Jump to content

Loughborough University

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 158.125.9.4 (talk) at 19:32, 15 June 2007 (→‎Notable alumni). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Loughborough University
File:Lulogo-wiki.gif
MottoVeritate, Scientia, Labore
("with truth, knowledge and industry")
TypePublic
Established1909
ChancellorSir John Jennings
Vice-ChancellorProfessor Shirley Pearce
Students17,825 [1]
Undergraduates10,865 [1]
Postgraduates5,715 [1]
Other students
1,265
Location
Loughborough, Leicestershire
,
England
CampusSuburban
ColoursPurple (African Violet)
NicknameLufbra, Lboro
Affiliations1994 Group, Universities UK, AMBA, EUA, ACU, EMUA
Websitehttp://www.lboro.ac.uk/
Loughborough University's Coat of Arms

Loughborough University is located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. The University offers degree programmes and research. The University has been ranked as the 6th best in the United Kingdom by The Times Good University Guide 2007.[2] The University has also been recently ranked as the 9th best in United Kingdom by The Guardian University Guide 2008, becoming the East Midlands top rated University, having previously been awarded 5 Queen's Anniversary Prizes, a record only equalled by the University of Oxford.[3]

It is the country's premier university for sports development, research and education.[citation needed] The University has the largest sports scholarship programme in the UK. Currently over 250 international athletes are studying and training there.

The institution dates back to 1909, when the then Loughborough Technical Institute began with a focus on skills and knowledge which would be directly applicable in the wider world, a tradition which continues to this day, with the UNIEI funded Annual Survey on University Technology Transfer Activities finding Loughborough to be the most efficient technology transfer operation in the UK.[4]

Profile

The University has 24 academic departments and over 30 research institutes, divided between three faculties: Science, Engineering and Social Science & Humanities. It has approximately 17,500 students, 61% of whom are undergraduates and 32% are pursuing postgraduate courses and/or research. Its current Chancellor is Sir John Jennings, CBE, FRSE (the previous chancellor, Sir Denis Rooke, OM, CBE, retired from the position in summer 2003, having served for fourteen years), and its Vice-Chancellor is Professor Shirley Pearce. The previous Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David Wallace CBE FRS DL, was appointed to the Mastership of Churchill College, Cambridge, in succession to Sir John Boyd KCMG. David Wallace was Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University between 1994 until December 2005.

The University has won an unbeaten five Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education for work with the aeronautical and automotive industries (1994); support for developing countries (1998); for a pioneering role in developing applications of modern optics and laser technologies (2000); for its world leading role in sports research, education and development (2002); and for its world leading role in social policy in recognition of its outstanding and widely respected work in evaluating and helping develop social policy-related programmes, such as those for cared for children, social security policy, crime prevention, education initiatives and young carers (2006). In the latest league tables, Loughborough was ranked 6th overall in the Times University Guide 2007, just behind Oxbridge and three London colleges (Imperial, LSE and UCL); making it the top provincial university in the United Kingdom. In the 2007 Guardian League Tables, Loughborough was ranked 9th. Although neither of these league tables include official teaching (TQA) or research (RAE) measures, the university is still held in high regard given its high performance on less academic indicators.

Campus

The University's main campus is in the Leicestershire town of Loughborough and until 2003 it was developing a secondary campus at Peterborough. The Loughborough campus (once the estate of Burleigh Manor) covers an area of 433 acres (1.75 km²), and includes academic departments, halls of residence, gardens and playing fields. Of particular interest are the beautiful walled garden, the "garden of remembrance", the Hazlerigg-Rutland Hall ("Rigg-Rut") fountain-courtyard (pictured below) and the Bastard Gates. In the central quadrangle of the campus stands the famous cedar, which has often appeared as a symbol for the University. Unfortunately a heavy snowfall in December 1990 led to the collapse of the upper canopy which gave the tree its distinctive shape. The recent acquisition by the university of Holywell Park from Advantica Technologies and a 23-acre parcel of land between New Ashby Road and Holywell Park from 3M Heath Care Limited has increased the size of the campus to 433 acres.

