University of Gloucestershire
Encyclopedia
The University of Gloucestershire is a university
primarily based in Gloucestershire
, England
, spread over four campuses, three in Cheltenham
and one in Gloucester
. The Independent
newspaper ranked the university in the top 5 of all modern universities
in the UK (The Complete University Guide 2009).
The University of Gloucestershire has pursued an environmental sustainability strategy since 1993, and was the first UK university to meet the ISO 14001 environmental management standard. In the People & Planet Green League
2008 published by the Times Higher Education (THE), it was ranked as the greenest university in the UK.
The University of Gloucestershire is also an active participant of the ERASMUS programme
and the only UK university to be part of the BCA
Programme offering semester abroad, most notably with the USA
.
Its history spans nearly two centuries.
Dame Janet Trotter
was the Vice-chancellor and Principal from 2001, retiring in 2006. The Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer (until July 2011) was Dr. Paul Hartley. In 2009/2010 several formerly senior figures in the university resigned. The University Council appointed Mr. Stephen Marston as Vice-Chancellor.
Simon Pegg
, the comic actor and director who plays Scotty
in the 2009 revamp of Star Trek, received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Gloucestershire on the 4th of December 2008, for his contribution to the arts.
obtained a copy of a secretly-filmed video featuring students with bags over their heads drinking and vomiting, overlooked by another student dressed in what the press described as a "Nazi officer uniform".
A further incident in December 2008 resulted in a Rugby club member vomiting on board a bus, following what a local newspaper called a "booze-fuelled initiation ceremony".
In June 2011, a group of University of Gloucestershire students were convicted of outraging public decency after they "dressed in Top Gun
outfits [and] performed lewd acts" in front of children on the top floor of a double-decker bus. The incident was recorded by the bus' CCTV system. The students were given community orders and banned from all pubs for six months. The university allowed them to continue their studies.
In December 2009 Dr Sharp, Dean and Associate Pro Vice-chancellor, following his resignation, took up a post in the new UK Higher Education International Unit.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Broadfoot
, resigned in March 2010, during conflicting views on the financial health of the institution. The precise circumstances of this resignation and the salary paid to her as recorded in the public accounts have attracted various media attention being the reported highest of all UK Vice-chancellors for the year.
In May 2010, the Chancellor, Lord Carey, resigned.
In September 2010, Paul Bowler was a witness in an employment tribunal case brought by a member of staff of the University under the ‘whistleblowing’ legislation - the Public Interest Disclosure Act. The tribunal found for the complainant and outcome was reported in the higher education press.
In March 2011, Dr. Paul Hartley resigned.
Stephen Marston, Vice-Chancellor, has committed himself to listening to staff concerns.
, Media, Art & Communications, Geography
, Biology
, Social Science, Education and Sports.
The university currently has currently over 9,500 full and part-time students, and has four campuses located in Cheltenham and Gloucester. A campus in London was sold in April 2010. Each campus is equipped with IT and library resources. The four faculties in the university were restructred to three from September 2010 being renamed as: Faculty of Media, Arts and Technology; Faculty of Business, Education and Professional Studies; Faculty of Applied Sciences.
Decisions taken by the University to close the Pittville Campus and the London Campus (see below) have been condemned by the University and College Union
(UCU) as resulting from bad management
The University is reported as selling half the campus site.
The Faculty of Media, Arts and Technology is now distributed over other Cheltenham campuses.
Student accommodation is available in Regency Halls, located near the town centre, and Pittville Halls, located in campus, all with en-suite single study bedrooms.
The campus has a mix of Humanities, Education, Natural & Social Science and creative subjects.
Student accommodation is available in Shaftsbury hall (on campus), Hardwick Halls and Regency Halls. Further accommodation includes St Georges, St Mary's, Maidenhorn and Whitehart.
The Park, Cheltenham, is the largest of the campuses and holds the most events.
Student accommodation is available in the Park villas, Challinor, Eldon & Merrowdown and Eldon & Merrowdown Annexe located on and next to the campus as well as Regency Halls across the town of Cheltenham.
A partnership with the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
was launched in April 2009, and the Park Campus grounds became designated as a public nature reserve. The garden includes over 900 trees, both native and ornamental, a shallow lake, and a meadow with native species.
The Faculty of Applied Sciences is located at Oxstalls campus.
Student accommodation is available in Oxstalls Halls (on campus), Ermin Hall and Upper Quay all with ensuite single study bedrooms.
(ULF) with the aim of enhancing the quality of initial teacher training. In September 2003, the ULF became part of the University of Gloucestershire. The London Campus offered a one year Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education and was the base for the North East London Graduate Teacher Programme (Primary). The university arranged and supervised Teaching Placements in urban schools for students from other colleges around the country.
