Southampton Solent University

Southampton Solent University

Southampton Solent University (Emblem)
Latin: Sotoniensis Soluente Universitas
Motto Scintill Tuus Imaginationem (Latin)
Motto in English
 Spark Your Imagination
Established 2004 – Granted University status
1984 – Southampton Institute of Higher Education
1855 – Southampton College of Art
Type Public
Endowment £633,000[1]
Chancellor The Lord West of Spithead
Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Baldwin
Students 17,455[2]
Undergraduates 9,990[2]
Postgraduates 650[2]
Other students
 6,815 FE[2]
Location Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
50°54′29″N 1°24′04″W / 50.908°N 1.401°WCoordinates: 50°54′29″N 1°24′04″W / 50.908°N 1.401°W
Campus Urban, City Campus
Colours Dark red and black          
Athletics BUCS Head and Regatta
BUCS South Eastern
BUCS Western Conference 3A
Snows Group Hampshire 2
Affiliations Universities UK
GuildHE
Million+
Website www.solent.ac.uk

Southampton Solent University is a university of over 20,000 students based in Southampton, United Kingdom.

Its main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city centre.

Solent University students are represented by Solent Students' Union, which is based on the East Park Terrace campus.[3]

History

The university's origins can be traced back to a private School of Art founded in 1856, which eventually became the Southampton College of Art. Mergers with the Southampton College of Technology, and later the College of Nautical Studies at Warsash, led to the establishment of the Southampton Institute of Higher Education in 1984.

Southampton Institute became a university on 12 July 2005, adopting its current name on 15 August 2005.[4][5][5][6] Prior to 2005, students at Southampton Institute received degrees awarded by Nottingham Trent University.

In 2012, producer, singer/songwriter and musician Trevor Horn received an honorary degree from Southampton Solent University in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in music and his commitment to the music industry. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Music during a ceremony at Southampton’s Guildhall on 20 November.[7]

Campus

Halls of residence

The University has six major student Halls complexes:

All are located away from the main teaching buildings. Five of the six halls are located South East of the city centre, between the St Mary's and Ocean Village areas of the Southampton, while Emily Davies is located to the north west of the city centre, near to the Southampton Civic Centre.[8]

Academic profile

The university strives to work with local business and professional bodies (for example the British Computer Society, Creative Skillset and the PTC) to keep the qualifications it provides relevant and immediately useful upon graduation.

The university has strong maritime courses[9] and the student yachting team are previous world champions, also finishing in 4th place in 2007.[10] Other courses at the university with an established reputation amongst academics include Journalism and Photography, both of which are accredited by industry bodies and professionally recognised.

Southampton Solent University continues to offer research degree awards validated by the Nottingham Trent University.[11]

Rankings

Rankings
Complete[12]
(2016, national)		 113
The Guardian[13]
(2015, national)		 111
Times/Sunday Times[14]
(2015, national)		 114

Southampton Solent ranks 57th out of 90 universities in Media courses.[15]

Research

It is a centre of applied research in design and advanced technology, geography, maritime, fine art, history of collecting, film, media and cultural studies, law and a broad range of business disciplines.

Student life

Solent Students' Union

Established in 1965 the Union forms an integral part of student representation within the University. It is an affiliated full member of National Union of Students. It has four sabbatical officers – President, Vice President of Education, Vice President Welfare and Vice President Student Engagement – and thirteen non-sabbatical officers primarily based on the NUS liberation groups – BME, LGBT+, Mature, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, EU & International, Women's & Part-Time alongside a Warsash Cadets Officer and six Faculty Reps [1 undergraduate and 1 postgraduate from each of the 3 faculties (Creative Industries, Maritime and Technology & Business, Sport and Enterprise)] – as well as several full-time, permanent members of staff.

The President is the students' representative on the Board of Governors and other Sabbatical Officers attend university committees such as Academic Board, Faculty Boards and Course Committees to ensure effective representation for all students – full and part-time, undergraduate and postgraduate.

