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University of Bradford
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The University of Bradford (est. 1966) is a university in Bradford, West Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. Formed from a technical college in 1966, there are three campuses: the main campus, located on Richmond Road, the School of Health, on Trinity Road, and the School of Management, at Emm Lane. According to The Times Good University Guide 2008, the University of Bradford is the 48th best university in the country. It has roughly 12,000 students enrolled, of which almost a third are mature students.
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Encyclopedia
The University of Bradford (est. 1966) is a university in Bradford, West Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. Formed from a technical college in 1966, there are three campuses: the main campus, located on Richmond Road, the School of Health, on Trinity Road, and the School of Management, at Emm Lane. According to The Times Good University Guide 2008, the University of Bradford is the 48th best university in the country. It has roughly 12,000 students enrolled, of which almost a third are mature students. Almost 25% of students are international students, and come from over 100 countries. 92% of the university's domestic students come from the state sector.
The University of Bradford was the first university in the UK to establish a Department of Peace Studies in 1973, and it is currently ranked first in the world for the subject. Its School of Management is also ranked third best in the UK . The university is currently undergoing a £79 million redevelopment programme, to improve both its building and its accommodation, as well as its facilities for disabled students, who compose almost 6% of the total student population.
History
Early History and Founding
The university has its origins in the Bradford Schools of Weaving, Design and Building dating from 1860 which in 1882 became the Bradford Technical College. In 1957, the Bradford Institute of Technology was formed to take on the running of higher education courses. Construction of the Richmond Building, the largest building on campus, began in 1963. The Horton Building and Chesham building were subsequently added, on the opposite side of Richmond Road.
The Charter of Incorporation was granted in 1966, to create the University of Bradford; the then Prime Minister Harold Wilson became the university's first chancellor.
1980s and 1990s
Expansion of the main campus continued in the 1980s, with the addition of the Library and Computer Centre, Communal Building, Pemberton Building and Ashfield Building. An extension to the Library and Computer Centre was completed in the mid-1990s. In 1996 the university joined with the former Bradford and Airedale College of Health, which then became the School of Health Studies within the university. The Department of Physics was closed in the 1980s. The Department of Mathematics was closed to new undergraduates in 1997, with the remaining postgraduate activities and lecture support being integrated into the Department of Computing as the Mathematics Unit.
In 1987 the University became one of the twelve founding members of the Northern Consortium.
2000s and Ecoversity
The Bradford Race Riots of 2001 lead to a sharp fall in applications to the university, but the situation has improved since and in 2005 undergraduate applications from home students was up by 35% on the previous year.
In 2005, a £79 million redevelopment of the campus was announced, and a project to create the world's first 'Ecoversity' was formed. The university would strive to reduce its environmental footprint by reducing waste and using sustainable materials, and would imbue sustainability into everything that the institution does, including teaching. As part of this, Bradford became a Fairtrade University in December 2006.
As of the beginning of 2008, several of the redevelopment projects have been completed; the Richmond Building has been partially re-clad with extra insulation and a new atrium opened in December 2006, the roof of which uses ETFE, the same material used in the Eden Project. The university's cancer therapeutics research centre was moved from a separate site on All Saint's Road onto the main campus, into a new building which also provides conference facilities; the buildings on the old site were demolished in February 2008.
Redevelopment of the sports facilities is underway, and new halls of residence are planned. Of the existing halls owned by the university, those on the Laisteridge Lane site were sold to Corporate Residential Management in 2005, and Shearbridge Green Halls were demolished in December 2006. Longside Lane halls and Kirkstone Halls are due to be demolished in 2009.
Motto
The motto which appears on most current University of Bradford publications is Making Knowledge Work, which relates to the institution's focus on courses that lead to employment. The university announced in June 2007 it was to use this phrase as a trademark. However, the motto inscribed beneath the official coat of arms is Give Invention Light, which is taken from Shakespeare's Sonnet 38. It has also used the slogans Be Inspired and Confronting Inequality, Celebrating Diversity in recent promotional material.
Reputation
In 2005 Bradford was ranked 7th, for graduate placement, by The Times Good University Guide; with the nursing and a number of ancillary medical courses placing 100% of their students, within 6 months of graduation.
94% of students are from the state sector, though overseas students may account for most of the remaining 6%, with comparatively few independent-schooled students enrolled. The student drop-out rate for the 2005-6 academic year was 7.9%, a reduction over previous years.