£8.3 million was spent refurbishing the London campus. Following the refurbishment, it reopened in February 2009.
The university announced the closure of the London Campus in September 2009. Times Higher Education quoted a spokeswoman as saying "We have decided to consolidate our business in Gloucestershire, reducing operational costs."
This, as with Pittville Studios was another casualty of issues related to the funding cap on recruitment by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the 'financial difficulties' of the University of Gloucestershire.
The London Campus has been sold for £9.7 million to LHA London Limited. The LHA was founded in 1940 to help people made homeless by the Blitz. Today with 12 sites across the city they provide affordable accommodation for more than 1450 students, young professionals and those new to London, providing quality accommodation.
. People & Planet judges universities on their environmental policies, their number of environmental staff, environmental audits, whether they have been granted fairtrade status, how much waste they recycle, their carbon emissions, water usage and energy sources.
In the field of Tourism, Transport and Travel studies, the University of Gloucestershire was ranked 7th among all UK universities by the Guardian University Guide, 2011.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
primarily based in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, spread over four campuses, three in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
and one in Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
. The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
newspaper ranked the university in the top 5 of all modern universities
New University
The UCI New University is a student-operated newspaper at the University of California, Irvine. Originally named the Spectrum, later Spectre, The Tongue, and The Anthill, it is published once a week during the regular academic year. Although the New University is officially a university department,...
in the UK (The Complete University Guide 2009).
The University of Gloucestershire has pursued an environmental sustainability strategy since 1993, and was the first UK university to meet the ISO 14001 environmental management standard. In the People & Planet Green League
The People & Planet Green League
The People & Planet Green League is a ranking of United Kingdom universities based on their sustainable practice. It is compiled by the student campaign group People & Planet....
2008 published by the Times Higher Education (THE), it was ranked as the greenest university in the UK.
The University of Gloucestershire is also an active participant of the ERASMUS programme
Erasmus programme
The Erasmus Programme , a.k.a. Erasmus Project is a European Union student exchange programme established in 1987...
and the only UK university to be part of the BCA
Brethren Colleges Abroad
Brethren Colleges Abroad is a fully accredited student exchange program affiliated with the Church of the Brethren. BCA offers opportunities to study abroad for a single semester or a full academic year...
Programme offering semester abroad, most notably with the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The university is the recent successor of a large number of merged and name-changed institutions of further and higher education. Its history began with the Mechanics' Institute founded in 1834. From 1992, Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education (CGCHE) was permitted to award first and postgraduate degrees and 1998 it achieved Research degree awarding powers. However, it was only in 2001 that the University of Gloucestershire was awarded university status.Its history spans nearly two centuries.
Dame Janet Trotter
Janet Trotter
Dame Janet Olive Trotter, DBE is a senior administrator in higher education who helped found the University of Gloucestershire in 2001 and became its first Vice-Chancellor in the same year.-Career:...
was the Vice-chancellor and Principal from 2001, retiring in 2006. The Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer (until July 2011) was Dr. Paul Hartley. In 2009/2010 several formerly senior figures in the university resigned. The University Council appointed Mr. Stephen Marston as Vice-Chancellor.
Simon Pegg
Simon Pegg
Simon Pegg is an English actor, comedian, writer, film producer, and director. He is best known for having co-written and stared in various Edgar Wright features, mainly Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and the comedy series Spaced.He also portrayed Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the 2009 Star Trek film...
, the comic actor and director who plays Scotty
Montgomery Scott
Montgomery "Scotty" Scott is a Scottish engineer in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by James Doohan in the original Star Trek series, Scotty also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Relics", and in numerous...
in the 2009 revamp of Star Trek, received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Gloucestershire on the 4th of December 2008, for his contribution to the arts.
Initiation rites and student behaviour
In October 2008, the University was subject to a journalistic investigation on student initiation rites, after the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
obtained a copy of a secretly-filmed video featuring students with bags over their heads drinking and vomiting, overlooked by another student dressed in what the press described as a "Nazi officer uniform".
A further incident in December 2008 resulted in a Rugby club member vomiting on board a bus, following what a local newspaper called a "booze-fuelled initiation ceremony".
In June 2011, a group of University of Gloucestershire students were convicted of outraging public decency after they "dressed in Top Gun
Top Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
outfits [and] performed lewd acts" in front of children on the top floor of a double-decker bus. The incident was recorded by the bus' CCTV system. The students were given community orders and banned from all pubs for six months. The university allowed them to continue their studies.
