London Metropolitan University

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Coordinates: 51.5086° N -0.0752° E

London Metropolitan University
Established: 1 August 2002
(merger of London Guildhall University and University of North London)
Type: Public
Vice-Chancellor: Brian Roper
Staff: 3,300[1]
Students: 29,495[2]
Undergraduates: 21,955[2]
Postgraduates: 6,860[2]
Other students: 675 FE[2]
Location: London, England, UK
Campus: Urban
Colours: Purple      and Grey     
Nickname: London Met
Website: londonmet.ac.uk

London Metropolitan University is a university in London. It was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of London Guildhall University and the University of North London.[3] The University is based in the centre of London with one campus in the 'city', at Moorgate, Tower Hill and Aldgate, and one campus in Islington, north of the central zone of London and next to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.

The University operates archive, library and museum. The Women's Library, which houses the archives of the Fawcett Society, and other material on the history of feminism. The other collections are the TUC Library and the Irish Studies Collection.

Contents

[edit] History

London Metropolitan University was formed on 1 August 2002 by the merger of London Guildhall University with the University of North London. The new institution preserved continuity by assuming the company registration of the former London Guildhall University and as a result there was no hiatus in the corporate existence of the University or its degree awarding powers. The change of name of the merged University was approved by the Privy Council.

The Super Lab in Science Centre
The Super Lab in Science Centre

In October 2006, the University opened a new Science Centre, part of a £30m investment in its science department. Close to its Holloway Road site, the facility includes a "Super Lab" claimed to be one of Europe's most advanced science teaching facilities[4][5][6][7] with 280 workstations equipped with digital audio visual interactive equipment. The University's Vice-Chancellor is Brian Roper.
The President Emeritus, who holds the academic title of Professor, is Sir Roderick Floud.[8]

[edit] Campuses

London Metropolitan University has two campuses named London City campus and London North campus.

[edit] London City campus

The London City campus is the site of the former London Guildhall University, near Aldgate East, Tower Hill and Liverpool Street tube stations.

There are buildings located at Minories, Jewry Street,Central House, Moorgate, Whitechapel High Street, Calcutta House, Commercial Road and Goulston Sreet.

The Deconstructivist Graduate Centre on Holloway Road, designed by Daniel Libeskind.
The Deconstructivist Graduate Centre on Holloway Road, designed by Daniel Libeskind.

There is a gymnasium for the use of staff and students at the Whitechapel High St. building, although there are also several private gymnasiums nearby.

The City campus is at the intersection of the City of London financial district and the old East end (Jack the Ripper tours frequently pass by the University's buildings). Spitalfields market is close by, offering a variety of bars, coffee shops, and restaurants, as well as market stalls.

[edit] London North campus

London North campus is the site of the former University of North London, near Holloway Road and Highbury & Islington tube stations.

The Campus began life in 1896 as the Northern Polytechnic Institute. By 1900, student numbers had doubled and later the Institute's evening degrees were recognised by the University of London.

The Tower Building of London Metropolitan University in North Campus on Holloway Road
The Tower Building of London Metropolitan University in North Campus on Holloway Road

In the early 1970s, the Northern Polytechnic merged with the North Western Polytechnic, which was established in 1929, to become the Polytechnic of North London. In 1992 the Polytechnic became the University of North London.

[edit] Profile

London Metropolitan University is the largest "single university" in London,[3] serving more than 29,000 students[2] and with buildings spread throughout the centre of London. The University offers more than 400 degree courses and has the largest choice of courses in London.[9][10][11][12][13] The University has almost 7,000 overseas students from more than 155 different countries.[3] In 2005/06, London Metropolitan University was ranked third most popular university in United Kingdom for international students[14]

[edit] Academic reputation

London Metropolitan chooses not to appear in privately organised league tables because this university believes that the UK Government should be the formal assessor of universities, rather than (private) newspapers' tables.[15] When the University of North London and London Guildhall University last appeared in the Financial Times University League Table in 2003, they were ranked 88th and 97th respectively out of 98.[16] Neither the two former universities nor London Metropolitan University has appeared in any tables since.