There are many clubs and societies which are funded through the Union and run by students. Facilities and services include the Student Advice Centre which offers a comprehensive and confidential information and advice service to students, a Student Shop, a copy shop, a cash-point machines and a photo booth.

Entertainment is provided on site by the Union, running a fully licenced bar and catering operation hosting balls, themed nights and with various social meetings taking place throughout the year. The Students' Union holds many formal events over the year including the Freshers Ball, Graduation Ball and Summer Festival. The student union has for many years played an integral part of the student scene on campus within its Commercial Services / Catering departments offering students the opportunity to earn money.

The summer of 2007 saw the refurbishment of the middle floor, with the Executive officers residing there, as well as Radio Sonar and Sonar TV, a Student Union Shop and Wifi Lounge[16]

In 2011, the Union registered officially with the UK Charity Commission after changes in the Charities Act.[17] The Union now has a Trustee Board to govern and work alongside the University Board of Governors.

The first President was Zyg Nilski in 1965 until 1966 under the name of Southampton College of Technology Students' Union. The current President of Solent Students' Union is Naomi Oiku, who is serving her second term.

Student media

The student media outlets at Southampton Solent University are covered by the umbrella brand of 'Sonar Media'. These outlets are considered Special Status Societies within the Students' Union and are run entirely by students. The four societies under the brand include Radio Sonar, the student radio station; SonarTV, the student television station; Sonar Magazine, the student magazine; and Sonar Film, the student-run cinema.[18]

TV station

The student-run Television Station operated under the name SonarTV. The station was founded in 2009 as part of the student media rebrand within the Students' Union. SonarTV are the only outlet within the university that can affiliate with NaSTA (The National Student Television Association), and in 2012 was selected to be joint host for the first ever NaSTAvision broadcast with Staffs TV of Staffordshire University.[19] At the 2013 NaSTA Awards, they placed 3rd for Best Broadcaster in the 40th annual edition of the NaSTA Awards, hosted by XTV of Exeter University

Radio station

The student-run Radio Station is called Radio Sonar. The University radio station was founded in 1998 and was originally known as Sin FM due to the first 28-day FM radio license being granted to the station. After holding a Low Powered AM (LPAM) license, the station changed its name to Sin Radio and became an online radio station. The name of the station was changed in 2009 along in accordance with the Sonar Media rebrand. Radio Sonar has won the prestigious "Outstanding Contribution to Student Radio" at the National Student Radio Conference in 2010 and again in 2011.

Radio Sonar was nominated in the 2014 SRA awards for 'Best Chart Show' and achieved 3rd place.

Sport

The university has a long tradition of achieving at sailing and have won the student national yachting championships on numerous occasions.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ http://www.solent.ac.uk/aboutus/resources/FinancialStatements2008-09.pdf
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "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 12 April 2008.
  3. ↑ "Solent Students' Union Official website".
  4. ↑ "About Us". Southampton Solent University. 12 February 2006. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Southampton Solent University". Contensis. 10 October 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  6. ↑ "About Us". Southampton Solent University. 12 February 2006. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  7. ↑ Article
  8. ↑ "Student Residences". Southampton Solent University. 12 September 2006. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  9. ↑ "Southampton Solent University Guardian Profile". The Guardian (London). 1 May 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  10. ↑ "University Profile". The Times (London). 21 August 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  11. ↑ Qualifications by Research
  12. ↑ "University League Table 2016". The Complete University Guide. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "University league table 2015 - the complete list". The Guardian. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  14. ↑ "The Times and Sunday Times University League Tables 2015". Times Newspapers. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  15. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/education/table/2013/jun/04/university-guide-media-studies-communications-librarianship
  16. ↑ "Southampton Solent University Students Union website".
  17. ↑ Charity Number 1142382
  18. ↑ http://bamstudent.com/beta/solent/files/bye-law-11---societies.doc
  19. ↑ http://nasta.tv/2012/10/nasta-on-tour-episode-1/
  20. ↑ "Player profile: William Adkin". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  21. ↑ http://www.netmag.co.uk/zine/discover/james-hilton

External links