2009 - 2011 resignations
In November 2009, Paul Bowler, the deputy vice-chancellor of the University resigned shortly after being suspended from his post only seven months after joining the institution. Paul Bowler, a former investment banker who joined Gloucestershire in May 2009, was on a week's leave when he was told not return to work. On 7 December, a university spokesperson said, "The deputy vice-chancellor Paul Bowler, has resigned. Financial benefits have not been sought by Mr Bowler, who is leaving of his own accord to pursue other interests".In December 2009 Dr Sharp, Dean and Associate Pro Vice-chancellor, following his resignation, took up a post in the new UK Higher Education International Unit.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Broadfoot
Patricia Broadfoot
Patricia M. Broadfoot, CBE was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire from 2006 to 2010, and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol from 2002 to 2006.-Interests:...
, resigned in March 2010, during conflicting views on the financial health of the institution. The precise circumstances of this resignation and the salary paid to her as recorded in the public accounts have attracted various media attention being the reported highest of all UK Vice-chancellors for the year.
In May 2010, the Chancellor, Lord Carey, resigned.
In September 2010, Paul Bowler was a witness in an employment tribunal case brought by a member of staff of the University under the ‘whistleblowing’ legislation - the Public Interest Disclosure Act. The tribunal found for the complainant and outcome was reported in the higher education press.
In March 2011, Dr. Paul Hartley resigned.
Stephen Marston, Vice-Chancellor, has committed himself to listening to staff concerns.
Forerunner colleges in the University timeline
- 1834 – Cheltenham Mechanics' Institute
- 1840 – Gloucester Mechanics' Institute
- 1847 – Cheltenham Training College (Church Foundation)
- 1852 – Cheltenham School of Art
- 1920 – St Paul's College of Education
- 1920 – St Mary's College of Education
- 1967 – Gloucestershire College of Education
- 1979 – College of St Paul and St Mary
- 1980 – The Higher Education part of Gloucestershire College of Arts and TechnologyGloucestershire CollegeGloucestershire College abbreviated GC is a college of further education in the county of Gloucestershire, United Kingdom...
- 1990 – Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education
- 2001 – University of Gloucestershire
Campuses, faculties and courses
The university's undergraduate courses include Business Management, ComputingComputing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, Media, Art & Communications, Geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, Social Science, Education and Sports.
The university currently has currently over 9,500 full and part-time students, and has four campuses located in Cheltenham and Gloucester. A campus in London was sold in April 2010. Each campus is equipped with IT and library resources. The four faculties in the university were restructred to three from September 2010 being renamed as: Faculty of Media, Arts and Technology; Faculty of Business, Education and Professional Studies; Faculty of Applied Sciences.
Decisions taken by the University to close the Pittville Campus and the London Campus (see below) have been condemned by the University and College Union
University and College Union
The University and College Union is a British trade union formed by the merger in 2006 of the Association of University Teachers and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education ....
(UCU) as resulting from bad management
Pittville Studios
Pittville Studios is located on Albert Road, Cheltenham, and was the home of the Faculty of Media, Art and Communications. It was founded as Cheltenham School of Art over 150 years ago. However, in October 2009, the University announced that the campus was to be closed by 2011 due to 'financial difficulties' of the University. All courses held here are to be moved to other campuses.The University is reported as selling half the campus site.
The Faculty of Media, Arts and Technology is now distributed over other Cheltenham campuses.
Student accommodation is available in Regency Halls, located near the town centre, and Pittville Halls, located in campus, all with en-suite single study bedrooms.
Francis Close Hall (FCH)
FCH is based in the restored historic buildings at Francis Close Hall, nearest to Cheltenham's town centre.The campus has a mix of Humanities, Education, Natural & Social Science and creative subjects.
Student accommodation is available in Shaftsbury hall (on campus), Hardwick Halls and Regency Halls. Further accommodation includes St Georges, St Mary's, Maidenhorn and Whitehart.
The Park
The Faculty of Business, Education and Professional Studies is located on this campus providing education for business, management, law, marketing, computing, leisure, tourism and hospitality and media subjects.The Park, Cheltenham, is the largest of the campuses and holds the most events.
Student accommodation is available in the Park villas, Challinor, Eldon & Merrowdown and Eldon & Merrowdown Annexe located on and next to the campus as well as Regency Halls across the town of Cheltenham.
A partnership with the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is the Gloucestershire local partner in a conservation network of 47 Wildlife Trusts. The Wildlife Trusts are local charities with the specific aim of protecting the United Kingdom's natural heritage...
was launched in April 2009, and the Park Campus grounds became designated as a public nature reserve. The garden includes over 900 trees, both native and ornamental, a shallow lake, and a meadow with native species.
Oxstalls
Oxstalls campus is located in the heart of Gloucester, five minutes drive from the city centre. The campus reopened in 2002 (having been previously used for Computing and Business courses in the late 1980s/early 90s).The Faculty of Applied Sciences is located at Oxstalls campus.
Student accommodation is available in Oxstalls Halls (on campus), Ermin Hall and Upper Quay all with ensuite single study bedrooms.