The quality of teaching is assessed through the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) which works with higher education institutions to define academic standards and quality, and then carry out reviews against these standards. In the most recent Institutional Audit, the QAA concluded that they had "broad confidence"[17](the highest level of commendation) in the soundness of the London Metropolitan University's management of the quality of its academic programmes and the academic standards of its awards.[3][18]

[edit] Academic departments

  • Department of Applied Social Sciences
  • Department of Architecture and Spatial Design
  • Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media and Design
  • Department of Computing, Communication Technology and Mathematics
  • Department of Education
  • Department of Humanities, Arts and Languages
  • Business School
  • Department of Health and Human Sciences
  • London Metropolitan Polymer Centre
  • Department of Law, Governance and International Relations
  • Department of Psychology

[edit] Scholarships

London Metropolitan University offers a Merit Scholarship Programme and gives £1000 for all international students who achieve A grades whilst studying any bachelor degree course at the University.[19]

The University also offers postgraduate scholarships, a range of full tuition scholarships, including some scholarships with free accommodation.

London Metropolitan University offers scholarships in conjunction with:

  • BBC World Service
  • International Student House
  • Canon Collins Trust
  • Mahatma Gandhi Foundation
  • Murtala Mahammad
  • Benazir Bhutto

London Metropolitan University also offers some scholarships in sports, such as Hockey, Tennis and Basketball.

[edit] Students

More than 29,000[2] students are studying at London Metropolitan University, of whom 21,955[2] are undergraduate students and 6,860[2] are postgraduates. Almost 7,000 overseas students from more than 155 different countries attend the university.[3]

The Logo of The Rocket Complex
The Logo of The Rocket Complex

[edit] Student activities

London Metropolitan University Students' Union (MetSU) is affiliated to the National Union of Students. The day to day running of the Union is organised by a team of officers who together make up the Executive Committee. A Student Council sets policy and can set the direction that the Executive take. It can also censure and remove officers from their positions.

The University directly manages two award-winning social facilities: The Rocket complex and courtyard located on Holloway Road at North campus; and Hub Bar located on Goulston Street at City campus.[20]The Rocket is renowned for its famous club night, which was once voted best student night out in London by Time Out.[21] At Sub Bar, refurbished after years of neglect in the 1990s, events include acoustic/open mic nights, live bands, quiz and comedy nights, club and dj nights.

The Logo of The Sub Bar
The Logo of The Sub Bar

Both the Rocket and Sub are favoured by club and live music promoters for high profile public events.[22] Recent performances have included acts such as Norman Jay, Mary Ann Hobbes, 2manydjs, Justice and Foreign Beggars with Beardyman.

[edit] Board of Governors

  • Independent Lay Governors
    • Peter Anwyl - Director of International Students House, providers of accommodation for students in London
    • Graham Castle
    • Stephan John - presumably Stephan John from Summit Skills, Operations Manager at the Sector Skills Council for Building Services Engineering, and responsible for leading the organisation's planning for the 2012 Olympic Games[23]
    • Prof Zenobia Nadirshaw - Head of Psychology at Kensington & Chelsea PCT. She is a senior qualified practitioner with thirty years experience working in the National Health Service in learning disabilities, influencing service planning, service provision and service delivery issues at local, regional and national level[24]
    • Raj Patel - Enterprise Insight's Director of Policy since November 2003. Former positions include: Head of Research and Development at the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and Director of GLE Strategies, the research and consultancy division of Greater London Enterprise. Raj is a trustee of the Black Training and Enterprise Group and an editorial board member of the Local Economy Journal[25]
    • Abdul Rahim - A graduate of the University of East London, where he obtained an MBA; Managing Director of Platinumlinks Limited (which he founded in March 2000); Fellow of the Royal Society of Manufacture and Arts (RSA). Also a director of London Met's subsidiary London Metropolitan Enterprises Ltd[26]
    • Finlay Scott - Chief Executive, General Medical Council and Board Member of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB)[27]
    • Sarah Tyacke - Chair of the International Records Management Trust; former Keeper of Public Records and Historical Manuscripts Commissioner for the United Kingdom government and Chief Executive of the National Archives of England and Wales (1992-2005)[28]
  • Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive
    • Brian Roper
  • Academic Board
    • Bob Morgan - Head of the Department of Business and Service Sector Management
    • John Gabriel - Head of the Department of Applied Social Studies
  • Co-Opted Governors
    • Jon Alsbury - Elected Staff Representative (tenure March 2007 to September 2009). Works in department of Systems and Services. Current UNISON member and former member of UNISON branch executive (2002 to 2007).[29]
    • John Haworth
    • Jeremy Mayhew - Partner at Spectrum Strategy Consultants, a "leading consultancy firm, focused exclusively on the media and telecoms sectors worldwide". He is a graduate of Oxford (Balliol), with an MBA from Harvard. Former positions include: BBC Worldwide's Director of New Media (1995-1999) and Director of New Ventures and Strategy (1999-2001); BBC Head of Strategy Development (1993-95); Special Adviser at the Department of Trade and Industry (1990-92) and Department of Social Security (1992-93). Jeremy is also a Non-Executive Member of the Strategic Rail Authority Board, a Common Councilman in the City of London, and a member of the Council of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry[30]
    • Michael Snyder - Chair, City of London Corporation's Policy and Resources Committee; a Common Councilman of the City of London since 1986; former Chairman of both the City of London's Finance Committee and the Barbican Estate Committee; Vice-chairman of Planning and Economic Development at London Councils (formerly the Association of London Government); Board member of Thames Gateway London Partnership; a Director of Gateway to London, the sub-regional inward investment and business retention service; member of the Small Business Investment Taskforce, Government Accountants Working Group (chair), Film London and a trustee of Academy Sponsor Trust and of Training for Life; Senior Partner of top 20 chartered accountancy firm Kingston Smith; Governor and Honorary Treasurer of Brentwood School in Essex and a Liveryman and member of the Court of two companies[31]
  • Students' Union
    • Abu Shohid -President

