Teesside University

Teesside University
Motto Latin: Facta non-verba[1]
Motto in English
 "Deeds Not Words"[1]
Established 1930 – Constantine Technical College[2]
1969 - as Teesside Polytechnic
1992 – gained University Status
Type Public
Endowment £1.572m[3]
Chancellor Lord Sawyer[4]
Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Henderson[5]
Administrative staff
 2,284[6]
Students 21,830[7]
Undergraduates 19,773[7]
Postgraduates 2,057[7]
Location Middlesbrough and Darlington, England, UK
Campus Urban
Colours

     Red

     Yellow
Affiliations University Alliance
Website www.tees.ac.uk

Teesside University has its main campus in Middlesbrough in North East England. It has 21,830 students, according to the 2012/13 HESA student record.[7] As well as the main university in central Middlesbrough, it also has a campus in Darlington named Teesside University Darlington.

History

Constantine Building

While it was clear enough that, when the time came for a successor to the Middlesbrough-based Mechanics' Institute of 1844, a new technical college was in order, a shortage of funding long proved a barrier to any such plan. The College's launch could otherwise have come as early as 1914. Even after the donation of £40,000 to build the college from local shipping magnate Joseph Constantine in 1916, progress was slow. A Governing Council took place in 1922, followed by a doubling of the original financial offer by the Constantine family in 1924. For the task of constructing the first Technical College building, Mr Graham R. Dawbarn (a London architect also responsible for additions to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge) was appointed on 29 March 1926.[8] Building work finally kicked into action in 1927, culminating in the beginning of enrolment and teaching formalities on 16 September 1929. But the fanfare had to wait, until the turn of the decade, to accommodate the royal schedule.

Constantine Technical College was nonetheless finally opened on 2 July 1930 by the future King Edward VIII, the Prince of Wales. Although not yet a university, from the outset, Constantine was both a further and higher education college. While at one end of the spectrum students at Constantine could be as young as 15, also publicised in its Prospectus were degree courses validated by the University of London. Star disciplines included metallurgy, engineering and chemistry. Five rooms were also reserved for an art department, until cramped accommodation forced the School of Art to split from its parent site for the 1950s.

Teesside University on Borough Road.

The 1960s were years of sweeping change – as well as political sting – for the still comparatively fledgling College. By the end of the decade the first two "Teesside University" campaigns had begun: the first, from the early 1960s to 1966, and the second, from 1967 to 1972, spates of enthusiasm killed off on each occasion only by the scepticism of then-Minister of Education, Anthony Crosland, and Margaret Thatcher's defining White Paper, respectively. The latter effectively shelved plans for the erection of any new institution in the United Kingdom, until the 1980s at least.[9]

On campus, one of the most visible major developments for the College was an extension comprising an 11-storey "skyscraper", on which construction work began in 1963. The College acquired the neighbouring former High School of 1877. The College briefly restyled itself as Constantine College of Technology, before becoming Teesside Polytechnic (Britain's 13th Polytechnic) in 1969. At that point, the institution boasted 17-degree courses.

A merger with Teesside College of Education took place in the 1970s along with the purchase of Flatts Lane. The Clarendon Building was added in 1973, as was the Stephenson Building in 1976, with both remaining in use for the Polytechnic's long-awaited conversion into a University. That happened on 16 June 1992,[10] when Teesside Polytechnic became the University of Teesside, one of the United Kingdom's first new universities following that year's Further and Higher Education Act.

Victoria Building

By the 1990s student numbers were nearing the 8,000 mark, but only in 1997 was the old Polytechnic's library replaced, by a Learning Resource Centre. Subsequent additions included the Virtual Reality Centre and Centre for Enterprise, as well as, more recently, the Phoenix and Athena Buildings. Today, historic structures such as the old High School (the Waterhouse building), the Constantine building and Victoria Building of 1891 (a schoolyard-equipped Victorian school, housing a series of graduate business incubator units), are all Grade II listed buildings.

