University of Reading

University of Reading
Former names
University College, Reading (1892–1926)
Type Public
Established 1926 (university status)
1892 (as University College, Reading)
Endowment £13.9 million (as of 31 July 2015)[1]
Chancellor Sir John Madejski
Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell
Visitor The Lord President of the Council ex officio
Administrative staff
4,024
Students 14,325 (2014/15)[2]
Undergraduates 9,660 (2014/15)[2]
Postgraduates 4,665 (2014/15)[2]
Location Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Colours

Royal purple and white

                   
Website www.reading.ac.uk

The University of Reading is a public university located in Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom. It was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926 from King George V. It was the only university to receive its charter between the two world wars and is therefore a red brick university.[3]

Reading is ranked as one of the top 200 universities in the world. It is ranked 156th in the latest 2015 QS World University Rankings,[4] its highest ever position in the ranking. It is also one of the UK's leading research-intensive universities. It is based on three (formerly four) campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.

History

The University War Memorial clock tower, on the London Road Campus
Students take notes at the museum in the Faculty of Science at Reading University in 1945

University College, Reading

The university owes its first origins to the Schools of Art and Science established in Reading in 1860 and 1870. In 1892 the College at Reading was founded as an extension college by Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford. The first President was the geographer Sir Halford John Mackinder.[5] The Schools of Art and Science were transferred to the new college by Reading Town Council in the same year.[6][7]

The new college received its first treasury grant in 1901. Three years later it was given a site, now the university's London Road Campus, by the Palmer family of Huntley & Palmers fame. The same family supported the opening of Wantage Hall in 1908, and of the Research Institute in Dairying in 1912.[6]

University status

The college first applied for a Royal Charter in 1920 but was unsuccessful at that time. However a second petition, in 1925, was successful, and the charter was officially granted on 17 March 1926. With the charter, the college became the University of Reading, the only new university to be created in the United Kingdom between the two world wars.[6]

In 1947 the university purchased Whiteknights Park, which was to become its principal campus. In 1984 the University started a merger with Bulmershe College of Higher Education, which was completed in 1989.[6][8][9]

In October 2006, the Senior Management Board proposed[10] the closure of its Physics Department to future undergraduate application. This was ascribed to financial reasons and lack of alternative ideas and caused considerable controversy, not least a debate in Parliament[11] over the closure which prompted heated discussion of higher education issues in general.[12] On 10 October the Senate voted to close the Department of Physics, a move confirmed by the Council on 20 November.[13] Other departments closed in recent years include Music, Sociology, Geology, and Mechanical Engineering. The university council decided in March 2009 to close the School of Health and Social Care, a school whose courses have consistently been oversubscribed.[14][15]

In January 2008, the university announced its merger with the Henley Management College to create the university's new Henley Business School, bringing together Henley College's expertise in MBAs with the University's existing Business School and ICMA Centre. The merger took formal effect on 1 August 2008, with the new business school split across the university's existing Whiteknights Campus and its new Greenlands Campus that formerly housed Henley Management College.[16][17]

A restructuring of the university was announced in September 2009, which would bring together all the academic schools into three faculties, these being the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social sciences, and Henley Business School. The move was predicted to result in the loss of some jobs, especially in the film, theatre and television department, which will shortly be moving into a brand new £11.5 million building on Whiteknights Campus.[18]

In late 2009 it was announced that the London Road Campus was to undergo a £30 million renovation, preparatory to becoming the new home of the university's Institute of Education. This is planned for completion in the summer of 2011, and is being partially funded by the sale of the adjoining site of Mansfield Hall, a former hall of residence, for demolition and replacement by private sector student accommodation.[19]

The university is a lead sponsor of UTC Reading, a new university technical college which opened in September 2013.[20][21]

In 2016 a move to reorganise the structure of Reading University provoked student protests.[22] On 21 March 2016, staff announced a vote of no confidence in the Vice Chancellor Sir David Bell.[23] 88% of those who voted backed the no confidence motion.[24]

Campuses

The University Great Hall, on the London Road Campus
Greenlands Campus, used by the Business School
Foxhill House, home of the School of Law

The university maintains over 1.6 square kilometres (395 acres) of grounds, in four distinct campuses:

The former Bulmershe Court Campus in Woodley was the site of the former Bulmershe Teaching College, which merged with The University of Reading in 1989. The campus was sold in January 2014 as the University decided to concentrate its activity on its three other campuses. It had previously moved all teaching and research at Bulmershe either to Whiteknights or to London Road, and closed the student accommodation.

