Aston University

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
Aston University
Image:logoaston.jpg
Motto Forward
Established 1895
Type Public
Chancellor Sir Michael Bett, CBE
Vice-Chancellor Professor Julia King, CBE, FREng
Staff 1,000+
Students 7,000
Undergraduates 6,020
Postgraduates 980
Location Birmingham, West Midlands, UK
Affiliations Matthew Boulton College of Further & Higher Education
Website www.aston.ac.uk

Aston University is a Plate Glass University founded in 1895 whose campus is situated at Gosta Green in the city centre of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. It has a strong business, science and technology emphasis. Aston University's Main Building is reputedly the largest freestanding brick building in Europe.

Amongst the courses at the university are engineering, psychology, languages, biosciences, pharmacy, ophthalmic optics, audiology, social sciences, business and management. Aston is one of the UK's smallest universities in terms of population, with only 7,000 students compared to the University of Birmingham's 26,000. The University is focused chiefly on science, technology and business degrees, and as such offers less choice of course than its larger neighbours and frequently achieves high academic ratings thanks to its focus.

Its business school is world-renowned, with excellent teaching and research ratings. The business school holds accreditation from all three of the major international accrediting bodies (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB), an achievement that few other schools have equalled. In 2004 Aston University began a £22 million construction project to extend the business school which was completed on time and on budget opening in January 2006 .

Aston University has very strong industrial links. Almost all undergraduate students, regardless of their course, are able to do a sandwich degree - working for a year in a private or public company or in government (or some other established, professional body). Aston also has a student placement service. Aston graduates are highly sought-after by companies around the UK, Europe and the world, particularly due to the emphasis on industrial placements.

Aston University has, in recent years, been placed highly in both The Times' Good University Guide and The Guardian's University Guide.

Contents

[edit] History

Founded in 1895 as The Birmingham Municipal Technical School, it officially became the University of Aston in Birmingham on receipt of its Royal Charter on 22 April 1966, and acquired its current name in 1997. Sir Michael Bett took over the position of Chancellor on October 21, 2004 from Sir Adrian Cadbury, whose younger brother Sir Dominic Cadbury is Chancellor of the University of Birmingham. The campus is shared with the University of Central England's Institute of Art and Design.

[edit] Branding

The University’s Arms were granted on 18 March 1955 by Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms to the Birmingham Corporation for use by the former College of Technology. They were designed to show the College’s connection with the City and with the teaching of technology. The arms consist of a shield and crest. The shield has two sections – the field (the main background) which is coloured blue and a chief (the broad band across the top of the shield) of silver. On the field is a diagonal line of five gold diamonds joined one to the other, similar to the first quarter of the Arms of the City of Birmingham and incorporated in the Arms of the College to show its connection with the City. This was adopted by the family of Bermingham, which derived its name from the then hamlet of Birmingham, and provided the Lords of the Manor from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries. On the chief is depicted an open book bound in red placed between two black hammers, showing the connection of the University with technology, the book representing learning and the hammers engineering and allied trades. The crest is also designed to stress the pursuit of knowledge. It consists of a red torch held erect by a forearm between two branches of gold laurel. Having been originally worn on the helmet of a fully-armed person, the crest is always placed on the top of the helm. The method of joining the crest to the helm was usually concealed by decoration and, in the University’s arms, this is effected by the use of a wreath and a crown. The wreath is silver, red and black, these colours being taken from the shield. It is surmounted by a mural crown (resembling a wall) which is reserved in modern grants for persons and organisations connected with public corporations. The cloth mantling which hangs down from the top of the helm is the survival of the cloak which was originally worn to protect the armour coloured in the two principal colours of the shield, blue and gold.

http://www.aston.ac.uk/images/history-1.jpg

The motto of the University is the same as that of the City of Birmingham – "Forward".

Since then the University began rebranding itself into a modern institution, changing the logo from the crest. The new logo incorporates the Aston triangle.

[edit] University league tables

  • Aston University has been ranked 13th out of 109 higher education institutions in The Times newspaper’s 2007 Good University Guide, confirming its place amongst the elite of UK Universities. It ranks Aston above universities such as Nottingham, Lancaster, Leeds, Birmingham, Exeter, Liverpool, Cardiff, St Andrews, Manchester, Newcastle, York, Leicester and Southampton Universities on the Times’ 1,000 point scale. The Times (2007) also ranked Aston as 9th best in the UK (out of all 109 Universities) for the employability of its graduates with 76% entering “graduate level” employment or further study within 6 months of graduation, against a UK average of less than 65%. Aston University was also the highest ranking University outside the South of England/London on this factor. In the 2007 tables, Aston also ranked highly on criteria such as low drop-out rates, strong staff-student ratios, a high proportion of First and Upper second class degrees and a high level of spending on student facilities.
  • Aston University is also rated No 1 for Student Life, and one of the UK’s Friendliest Universities as voted by FHM & Virgin student. [citation needed]

see http://www.aston.ac.uk/prospective-students/ug/pros/astonlife/04studentintro.jsp

