the City of Birmingham and incorporated in the Arms of the College to show its connection with the City. This was adopted by the family of Birmingham which derived its name from the then hamlet of Birmingham, and provided the Lords of the Manor from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries. On the chief is depicted an open book bound in red placed between two black hammers, showing the connection of the University with technology, the book representing learning and the hammers engineering and allied trades.

The crest is also designed to stress the pursuit of knowledge. It consists of a red torch held erect by a forearm between two branches of gold laurel. Having been originally worn on the helmet of a fully-armed person, the crest is always placed on the top of the helm. The method of joining the crest to the helm was usually concealed by decoration and, in the University’s arms, this is effected by the use of a wreath and a crown. The wreath is silver, red and black, these colours being taken from the shield. It is surmounted by a mural crown (resembling a wall) which is reserved in modern grants for persons and organisations connected with public corporations. The cloth mantling which hangs down from the top of the helm is the survival of the cloak which was originally worn to protect the armour coloured in the two principal colours of the shield, blue and gold.

The motto of the University is the same as that of the City of Birmingham: "Forward".

University league tables

  • Aston University is ranked 15th out of 113 higher education institutions in The Times Good University Guide 2008.[12] These league tables also ranked Aston as 9th in the UK for employability of its graduates with 76 per cent entering "graduate level" employment or further study within 6 months of graduation, against a UK average of less than 65 per cent. Aston was also ranked 17th for staff-student ratios, 33rd for proportion of first and upper second class degrees, and 6th for services and facilities spend.
  • Aston University was rated 1st for student life, and one of the UK's friendliest universities by FHM and Virgin Student.[13]
  • In The Guardian Guide, Aston University was ranked 19th of 122 universities and colleges. Aston has featured in the top 20 of the Guardian online University Guide for 5 out of the last 6 years.[citation needed]
  • In the 2008 National Student Survey, Aston had an overall satisfaction rating of 89%, (UK average 81%) placing it in the top 15 of UK "full scale" Universities. [14]
  • In the 2008 Performance Indicators (produced by HEFCE) Aston University's drop-out rate was one of the lowest in the UK at 4.0 per cent.[15]
UK University Rankings
2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
Times Good University Guide 25th[16] 28th[17] 15th[18] 13th[19] 26th=[20] 22nd 33rd 36th 41st 34th= 34th= 49th 47th 44th 32nd= 33th= 35th= 40th=
Guardian University Guide 19th[21] 18th[22] 30th[22] 19th 19th[23] 17th[24] 13th[25] 52nd[26]
Sunday Times University Guide 29th[27] 32nd[28] 33rd[29] 32nd[28] 32nd[28] 37th[28] 46th[28] 33rd[28] 43rd[28] 42nd[28] 41st=[28]
Daily Telegraph 12th=[30] 51st
Independent / Complete 13th[31] 23rd[32] 12th[32]

Students' Guild

Main article: Aston Students' Guild

Aston Students' Guild is a non-profit organisation set up with the aim of involving and representing the student body of Aston. The Guild provides sports clubs, societies and Welfare Services, partially funded by the money accrued from the Guild's commercial services.[citation needed] The Guild is run by a team of permanent staff and by an elected team called the executive who follow the rules set out in the Guild Constitution.

On 29 November 2006, the students voted to disaffiliate the Guild from the National Union of Students.

Accommodation

Two of the three 1970s student halls of residence.

Aston University has both standard and en-suite accommodation on campus - 2,117 rooms in total. All campus accommodation is less than five minutes' walk from the main building, and approximately ten minutes' walk from Birmingham city centre. In the 1970s, three towers containing student accommodation were constructed on the Aston University campus; Dalton, Lawrence and Stafford Towers. Each tower has 21 floors, although Dalton Tower is 61 metres (200 ft) tall, two metres taller than Lawrence Tower and Stafford Tower which are 59 metres (194 ft) tall. Dalton Tower has three flats on each floor, each with seven single study bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. Stafford Tower has two flats per floor, each with nine single study bedrooms sharing a kitchen and bathroom. Lawrence Tower has a mixture of flats with six single study bedrooms and twelve single study bedrooms.[33]

A more recent addition to the Aston University student dwelling stock is the Lakeside complex which was constructed 1998-9 to a design by Feilden Clegg. Completed in August 1999, it cost £14,240,000 and has flats for approximately 650 students. The building won the Best Public Building award at the 2001 Brick Development Association Awards.[34]

On April 5 2007, Aston University submitted a planning application for demolition of the three 1970s towers and to replace them with new student accommodation blocks as well as apartments for tutors, retail units and administrative offices. On July 5 2007, the application was approved and work commenced in January 2008 on phase 1. This is due for completion in 2010 and will consist of two blocks of student accommodation and a car park to the rear. There will also be a new artificial sports pitch with another car park beneath. The demolition of the existing towers will take place for phases 2 and 3.[35] The entire scheme is due for completion in 2014. Upon completion there will be 2,345 beds in the development alone, with more beds provided at other halls such as Lakeside. All the new accommodation is to be en-suite but rooms/flats will be differentiated in terms of size and facilities in-order to provide students with a range of different priced rooms. The Aston Student Village project will cost an estimated £215 million.[36] Phase 1 is costing £57 million. The Village has been designed by Lewis & Hickey Ltd and main contractor is Carillion Plc. Start on site date was 30/10/2008 and is due to run for 24 months. Phase 1 buildings will consist of two units at a max height of 18 storeys.

