Brunel University London

Brunel University London

Arms of Brunel University London
Type Public
Established 1966 – gained University Status by Royal Charter
1962 – Brunel College of Advanced Technology
1928 – Acton Technical College
1902 – Shoreditch College of Education
1878 – Maria Grey College
1798 – Borough Road College
Endowment £2.01 million (at 31 July 2011)[1]
Chancellor Sir Richard Sykes
Vice-Chancellor Professor Julia Buckingham
Administrative staff
 2,500
Students 13,720 (2014/15)[2]
Undergraduates 9,695 (2014/15)[2]
Postgraduates 4,025 (2014/15)[2]
974
Location Uxbridge, London, England
51°31′58″N 0°28′22″W / 51.53278°N 0.47278°W / 51.53278; -0.47278Coordinates: 51°31′58″N 0°28′22″W / 51.53278°N 0.47278°W / 51.53278; -0.47278
Campus Suburban
Affiliations Association of Commonwealth Universities
European University Association
Website www.brunel.ac.uk

Brunel University London (informally Brunel) is a public research university located in Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1966, it was named after the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Brunel's campus is located on the outskirts of Uxbridge. It is organised into three colleges and three major research institutes, a structure adopted in August 2014 which also changed the university's name to Brunel University London. Brunel has around 15,200 full-time students and 2,500 staff and had a total income of £178.5 million in 2010/11, of which £14.8 million came from research grants and contracts.

In 1957 Brunel College of Technology separated from Acton Technical College with a focus on the education of engineers. Brunel College of Technology was awarded the status of College of Advanced Technology in 1960 and became Brunel College of Advanced Technology in 1962. In June 1966 Brunel College of Advanced Technology was awarded a Royal Charter and became Brunel University London. It is sometimes described as a British "plate glass university".

Brunel is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the European University Association and Universities UK.

History

Statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel at the university

Origins

Brunel is one of a number of British universities which were established in the 1960s following the Robbins Report on higher education. It is sometimes described as a "plate glass university". The university's origins lie in Acton Technical College, which was split into two in 1957 – Acton Technical College continued to cater for technicians and craftsmen, and the new Brunel College of Technology (named after Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the British engineer) was dedicated to the education of chartered engineers.

The campus buildings were designed in the Brutalist style of architecture by Richard Sheppard, Robson & Partners, Architects.

In 1960 Brunel College of Technology was awarded the status of College of Advanced Technology, and it was decided that it should expand at another site in order to accommodate the extra buildings that would be needed. Uxbridge was chosen to house the new buildings, and work hadn’t even started before the Ministry of Education officially changed the College’s status: it was officially named Brunel College of Advanced Technology in 1962 – the tenth Advanced Technology College in the country, and the last to be awarded this title.

The Uxbridge (Vine Street) railway branch line was closed in 1964, and the college purchased the land adjacent to its site where the railway had run for £65,000 from the local council.[3]

1966 to present

The Royal Charter granting university status was awarded on 9 June 1966. The university continued to use both campuses until 1971 when it left the Acton site.

In 1980 the university merged with Shoreditch College of Education, located at Cooper's Hill, Runnymede. This became Brunel's second campus. In 1995 the university expanded again, integrating the West London Institute of Higher Education, and adding campuses in Osterley and Twickenham. This increased the number of courses that Brunel University was able to offer. Traditionally the university's strengths were in engineering, science, technology and social sciences but with the addition of the West London Institute, new departments such as arts, humanities, geography & earth science, health and sports science were added, and the size of the student body increased to over 12,000.

Brunel has been the subject of controversy as its approach to higher education has been both market-driven and politically conservative. The decision to award an honorary degree to Margaret Thatcher in 1996, following the University of Oxford's refusal to do so, provoked an outcry by staff and students, and as a result the ceremony had to be held in the House of Lords instead of on campus. In the late 1990s, the Departments of Physics, Chemistry, and Materials Engineering were all closed, and, in 2004, the then Vice-Chancellor Steven Schwartz, initiated the reorganisation of the university's faculties and departments into schools, and closed the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences. The succeeding Vice-Chancellor, the sociologist Christopher Jenks, took office in 2006.[4] and he was followed by Professor Julia Buckingham, previously at Imperial College London, who took up the position of Vice Chancellor at Brunel in October 2012.