  • In the Guardian Guide, Aston University was ranked 18th overall out of 122 Universities and Colleges. Aston has featured in the top 20 of the Guardian Guide three years running. The Guardian tables focus on variables such as teaching quality, spending on student facilities, entry grades, staff-student ratios and graduate success/job prospects.
  • Aston University, however, does not appear in the top 200 World Universities listed by the Times Higher Education Supplement or the top 500 World Universities listed by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University's world rankings table.
Year Times Ranking Guardian Ranking
2007 13/109 18/122
2006 13/109 19/122
2005 22/119 17/122
2004 32/119 13/109

[edit] Chancellors of the University

  • 1st Lord Nelson of Stafford - May 1966 to September 1979
  • 2nd Sir Adrian Cadbury - September 1979 to August 2004
  • 3rd Sir Michael Bett - September 2004 to present day

[edit] Students' Guild

 The neutrality of this section is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.

Aston Students' Guild is a non-profit organisation set up to enhance the university experience through involvement and representation. The Guild provides Sports Clubs, Societies and Welfare Services (Students' Advice Centre and Students' JobShop) partially funded by the Guild's commercial services (bars, entertainment, copyshop and guild shop). On 29th November 2006 the students voted to disaffiliate the Guild from the National Union of Students.

The Guild is run by a team of permanent staff and by an elected team called the executive who follow the rules set out in the Guild Constitution. The executive is made up of full-time sabbatical officers and a number of part-time officers. The executive are kept in check by Guild Council, which anyone can attend and runs throughout the year.

Entertainment in the Guild is split into rooms. The bar downstairs (Lower Ground), known as Einstein’s is open throughout the day serving food and drink. The bar also has a projector screen, a number of flat screen televisions showing SUB-TV and live sporting events throughout the day, pool tables, a jukebox and arcade machines. The ground level contains the Guild Hall and the Blue Room bar; the latter houses a Subway. During the day the Guild Hall is often used for markets (posters, clothes etc.) and societies such as tai kwon do or the dance group the Wild Kats for training sessions. Frequent night-time events are held throughout the week that incorporate all three rooms. The main one of these for 2006-2007 is "Score", However for the lighter hearted of students Thursday sees Karaoke Night in Einsteins until 2am.


The Guild also provides a full range of services including:

  • The Guild website: www.astonguild.org.uk
  • The Entertainment website, which contains event information and photos: www.astonents.co.uk
  • The Aston Times – the student newspaper published three times a term
  • Wotsup? – a weekly listings newsletter
  • Student representation – the core service of the Guild
  • Campaigns and Entertainment Committees
  • Services provided by the Equalities, International Students and Postgraduate Officers to meet different groups’ needs


Other Guild services include:

Lower Ground Floor Ground Floor First Floor Second Floor Third Floor Fourth Floor
Einstein’s bar Guild Hall Students’ Advice Centre & JobShop Loft Bar Executive Secetary Office Aston Rag Office
Toilets The Blue Room Student Activities Area Toilets Executive Office Toilets
Bubbles Launderette Subway Students’ CopyShop . Aston Times Office Meeting Room
Pool Tables Students’ Shop NatWest Bank . Housing Manager Mature students' Common room
Live Music Soc Practice Room Photo Me Booth Secondhand Bookshop . General Manager Aston Links
. alliance leicester cashpoint Appleby Hair Salon . Marketing Coordinator Office SIS Office
. Reception LGB Office . Finance Office AIESEC Office & Islamic Pray Room

Outside:

  • Nationwide cashpoint and NatWest cashpoint either side of the guild steps

[edit] Accommodation

[edit] On-campus Halls of Residence accommodation

Aston University has both standard and en-suite accommodation on campus. All campus accommodation is less than 5 minutes' walk from the main building, and approximately 10 minutes' walk from Birmingham city centre. Wired Internet provided by Keysurf is availiable in all rooms.

Lakeside, Situated on the edge of the campus, with the blocks one one side overlooking the ornamental lake, offers residents well appointed en-suite accommodation in flats for between 6 and 10 students. Rooms have a shower, toilet and washbasin, a television aerial point and telephone. The kitchen and dining facilities are shared. Lakeside incorporates the latest innovative building technology to ensure maximum comfort and security for residents. In total there are 667 rooms in Lakeside.

Dalton Tower is one of three high rise residences and is located in the middle of the campus adjacent to the library. It has twenty floors with three separate flats on each floor. Each flat consists of seven single study bedrooms, a kitchen, and bathroom, which is shared between the occupants. The bathroom has a bath/shower, washbasin, and toilet. Each study bedroom has its own washbasin. Dalton Tower has a total of 406 rooms.