The university also owns 8.5 square kilometres (2,100 acres) of farmland in the nearby villages of Arborfield, Sonning and Shinfield. These support a mixed farming system including dairy cows, ewes and beef animals, and host research centres of which the flagship is the Centre for Dairy Research.

As part of the proposed Whiteknights Development Plan in Autumn 2007, the University proposed spending up to £250 million on its estates over 30 years, principally to focus academic activities onto the Whiteknights site.[32] The University also announced its intention to site some functions on the London Road site, and proposed a complete withdrawal from Bulmershe Court by 2012, which was accomplished.

Museums, libraries and botanical gardens

The University Library on the Whiteknights Campus

Reading University maintains four museums, a main campus library, a range of inter-departmental libraries, and a botanical garden. The largest and best known of these museums is the Museum of English Rural Life, which has recently relocated from a location on Whiteknights Campus to a site nearer the town centre next to the London Road Campus. The Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, the Cole Museum of Zoology, the University of Reading Herbarium and the Harris Garden are all on the Whiteknights Campus.

The University Library at Whiteknights makes available over 1 million physical resources, as well as a range of electronic online resources, from 14,000 square metres of space across seven floors. The secondary site library at the University's Bulmershe Campus closed in 2011 and its operative collections were transferred. There is also a library in the University's Meteorology department.

Organisation and governance

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science
  • School of Arts and Communication Design
    • Department of Art
    • Department of Film, Theatre and Television
    • Department of Typography and Graphic Communication
  • Institute of Education
  • School of Humanities
    • Department of Classics
    • Department of History
    • Department of Philosophy
  • School of Law
  • School of Literature and Languages
    • Department of English Language and Literature
    • Department of Modern Languages and European Studies
  • School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
    • Department of Economics
    • Department of Politics and International Relations
  • International Study and Language Institute
Faculty of Life Sciences
  • School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
  • School of Biological Sciences
  • School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy
    • Department of Chemistry
    • Food and Nutritional Sciences
    • The Reading School of Pharmacy
  • School of Psychology and Clinical Language Science
    • Department of Clinical Language Sciences
    • Department of Psychology
Faculty of Science
  • School of Construction Management and Engineering
  • School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science
    • Department of Archaeology
    • Department of Geography and Environmental Science
  • School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences
    • Department of Mathematics and Statistics
    • Department of Meteorology
    • Department of Computer Science

Henley Business School

Henley Business School is a highly selective, top-ranking business school, among only 58 institutions worldwide (less than 1% of business schools globally) to be granted Triple accreditation by the three largest and most influential business school accreditation associations: EQUIS, AMBA and the AACSB. It includes several academic areas:

Graduate School

The university-wide Graduate School is a Faculty providing training and a range of support for doctoral researchers and related staff across the other four Faculties.

Governing bodies and roles

The university is nominally led by a Chancellor, who is the titular head of the university, and is normally a well-known public figure. The day-to-day chief executive role is the responsibility of the Vice-Chancellor, a full-time academic post. The senior management board of the university is headed by the Vice-Chancellor, assisted by a Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, three Pro-Vice-Chancellors, four Deans and five Heads of Directorate. It is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University and meets fortnightly throughout most of the year.[34]

The senior management board reports to the university's Senate, the main academic administrative body. The senate has around 100 members and meets at least four times a year and advises on areas such as student entry, assessment and awards. Membership includes Deans, Heads and elected representatives of Schools, as well as professional staff and students. The Senate in turn reports to the Council, which is the supreme governing body of the university, setting strategic direction, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and approving constitutional changes. The Council meets four times a year, and comprises a broad representation of lay members drawn from commercial, community and professional organisations.[34]