Loughborough University's campus from the town's Carillon tower
Aeronautical & Automotive Engineering department
Wolfson School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering
Chemistry department building at Loughborough University

Organisation

Loughborough University is headed by a Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shirley Pearce. The University is organised into three faculties: Science, Engineering and Social Science & Humanities with 24 academic departments and over 30 research institutes.

Faculty of Science

  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Human Sciences
  • Information Science
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Physics
  • Ergonomics & Safety Research Institute
  • Institute of Polymer Technology & Materials Engineering

Faculty of Engineering

  • Aeronautical & Automotive Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil & Building Engineering
  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering
  • Systems Engineering
  • Wolfson School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Faculty of Social Science & Humanities

  • Business School
  • Design & Technology
  • Economics
  • English & Drama
  • Politics, International Relations & European Studies
  • Geography
  • School of Sport & Exercise Sciences
  • School of Art & Design
  • Social Sciences
  • Teacher Education Unit

Traditions

The official colour of the University is African Violet. The coat of arms incorporates several symbols relevant to the history of the Loughborough area, including Offa's cross (a symbol of the ancient kingdom of Mercia, within whose borders the town now stands) and the peacock from the arms of the Dukes of Rutland. The motto of the University is Veritate Scientia Labore (with truth, wisdom and labour, or alternatively with truth, knowledge and industry, depending on the translation).

The University has a strong tradition in both engineering and sporting, from its strong engineering and technical background it has now expanded, becoming a centre of excellence in the field of sports and sports science. It has graduated a number of world-class athletes including Paula Radcliffe and Lord Coe. In keeping with this tradition, Loughborough University students have won the British Universities Sports Association championship every year for over two decades. Sports students are entitled to wear a different style of scarf from other undergraduates. The university is the home of the England and Wales Cricket Board's National Academy, opened in November 2003.

The phonetic spelling "Lufbra" is sometimes used amongst students, graduates, and in Students' Union publications, and the name is also often abbreviated to lboro both casually as well as within more formal/academic circles stemmed from the universities url of www.lboro.ac.uk .

The Students' Union

Main article: Loughborough Students' Union

The Union is unusual (if not unique) in English universities, in that its premises are owned by the students themselves. The union building sits in the north-eastern corner of the campus, and offers a range of facilities for clubs and societies, retail, entertainment and other activities. The Union has five rooms, all with their own themes, meaning something for everyone. The most popular night in the Union is on a Wednesday, entitled "Hey Ewe", which is an evening to celebrate the Universities sport successes of the day.

Along with Loughborough Students Union's (LSU) numerous sports clubs the union hosts and organises many other activities and societies. Loughborough Students RAG organises charity work, and is among the largest such bodies in the UK, it generates increasing amounts of money for charity with impressive increases year on year - in 2006 raising over £620,000 net, for a range of causes. LSU is also home to Loughborough Campus Radio, LSUTV and Label Magazine.

File:LborouniEntrancePICGT.jpg
Loughborough University Epinal Way Entrance 2004
Hazelrigg-Rutland Hall
Loughborough University logo at the entrance on the epinal way

Degree Programmes

Loughborough offers a wide variety of degree programmes, both Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Student Halls

Loughborough University is well known for its many halls, and amongst that, lots of hall spirit. There are currently 14 undergraduate halls, 1 postgraduate hall, and 1 hall being refurbished(although part of it is still open as post-grad). The halls are as follows:

  • Butler Court
  • Cayley Hall
  • David Collett Hall
  • Elvyn Richards Hall
  • Falkner Eggington Courts
  • Faraday Hall
  • Forest Court
  • Harry French Hall
  • Hazlerigg and Rutland Hall
  • John Phillips Court
  • Royce Hall
  • Rutherford Hall
  • Telford Hall
  • The Holt
  • Towers Hall
  • William Morris Hall (Currently partly open as Somerton)

Library

The Pilkington Library opened in 1980 with most advanced facilities. It covers 7,777 square metres over three floors with 780 study places, including 140 workstations over 400,000 books; 4000 printed journals and access to 6000 e- journals. The Library has a history of undertaking research in the field of library and information work.