Stafford Tower is located on the outer edge of the campus overlooking the city centre. It has twenty floors, with two flats per floor, each with nine single study bedrooms sharing a kitchen and bathroom. There is a large communal bathroom for each floor with washbasins, showers, and toilets located in the middle of the building. Each single study bedroom has its own washbasin. In total, Stafford Tower has 355 rooms.

Lawrence Tower is situated in the centre of the residential complex and consists of twenty floors. Flats with six single study bedrooms share a kitchen and bathroom with bath/shower, also toilets and washbasins. Flats with twelve single study bedrooms share a kitchen and bathroom with showers washbasins and toilets.Each single study bedroom has its own washbasin. Lawrence Tower has a total of 342 rooms.

Gem House is located on the edge of the complex on Aston Street opposite the local shops. There are fourteen 2-storey flats, each having six single study bedrooms and sharing a kitchen and shower room. The ground floor has two bedrooms, kitchen, and shared bathroom with toilet and washbasin. The first floor has four bedrooms with shared bathroom including a shower and washbasin. Gem Househas a total of 84 Places

Bishop Ryder House is located between Lawrence Tower and Old Cross House. There are five flats each comprising of eighteen single study bedrooms arranged on three floors. There are three single study bedrooms sharing a kitchen, but each floor, comprising six bedrooms, share a bathroom. Each bathroom has a shower, toilet, and washbasins. Bishop Ryder House has a total of 90 Places

Old Cross House overlooks the ornamental lake. It consists of nine two-storey flats each having six single study bedrooms sharing bathrooms and kitchen. The layout is similar to Gem House, with two bedrooms, kitchen, and bathroom with toilet and washbasins on the ground floor and four bedrooms, shared bathroom including a shower and washbasins on the first floor. Old Cross House has a total of 54 Places

Vauxhall House is set around a courtyard, and is located next to Stafford Tower and behind the Lakeside centre. Vauxhall House has twenty-five flats of either five or six single study bedrooms sharing a kitchen and bathroom with washbasins, toilet, and shower. Vauxhall House has a total of 139 Places

[edit] Off-campus accommodation

 The neutrality of this section is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.


The Heights Is located opposite Aston University and offers ensuite accommodation with car parking facilities and a common room with sky television and pool tables. The property comprises of studios, double studios and ensuite bedrooms within three, four and five bedroom flats. However as The Heights is a 51 week let, it can cost more than your student loan. Also the internet must be paid in advance, costing approx £280 for the year.

Londonderry House Is located in the centre of Birmingham above the NCP Carpark; five minutes walk from Aston University with shops, restaurants and bars are all within walking distance. Scruffy Murphy's is below the building itself. Bedrooms are all ensuite and the property also has a common room with table football tables and sky television.

The Canalside Is a new student accommodation, situated on Lower Loveday Street, which is about half a mile away from Aston University. Some rooms have been let to this year's students whilst others await completion and are planned to be let in January 2007.

Aston Brook Green is situated approximately a ten minutes walk from the University. Aston Brook Green is a development of Victorian terraced houses which is owned by a housing association but managed by the Students' Guild. The site consists of 52 houses that have been converted into 61 flats. The project comprises 34 3-person houses, 6 4-person houses and 20 self-contained one bedroom couple's flats. It is popular with students because of location and cheap rents. Applications open in January to take a tenancy for 12 months starting in June of each year. There is a launderette on site and a grassed area. Lack of local shops is a problem, normally necessitating a walk to the campus or to the city centre.

Erdington: Postcodes B23 and B24. Due to campus proximity, Erdington is the most popular residential area for Aston students not staying on campus. It is located north of the city centre, and has direct bus routes to campus. There are shopping facilities on Slade Road and in the Erdington town centre. Trains from Gravelly Hill and Erdington go straight to New Street station.

Until a few years ago, Aston University used to operate accommodation in the Handsworth Wood area of Birmingham.

Students returning from Placement for their final year often opt for more expensive accommodation in the form of Lakeside, applying for a flat with their friends or alternatively Londonderry or the Heights. However some prefer cheaper rents and may stay in Erdington.

[edit] Trivia

  • The Aston Main Building is reputedly the largest freestanding brick building in Europe. It has over three miles of corridors.
  • The last gas lamp in Birmingham stood on the Aston Campus. It was removed in 1970.
  • Aston was founded in 1895 and achieved university status when it received its charter on 22nd April 1966.
  • Aston has the oldest public swimming baths in the country, built in 1860.
  • Aston University alumni includes Jasper Carrot and Emma Bunton's cousin.

[edit] External links


Universities in the West Midlands

Aston | Birmingham | Coventry | Keele | Staffordshire | UCE Birmingham | Warwick | Wolverhampton | Worcester
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../a/s/t/Aston_University_d21c.html"
In other languages