University of Wolverhampton

Infobox University
name = University of Wolverhampton


image_size = 192px
motto = "Innovation and Opportunity"
established = 1969 (as Wolverhampton Polytechnic)
type = Public
city = Wolverhampton
country = UK
campus =
staff =
chancellor = Lord Paul
vice_chancellor = Caroline Gipps
students = 23,470cite web|url= http://www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/dataTables/studentsAndQualifiers/download/institution0607.xls|title= Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2006/07|accessdate= 2008-04-12|format= Microsoft Excel spreadsheet|publisher= Higher Education Statistics Agency]
undergrad = 18,935
postgrad = 4,535
affiliations =
website = http://www.wlv.ac.uk

The University of Wolverhampton is a British university, located on four campuses across the West Midlands and Shropshire. The main campus is located on Wulfruna Street in Wolverhampton.

The university currently offers over 340 undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and was the first to offer degrees in Interactive Multimedia Communication and British Sign Language.

History

In 1992 Wolverhampton Polytechnic was granted university status and thus became the University of Wolverhampton. The following year the first stage of construction was completed on the Priorslee Hall site at the Telford campus; this became home to both business and computer aided design students.

1994 saw Wolverhampton become the first UK university to be awarded the Charter Mark for excellence in customer service. In 1995 two local nursing colleges (The United Midlands College for Nursing & Midwifery and the Sister Dora School of Nursing) amalgamated to form the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the Walsall campus.. Wolverhampton Science Park - a collaboration between the university and the local council - opened in 1996. Its aim was to forge a link between local businesses and the university's research departments.

The final years of the 20th century saw a huge amount of development and expansion for the university. Two new state-of-the-art learning centres were opened at the Telford and City campuses in 1998. These learning centres were a fusion of traditional libraries with high-tech facilities, aimed at providing a greater range of accessible materials for students. The following year the university opened the [http://www.arenatheatre.info Arena Theatre] on the City campus along with the new SC building in Telford.

Developments

In 2000, the University announced plans to spend £60m on a seven-year plan to rebuild and revitalise its campuses. This included the building of a new School of Health at Wolverhampton City Campus, which included the research-focused, Centre for Health and Social Care Improvement. The School’s Mary Seacole Building has mock ward settings where life-sized models are used for clinical skills practice. There’s a general practitioner room, lecture theatres, PC suites and a social learning space, as well as Skills Centres whose staff work in practice as well as at the University.

The Millennium City Building provides over 10,000 square metres of teaching space, audio-visual equipment in all rooms, 300-seat lecture theatre, exhibition gallery, campus restaurant, an informal Social Learning Space, and is home to the University’s psychology department.

The Harrison Learning Centre has traditional and electronic-based library facilities over four floors. It provides electronic auto-service and online cataloguing facilities, and academic librarians manage, monitor and update the available information.

The University is one of the first in the UK to offer students direct online help from Learning Centre staff through its use of ASSIST software.

The MI Building (Technology Centre) on City Campus is an open plan workspace with over 400 PCs, as well as prototyping equipment and industry-standard software packages for 3D modelling and product design. The Centre includes two TV studios with remote-controlled cameras and a full lighting rig, plus a radio studio with digital editing suites.

The new Student Village at Walsall Campus is a courtyard accommodation development with CCTV and 24-hour security. It has 340 single-study bedrooms, each with its own shower room, and access to one of the largest wireless networks in UK higher education, with no charges for internet use.

The new Teaching and Administration (MX) building was opened by Sarah Brown, charity campaigner and wife of the Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in 2007.

Telford Campus’ E-Innovation Centre provides start-up companies with business accommodation in an architecturally striking building. It has hi-tech meeting rooms, social meeting areas, ‘hot-desking' provision, fully-furnished offices, ‘incubation' units, and ‘grow-on' space for businesses who need to expand.

The Lifestyle and Performance Centre features two physiology laboratories accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), with staff including physiologists, psychologists, a biomechanist, nutritionist, physiotherapist, physician and masseur.

Designed for students with particular learning and disability-related requirements, the University has introduced Adaptive Technology Areas, which include Dragon Naturally Speaking voice input software; specially adapted keyboards and CCTV enlargers; and voice readout of computer screen text.

Developed by the University, WOLF (Wolverhampton Online Learning Framework) is a virtual learning environment system used by students and staff that supports learning in most subject areas. It provides online ‘space’ for tutors to make available reference materials, notes, videos and documents related to a subject. WOLF is built with Microsoft technologies and, as it can be used on multiple operating system platforms, it’s available both on and off campus.