On 24 March 2016 it was announced that William Waldegrave was to be the new Chancellor of Reading University.[35] Lord Waldegrave is the fourth Conservative politician to be appointed Chancellor of the University, following Austen Chamberlain, Sir Samuel Hoare and Lord Carrington. Waldegrave’s predecessor, Sir John Madejski is also a supporter of, and contributor to, the Conservative Party.[36]

Academic profile

Rankings and reputation

Rankings
ARWU[37]
(2016, national)
29–33
ARWU[38]
(2016, world)
301–400
QS[39]
(2016/17, national)
28
QS[40]
(2016/17, world)
175
THE[41]
(2016/17, national)
32
THE[42]
(2016/17, world)
192
Complete[43]
(2017, national)
27
The Guardian[44]
(2017, national)
32
Times/Sunday Times[45]
(2017, national)
31

The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), coordinated by the HEFCE, placed the University 27th out of 154 institutions in the UK for Research Power, and 19th for Research Intensity. In total, 98% of the University's research is labelled as 'internationally recognised', 78% as 'internationally excellent and 27% as 'world leading'.[46]

Departments in the University have been awarded the biannual Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education four times: in 1998, in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Law category, for work on Shakespeare; in 2005, in the Environment category; in 2008, again in Humanities, Social Sciences and Law; and in 2011, for "teaching and design applications in typography, through print and new technologies" in the Arts.[47]

Reading was the first university to win a Queen's Award for Export Achievement, in 1989.

The School of Agriculture Policy and Development was ranked top in the UK and 11th in the world, according to the QS classification of universities by subject.[48]

Finance

In recent years the university has been beset by controversy, with the closure of departments and job losses among staff.[13][14][15] The university lost 7.7% of its HEFCE funding in fiscal year 2010–2011.[49] In 2016 a move to reorganise the structure of Reading University provoked protests.[22]

Affiliated institutions

The Gyosei International College in the U.K. was established on property acquired from the University of Reading in 1989. The college, later renamed Witan International College, was acquired by the University of Reading in 2004.[50] Witan College closed in 2008.[51]

Student life

Reading University Students' Union (RUSU) is the affiliated student organisation which represents the students' interests. The university also has a number of Junior Common Rooms that are linked to the Students' Union. The Students' Union has been the launch pad for many political careers including Penny Mordaunt (MP for Portsmouth North), who was the 1994–5 President of the Students' Union.

The Students' Union runs the student radio station Junction11 Radio, an online student radio station. It also publishes Spark*, a newspaper aimed at the student population of the University, which is published fortnightly during term-time only and award winning student television station RU:ON.

The union provides a free advice service to students, and facilitates over 160 different activities for students to get involved in. The Students' Union building on Whiteknights Campus contains an 2500 capacity venue called 3sixty, with seven bars, and a number of retail outlets.

Halls and accommodation

Wantage Hall gatehouse, built 1908, is the oldest hall at the University
St Patrick's Hall, Pearson Court

Student accommodation is provided in a number of halls of residence offering a mix of partially catered (19 meals per week) and self-catering accommodation, along with other self-catering accommodation. Following a major review the University is now proceeding with the integrated Halls and Catering Strategy, that will see several halls replaced as well as new ones created with social, catering & welfare facilities provided in hub areas.[52] Most of the halls of residence lie close to the northern campus periphery and in residential areas close by.

Halls are managed in the following groups: Lakeside, comprising Bridges, Bulmershe and Wessex; Northcourt, comprising Sibly, Sherfield, Benyon and St Patrick's Hall; Park, comprising Childs, Greenow, McCombie, Mackinder, Stenton, Windsor and Dunsden Crescent; Redlands, comprising Hillside, Martindale, St. George's, St Andrew's (formerly), Wells and Wantage; and Estates Management, comprising 35 Upper Redlands Road, Mansfield and St. David's. Other privately managed halls include Kendrick Hall and Crown House (by Unite Students), Saxon Court Apartments (by Collegiate AC), Loddon House and Kings Road (by Fawley Bridge Student Accommodation) and Reading Central Studios (by Fresh Student Living).[53] Wantage Hall is thought to be the oldest purpose built hall in England[54] outside of 'Oxbridge' and is built in the style of an 'Oxbridge' college.