In 2009, the University of Teesside changed its name to "Teesside University", changed its logo and adopted the motto "Inspiring success" as part of a rebrand that cost £20,000. Alternative names also suggested included "Middlesbrough University" and "Tees Valley University".[11]

On 15 October 2009, Teesside University was elected University of the Year and Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative in the Times Higher Education Awards.[12]

Campuses

View of the clock tower from Albert Road

The University has been situated since its formation as Constantine Technical College in 1930 within the borough of Middlesbrough in the North Yorkshire area of England on the south banks of the River Tees. Transport links exist via the A19 and A66 roads. The University's entrance is at the site of the old Constantine College building, fronted by the Waterhouse clock tower.

The University opened its temporary campus Teesside University Darlington, in the former Eastbourne Secondary School in the Eastbourne area of Darlington. The new Darlington campus opened in 2011. The new campus is on the Darlington College site, in the Central Park regeneration area next to the East Coast mainline railway station.

Further investment at the main campus site in Middlesbrough includes the new £17 million Centuria South building for dental training and sports therapy, which opened in Autumn 2010. Also opened in 2010 were two new higher education centres in Hartlepool and Redcar.

the upcoming campus heart from teesside university

Campus Heart is the new £30m investment in the centre of the Middlesbrough campus. It includes a £20m new teaching building with 200 seat lecture theatre and 1,476m² of teaching and learning space. It is a five-storey building and a pedestrianised landscaped area.

Over £6m is being invested in the refurbishment and extension of the Orion Building - this will include a three storey glass extension to house the new industry standard equipment.

Accommodation

There is accommodation provided in self-catered rooms, mostly reserved for first year undergraduate students but also for international students, postgraduates, staff and undergraduates who have been unable to find alternative accommodation. All accommodation is within easy walking distance of University facilities.

The University has four managed residences (halls, houses and flats). Further places are available through the University managed housing scheme (properties owned by private landlords but managed by the University).

A revamped library for students was opened in September 2012.

Organisation

Schools

The University consists of five schools.

The School of Arts and Media is made up of six academic sections; Fine Art, Design, Media, History, English and Performing Arts.

Research institutes

Teesside University has five broad-based, multi-disciplinary research institutes. They enable researchers of all levels to work within cohesive research communities. The institutes encourage collaboration within and across disciplines.

Academic profile

The University has won seven National Teaching Fellowships.[13]

The Animex International Festival, is staged by the universities School of Computing on an annual basis, complementing their coverage of animation and computer games.

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education has thus far identified units of teaching "excellence" in Art & Design, computer science, history, social work, sport and exercise, electrical and electronic engineering, nursing, the Foundation Degree in chemical technology and a number of subjects allied to medicine.

The first National Student Survey disclosed its findings in September 2005. Over the full range of criteria, the University scored 4/5 for overall student satisfaction – level with institutions such as Leeds and Newcastle. Within Teesside, English, Law and Art & Design fared best, with all three areas within the top 25 per cent of student satisfaction nationally.[14] In the resulting overall "league table", the University was ranked joint 34th of 101 institutions. It was also during this year that the University scaled the national top 20 for graduate further study or employment in The Times Good University Guide 2005; Teesside was the highest ranked new university.

The 2006 Times Good University Guide and The Sunday Times university league table ranked Teesside 91st out of 100 British universities and joint 75th of 119 institutions respectively, with the National Student Survey 2006 giving the institution's Art & Design courses the top ranking nationally.[14] The University achieved the same overall satisfaction score of 4/5 as the previous year, contributing to an overall rank of joint 70th of 129 recorded institutions.[15] According to the 2008 National Student Survey, 84 per cent of degree students are happy with their course and the percentage of overall student satisfaction is up for the third year running.. Teesside University was named the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards University of the Year 2009.[16]

The present Vice-Chancellor is Professor Graham Henderson. In April 2005, the University welcomed Lord Sawyer as its new Chancellor, succeeding the University's first ever Chancellor, European Commissioner Leon Brittan.

