Central Institution
Encyclopedia
A central institution was a type of higher education institute in 20th and 21st century Scotland
responsible for providing degree-level education but emphasising teaching rather than research
. Some had a range of courses similar to polytechnics
elsewhere in the United Kingdom while others were more specialised such as the art colleges
and the conservatoire. Some subjects were not taught at central institutions, for example teacher training was only carried out by colleges of education, which later merged with universities.
Amongst the most common names for individual central institutions were college of agriculture, college of art, and institute of technology
. Of the five colleges of technology, Napier and Glasgow eventually changed their names to include the word polytechnic, Paisley took the name Paisley College, while Dundee and Robert Gordon became institutes of technology. Another central institution, Leith Nautical College, Edinburgh, closed in 1987 by merger into the further education sector.
Academic degree
s in central institutions were validated by the Council for National Academic Awards
(CNAA) until 1992.
Like the designation polytechnic, the term central institution is currently rarely used since most of these institutions entered the university sector in 1992 when the Further and Higher Education Act 1992
came into effect. Those universities are now referred to as post-1992 universities. The last central institution (the Scottish Agricultural College
) entered the university sector formally in August 2008.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
responsible for providing degree-level education but emphasising teaching rather than research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
. Some had a range of courses similar to polytechnics
Polytechnic (United Kingdom)
A polytechnic was a type of tertiary education teaching institution in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. After the passage of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 they became universities which meant they could award their own degrees. The comparable institutions in Scotland were...
elsewhere in the United Kingdom while others were more specialised such as the art colleges
Art school
Art school is a general term for any educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. The term applies to institutions with elementary, secondary, post-secondary or undergraduate, or graduate or...
and the conservatoire. Some subjects were not taught at central institutions, for example teacher training was only carried out by colleges of education, which later merged with universities.
Amongst the most common names for individual central institutions were college of agriculture, college of art, and institute of technology
Institute of technology
Institute of technology is a designation employed in a wide range of learning institutions awarding different types of degrees and operating often at variable levels of the educational system...
. Of the five colleges of technology, Napier and Glasgow eventually changed their names to include the word polytechnic, Paisley took the name Paisley College, while Dundee and Robert Gordon became institutes of technology. Another central institution, Leith Nautical College, Edinburgh, closed in 1987 by merger into the further education sector.
Academic degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
s in central institutions were validated by the Council for National Academic Awards
Council for National Academic Awards
The Council for National Academic Awards was a degree awarding authority in the United Kingdom from 1965 until 1992. The CNAA awarded academic degrees at polytechnics, Central Institutions and other non-university institutions such as Colleges of Higher Education until they were awarded university...
(CNAA) until 1992.
Like the designation polytechnic, the term central institution is currently rarely used since most of these institutions entered the university sector in 1992 when the Further and Higher Education Act 1992
Further and Higher Education Act 1992
The Further and Higher Education Acts 1992 made changes in the funding and administration of further education and higher education within the United Kingdom. The most visible result was to allow thirty-five polytechnics to become universities. In addition the Act created bodies to fund higher...
came into effect. Those universities are now referred to as post-1992 universities. The last central institution (the Scottish Agricultural College
Scottish Agricultural College
The Scottish Agricultural College exists to support the development of land-based industries and communities through Higher Education and training, specialist research and development and advisory and consultancy services....
) entered the university sector formally in August 2008.
List of central institutions
The number of central institutions varied, but in 1988 the list included the following, several of which now have university status.- Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee (now part of the University of DundeeUniversity of DundeeThe University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
)
- Dundee Institute of Technology, Dundee (now University of Abertay DundeeUniversity of Abertay DundeeThe University of Abertay Dundee, usually known simply as Abertay University, is a modern university in Dundee, Scotland.- History :The University of Abertay Dundee was created in 1994, under government legislation granting the title University to the Dundee Institute of Technology...
)
- East of Scotland College of Agriculture, Edinburgh (now part of the Scottish Agricultural CollegeScottish Agricultural CollegeThe Scottish Agricultural College exists to support the development of land-based industries and communities through Higher Education and training, specialist research and development and advisory and consultancy services....
)
- Edinburgh College of ArtEdinburgh College of ArtEdinburgh College of Art is an art school in Edinburgh, Scotland, providing tertiary education in art and design disciplines for over two thousand students....
, Edinburgh
- Glasgow College of Technology, Glasgow (later Glasgow Polytechnic, now part of Glasgow Caledonian UniversityGlasgow Caledonian UniversityGlasgow Caledonian University is a public university in Glasgow, Scotland.The university was constituted by an Act of Parliament on 1 April 1993 as a result of a merger between Glasgow Polytechnic and The Queen's College, Glasgow....
)
- The Glasgow School of ArtGlasgow School of ArtGlasgow School of Art is one of only two independent art schools in Scotland, situated in the Garnethill area of Glasgow.-History:It was founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design. In 1853, it changed its name to The Glasgow School of Art. Initially it was located at 12 Ingram...
, Glasgow
- Napier Polytechnic, of Edinburgh (now Edinburgh Napier University).
- North of Scotland College of Agriculture, Aberdeen (now part of the Scottish Agricultural CollegeScottish Agricultural CollegeThe Scottish Agricultural College exists to support the development of land-based industries and communities through Higher Education and training, specialist research and development and advisory and consultancy services....
)
- Paisley College of Technology, Paisley (now University of the West of Scotland)
- Queen Margaret University College, formally Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh (now Queen Margaret University)
- The Queen's College, Glasgow (now part of Glasgow Caledonian UniversityGlasgow Caledonian UniversityGlasgow Caledonian University is a public university in Glasgow, Scotland.The university was constituted by an Act of Parliament on 1 April 1993 as a result of a merger between Glasgow Polytechnic and The Queen's College, Glasgow....
)
- Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology, Aberdeen (now Robert Gordon UniversityRobert Gordon UniversityRobert Gordon University is located in Aberdeen, Scotland. Building on over 250 years involvement in education, it was granted university status in 1992. Robert Gordon University currently has approximately 16,407 students at its two campuses at Garthdee and the City Centre, studying on over 145...
)
- The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and DramaRoyal Scottish Academy of Music and DramaThe Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
, Glasgow
- Scottish College of Textiles, Galashiels (now part of Heriot-Watt UniversityHeriot-Watt UniversityHeriot-Watt University is a university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The name commemorates George Heriot, the 16th century financier to King James, and James Watt, the great 18th century inventor and engineer....
, Edinburgh)
- The West of Scotland College, AuchincruiveAuchincruiveAuchincruive is a former country house and estate in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is located east of Ayr, on the north bank of the River Ayr. Auchincruive House was built in the 18th century on the site of an earlier mansion. In 1927 the estate became the West of Scotland College of Agriculture,...
(now part of the Scottish Agricultural CollegeScottish Agricultural CollegeThe Scottish Agricultural College exists to support the development of land-based industries and communities through Higher Education and training, specialist research and development and advisory and consultancy services....
)