Walsall Campus is home to a brand new music recording studio, pioneered by the Major Key Studio Production company, one of the University’s industry partners.

Wolverhampton operates a free student bus service between each of its campuses and campus towns. The buses run regularly throughout the day between Wolverhampton city centre, Compton Park, Walsall and Telford.

The University is one of the few universities to offer a direct metal laser sintering machine to run using titanium.

Hosted by the University’s School of Engineering and the Built Environment, the £5.8 million Centre of Excellence for Construction aims to help improve productivity, reduce costs and raise skills in the local construction industry.

One of the most distinctive degree courses offered at Wolverhampton is the BSc (Hons) in Complementary Therapies, studying human physiology, reflexology, aromatherapy and clinical practice (ie, setting-up a complementary therapy business). Several graduates have gone onto work for the National Health Service, using complementary techniques in conjunction with standard medical practices.

The University, along with the University of Birmingham, is among the first four universities to offer the Postgraduate Diploma in Physician Assistant studies in the United Kingdom.

Research

The University’s cross-disciplinary Research Institutes bring together scholars in a programme of research projects, conferences/seminars, and knowledge exchange with industry and others:

Research Institute in Healthcare Science (RIHS)

Enjoying close collaboration with units such as the Heart and Lung Centre at the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, RIHS aims to ensure that academic research findings are quickly and effectively translated into clinical practice.

Research Institute in Information and Language Processing (RIILP)

RIILP attracts international recognition for cutting-edge research and resources in the field of natural language processing, and methodologies to exploit internet-based data sources for social sciences research.

History and Governance Research Institute (HAGRI)

Global academic debate (ranging from Conflict Studies, European Transformation and Governance, to Trade, Retailing and Consumption History) is regularly informed by the expert contributions of HAGRI staff, through publications and international conferences.

Policy Research Institute (PRI)

PRI carries out high-quality, contract research for external clients to help shape social policy at local and national level. The Institution has undertaken, or is currently involved with, applied research projects in such fields as social exclusion, domestic violence, racial harassment, regeneration, and youth offending.

Our formally-constituted Research Centres and Academic Schools develop top-quality research in their specialist fields:

Centre for Art, Design, Research and Experimentation (CADRE)

CADRE’s researchers pursue creative enquiry and critical analysis that addresses issues of practice and theory, as well as the impact and application of art and design upon society and the greater social/environmental context.

Research Centre in Applied Sciences (RCAS)

Research includes forensic science, biomass and energy crops, natural products related to pharmacy, urban landscapes, and research into learning and teaching within a science context.

Management Research Centre (MRC)

MRC delivers high-quality business and management consultancy, exploring issues such as advanced management skills in SMEs, business crime, managing absence, women in management, and work-life balance.

Research Centre for Sport, Exercise and Performance (RCSEP)

RCSEP has forged a reputation for strategically-important research working alongside bodies such as the Rugby Football Union, English Basketball Association, Walsall Football Club, English National Ballet, English Institute of Sport, and British Olympic Medical Institute.

Centre for Health and Social Care Improvement (CHSCI)

CHSCI is an academic Centre working with significant partners through applied research, training and consultancy in the development of health and social care.

Research within the School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT)

A range of research is supported by SCIT, including research in Games Simulation and Artificial Intelligence (GSAI), Information Systems, Management and Strategy (ISMT) and the Applied Innovation Digital Technologies Research Group (AlDtech).

Research within the School of Engineering and the Built Environment (SEBE)

Research within SEBE is organised into three major areas of enquiry; Architecture and Product Design, Engineering and Technology, and Construction and Infrastructure.

Controversy

In 2002, the university paid out £30,000 in an out-of-court settlement to Mike Austen [http://www.austen-v-universityofwolverhampton.com/] , a dissatisfied law student, who sued on the grounds of multiple misrepresentations and multiple breaches of the student contract. The news gathered worldwide attention and set a precedent in the UK for students' consumer rights. The settlement was reached after a string of allegations about very serious coursework and examination errors, prejudiced marking, severe overcrowding, and very poor teaching standards. [http://www.btinternet.com/~akme/austen01.html]

In July 2006 in a swimming pool at the university's Walsall campus, a disabled rugby player drowned whilst not being supervised properly by lifeguards and managers, an inquest jury ruled. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6693599.stm]

In a "Times" column dated 29 February1988, the writer Bernard Levin cited the then Wolverhampton Polytechnic as an example of how student unions were allegedly dominated by the political hard left.