In June 2011, Brunel University London licensed Creative Barcode, an automated idea sharing platform which protects ownership of early stage ideas.[5]

Campus

Part of the main Brunel campus

In the late 1990s Brunel devised a 10-year, £250 million Masterplan for the campus. This involved selling off campus sites at Runnymede, Osterley and Twickenham and using the revenue from the sales to renovate and update the buildings and facilities on the Uxbridge campus. Works carried out included a library extension, a state-of-the-art sports complex, renovated students' union facilities, a new Health Sciences teaching centre, and the construction of more halls of residence.

The Brunel campus (especially those buildings in the 1960s 'Brutalist' architectural style) has appeared in several films, most famously in Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, large parts of which were filmed on campus. It has also featured in several UK television series including Spooks, Silent Witness,The Sweeney and Inspector Morse.

Organisation and administration

Brunel exists by virtue of a royal charter first granted in 1966 and it has the status of an exempt charity as defined by the Charities Act 2006.[6]

The governing body of Brunel is the Council, which comprises university staff and students and independent members. The Council appoints the Vice-Chancellor and other senior officers. The Council has a number of Committees which support its work.

Brunel's academic governing body is the Senate, which is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor. The Senate has a number of Committees which support its work.

Colleges and departments

Brunel has three constituent Academic Colleges:[7]

In 2013 the Business School won the Times Higher Education Awards Business School of the Year.[8]

Finances

In the financial year ended 31 July 2011, Brunel had a total income (including share of joint ventures) of £178.5 million (2009/10 – £169.47 million) and total expenditure of £172.36 million (2009/10 – £163.79 million).[1] Key sources of income included £69.83 million from tuition fees and education contracts (2009/10 – £64.51 million), £55.92 million from funding body grants (2009/10 – £57.55 million), £14.81 million from research grants and contracts (2009/10 – £12.57 million), £0.65 million from endowment and investment income (2009/10 – £0.6 million) and £37.29 million from other income (2009/10 – £34.25 million).[1] During the 2010/11 financial year Brunel had a capital expenditure of £18.8 million (2009/10 – £6.63 million).[1]

At year end Brunel had endowment assets of £2.01 million (2009/10 – £1.59 million), reserves of £140.31 million (2009/10 – £130.83 million) and total net assets of £177.46 million (2009/10 – £170.2 million).[1]

Coat of arms

The Brunel Coat of Arms was granted to the University in 1966 and incorporates various images representative of the University's heritage and principles. For example, the masonry arch symbolises Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the compass and cogwheel symbolise technology, the ermine lozenge is an allusion to the Arms of Lord Halsbury, the first Chancellor of the University and the crest of the swan symbolises Uxbridge.[9]

Academics

A view of the Brunel University campus in Uxbridge

Brunel students have access to specialist laboratories for electronic imaging, bioprocessing and experimental techniques; flight, driving and train simulators; a 3-D body scanner; an MRI scanner; motion-capture equipment; an occupational therapy suite; sports and performing arts facilities; and academic archives in cult film and contemporary writing.[10]

Depending on the degree course followed, many undergraduate students may choose to undertake practical placements and projects as an integral part of their courses (a founding principle of the sandwich degree structure).

Research

In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 90% of Brunel research submitted was rated as being of international quality.[11] In the 2014 RAE Brunel was ranked 33rd for Research Power.[12]

Courses at Brunel draw on staff's research in areas including Cancer Genetics, Environmental Science, Human-Centred Design, Materials Processing, Contemporary Music and Digital Performance, Children’s Education and Sports Medicine.[10] The Brunel Institute of Cancer Genetics and Pharmacogenomics is internationally recognised for outstanding research in the field of cancer genetics.