UK University Rankings | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | | Times Good University Guide | 49th | 48th | 47th | 47th= | 47th | 59th= | 54th | 56th | 54th | 54th | 52nd | 53rd | 52nd | 51st= | 50th= | 44th= | 32nd= |
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| Guardian University Guide | 63rd | 44th | 50th | 39th | 31st | 54th | 69th | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Sunday Times University Guide | | 52nd | 52nd | 52nd | 50th | 56th= | 55th | 54th | 54th | 50th | 57th | 58th= | | | | | |
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| The Independent | 49th | 49th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| FT | | | | | | | 52nd | | 52nd | 52nd | 52nd | | | | | | |
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| Daily Telegraph | | | 49th | | | | 73rd= | | | | | | | | | | |
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Administration
The current chancellor is the former world-class cricketer and Pakistani politician Imran Khan, who was installed on 7 December 2005. He took over from Baroness Lockwood, who had served since 1997. Prior chancellors have included, in reverse order, Trevor Holdsworth (1992–1997), John Harvey-Jones (1986–1991) and Harold Wilson (later Lord Wilson of Rievaulx) (1966–1985).
The current Vice-Chancellor (as of 1 June 2007) is Professor Mark Cleary. He joined the university from the University of Plymouth where he was the Acting Vice-Chancellor (Academic). He was due to start in his new position following Professor Chris Taylor's retirement on the 1st May. However due to the sudden death of Professor Roland Levinsky, the vice-chancellor of Plymouth, his appointment was delayed until the summer.
He succeeded Professor Chris Taylor who held the post from 1 October 2001 to 30 April 2007, when he retired from the university. Taylor took over from Professor Colin Bell, who was Vice-Chancellor between 1998 and 2001 and who was later Vice-Chancellor at the University of Stirling. Bell died suddenly in April 2003 and the University of Bradford now holds an annual memorial lecture in his name discussing widening participation.
Schools
The University of Bradford comprises seven Schools:
Engineering, Design and Technology
The university inherited several engineering courses from the Bradford Institute of Technology and some of these courses, such as Civil Engineering are still taught today. All of the engineering courses are accredited by their relevant institute.
The school also has a large number of both undergraduate and postgraduate design and technology courses. Its research areas include automotive engineering, polymers, telecommunications and advanced materials engineering.
From the establishment of the university in 1966, the individual branches of engineering were taught in separate departments. When reorganisation of the three faculties of the university took place, a single School of Engineering, Design and Technology was created and incorporated the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Department of Civil & Structural Engineering, the Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering and the Department of Industrial Studies. The Department of Chemical Engineering was closed shortly before the creation of the new school.
Recently the school has had a number of initiatives to boost the number of women studying on its courses, the latest being called 'FAIRER' (Females Actively Involved in Rewarding Engineering Roles).
Health Studies
Formerly the Bradford and Airedale College of Health, this became part of the university in 1996; previously it was an associate college with the university validating its degrees and diplomas. It is currently located on a separate site on Trinity Road, about 10 minutes walk from the main campus and near to St. Luke's Hospital. However, it is likely that its facilities will be moved into new purpose-built premises onto the main campus in the coming years.
It specialises in courses in nursing, physiotherapy, midwifery, occupational therapy and radiography. A specialist drug therapy course is run by the department and there are also part-time courses in dementia care. The department's student demographics are largely female, with a higher proportion of mature students.
Informatics
The second-largest school in the university consists of the departments of Computing, and of Electronic Imaging and Media Communications (EIMC). Informatics offers over 40 undergraduate degrees and postgraduate study in various areas including computing, ICT, cybernetics, robotics, mathematics, media, television and live performing arts. The School has a very lively research culture with over 100 students registered for MPhil/PhD.
The School was originally known as the "Department of Computing" and subsequently as the "School of Computing and Mathematics", following the integration of mathematics activities after the decision to close the Department of Mathematics in 1997. Although the teaching of undergraduate mathematics no longer takes place, this subject is now covered by the Mathematics Unit within the school, which provides postgraduate study and lecture support. The Department of Computing was one of the first in the UK to run an MSc course in Computing back in 1967. Undergraduate courses began in 1970.
The EIMC department was founded in 1991, and developed its courses in conjunction with the School of Art, Design & Textiles at Bradford and Ilkley Community College (now known as Bradford College) and the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television (now the National Media Museum). The first cohort of 37 students graduated in 1994. It was one of the first departments to offer BSc courses in media technology, going on to introduce some of the first animation and computer games degrees, and more recently expanding to offer a new range of similar BA courses. Previous graduates have gone on to become notable and high-profile members in their field. Today, EIMC no longer works in association with the college, but has strengthened its relationship with the nearby National Media Museum. The department would still claim to be leading the field, albeit against increasing competition. None of its competitors has a collaboration with a brand-leading museum. In association with the Department of Computing, it obtained a research grade 4 at RAE 2001.
