| Loughborough University | |
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Shield from the arms of Loughborough University |
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| Motto | Veritate, Scientia, Labore (Latin) |
| Motto in English | Truth, Wisdom and Labour |
| Established | 1966 – Loughborough University of Technology established by Royal Charter[1][2] 1909 – Loughborough Technical Institute |
| Type | Public |
| Endowment | £1.14 million |
| Chancellor | Sir Nigel Rudd |
| Vice-Chancellor | Professor Shirley Pearce |
| Admin. staff | 2,915 |
| Students | 18,220[3] |
| Undergraduates | 11,055[3] |
| Postgraduates | 5,960[3] |
| Other students | 1,205 FE[3] |
| Location | Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom |
| Campus | Suburban, Single-site campus (437 acres) |
| Turnover | £235 million (2009-10) |
| Colours | Purple |
| Nickname | Lufbra, Lboro |
| Affiliations | 1994 Group Universities UK AMBA EUA ACU EMUA EQUIS ESRC |
| Website | http://www.lboro.ac.uk/ |
Loughborough University (also known as Lufbra; i/ˈlʌfbərə/ luff-bərə /ˈlʌfbrə/ luff-brə) is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England. It is a leading University – consistently ranked among the top 20 in the UK – and is a member of the 1994 Group.
It has been a university since 1966, but the institution dates back to 1909, when the then Loughborough Technical Institute began with a focus on skills and knowledge which would be directly applicable in the wider world.
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The University traces its roots back to 1909 when a Technical Institute was founded in the town centre. There followed a period of rapid expansion during which the Institute was renamed Loughborough College and the development of the present campus began.
In the early years, efforts were made to mimic the environment of an Oxbridge college (e.g. requiring students to wear gowns to lectures) whilst maintaining a strong practical counterbalance to academic learning. During World War I, the Institute served as an "instructional factory", training workers for the munitions industry.[4]
Following the war, the Institute fragmented into four separate colleges:
The last was to become the nucleus of the present university. Its rapid expansion from a small provincial college to the first British technical university was due largely to the efforts of its Principals, Dr Herbert Schofield who led it from 1915 to 1950 and Dr Herbert Haslegrave who oversaw its further expansion from 1953 to 1967, and steered its progress first to a College of Advanced Technology and then a University.[5] In 1966, the College of Advanced Technology as it had then become received university status. In 1977, the University broadened its range of studies by amalgamating with Loughborough College of Education (formerly the Training College). More recently, in August 1998, the University merged with Loughborough College of Art and Design (LCAD). Loughborough College is still a college of further education.
Schofield became Principal in 1915 and continued to lead the College of Technology until 1950. Over his years as principal, the college changed almost beyond recognition. He purchased the estate of Burleigh Hall on the western outskirts of the town, which became the nucleus of the present 433 acre (1.75 km²) campus. He also oversaw the building of the original Hazlerigg and Rutland halls of residence, which are now home to the university's administration and the Vice Chancellor's offices.
An experienced educationist, Herbert Haslegrave took over as College Principal in 1953, and by both increasing the breadths and raising standards, gained it the status of Colleges of Advanced Technology in 1958. He further persuaded the Department of Education to buy further land and began a building programme.[5] In 1963, the Robbins Report on higher education recommended that all Colleges of Advanced Technology should be given the status of universities. Consequently, Loughborough College of Technology was granted a Royal Charter on 19 April 1966 and became Loughborough University of Technology (LUT), with Haslegrave as its first Vice-Chancellor.[4]
It gradually remodelled itself in the image of the plate glass universities of the period, which had also been created under Robbins.
In 1977, Loughborough Training College (now renamed Loughborough College of Education) was absorbed into the University. The Arts College was also amalgamated with the University in 1998. These additions have diluted the technological flavour of the institution, causing it to resemble more a traditional university with its mix of humanities, arts and sciences. Consequently in 1996, the University dropped the "of Technology" from its title, becoming "Loughborough University".[4]
The shortened name "Lufbra" is commonly used by the students union,[6] the alumni association[7] and others.
The Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology, or CREST, runs the internationally recognised masters programme in Renewable Energy. The Department of Politics, History and International Relations, or PHIR as it is commonly known, is home to a number of world class experts in the area of European Politics and International Relations, including Professor Michael H. Smith, Professor David Allen, Professor Brian Hocking, and Mark Webber. PHIR scored a 5 in the latest Research Assessment Exercise, confirming its world class status.[8]
ECB National Academy which is also known as the National Cricket Performance Centre has been based at Loughborough University since 2003. It provides world top class indoor and outdoor training facilities for cricketers. Every year world's most famous cricketers visit Loughborough University due to its unique infrastructure for training and fitness purposes.
Loughborough University has been awarded the Best Student Experience five years running (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010) according to the Times Higher Education[9] and was also named the 2008 Sunday Times "University of the Year."[10]
The University has been chosen as a base by both the Great Britain team[11] and the Japanese team for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[12]
The University's main campus is in the Leicestershire town of Loughborough and until 2003 it was developing a secondary campus at Peterborough. The Loughborough campus (once the estate of Burleigh Hall) covers an area of 433 acres (1.75 km²), and includes academic departments, halls of residence, the Students' Union, two gyms, gardens and playing fields. Of particular interest are the walled garden, the "garden of remembrance", the Hazlerigg-Rutland Hall fountain-courtyard and the Bastard Gates. In the central quadrangle of the campus stands a famous cedar, which has often appeared as a symbol for the University. Unfortunately a heavy snowfall in December 1990 led to the collapse of the upper canopy which gave the tree its distinctive shape. The recent acquisition by the University of Holywell Park from Advantica Technologies and a 23-acre (93,000 m2) parcel of land between New Ashby Road and Holywell Park from 3M Heath Care Limited has increased the size of the campus to 433 acres (1.75 km2).
