University of the West of Scotland

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University of the West of Scotland
University of the West of Scotland Logo.svg
Former names
 Paisley College of Technology, Paisley College, University of Paisley, Bell College of Technology, Bell College, Craigie College of Education
Motto Accingere in Ardua
Motto in English
 To achieve through hard work
Type Public
Established Origins dating back to 1897
Chancellor Dame Elish Angiolini
Principal Craig Mahoney[1]
Chairman of the Court Ian Welsh
Students 14,730 (2014/15)[2]
Undergraduates 12,900 (2014/15)[2]
Postgraduates 1,835 (2014/15)[2]
Location
Paisley, Hamilton, Dumfries, Ayr and London
,
United Kingdom
Campus Ayr Campus, Dumfries Campus, London Campus, Hamilton Campus, Paisley Campus
Colours Red, black and white
Affiliations Million+, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
Mascot Francesca the Phoenix (Sports Union), Burnie the Pyro (American Football), Wolfie Wolf (Rugby)
Website www.uws.ac.uk

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University of the West of Scotland is a public university with four campuses in south-western Scotland, in the towns of Paisley, Hamilton, Dumfries and Ayr, as well as a new campus in London. The present institution dates from August 2007, following the merger of the University of Paisley with Bell College, Hamilton. It can trace its roots to the late 19th century, and has undergone numerous name changes and mergers over the last century, reflecting its gradual expansion throughout the region.

Holding a regional reputation for vocational undergraduate and post-graduate courses the University currently has 14,730 students, with approximately 1300 staff, spread across six schools of learning.

The Crichton Campus in Dumfries is maintained in partnership with a number of other institutions, including the University of Glasgow.

The university's highest ever ranking for UK Institutions came in 2009 when the Complete Universities Guide placed UWS 62 out of 113 universities.[3] In 2015, UWS was ranked 118th out of 126 universities in the same league table.

History

Although classified as a new university, the University of the West of Scotland has a rich, diverse history inherited from the various institutions that preceded it, including the University of Paisley, Bell College of Technology and Craigie College of Education.

Paisley Campus

File:Witherspoon-paisley.jpg
John Witherspoon statue, a Founding Father of the United States

At the time of the Industrial Revolution, Paisley was renowned for thread weaving. The Coats mill was run by two brothers, Peter and Thomas Coats. These men, children of the Enlightenment espoused liberal ideals and became noted philanthropists. As members of the Philosophical Institution, founded in 1808 the Coats donated a museum and library to the town, funded the building of the Coats observatory and promoted education throughout Paisley.[4][5]

The Philosophical Institution, helped establish the School of Arts in 1836, which become a Government School of Design in 1846, one of twenty similar institutions established in UK manufacturing centres from 1837-1851. They were set up to improve the quality of the country's product design through training in design for industry. Peter Coats was director of both Paisley Philosophical Institution and the Government School of Design. Later, the Design schools were renamed Schools of Art, and once again as Schools of Art and Science.

In 1897 Princess Louise laid the foundation stone of a grand new building for the College. The design was the winner of an architectural competition and partially funded by local industrialists (Peter Brough, and Thomas Coats both contributed).

By the start of the twentieth century, Paisley Technical College and School of Art, (as it was known from 1904) was a centre for teaching the University of London External Programme. Perhaps the most famous principal of the College was Lewis Fry Richardson, FRS   principal from 1922 to 1940. A mathematician, physicist, meteorologist, psychologist and pacifist who pioneered modern mathematical techniques of weather forecasting, as well as the application of similar techniques to studying war. He also carried out ground breaking work on fractals.

Throughout the first half of the century the institution had a financial struggle. After the second world war Central Institution status provided a regular Government income but unfortunately also meant closing the school of Art, and ceding students to Glasgow School of Art. The new entity thus became Paisley College of Technology; a Government funded Central Institution in 1950. In the 1960s a large physical expansion took place alongside the Neo-Classical original building on the main 20 acre (81,000 m²) Paisley town centre site.

At the time Paisley, in common with other Central Institutions and the former Polytechnics, already offered a range of degrees under the Council for National Academic Awards. With the Further and Higher Education Act of 1992, the Paisley College of Technology was granted the title University of Paisley and was established as a University with a Royal Charter and degree awarding powers. Today, this institution forms Paisley Campus of the University.

Ayr Campus

The establishment of the University of Paisley prompted a merger with Craigie College of Education in Ayr in 1993, and led to the incorporation of Nursing colleges in the town. The Ayr Campus was operated by the University of Paisley before the merger that established UWS. Set in 20 acres (81,000 m2) of the old parkland of Craigie House bordering the River Ayr, the campus also houses the West of Scotland Management Centre, the Business School’s management training and development facility. A new £71.2 million campus for the University in Ayr, shared with the Scottish Agricultural College, designed by international architecture practice RMJM, on a riverside site adjacent to the previous campus, was completed and opened in August 2011.

