Swansea Metropolitan University

Infobox University
name = Swansea Metropolitan University
native_name = Prifysgol Fetropolitan Abertawe
established = 1992


vice_chancellor = Professor David Warner
students = 5,740cite web |url=http://www.hesa.ac.uk/holisdocs/pubinfo/student/institution0506.htm |title=Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2005/06 |work=Higher Education Statistics Agency online statistics |accessdate=2007-04-06]
undergrad = 4,415
postgrad = 1,185
other = 140 FE
city = Swansea
country = Wales, UK
campus = Urban
address = Mount Pleasant
Swansea SA1 6ED
affiliations = University of Wales
website = http://www.smu.ac.uk/

Swansea Metropolitan University ( _cy. Prifysgol Fetropolitan Abertawe, formerly Swansea Institute of Higher Education, or "Athrofa Abertawe") is a university sited mainly on two campuses in Swansea, Wales, UK.

The University was formed as "Swansea Institute of Higher Education" ("SIHE") in 1992, when it achieved its status as an independent Higher Education Corporation, having previously been known as the "West Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education". However, its roots date back over 150 years. Its predecessors were the colleges of Technology, Art and Teacher Training that provided education in the area in the 19th century. In January 2008, it was announced that the Privy Council had accorded the institution university status, and approved its present name [ [http://www.smu.ac.uk/sihe/news/newunitoday.htm http://www.smu.ac.uk/sihe/news/newunitoday.htm] ] , making it the newest university in Britain.

The Institute was formerly a full member of the University of Wales, but following structural changes in the University in September 2007, it is now an accredited institution. It is an approved centre for BTEC Higher National and NVQ programmes.

Swansea Metropolitan University's study programmes cover a range of career opportunities. The basis of all of its courses is the application of knowledge to real-life situations, whether in the classroom, laboratory or workshop. The best known course at the university is Glass, but the other best-known school is the School of Applied Computing at the Faculty of Applied Design and Engineering.

Faculties

Swansea Metropolitan University has three faculties:

Faculty of Applied Design and Engineering

Schools:See [http://www.smu.ac.uk/sihe/fade/fadehome.htm Swansea Institute - Faculty of Applied Design and Engineering] ]
*Architectural Glass
*Automotive Engineering
*Built and Natural Environment
*Applied Computing
*Digital Media
*Industrial Design
*Logistics and Manufacturing Engineering

The school of automotive engineering is well-known in south Wales for its motorsport engineering. The school works closely with the Pembrey Circuit in the development and testing of competition cars and motorcycles.

Faculty of Art and Design

Schools:
* School of Contextual Studies and Visual Communication
* School of Fine and Applied Arts
* School of Photography and Video
* School of Research and Post Graduate Studies

The Faculty of Art and Design has been awarded an overall "Excellent" grading by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales.

CLASI The Centre for Lens-Based Arts at Swansea Institute is a development within the Institute’s School of Art & Design which celebrated its’ 150th anniversary in 2003.

Faculty of Humanities

Schools:

* Swansea Business School
* School of Education
* School of Humanities and Performing Arts
* Centre for Leisure, Tourism and Sport.
* School of Education

The School of Education and the School of Humanities and Performing Arts are situated primarily on the Townhill campus with views of Swansea Bay.

The School of Education offers courses reflecting the practical and academic needs of the teaching profession.

The School of Humanities and Performing Arts has a Library, Drama Room, Lecture Theatre, Computer Rooms and Teaching Resources Workshop.

Swansea Business School and the Centre for Leisure, Tourism and Sport are based on the Mount Pleasant Campus within easy reach of the city centre.

Swansea Business School achieved an "Excellent" grading for the quality of its teaching from the Higher Education Funding Council (Wales) and has a long and successful tradition of providing business education.

The Centre for Leisure, Tourism and Sport is a national centre for Leisure, Tourism, Transport, Advanced Transport Telematics, European Studies and Languages.

Campus plan

The university is based chiefly on two campuses: the "Townhill Campus" in Townhill and the "Mount Pleasant Campus" in the Mount Pleasant area of Swansea. A third site, housing the Faculty of Art and Design - the "Dynevor Centre for Art, Design & Media", is located on De La Beche Street near the Mount Pleasant campus. The Architectural Stained Glass department is located in a building on Alexandra Road.

tudent Accommodation

The University operates a number of student halls including:
*Townhill (265 rooms)
*Gwyr Hall (69 rooms)
*Dyfed Hall (99 rooms)
*Cenydd Hall (97 rooms)
*Mount Pleasant (6 twin and 37 single rooms)

The university plans to convert the old Swansea Central Library into more student accommodation and there are plans to build more accommodation beside the River Tawe at Hafod. [http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=161389&command=displayContent&sourceNode=161372&contentPK=19611737&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch]

References

ee also

*List of universities in Wales

External links

* [http://www.smu.ac.uk/ Swansea Metropolitan University] – Official website
* [http://www.metsu.org/ Swansea Metropolitan Students' Union] – Official website