Research

In research, the University offers an array of relevant routes of study resulting in the qualification of MPhil, PhD, MProf and DProf. The strongest research profiles, according to the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, were in Computing and History, with Business & Management Studies and Sociology also producing work of international excellence.[17]

Students' Union

The Students' Union is led by students for students with four current students (usually final year) elected by the student body to hold the positions of President, Education Officer, Student Activities Officer, Welfare Officer in March of each year. They then take their posts from July to the end of June each year and have the option to seek re-election for a second and final term if they wish. The current Student Officer Team will hold their posts until July 2015. As the Officer Trustees they sit on a wider Board of Trustees who oversee the running of the Students' Union which also includes External Trustees drawn from the worlds of local government, business, charity and the public sector.

The Students' Union has won numerous accolades; it was named Students' Union of the Year at the BEDA (Bar Entertainment and Dance Association) Awards in 2004 and Club Mirror Students' Union of the Year in 2002, as well as finishing runner-up in the latter award in 2007. In 2002/2003, the Students' Union also won the Sport England Volunteer Investment Programme Award, while the Union's bar, The Terrace Bar, was awarded Best Bar None status in both 2006 and 2008, overcoming competition from universities from across the two regions of the North East and Yorkshire before going on to win four Best Bar None Middlesbrough Awards 2009 recognising outstanding standards of staff training and strong focus on the safety of customers. The Students' Union also won the 2007 It's Not Funny competition,[18] winning a live comedy performance featuring Bill Bailey, Marcus Brigstocke, Andrew Maxwell and Simon Amstell. More recently the SU was shortlisted for NUS Students' Union Of The Year in 2014, secured the AQS accreditation for the SU Link and gold in the National Best Bar None Awards 2015 recognising exceptional standards in our social spaces The Terrace and The Hub.

Alongside multi award winning social spaces/ venues, the Students' Union has support services for students in the shape of The SU Link which provides help with welfare, academic, financial and personal problems as well as a range of part-time jobs vacancies. Students are also encouraged to get involved in their Students' Union in a variety of ways. There are over 40 clubs and over 20 societies and if their interests aren't covered they are able to set up their own. SU Activities will help them to do this, as well as provide the opportunity to get involved in charity work such as Raise and Give (RAG).

People

Principals of Constantine Technical College

Directors of Teesside Polytechnic

Chancellors of Teesside University

Notable staff

Notable alumni

Presidents Of Teesside University Students' Union

Image gallery

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "love art and architecture" (PDF). Visit Middlesbrough. p. 6. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  2. ↑ "History of the University". Teesside University. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  3. ↑ "Governors' Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2013" (PDF). Teesside University. 31 July 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Chancellor". Teesside University. 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  5. ↑ "Vice-Chancellor's Executive". Teesside University. 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  6. ↑ "Teesside University – About us – Facts and Figures – University of the Year 2009/10". Teesside University Website. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Teesside University – About us – Facts and Figures – University of the Year 2009/10". Teesside University Website. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  8. ↑ Lillie, William (1968). The History of Middlesbrough: An Illustration of the Evolution of English Industry. The Mayor Aldermen and Burgesses of the County Borough of Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough Corporation.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Leonard, J. W. (1981). Constantine College. Teesside Polytechnic.
  10. ↑ "About Us - History of Teesside University". Teesside University. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Inspiring successes with a name change". Evening Gazette. 11 May 2009. p. 10.
  12. ↑ http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=408707&c=2
  13. ↑ "Why Choose the University of Teesside?". University of Teesside Website. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Students give Teesside vote of confidence". Teesside University. 1 September 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  15. ↑ Student satisfaction survey results
  16. ↑ http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/hybrid.asp?typeCode=365&pubCode=1&navcode=142
  17. ↑ http://www.rae.ac.uk/results/qualityProfile.aspx?id=78&type=hei
  18. ↑ http://www1.itsnotfunny.co.uk/index.php?fuseaction=winning.winners
  19. ↑ "MP becomes a time traveller". University of Teesside Website. Retrieved 9 April 2007.
  20. ↑ "Clever Clive cleans up - Mastermind 2014". Teesside Graduate 2014 (Teesside University). p. 17.
  21. ↑ "From Teesside to our television screens". University of Teesside Website. Retrieved 12 July 2008.

External links

Coordinates: 54°34′20″N 1°14′06″W / 54.57220°N 1.23491°W