The London Campus
The London Campus was established in 1973 as the Urban Learning FoundationUrban Learning Foundation
The Urban Learning Foundation is an educational outreach charity on the East India Dock Road, Poplar in London's East End. It was started in 1973 as a joint venture between the College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation...
(ULF) with the aim of enhancing the quality of initial teacher training. In September 2003, the ULF became part of the University of Gloucestershire. The London Campus offered a one year Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education and was the base for the North East London Graduate Teacher Programme (Primary). The university arranged and supervised Teaching Placements in urban schools for students from other colleges around the country.
£8.3 million was spent refurbishing the London campus. Following the refurbishment, it reopened in February 2009.
The university announced the closure of the London Campus in September 2009. Times Higher Education quoted a spokeswoman as saying "We have decided to consolidate our business in Gloucestershire, reducing operational costs."
This, as with Pittville Studios was another casualty of issues related to the funding cap on recruitment by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the 'financial difficulties' of the University of Gloucestershire.
The London Campus has been sold for £9.7 million to LHA London Limited. The LHA was founded in 1940 to help people made homeless by the Blitz. Today with 12 sites across the city they provide affordable accommodation for more than 1450 students, young professionals and those new to London, providing quality accommodation.
Reputation and rankings
For the fifth year in a row, the University of Gloucestershire has been declared one of the greenest universities in the UK by the People & Planet Green LeagueThe People & Planet Green League
The People & Planet Green League is a ranking of United Kingdom universities based on their sustainable practice. It is compiled by the student campaign group People & Planet....
. People & Planet judges universities on their environmental policies, their number of environmental staff, environmental audits, whether they have been granted fairtrade status, how much waste they recycle, their carbon emissions, water usage and energy sources.
In the field of Tourism, Transport and Travel studies, the University of Gloucestershire was ranked 7th among all UK universities by the Guardian University Guide, 2011.
| 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Times Good University Guide | 65th | 64th | 68th | 58th | 73rd | 78th | ||||
| Guardian University Guide | 61st | 64th | 63rd | 59th | ||||||
| Sunday Times University Guide | 80th | 82nd | 88th | 74th | 89th | 98th | ||||
| Complete University Guide | 75th | 62nd | 72nd | 58th | 73rd | |||||
| Daily Telegraph | 73rd | |||||||||
| People & Planet Green League The People & Planet Green League The People & Planet Green League is a ranking of United Kingdom universities based on their sustainable practice. It is compiled by the student campaign group People & Planet.... |
2nd | 2nd | 5th | 1st | 5th | |||||
| British Universities & Colleges Sport | 40th | 35th | 38th | 40th | 36th | 50th | 37th | 49th | 49th |
Notable alumni
- Henry BondHenry BondHenry Bond is an English writer, photographer curator, and visual artist. In his Lacan at the Scene , Bond made a contribution to theoretical psychoanalysis....
(writer and photographer) - Chris BroadChris BroadBrian Christopher Broad, usually known as Chris Broad is a former England Test cricketer and current Test official. An opening batsman, Broad had a 25-match long international Test career during which he hit six centuries, together with 34 One Day International matches with a respectable over 40...
(cricketer) - Jon CallardJon CallardJonathan Edward Brooks Callard is a coach at the Rugby Football Union's National Academy. He formerly played rugby union at fullback for Bath and England. He is the brother of ex-Newport RFC player Nigel Callard....
(England rugby international) - Tony CraggTony CraggTony Cragg is a British visual artist specialized in sculpture. He is currently the director of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf.-Early life:Cragg was born in Liverpool in 1949...
(artist) - PJ Crook (artist)
- Peter EdwardsPeter EdwardsPeter Philip Edwards FRS is a British scientist. He won the 2003 Hughes Medal of the Royal Society "for his distinguished work as a solid state chemist...
(artist) - Anne HardyAnne HardyAnne Hardy is a British artist best known for her large-scale photographic work of unusual interior spaces. She completed an MA in photography at the Royal College of Art in 2000, having graduated from Cheltenham School of Art in 1993 with a degree in painting...
(artist) - Richard LoncraineRichard LoncraineRichard Loncraine is a British film and television director.Loncraine received early training in the features department of the BBC, including a season directing items for Tomorrow's World...
(film maker) - Cornelia ParkerCornelia ParkerCornelia Ann Parker OBE, RA is an English sculptor and installation artist. -Life and career:Parker studied at Gloucestershire College of Art and Design and Wolverhampton Polytechnic...
(artist) - Sarah PotterSarah PotterSarah Potter is a former cricketer who played seven Test matches and eight One-Day Internationals for the England Women's team between 1984 and 1987. She currently writes on women's cricket for The Times. She was a left-arm fast bowler and a middle order batsman...
(cricketer)