In 2005 it opened a new Digital Arts Centre offering the latest computer technology for animation, photography, imaging, and printing. A non-linear Video editing / training suite is named in honour of the Shipley born film director Tony Richardson, and was opened by his daughter, the film actress Natasha Richardson in 1996. It was refurbished for the latest Avid Media Composer systems in August 2007.
The school was renamed Informatics when Computing was joined by the EIMC department. A department of Cybernetics was established around the time of the Mathematics department's demise, and its courses and staff were merged with those in Computing and EIMC in 2005 for financial reasons.
A core part of the school is the Informatics Innovations Unit, which offers the expertise of specialists within Informatics to commercial and social enterprises. This collaboration is part of a Government initiative called Knowledge Transfer, which also includes partnerships with national and international companies. The IIU is also home to "Simula", which using knowledge transfer and resources for commercial projects including the school's motion capture suite for video games including Driver Parallel Lines, World Snooker Championships and GTR.
The EIMC department has a recording studio known as The Blue Room. It was here that local band Rudolf Rocker recorded the track Voodoo Lady, as used in the BBC TV series The League of Gentlemen. Jeremy Dyson, one of the League's writers and a member of the school's academic staff, Mark Goodall perform in the group.
Lifelong Education and Development
Offers mostly part-time and specialist degrees, focusing on areas such as community regeneration and social studies. It also has a new Combined Studies degree and has for several years been noted for its research and teaching in Local and Regional Studies in which it also runs a part-time BA with Honours.
Life Sciences
The School of Life Sciences has the highest number of students of all of the schools and is a vibrant school within the University of Bradford. Currently the school has excess of more than 2,000 students admitted to a variety of undergraduate courses in the areas of Biomedical Sciences, Chemical and Forensic Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Optometry, Pharmacy and Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences.
Headed by the Dean, Professor David Coates, the school has an academic staff of over 100, with a support staff also of more than 100. The majority of academic staff is actively involved in research, which is supported with excellent laboratory and workshop facilities, and by a team of highly experienced technicians.
As a result of their research, the Bradford School of Pharmacy has developed highly successful spin-off companies: Bradford Particle Design, which was sold to an American organisation and which has recently changed the name to Nektar Therapeutics, and AGT (Advanced Gel Technology) and AGT Life Sciences. The BSP has also undergone planned expansion with the new Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation, which provides a hub for research across the School. The building incorporates a new Analytical Centre which is available for use by staff across the University.
The Division of Optometry has its own Eye Clinic, situated on the nearby Science Park, providing Primary Care for the local community in conjunction with a state of the art student training facility.
The Division of Chemical and Forensic Sciences runs a number of forensic science courses in conjunction with the Division of Biomedical Sciences and further undergraduate and postgraduate courses are being developed in the area of Biotechnology. The Division of Biomedical Sciences is also a major contributor to a new Clinical Sciences degree, which commenced in 2002. Although the Division of Clinical Sciences provides a degree in its own right, as importantly there is provision for students to transfer to Leeds Medical School to become doctors.
The Institute of Cancer Therapeutics has an excellent reputation for high calibre research and there is very close collaboration with staff from other divisions within the School.
The ICT recently moved to a new on-campus building in October 2006.
The Division of Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences is located in refurbished, late 19th century mill buildings, housing extensive specialist facilities. Again, high calibre research, learning and teaching are crucial to the mission.
Management
The Bradford School of Management is located away from the main campus on a parkland campus, Emm Lane. It teaches courses in the realm of business, finance, accountancy, management and marketing. As of 2005 the department will commence teaching an accredited LLB Law degree.
It has a number of Masters degrees, MBA programmes and doctoral programmes running alongside undergraduate programmes.
Bradford University School of Management is also a leading European business school, regularly appearing as one of the top ten in league tables such as the Financial Times. It work with large corporates such as ASDA, the BBC and the airline - Emirates, as well as small businesses, providing management development, MBAs and research and graduate links. Its MBAs and undergraduates have some of the highest employment rates of any business school.
In 2005, the School of Management ranked 4th in the world for value of MBA program and 2nd in UK and 5th in Europe for its Master program by Financial Times.
According to Financial Times European Business School Rankings 2005 , School of Management achieved 20th out of 50 Best European B-schools and 10th in the UK.