The University has 24 academic departments and over 30 research institutes, divided between ten schools since the Universities new school structure was implemented for the academic year 2011/12. Previous to this the departments and research institutes were split between three faculties: Science, Engineering and Social Science & Humanities.
It has approximately 18,500 students, 61% of whom are undergraduates and 32% are pursuing postgraduate courses and/or research.
Its current Chancellor is Sir Nigel Rudd, (the previous chancellor, Sir John Jennings CBE, FRSE, retired from the position in summer 2010, having served for seven years), and its Vice-Chancellor is Professor Shirley Pearce. The previous Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David Wallace CBE FRS DL, was appointed to the Mastership of Churchill College, Cambridge, in succession to Sir John Boyd KCMG. David Wallace was Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University between 1994 until December 2005.
The University has won six Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education for work with the aeronautical and automotive industries (1994); support for developing countries (1998); for a pioneering role in developing applications of modern optics and laser technologies (2000); for its world leading role in sports research, education and development (2002); for its world leading role in social policy in recognition of its outstanding and widely respected work in evaluating and helping develop social policy-related programmes, such as those for cared for children, social security policy, crime prevention, education initiatives and young carers (2006); and for recognition of its vehicle, road and driver safety research (2007).
In The Guardian 2012 league tables, Loughborough was ranked 9th. In the 2007 Times rankings it was 6th overall but fell to 12th position in 2008.[13]
Loughborough was placed 11th in the latest edition of The Sunday Times University Guide, published on September 11th, 2011.[14]
The University has the largest sports scholarship programme in the UK. There are currently over 250 international athletes studying and training there, and the 2010 International Rope Skipping Foundation's world championships were hosted in Loughborough university.[15]
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Loughborough University is headed by a Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shirley Pearce. The University is organised into ten schools:
Each of these 10 schools has a senior management team (School SMTs) consisting of Deans, Associate Deans for Teaching, Research and Enterprise, and Operations Managers. With this change of organisation within the university the new Academic Leadership Team (ALT), made up of the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Finance, the Pro Vice Chancellors for Research, Teaching and Enterprise, and the 10 new Deans, replaced the previous Executive Leadership Team (ELT).
The official colour of the University is African Violet, with students taking part in practical sessions on Sport & Exercise Science courses having to wear the school kit in this colour. The coat of arms incorporates several symbols relevant to the history of the Loughborough area, including Offa of Mercia's cross (a symbol of the ancient kingdom of Mercia, within whose borders the town now stands) and the peafowl from the arms of the Dukes of Rutland. The motto of the University is veritate scientia labore ("with truth, wisdom and labour", or, alternatively, "with truth, knowledge and work", depending on the translation).
The University has a strong tradition in both engineering and sporting. From its strong engineering and technical background it has now expanded, becoming a centre of excellence in the field of sports and sports science. It has graduated a number of world-class athletes including Paula Radcliffe and Lord Coe. In keeping with this tradition, Loughborough University students have won the British Universities Sports Association championship every year for over three decades. Sports students were previously entitled to wear a different style of scarf from other undergraduates however this has now been discontinued. The university is the home of the England and Wales Cricket Board's National Academy, opened in November 2003.
The phonetic spelling "Lufbra" is sometimes used amongst students, graduates, and in Students' Union publications, and the name is also often abbreviated to "lboro" both casually as well as within more formal/academic circles, stemmed from the university's URL of "www.lboro.ac.uk".
There is a one week break between semester one and semester two. Normally little to no exams are scheduled in this week therefore students are presented with a week free from studies. This week is referred to as Refreshers Week by most students.
The students' union is unusual in English universities, in that its premises are owned by the students themselves.[36] The Union building sits in the north-eastern corner of the campus, and offers a range of facilities for clubs and societies, retail, entertainment and other activities. The Union has five rooms, each with its own theme. The most popular night in the Union is 'FND', on a Friday. 'Hey Ewe' is also well attended on Wednesday nights, which is an evening to celebrate the University's sport successes of the day. 'Stupid Tuesday' is also a popular night at the union. Other nights at the union include 'Universal Thursday' – a night primarily aimed at international students but open to all; and 'Subversion' – a fortnightly rock and metal night, held every other Saturday, and run by the university's rock society. Most night staff – including bar staff, security and crew – are current students.
As well as representing the student body through Union Council and offering academic support through Loughborough Students’ Voice the union has five main sections for students to get involved with and make the most out of their student experience:
AU Clubs
Societies
Action
Rag
Media
There are currently 18 halls, some undergraduate, some postgraduate, some both.[37] The halls are as follows:
The Pilkington Library opened in 1980. It covers 7,777 square metres over three floors with 780 study places, including 140 workstations; over 700,000 books; 4000 printed journals and access to 6000 e- journals. The Library has a history of undertaking research in the field of library and information work.
There is an open access area where students are allowed to take in cold food and drinks as well as to engage in group discussions. Hot food is also served during certain term times. The library has full wireless internet access (wifi).
On the top floor of the Pilkington Library is the Information Science department which is ranked one of the highest in the country in the information research sector.
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