St. Andrews Hall closed in 2001, and is now the home of the Museum of English Rural Life.[55]

St. George's Hall and the Reading Student Village (renamed Benyon) are leased back to the University from UPP. The cost of leasing back the Student Village to the University, according to the University accounts, was £1.3 million in 2002–03 and £1.5 million for 2003–04.

In 2011 the management of the mature and international halls, Hillside and Martindale, was taken over by the "Estates management team", as was Bulmershe Hall in 2012, the sale of which was finalised in 2014.[56] In the same year the new Kendrick Halls were opened on the ground of halls which had not been in use for many years. These are not managed by the university.

In 2012, UPP and the University announced that they would be redeveloping Bridges Hall and Sibly Hall.[57][58] Bridges Hall reopened for the 201415 academic year.[59]

Working with business

Reading hosts a number of private sector businesses on its campuses, either occupying dedicated buildings or in managed space at the Science & Technology Centre or Enterprise Hub.

The Science & Technology Centre

Science & Technology Centre

The University of Reading Science & Technology Centre is situated on the eastern side of Whiteknights Campus. The Science & Technology Centre supports and accommodates technology companies from start-up through to larger SMEs.[60][61][62]

Notable companies currently or previously based at the Science & Technology Centre[63][64] include Reading Scientific Services Ltd.

The former Reading Enterprise Hub on Whiteknights Campus

Reading Enterprise Hub

Reading Enterprise Hub is a business incubator opened in 2003. The hub was jointly sponsored by the university and SEEDA, and sought to attract startup high tech companies, particularly those with interests in environmental technology, information technology, life sciences, and materials science.[65]

The hub was originally situated in World War II era temporary office buildings on the university's Whiteknights campus. During the summer of 2008 the hub was demolished, along with the neighbouring former agriculture buildings, and the remaining tenants relocated to a building on the London Road campus. As of April 2010, a new Reading Enterprise Centre is being constructed on the hub's original site.[66]

Dedicated buildings

Besides its use of the Science & Technology Centre, Reading Scientific Services also occupies the Reading Science Centre, situated on the eastern side of Whiteknights campus.[67]