Quality, Awards and Rankings

In 2008 a University of Wolverhampton academic has been ranked number one in the world in a list of leading researchers in the field of ‘informetrics’. [ [http://www.wlv.ac.uk/Default.aspx?page=16601 'Researcher ranked number one', University of Wolverhampton] ] .

In May 2008 the University was awarded an unprecedented seven Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, securing its top position in the West Midlands. This also brings it to 4th place nationally for the number of KTPs it runs.

In 2005 three staff were awarded National Teaching Fellowships.

The University of Wolverhampton provided businesses with consultancy, skills development and research worth £25.6 million in 2006-07, the Higher Education – Business and Community Interaction Survey [ [http://www.hefce.ac.uk/econsoc/buscom/hebci/ Higher Education – Business and Community Interaction Survey ] ] reveals.

The University of Wolverhampton won two Lord Stafford Awards in 2007, recognising its excellence in innovative work with businesses. Rachel Westwood of SkinScientists Ltd. won the “Entrepreneurial Spirit Award” for her innovative brand of “cosmeceuticals” especially formulated for men. Robert Harris, Principal Lecturer Corporate Programmes, University of Wolverhampton Business School, won the “West Midlands Knowledge Transfer Champion Award” for his contribution to knowledge transfer activities between the University and companies in the West Midlands. [ [http://www.lordstaffordawards.com/UserFiles/File/westpages/Past%20Winners%20-%202007.php Lord Stafford Award winners 2007] ]

The University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall Campus Sports Centre has been named as an official training base for the 2012 Olympics. It will be included in the Guide for National Olympic Committees (NOCs) for the Olympic sports of Basketball, Judo and Taekwondo. The Guide will be used by countries organising their training programmes in the run-up to the Olympics. [ [Reference: http://trainingcamps.london2012.com/about-our-training-camps/detail.aspx?Sec=SPORTING+VENUES&advsrch=1&olySportID=256&LanguageCode=en&Reg=West+Midlands&Pid=722364 Pre-Games Training Camps] ]

The University’s Regional Cashback Bursary was highly commended by the judges in the 2007 Times Higher Outstanding Student Financial Support Package award. [ [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=310057 'Outstanding student financial support package', Times Higher Awards] ]

As of The Guardian's University Guide 2008, out of all the universities ranked (excluding specialist universities), it received 40.81 out of 100, being placed 111 out 120. [ [http://browse.guardian.co.uk/education?SearchBySubject=&FirstRow=&SortOrderDirection=&SortOrderColumn=&Subject=University+ranking&Institution=Wolverhampton Guardian University Guide] ] In The Times Good University Guide 2008, the institution was ranked 112 out of 113. [ [http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/gug/gooduniversityguide.php University Rankings League Table | Good University Guide - Times Online ] ]

Campuses

* City (North)
* City (South)
* Compton Park
* Telford
* Walsall
* The university used to have a campus in Dudley

chools

* Applied Sciences
* Art & Design
* Computing & IT
* Education
* Engineering & the Built Environment
* Health
* Humanities, Languages. & Social Sciences
* Legal Studies
* Sports, Performing Arts & Leisure
* University of Wolverhampton Business School

Alumni

* Clare Teal (English jazz singer)
* Cornelia Parker (artist/sculptor)
* David Carruthers (businessman, MBA from the University)
* Julian Peedle-Calloo (deaf TV presenter and footballer)
* Michael John Foster (Labour MP)
* Jenny Jones (former Labour MP)
* Scott Boswell (former professional cricketer)
* Trevor Beattie (advertising executive responsible for the fcuk campaign)

Notable academics

The broadcaster/journalist Jeff Randall and the author Howard Jacobson both lectured here. Jacobson's experience formed the basis of his novel "Coming from Behind", set at a "fictional" polytechnic in the Midlands.

Holders of Honorary Degrees

* Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (former Indian President)
* Cornelia Parker (sculptor and installation artist)
* Jenny Jones (Labour politician) (former Labour MP)
* Sarah Brown, President and Founder of PiggyBankKids, and the wife of Gordon Brown, the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
* Beverley Knight Pop singer
* Noddy Holder and the rest of Dudley-based glam rock band Slade
* Soul singer Beverley Knight
* Frank Bowling, internationally-renowned artist
* Wayne Hemingway, founder of the Red or Dead label
* Civil rights campaigner Shami Chakrabarti
* Actress and comedienne Josie Lawrence
* Estelle Morris, MP, former Secretary of State
* Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England
* Gordon Brown received an Honorary Doctorate in Social Science from the University of Wolverhampton in 2003 for his commitment to social justice and his achievements in social policy

References

External links

* [http://www.wlv.ac.uk/ University of Wolverhampton]