School Of Engineering & Applied Science

Formula Student

Aston University is now in its ninth year of competing at Formula Student [37]and each year has seen improvements in both the technology used and the results achieved by the team made up of keen and enthusiastic Final Year Engineering students. Formula Student is the biggest and best of its kind in Europe. Run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), it promotes careers and excellence in engineering, by challenging university students to design, build, develop, market and compete as a team with a small single seater racing car. The Aston Motorsports team is made up of Final Year Engineering and Applied Science students led by a Postgraduate Team, supported by University Staff Members and Workshop Technicians.[38]

At Formula Student UK 2009 in July, Aston Motorsports AM09 finished a best 27th Overall in Class 1. A Brake Disc Failure prevented AM09 entering the Acceleration and Skidpad events as the team had to go back to Birmingham for spare parts in order to make the Sprint and Endurance events. Lord Drayson, a former student of Aston and now a vaccine manufacturer and Minister of State for Science visited the Team while at the event

Event 2003 AM46 2004 AM56 2005 AM16 2006 2007 AM88 2008 AM89 2009 AM-X 2010
Endurance - - - - - - 11th/41
Cost - - - - - - 14th/79
Economy - - - - - - 18th/41
Sprint - - - - - - 23rd/45
Acceleration - - - - - - DNA
Skidpad - - - - - - DNA
Presentation - - - - - - 46th/76
Design - - - - - - 60th/77
OVERALL - - - - - - 27th

People

List of Chancellors

  1. The Lord Nelson of Stafford (May 1966 – September 1979)
  2. Sir Adrian Cadbury (September 1979 – September 2004)
  3. Sir Michael Bett (since September 2004)

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Alumni of Aston University and Category:Academics of Aston University

References

  1. ^ "Financial Statements 2005-2006" (PDF). Aston University. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  2. ^ a b c d e "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 2008-04-03.
  3. ^ a b c Tarleton, Alice (2006-08-01). "Aston University". A-Z Unis & Colleges. The Independent. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
  4. ^ "Uni. finder > West Midlands > Aston University". HERO. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
  5. ^ "Our Degree Programmes". Retrieved 2007-03-24.
  6. ^ "Undergraduate Study at Aston University". Retrieved 2007-03-24.
  7. ^ "About Aston University". Retrieved 2007-03-24.
  8. ^ a b source Sunday Times University Guide 19/9/08
  9. ^ [Independent Newspaper [1]
  10. ^ a b c d e "History and Traditions". Aston University. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  11. ^ Foster, Andy (2007) [2005]. Birmingham. Pevsner Architectural Guides. Yale University Press. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-300-10731-9.
  12. ^ Good University Guide, The Times, 2008
  13. ^ http://www.aston.ac.uk/prospective-students/ug/pros/astonlife/04studentintro.jsp
  14. ^ BBC September 2007
  15. ^ quoted in The Guardian, June 2008
  16. ^ http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php
  17. ^ http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php
  18. ^ "The Times Good University Guide 2008". The Times. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
  19. ^ "The Times Good University Guide 2007 - Top Universities 2007 League Table". The Times. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
  20. ^ "The Times Top Universities". The Times. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
  21. ^ "University ranking by institution". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  22. ^ a b "University ranking by institution". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  23. ^ "University ranking by institution". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  24. ^ "University ranking by institution". The Guardian.
  25. ^ "University ranking by institution 2004". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  26. ^ "University ranking by institution". The Guardian 2003 (University Guide 2004).
  27. ^ "The Sunday Times University League Table". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i "University ranking based on performance over 10 years" (PDF). Times Online. 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  29. ^ "The Sunday Times University League Table" (PDF). The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
  30. ^ "University league table". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  31. ^ "University league table".
  32. ^ a b "The Independent University League Table". The Independent.
  33. ^ "HIGH-RISE Standard Accommodation - £65.00 per week (2008-09)". Aston University. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  34. ^ "Lakeside Residencies, Aston University, Birmingham". Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  35. ^ "The construction process". Aston University. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  36. ^ "Campus redevelopment". Aston University. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  37. ^ "Aston Formula Student". Aston University. 2000. Retrieved 2000-08-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  38. ^ "Aston Formula Student Team". Aston University. 2000. Retrieved 2000-08-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

External links

Video clips

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