Dumfries Campus

Crichton Church at the Crichton University Campus

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Main article: The Crichton

The Crichton University Campus in Dumfries is the result of a joint project between the University of Paisley (now University of the West of Scotland), the University of Glasgow, Dumfries and Galloway College and the Open University. The campus mainly offers business, computing and, since the merger with Bell College, Nursing courses. Established in 1999 to provide a hub for higher education in the south-west of Scotland, the Crichton Campus has developed into an essential element in the regeneration of the Dumfries and Galloway economy.

Students at the Crichton Campus also have the benefit of a dedicated Students' Association which operates from its offices in the Dumfries and Galloway College building. The Crichton University Campus Students' Association (CUCSA) is a collective body of volunteers comprising elected representatives from both UWS and the University of Glasgow. Although the existing budget for CUCSA is tiny in comparison to the main students' association, SAUWS, events are held roughly every month in addition to the expected freshers' week at the start of the academic year.

Hamilton Campus

Caird Building

The Hamilton campus was founded in 1972 as the Bell College of Technology. The main campus was constructed in Almada Street, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. A "Memorandum of Understanding" between the College and the University of Strathclyde was signed in 1993 to allow the College to offer degree level courses. In 1995, the Lanarkshire and Dumfries & Galloway Colleges of Nursing & Midwifery were amalgamated into Bell College.

Following extensive consultation with the local authority, stakeholders, students and staff about the future of the Hamilton campus, UWS has decided that Hamilton is set to remain a university town and announced plans to move into Hamilton International Technology Park (HITP).

Ian Welsh OBE, Chair of UWS Court, said: “Following a lengthy discussion, the Court felt the opportunity to develop what would be the UK’s most environmentally friendly, dynamic and vibrant new campus was one that could not be missed. We held detailed discussions with the developers and other stakeholders, who presented a very compelling and convincing business and educational case for HITP, including an exciting and innovative legacy plan for the current campus location which will add even more value to the town centre."

Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, Professor Craig Mahoney said: “This will be a game-changer for higher education in Scotland and will create the country’s most, dynamic and exciting learning environment, allowing UWS to grow the educational opportunities for students internationally, across the UK, Lanarkshire and the wider central belt."

London Campus

Located in a vibrant part of the city centre and around a 15 minutes walk from the London Bridge underground and Borough Market and also close to Elephant & Castle and Borough tube stations, launched in March 2016, the London campus provides a delivery point for UWS degree and postgraduate programmes to the international student population in London.

Glasgow Creative Enterprise Cluster

Between 2008 and 2010 UWS opened offices in Glasgow, with a focus on the creative industries. The School of Media, Culture & Society has offices in Film City Glasgow and the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA). This forms a metropolitan base for research, performance, events and exhibitions, work with industry, and knowledge exchange activities, connecting the university's four campuses with the city where the media and arts sector is most concentrated in the west of Scotland.

Merger

On 1 August 2007, the University of Paisley merged with Bell College, a higher education college based in Hamilton. On 30 November 2007, the Privy Council approved the name University of the West of Scotland for the merged institution.

The name change was resisted by many in Paisley, seeing it as a break with tradition and the connections binding the previous university to the town. The 'Keep It Paisley' campaign attracted a number of supporters, amongst them local MP and then Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander.

The merged institution served over 18,000 students and was the largest 'new university' in Scotland. The Principal and Vice-Chancellor is Craig Mahoney.

Schools

The University of the West of Scotland is organised into six schools:[6]

  • School of Business and Enterprise
  • School of Computing & Engineering
  • School of Education
  • School of Health, Nursing & Midwifery
  • School of Media, Culture & Society
  • School of Science & Sport

The university offers over 100 degree courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and has a rapidly growing number of doctoral students. It also carries out research and consultancy work for industry, and is ranked second in Scotland for the number of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships with businesses. The University attained Skillset Media Academy status in August 2010. Many courses at the University of the West of Scotland have an emphasis on vocational skills and offer students the option of spending a year working in industry at home or abroad.[citation needed]

The University has also worked with NHS Ayrshire and Arran resulting in a partnership in 2012 in the renaming of Ayr Hospital to University Hospital Ayr and Crosshouse Hospital to University Hospital Crosshouse.