This is one of the most innovative libraries in the world, with an open access area where students are allowed to take in cold food and drinks as well as to engage in group discussions. The library, like most areas of the university, has full wireless internet access (wifi).

History

Origins

The University traces its history back to 1909, with the founding of the Loughborough Technical Institute. In the early years, efforts were made to mimic the environment of an Oxbridge college (e.g. requiring students to wear gowns to lectures) whilst maintaining a strong practical counterbalance to academic learning. During World War I, the Institute served as an "Instructional Factory", training workers for the munitions industry.

The Loughborough Colleges

Following the war, the Institute fragmented into four separate colleges:

  • Loughborough Training College (Teacher Training)
  • Loughborough College of Art (Art and Design)
  • Loughborough College of Further Education (Technical and Vocational)
  • Loughborough College of Technology (Technology and Science)

The latter was to become the nucleus of the present university. Its rapid expansion from a small provincial college to a world famous seat of learning was due largely to the efforts of its dynamic principal Dr. Herbert Schofield (1882-1963).

The influence of Herbert Schofield

Schofield became principal in 1915 and continued to lead the College of Technology until 1950. Over his years as principal, the college changed almost beyond recognition. He purchased the estate of Burleigh Manor on the western outskirts of the town, which became the nucleus of the present 200 acre (0.8 km²) campus. He also oversaw the building of the beautiful Hazlerigg and Rutland halls of residence. The strong sporting tradition all developed under Schofield's influence.

From College to University

In 1963, the Robbins Report on higher education recommended that all Colleges of Advanced Technology should be given the status of universities. Consequently, in 1966 Loughborough College of Technology was granted the Royal Charter and became Loughborough University of Technology. It gradually remodelled itself in the image of the New Universities of the period, which had also been created under Robbins.

Later history

In 1977, Loughborough Training College (now renamed Loughborough College of Education) was absorbed into the University. The Arts College was also amalgamated with the University in 1998. These additions have diluted the technological flavour of the institution, causing it to resemble more a traditional university with its mix of humanities, arts and sciences. Consequently in 1996, the University dropped the "of Technology" from its title, becoming "Loughborough University", a step much applauded by its non-technological members. Loughborough University has continued to grow from strength to strength and in The 2006 Times Good University Guide it was placed sixth in the country after Oxford University, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, London School of Economics and University College London.

Reputation

Notable departments include CREST, The Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology which runs the internationally recognised masters programme in Renewable Energy. PIRES (Politics, International Relations, and European Studies) is home to a number of world class experts in the area of European Politics and International Relations, including Professor Michael H. Smith, Professor David Allen, Professor Brian Hocking, and Mark Webber. PIRES scored a 5 in the latest Research Assessment Exercise, confirming its world class status (Guardian: European Studies.)

File:UCCE logo.jpg
University Centre of Cricket Excellence (UCCE) logo

University Leadership

Chairs of Governors

Chancellors

Principals

Vice Chancellors

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b c "Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2005/06". Higher Education Statistics Agency online statistics. Retrieved 2007-03-31.
  2. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2714-2208873,00.html The Times Good University Guide 2007, overall table
  3. ^ http://www.lboro.ac.uk/about/qap.html Loughborough University, Queen's Anniversary Prizes
  4. ^ http://www.emda.org.uk/uploaddocuments/threecitiesreport.pdf East Midlands Assembly & EMDA: Three Cities Scoping Study: Building A Complementary Development Framework, p66, Box 6.7
  5. ^ Prior to the 1966 Royal Charter the Chair of Governors held the comparable position
  6. ^ Prior to the 1966 Royal Charter the Principal held the comparable position
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Loughborough_University&oldid=138412548"