Made in Brunel

Brunel's Department of Design holds a yearly design exhibition called Made In Brunel,[13] to promote and showcase the work of final year students to the design industry.[14] In past years it has been held at the Business Design Centre in Islington, and the Oxo Tower Wharf. From 2011 onwards the exhibition has been held at the Bargehouse, on the Southbank, London.

Rankings

Rankings
ARWU[15]
(2015, national) 		34
ARWU[16]
(2015, world) 		409
QS[17]
(2015/16, national) 		44
QS[18]
(2015/16, world) 		331
THE[19]
(2015/16, national) 		49
THE[19]
(2015/16, world) 		401-500
Complete[20]
(2016, national)		 49
The Guardian[21]
(2016, national)		 53
Times/Sunday Times[22]
(2016, national)		 47

Brunel has performed well in the annual rankings of UK universities produced by The Guardian and The Times, in part due to its strong performance in the Teaching Quality Assessment (where Brunel received a score of 20/24 or better for every subject assessed). The Guardian and The Times ceased using the TQA to compile their rankings (they use the National Student Survey results instead) and therefore Brunel had fallen in both rankings. However, the university regained its league position in 2012 partly due to improved student satisfaction and spending on students. As a result, it was ranked 39th in the Sunday Times University Guide. In the 2013 Guardian University Guide, the university's national ranking rose to 44th which was the highest climb of all universities.

In the 2014/15 THES world university rankings, Brunel ranked 226-250 (shared), representing a sharp rise in rankings.[23] The University won the Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2011.[24]

Brunel University London is ranked as the 93rd best university worldwide in the field of engineering and technology, 32nd among European institutions and 11th among British institutions according to THES world rankings.[25]

In August 2014, Brunel re-entered the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) Shanghai Jiao Tong Rankings after a four-year absence at number 409 globally, and 34 in the UK.[26]

Also, in 2015 Brunel was ranked 25th in Times Higher Education's 100 under 50 ranking of the top 100 world universities under 50 years old.[27]

Student life

Student recreational and general facilities

Brunel has a gym, spa, and running track with professional training and medical facilities. There is a pharmacy, a shop, two bars, a nightclub called academy, and a cafe. Other facilities include computer suites and recreational buildings for films.

Union of Brunel Students

The Union of Brunel Students is the students' union of Brunel University.[28] The Union is based within the Hamilton Centre on the Uxbridge campus.

Among other services, the Union runs three venues on the Brunel campus: the Academy nightclub, Loco's bar and Subway.[29]

The Union is led by 14 democratically-elected staff from the student body - six Student Officers, four Standing Committee Chairs and six Working Group Chairs - supported by over 30 professional staff.[28]

Radio Brunel

Main article: Radio Brunel

Brunel has a student-run radio station called Radio Brunel. It recently relaunched as an internet only station.

Le Nurb

Le Nurb is Brunel University's official student newspaper, previously a magazine called Route 66, named after the bus route which ran through Brunel's campus along Cleveland Road. The newspaper editorial team is made up of volunteer students and is funded by the Union of Brunel Students. Traditionally, the newspaper has held a left-wing bias and has published interviews with prominent political figures including Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, a Brunel alum and MP for Hayes and Harlington. In 2014 editorial team members launched a campaign to amend Union bye-laws and grant the newspaper greater autonomy in terms of what they could publish. A vote at a Union AGM went in favour of the newspaper, and a clause stating that the newspaper could not publish anything that "brings the Union into disrepute" was removed from the Union's bye-laws.

Formula Student

Brunel was one of the first UK universities to enter the Formula Student engineering competition, an annual event in which universities from around the world compete in static and dynamic events using formula style racing cars designed and manufactured by students.[30] Brunel's Formula Student teams have won prizes in the annual competition every year since they first entered in 1999.

