University of Chichester

University of Chichester
Former names
West Sussex Institute of Higher Education (1977-1995), Chichester Institute of Higher Education (1995-1999), University College Chichester (1999-2005)
Motto Latin: Docendo discimus
Motto in English
By teaching, we learn
Type Public
Established 2005
Vice-Chancellor Clive Behagg
Administrative staff
600
Students 5,445 (2014/15)[1]
Undergraduates 4,645 (2014/15)[1]
Postgraduates 800 (2014/15)[1]
Location Chichester, West Sussex, UK
50°50′41″N 0°46′28″W / 50.844674°N 0.774429°W / 50.844674; -0.774429Coordinates: 50°50′41″N 0°46′28″W / 50.844674°N 0.774429°W / 50.844674; -0.774429
Campus Semi-urban
Affiliations Cathedrals Group
Website www.chi.ac.uk

The University of Chichester is a public university located in West Sussex, England and became a university in 2005. Campuses are based in the city of Chichester and the nearby coastal resort of Bognor Regis.

Today its many teaching and research specialisms include: Humanities (History, English, Theology); Social Sciences (e.g. Psychology; Childhood Studies); Music and Performing Arts; and Sports Studies and Education. Its heritage stretches back into the nineteenth century when, in 1839, Bishop Otter College was established. It has a significant history when, during the planning for D-Day, the Chichester campus was home to RAF flight operations supporting the liberation of Western Europe.

History

In 1839, a school for training 'Masters' was founded by William Otter, Bishop of Chichester, known as the Bishop Otter College. In 1873, the campus became a training institute for women teachers due to the activism of Louisa Hubbard after the Elementary Education Act 1870 created demand for school teachers.[2] Men were later admitted to the college in 1960.

During the 1970s Bishop Otter College was regarded as one of the most successful teacher training colleges in the country. During that period, the Principal of that establishment was Gordon McGregor, who went on to be Principal of Ripon and York St John and latterly Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Leeds.

At Bognor Regis a teacher training college was founded in the 1940s to support the expansion of education.

In 1977 Bishop Otter College and the Bognor Regis college were merged to form the West Sussex Institute of Higher Education (WSIHE), with degrees being awarded by CNAA and later the University of Southampton. Between 1995 and 1999, it was known as Chichester Institute of Higher Education. It gained degree-awarding powers in 1999, becoming known as University College Chichester, and became recognised as a full university in October 2005.

Campuses

College Lane

Learning Resources Centre, Bishop Otter Campus

The main campus at College Lane, Chichester and is set in surroundings which include historic buildings and modern facilities. It is a five-minute walk from Chichester city centre. The famous Chichester Festival Theatre is housed adjacent to the campus. Town and gown are particularly connected through the arts, including regular music performances provided by students.

The campus is currently part way through major redevelopment to improve key facilities. Some of the developments include: construction of a sports dome, chapel extension, courtyard, Sports Hall and Gym refurbishment, as well as major development work on the Library (LRC).

The Learning Resources Centre (LRC) is equipped with two floors of library resources and is an award-winning, modern facility. The Otter Gallery is within the LRC and runs public art exhibitions throughout the year.

Bognor Regis

The Dome Bognor

The Bognor Regis campus is five minutes from the sea, and has three grand mansion houses with Georgian architecture: St Michael’s, the Dome and Mordington House.

The campus underwent extensive redevelopment during 2010-11. £8m has been invested to transform the Dome into a business and research centre, and to create a Learning Resource Centre. The campus is set in a leafy environment and has modern facilities with teaching and study rooms.

Most of the student halls of residence are on campus (both catered and self catered), with the exception of the Stockbridge Road Halls of Residence about a half hour walk away on the other side of the city, and some University managed houses throughout the city in places such as Graylingwell Drive.

The Students’ Union runs the Zee Bar on the Bishop Otter Campus and The Hub bar on the Bognor Regis Campus where a number of different social events are hosted throughout the week. A University run "Safety Bus" can be called by students to pick them up from anywhere and take them to any destination within each city.

The Bognor Regis campus is close to Hotham Park. The park surrounds Hotham House, built in 1792 by Sir Richard Hotham, and regarded by many as one of the finest Georgian houses in Sussex. Also nearby is the Ice House – the original 18th Century refrigerator of Hotham Park Estate, and the best surviving example of its kind in West Sussex.

The famous Butlins Bognor Regis resort lies at the eastern end of the promenade and is the largest holiday centre in the South of England.

Organisation

The university department structure can be found below.[3]

  • Adventure Education
  • Dance
  • Early Years
  • Education
  • English & Creative Writing
  • Fine Art
  • History & Politics
  • Media
  • Music
  • PE
  • Theatre (Performing Arts)
  • Psychology & Counselling
  • Configure
  • Enterprise, Management & Leadership
  • Social Work & Social Care
  • Sport & Exercise Sciences
  • Sport Development & Management
  • Theology & Religion, including Philosophy and Ethics

Academic profile

Rankings
Complete[4]
(2016, national)
77
The Guardian[5]
(2016, national)
71
Times/Sunday Times[6]
(2016, national)
65

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "2014/15 Students by HE provider, level, mode and domicile" (XLSX). Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  2. Kelley, Serena (2004), "Hubbard, Louisa Maria (1836–1906)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press
  3. University of Chichester website
  4. "University League Table 2016". The Complete University Guide. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  5. "University league tables 2016". The Guardian. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  6. "The Times and Sunday Times University Good University Guide 2016". Times Newspapers. Retrieved 21 September 2015.

External links

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