Heriot-Watt University

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Heriot-Watt University


Established	1821
Type	public university
Chancellor	Baroness Greenfield
Principal	Professor John S Archer (from 1 February 2007: Antonio Muscatelli)
Chairman of Court	Gavin J Gemmell
Staff	717
Students	9,090 ^[1]
Undergraduates	5,500 ^[1]
Postgraduates	3,590 ^[1]
Location	Edinburgh, Galashiels, Orkney, Dubai
Website	http://www.hw.ac.uk/

The entrance to main reception at the Edinburgh campus.

Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, is the eighth-oldest higher education institution in the United Kingdom, although it only received its university charter in 1966. Originally based in the centre of Edinburgh, the main campus is now located in Riccarton in the Currie area on the outskirts of the city, with a satellite campus at Galashiels in the Scottish Borders (formerly the Scottish College of Textiles), and a new campus in Academic City, Dubai.

1 History
2 Sports Union
3 Schools
4 Notable alumni
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

The institution that became Heriot-Watt University began with a conversation between the Edinburgh businessmen Leonard Horner and Robert Bryson about the lack of technical education for the working classes. This led to the opening of the "School of Arts of Edinburgh for the Education of Mechanics in Such Branches of Physical Science as are of Practical Application in their several trades" in October 1821.

In 1852 the name of the school was changed to the "Watt Institution and School of Arts", in memory of James Watt. In 1869 women were permitted to attend classes, making Heriot-Watt a pioneer in equal opportunities in education.

During the 1870s a new building on Chambers Street was constructed, causing the institution severe financial difficulties that were resolved by merging with George Heriot's Hospital for needy orphans. At this point the name was changed to Heriot-Watt College.

A view of the loch in the Edinburgh campus.

The college continued to expand throughout the 20th century, developing a reputation in the fields of science and engineering, and became a university in 1966, following the recommendations of the Robbins Report.

In 1969 the former Gibson-Craig estate at Riccarton, 7 miles (11 km) to the south-west of Edinburgh, was gifted to the University and was purchased for one penny. Between 1971 and 1992 the University moved to a purpose-built campus on this site, however situated within a city green-belt, buildings on the campus cannot be greater than 4 floors in height.

The Edinburgh Business School, a component of Heriot-Watt, boasts one of the world's largest Masters of Business Administration programs, offered on-campus or around the world by distance education, and assessed by rigorous subject exams. A Doctor of Business Administration program, along similar lines but also containing a major research component, has recently been introduced.

In 2005, the university announced plans to open a campus in Dubai. In 2006 (end of 2005), the new 40,000 sq.ft. campus opened in Academic City, Dubai. Heriot-Watt University Dubai offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in Business, Accounting, Finance and Management as well as a Master's degree in Information Technology. Engineering degrees (especially Petroleum Engineering) are likely to be introduced in the near future.

The neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield became Chancellor of Heriot-Watt on February 1st, 2006 [1].

[edit] Sports Union

Heriot-Watt University Sports Union has its 30 year anniversary in 2006-2007. It has 32 clubs that compete in the British Universities Sports Association leagues on a Wednesday and in many Scottish National leagues on Saturdays and Sundays. There have been many athletes that have progressed through the ranks to represent their country at the Scottish Universtites level and on the National and International Stage.

[edit] Schools

Statue of James Watt outside the main entrance

School of the Built Environment
- Architectural Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Construction Management & Surveying
- Urban Studies
School of Engineering and Physical Sciences
School of Life Sciences
School of Management and Languages
School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences
School of Textiles and Design
Edinburgh Business School
Institute of Petroleum Engineering

[edit] Notable alumni

"Watt a Clever Cow" Heriot-Watt's contribution to the Edinburgh CowParade now stands in the grounds

Adam Crozier, Chief Executive of the Royal Mail, and former Chief Executive of the English Football Association.
Professor Peter Grant, Head of the School of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh, Winner of the Institution of Electrical Engineers Faraday Medal 2004 (BSc, 1966)
Archy Kirkwood, Baron Kirkwood of Kirkhope PC KBE (BSc Pharmacy 1971)
Brian Monteith, Independent MSP
Christina Cruickshank Miller BSc, PhD, DSc, FH-WC: born 29 August 1899; elected FRSE 7 March 1949; died 16 July 2001. One of the first five women elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. First female chemist elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
James Nasmyth, engineer and inventor of the steam hammer (one of the first students of the Edinburgh School of Arts) (1808-90)
Stuart Purdy, Group Chief Executive of the Hibernian Insurance Group, Dublin, Ireland and previously Managing Director of [Aviva India]. Former President of Heriot-Watt University Students' Association elected in 1983 and a former member of the Court and Senate. (BA Government and Modern History 1985)
Richard Tait, creator of Cranium (board game) (BSc Computer Science 1986)
Jim Telfer, Director of Rugby, Scottish Rugby Union plc (BSc Applied Chemistry 1963, DUniv 1998)
Irvine Welsh, writer, author of Trainspotting (MBA 1991)
Gary Younge, journalist and writer
Jock Clear, Formula 1 engineer for the Honda F1 racing team. (BEng Mechanical Engineering 1987)
Fiona Watson 1968 - 2003 a political affairs officer working in Sérgio Vieira de Mello's office who was killed along with other members of UN staff in the Canal Hotel bombing in Iraq, on the afternoon of August 19, 2003.
Murray Wilson, BSc Hons, Offshore Engineering, 1982. United Nations Humanitarian and Conflict Manager.
Nandeep Bamrah, MBA Graduate at age 17. (MBA 2005) ^[2].
Dr. Lydia Campbell, entrepreneurial scientist who developed soy cheese with her company Nandi Biotechnology. [2], [3]