Reputation

Rankings
Complete[7]
(2016, national)		 118
The Guardian[8]
(2016, national)		 115
Times/Sunday Times[9]
(2016, national)		 118

Currently the university's School of Education is the sixth best in the UK according to the 2016 Complete University Guide.[10]

Student accommodation

The university has a number of halls of residence across the university, ranging from modern en-suite/studio flats at Ayr Campus to furnished flats within Paisley. Students at Dumfries may apply for a place within the University of Glasgow managed accommodation at the Crichton. In September 2012, the new £13.2 million on-campus Paisley student residence opened situated next to the library.[11]

Student life

Student Association

The Students' Association of the University of the West of Scotland, (informally SAUWS) is the recognised student organisation of the University of West the West of Scotland. The Students' Association of the University of the West of Scotland are member of Scottish Students' Sport, British Universities and Colleges Sport and the National Union of Students. The key function of the organisation is to represent students studying at the University, the current SAUWS Sabbatical Team is Jack Douglas (President), John Black (Depute President), Simon Cain (Sports President) and Douglas McWhirter (Hamilton Campus President)

Students' Association University of West Scotland (SAUWS)

The majority of the Student Clubs and Societies come are available to Scottish based UWS campuses and are run by students for students. These include the Christian Union, Islamic Society, gaming societies and course groups.[12] There are also a collection of liberation groups and peer support groups. These were set up to counter under-represented and oppressed sections of the student body.[13]

In 2016 SAUWS won the NUS Scotland award "Higher Education Student Association of the year". This was award due to the organisations work and campaigns such as Keep UWS in Hamilton, the Summer Safety Net and its work developing its services.

Crichton University Campus Student Association (CUCSA)

For students at Dumfries CUCSA has a more limited range of sports and societies on offer and CUCSA is currently working with students to produce a new Netball club, both Boys and Girls Football clubs and an improved Riding Club.[14][15]

Student unions

SAUWS Union bars are at the heart of the student community and are home to various events and activities including; screenings of major sporting events, stand-up comedy gigs, quiz nights, poker competitions, karaoke and open mic sessions and pool tables and quiz machines.

Sports

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Main article: TeamUWS

Sporting affairs are regulated by TeamUWS,[16] the Sports and Societies branch of the main Students Association headed by the Sports President. There are a large number of varied clubs, including Aikido, Basketball, Curling and Snowsports who regularly compete in BUCS and Scottish Student Sport competitions. Students who join one of the sports clubs affiliated with the university must also join the Sports Union. However, there are also regular classes and drop-in sessions for various sports which are non-competitive and available to all university gym members. The University operates two sports centres across the west of Scotland, Robertson Trust Sports Centre at Thornly Park Campus in Paisley[17] and Hamilton Leisure Centre [18] on site on Hamilton Campus.

The university, as the University of Paisley, has also had a number of previous clubs including Ice Hockey, Shinty, Gaelic Football and Ice Sports. There have been attempts in recent years to resurrect these teams, most notably the Paisley IcePanthers, the university's former ice hockey team in 2008 by Finnish and German but due to lack of interest the club never happened. The most successful of all the resurrections was the American Football team. The Paisley College of Technology/University of Paisley Panthers American Football played between the 1989–90 British Collegiate American Football League and the 1996–97 British Collegiate American Football League seasons until the club rejoined as the University of Paisley Pyros at the start of the 2004–05 British Collegiate American Football League season.

TeamUWS competes in the East vs West varsity competition against Edinburgh Napier University in the sports of American Flag Football, Badminton, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Netball and Rugby. In the 2013/2014 competition the hockey games were cancelled due to location and weather difficulties.

According to the Scottish Daily Record, it is rumoured that South Ayrshire Council is considering giving the dated Dam Park Stadium, the venue for UWS-SRUC-Ayrshire College Varsity, to the University saving nearly £70,000. As part of the transfer, the facility will continue to be used by Ayr Seaforth AC and the local community.[19]

Controversies

2013 ban on Student Military Associations

During the 2013 Student Freshers Fairs, the University the Students’ Association of the University of the West of Scotland released a statement regarding the on campus presence of university military associations highlighting that the Association will not allow anyone or any society associated with the forces to take part at any of the fairs. At the time the association explained why the university units such as the University Royal Naval Unit, often misinterpreted as full-time military, have been banned from the fairs. The explanation was that it was wrong for the armed forces to capitalise on the vulnerability of students.

Speaking against this, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence stated that "Cadets should be allowed to attend Freshers’ Fair like every other society. We would expect UWS to allow [cadets] to operate freely on campus as they do in universities across the country."[20] However some of the Cadets within Glasgow and Strathclyde UOTC, University Naval Unit and Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron were faced with bullying tactics across the region.[21]

Stalled Hamilton Campus Development

The proposed current £53million redevelopment for the University’s Hamilton campus has been but on a backburner after a match-funding proposal of £27m contribution from the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government was rejected. Yet it emerged that the issue of Scottish Government funding will not be re-examined until its next spending review in 2016 at the earliest. A spokesperson for the Scottish Government indicated that the spending review would be influenced by the 2015 Westminster and the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections. The current state of the campus hinders the opportunity to increase student numbers, which are expected to almost double to 5000 by 2016/17, with former Principal Professor Seamus McDaid informing local councillors that the campus was last remaining non-refurbished real estate in Scottish education.[22][23]

Notable people

References

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External links

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