[edit] International Offices

The London Metropoliton University has offices in other countries:

City Country
Dhaka Bangladesh
Brussels Belgium
Beijing China
Delhi and Chennai India
Lagos Nigeria
Lahore and Karachi Pakistan

[edit] Notable alumni and former staff

[edit] References

  1. ^ Facts and Figures - from official website
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2006/07 (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet). Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Green, Chris (2007-07-27). A-Z Unis & Colleges: London Metropolitan University. The Independent. Retrieved on 2007-09-08.
  4. ^ Science centre 'best in Europe' - from BBC World Service
  5. ^ Brought to you in association with London Metropolitan University - from Guardian Unlimited
  6. ^ Science ‘superlab’ opens at London Met United Kingdom - from International Education Media
  7. ^ Science Centre-Virtual Tour -from official website
  8. ^ Sir Roderick Floud -from London Metropolitan Univesity official website
  9. ^ London Metropolitan University -from studyLondon
  10. ^ Facts and figures -from London Metropolitan University official website
  11. ^ Foundation Course University Partners -from BellerbysCollege
  12. ^ CITYZONE COMPANY MEMBER - LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY -from cityzone
  13. ^ Brought to you in association with London Metropolitan University - from Guardian Unlimited
  14. ^ Higher education statistics - from UK Council for International Students Affairs
  15. ^ Our Ranking -from London Metropolitan University official website
  16. ^ Financial Times University League Table 2003 Retrieved on 2007-12-17
  17. ^ London Metropolitan University Collaborative provision audit -from Quality Assurence Agency
  18. ^ Review reports: London Metropolitan University -from Quality Assurence Agency
  19. ^ Merit scholarships - from London Metropolitan University Official Website
  20. ^ LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY -from The Guardian Jobs
  21. ^ Campus Services -from London Metropolitan University official website
  22. ^ Review of London Metropolitan University -from The Independent
  23. ^ Stephan John at Summit Skills.
  24. ^ ASHA Foundation profile of Prof. Zenobia Nadirshaw. Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
  25. ^ Online profile of Raj Patel.
  26. ^ Online profile of Abdul Rahim.
  27. ^ PMETB page for Finlay Scott.
  28. ^ Homepage for Sarah Tyacke.
  29. ^ Homepage for Jon Alsbury.
  30. ^ Profile of Jeremy Mayhew at the Spectrum Strategy webpage. Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
  31. ^ Profile of Michael Snyder at City of London Corporation's website. Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
  32. ^ Garth Crooks Biography
  33. ^ Spin doctor to resign - from BBC World Service
  34. ^ London Met graduate fronts Brit-nominated band

[edit] External links


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