Its research is both international and interdisciplinary and has five main research groups covering all the main areas of management, and co-operative links and exchange agreements with 20 universities in America, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Holland, Spain and Sweden.
School of Management has full Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) accreditation for DBA and PhD programmes, portfolio Association of MBAs accreditation for MBA programmes and EQUIS accreditation as a School which only accredits to few best B-schools. The University has also started Law courses for the first time as well as MSC Total Performance Quality Management at a post graduate level.
The School of Management is one of the oldest university schools of management in the UK, being one of the first to offer an MBA.
Social and International Studies
The School of Social and International Studies covers the areas of sociology, psychology, economics, international relations, history and English. It is also home to the world-renowned departments of Peace Studies, which was the first of its kind in the world, and the Department of Development and Economic Studies (DES), incorporating the Bradford Centre for International Development (BCID). The School offers a range of taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses and has a number of active research areas, especially in conflict resolution and European Studies. Popular courses in the department include a recently-launched Psychology course for undergraduates, accredited by the British Psychological Society, and Social Work, which is available in both under- and postgraduate forms. The school is actively engaged in the Programme for a Peaceful City initiative.
Its Languages department, formerly one of the university's flagship departments, closed recruitment to its undergraduate courses in 2006 and in 2008 did the same to its masters programme in Interpreting and Translation. The closure was blamed on fewer students taking languages as a GCSE or A-level subject and the subsequent loss of interest at degree-level.
Students
The University of Bradford is extremely diverse, with significant ethnic minority, mature, disabled, and international student populations.
In March 2006, four Bradford students were arrested and detained under the Terrorism Act 2000, on suspicion of terrorism-related offences. In 2007, all four were tried and found guilty of possessing material for terrorist purposes.. This was quashed on appeal in February 2008 on the grounds that there was no proof of terrorist intent.
Students' Union
The University of Bradford Union (UBU) is run by an executive committee of six full-time sabbatical officers and up to six part-time executive officers, elected annually. The committee is unusual in not having a Union President: the post was abolished by Shumon Rahman in 2001, who was elected the Union's first Asian President in 2000.
The Union is located in the Communal Building on campus, and is politically active (nominally to the left), running regular campaigns. There are two venues for night-time events; The Basement and Escape.
The largest student involvement in their Union comes in the forms of the sports clubs (through the Athletics Association, commonly known as the AA), and the societies (through the Societies Federation). There is a wide variety of both, and students are free to start their own societies.
The Student Union also has Ramair, one of the UK's longest running student radio stations, as well as a student newspaper and a film society / cinema that screen professional 35 mm cinema prints.
Alumni
See also: :Category:Alumni of the University of Bradford
- Rinchinnyamyn Amarjargal - Former PM of Mongolia
- Nicholas Baines - Bishop of Croydon and broadcaster
- John Beaman - States of Alderney Representative
- Crawford W. Beveridge - Executive Vice President and Chairman, EMEA, APAC and the Americas of Sun Microsystems
- Roland Boyes - Labour MP
- Alex Brummer - Journalist
- Jean-Jacques Burnel - Bass guitarist in The Stranglers
- David Chaytor - Labour MP
- Michael Clapham - Labour MP
- Nexhat Daci - Former speaker of Assembly of Kosovo
- Paul Donovan - Chief Executive, Central Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Affiliates of Vodafone
- Saeb Erakat - Former chief of the PLO Steering and Monitoring Committee
- Martin Fletcher (TV reporter) - NBC News Middle East correspondent
- Kevin Gaskell - CEO(Europe) of CarsDirect.com, former managing director of BMW (GB)
- John Gater - Archeological geophysicist, Time Team presenter
- Tori Good - BBC Weather forecaster
- John Hegley - Performance poet
- Stephen Hesford - Labour MP
- David Hinchliffe - Labour MP
- Mo Ibrahim - Entrepreneur
- Frederick William Jowett - Labour MP
- Riek Machar - Vice-president of the autonomous Government of Southern Sudan
- Bernard Mariette - Global President, Quiksilver
- Steve McCabe - Labour MP
- Jon McGregor - Writer
- Sir Tony O'Reilly - Chairman Independent News & Media Group , Former CEO H.J. Heinz Company
- John Pienaar - BBC journalist
- Linda Riordan - Labour MP
- Milton Reame-James - Keyboards, Cockney Rebel
- Kate Swann - CEO of WH Smith
- Ann Taylor - Minister of State for International Defence and Security
University Challenge
The University were champions of University Challenge in 1979.
It was less successful in 2004, achieving only 35 points. The joint lowest score ever recorded on the show.
See also
External links
Video clips
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