The Brunel Racing team is composed of undergraduate and postgraduate students, each being allocated an area of the car to develop.[31] Students on MEng Mechanical Engineering courses act as team leaders and manage BEng students throughout the year to ensure a successful completion of a new car each year. Brunel Racing were UK Class 1 Formula Student Champions in 2002, and were the leading UK team at Formula ATA 2005, the Italian Formula Student event. In 2006 Formula Student Event, Brunel Racing were also the highest finishing UK competitor using E85 (fuel composed of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol.)

The university also runs a second racing team, composed exclusively of post-graduate students from the MSc Automotive and Motorsports Engineering course, called Brunel Masters Motorsports.[32] The BMM team were the UK Class 2 Formula Student Champions in their first year, 2005.

Student housing

Kilmorey Hall at Uxbridge

Brunel’s £250 million campus redevelopment programme, completed in 2008, refurbished existing halls and the built the new Isambard Complex. There are now 34 self-catering halls of residence on-campus, with a total of 4,549 rooms, including studio flats for co-habiting couples. Rooms are available for undergraduates, postgraduates, students with disabilities and co habiting couples. All rooms have network access.

Many of the halls of residence around the Uxbridge campus are named after bridges that Isambard Kingdom Brunel either built or helped to design; other halls are named either after him, or after other notable engineers or scientists. For example:

There are also three accommodation complexes: the Bishop Complex (Bishop, Kilmorey, Lacy and St Margaret’s Halls); the Lancaster Complex (Lancaster, Stockwell, Southwark, Borough Road, Maria Grey and Gordon Halls); and the Isambard Complex (North, Meadow, Michael Bevis, Concourse, Stephen Bragg, West, Maurice Kogan, David Neave, Central, East, Runnymede, George Shipp, Trevor Slater, Shoreditch, Syd Urry, South and Brian Winstanley Halls).

Notable alumni

Media, entertainment and the arts

Carl Barât
John McDonnell

Politics and royalty

Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Sports

Ross Brawn

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Financial Statements 2010–11" (PDF). Brunel University. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "2014/15 Students by HE provider, level, mode and domicile" (XLSX). Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Annual Report 2005" (PDF). Brunel University. 2005. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Brunel University Appoints Professor Chris Jenks Vice-Chancellor". Brunel University. 15 February 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  5. ↑ "Creative Barcode - Home". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Brunel University: A Registered Charity". Brunel University. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  7. ↑ "About Brunel University". Brunel University. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  8. ↑ "Brunel Business School wins THE Business School of the Year Award". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Coat of Arms". Brunel University. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Brunel University London". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "Research Assessment Exercise 2008". Brunel University. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  12. ↑ "Research Excellence Framework 2014 | Brunel University London". Brunel.ac.uk. 2015-09-17. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  13. ↑ "Shows and Events". Made in Brunel. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  14. ↑ "History". Made in Brunel. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  15. ↑ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2015 - UK". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2015". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  17. ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2015/16 - United Kingdom". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  18. ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2015/16". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  19. 1 2 "World University Rankings 2015-16". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "University League Table 2016". The Complete University Guide. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "University league tables 2016". The Guardian. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "The Times and Sunday Times University Good University Guide 2016". Times Newspapers. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  23. ↑ "World University Rankings 2014-15". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  24. ↑ "Winners of the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes announced". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  25. ↑ "Subject Ranking 2014-15: Engineering & Technology". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  26. ↑ "Academic Ranking of World Universities - 2014 - Top 500 universities - Shanghai Ranking - 2014 - World University Ranking - 2014". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  27. ↑ "100 Under 50 Rankings 2014". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  28. 1 2 "About the Union". Union of Brunel Students. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  29. ↑ "Venues". Union of Brunel Students. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  30. ↑ "Formula Student". Institute of Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  31. ↑ "Brunel Racing". Brunel Racing. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  32. ↑ "Brunel Foundation including matthew fowler Motorsport Formula Student Team". Brunel Motorsport. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  33. ↑ "Seng Han Thong". Parliament of Singapore. 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2012.

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