Officers

Principals of University College, Reading

Chancellors of the University of Reading

Vice-Chancellors of the University of Reading

Notable academics

Notable alumni

Jamie Cullum, pianist and singer

Academics

Broadcasting

Business

Military

Music

Politics

Sport

Writing and art

Others

See also

References

  1. "Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2015" (PDF). University of Reading. p. 31. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "2014/15 Students by HE provider, level, mode and domicile" (XLSX). Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  3. "University of Reading". University of Reading. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  4. "University of Reading". Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  5. 1 2 3 Corley, T.A.B. "Childs, William Macbride (1869–1939), educationist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "The University's History". University of Reading. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  7. "The University of Reading is 85 years old". University of Reading. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  8. "Campus Architecture". University of Reading. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  9. "Statutory Instrument 1989 no. 408". Opsi.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  10. Official statement about the Physics Department on the University website
  11. "Information page of Labour MP for Reading West, Martin Salter". Archived from the original on 21 June 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  12. Official Statement about University Senate vote from University website
  13. 1 2 "article concerning the confirmed closure of the Physics department". BBC News. 21 November 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  14. 1 2 Melanie Newman, "Institutions draw up plans for closures and job losses", Times Higher Education, 19 February 2009
  15. 1 2 Melanie Newman, "Alarm grows as jobs to go at four more institutions", Times Higher Education, 26 March 2009
  16. "World-class business school to be created as University of Reading merges with Henley Management College". University of Reading. 9 January 2008.
  17. 1 2 "Briefing News Update – Henley Business School". University of Reading. Summer 2008.
  18. Fearn, Hannah (11 September 2009). "Reading plans restructuring". Times Higher Education.
  19. "University announces £30 million development of historic London Road campus". University of Reading. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  20. "Partners - UTC". Utcreading.co.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  21. "High-tech education at Reading's first technical college". Reading Chronicle. 17 September 2013.
  22. 1 2 Hyde, Nathan. "Cost-cutting review slammed by University of Reading student". getreading. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  23. Hyde, Nathan. "University of Reading vice chancellor faces vote of no confidence". getreading. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  24. "'No confidence' in University of Reading vice-chancellor". bbc. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  25. "Campus life for students". University of Reading. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  26. "University of Reading campus voted one of the UK's best green spaces". Get Reading. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  27. http://www.reading.ac.uk/education/about/ioe-about.aspx
  28. "University of Reading's £25m Malaysia campus officially opens". BBC News Online. 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  29. "The University of Reading Malaysia - about us". The University of Reading Malaysia. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  30. "University of Reading Malaysia appoints Provost". reading.ac.uk. 23 October 2012.
  31. "University of Reading Malaysia". reading.ac.uk.
  32. "Whiteknights development plan" (PDF). University of Reading. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  33. Department of Finance associated with ICMA Centre
  34. 1 2 "Governance of the University of Reading". University of Reading. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  35. "Lord Waldegrave named as Reading University chancellor", BBC News, 24 March 2016
  36. "Tory donor in leadership call". Daily Mail. London.
  37. "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2016 - UK". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  38. "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2016". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  39. "QS World University Rankings 2016/17 - United Kingdom". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  40. "QS World University Rankings 2016/17". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  41. "World University Rankings 2016-17 - United Kingdom". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  42. "World University Rankings 2016-17". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  43. "University League Table 2017". The Complete University Guide. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  44. "University league tables 2017". The Guardian. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  45. "The Times and Sunday Times University Good University Guide 2017". Times Newspapers. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  46. "Research facts and figures". The University of Reading.
  47. "Previous Prize-winners: The University of Reading". The Royal Anniversary Trust.
  48. "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2014 - Agriculture & Forestry". QS.
  49. Melanie Newman, "Teaching and research escape 9% grant cut", Times Higher Education, 18 March 2010
  50. "The University of Reading and Witan International College." (Archive) University of Reading. 6 August 2004. Retrieved on 9 January 2014.
  51. "Witan International College." (Archive) University of Reading. Retrieved on 9 January 2014.
  52. "Halls Redevelopment Information". University of Reading. p. 1. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  53. "Student Private Halls in Reading". Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  54. Aberdare Hall in Cardiff (formerly University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, now Cardiff University) would appear to predate it.
  55. "The History of St. Andrew's Hall". Online Exhibitions. The Museum of English Rural Life. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  56. "University finalises sale of Bulmershe campus". University of Reading. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  57. "Partners agree terms for the renewal of Bridges Hall at the University of Reading". Property Magazine International. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  58. "Sibly Hall Redevelopment" (PDF). University of Reading. 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  59. "Bridges Hall Redevelopment". University of Reading. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  60. "Science & Technology Centre – Business Zone". University of Reading. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
  61. "University of Reading Science and Technology Centre and Enterprise Hub". UKSPA. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  62. "Science Parks in Europe". UNESCO. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  63. "Science & Technology Centre – Companies". University of Reading. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
  64. "Science & Technology Centre – Companies". University of Reading. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  65. "Reading Enterprise Hub". University of Reading. Archived from the original on 25 September 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  66. "Facilities for Business at the University of Reading". University of Reading. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  67. "Main Site Map" (PDF). Reading Scientific Services Ltd. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  68. Ian Macrae, "The making of a university, the breakdown of a movement: Reading University Extension College to The University of Reading, 1892–1925", Journal International Journal of Lifelong Education, Volume 13, Issue 1 January 1994, pages 3–18
  69. 1 2 "University of Reading Bulletin (16 March 2006)" (PDF). University of Reading. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  70. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Reading welcomes its new chancellor". Bulletin. University of Reading. 17 January 2008. pp. 6–7.
  71. 1 2 "Football boss made uni chancellor". BBC. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  72. "University of Reading selects new Chancellor". 24 March 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  73. "Halls Booklet" (PDF). University of Reading. p. 12. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  74. "University of Reading Bulletin (20 November 2008)" (PDF). University of Reading. p. 3. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
  75. "Papers of Lord Wolfenden". University of Reading. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  76. Sewell, Michael (2 February 2006). "Tribute to Sir Harry Raymond Pitt, F.R.S." (PDF). Retrieved 12 March 2008.
  77. "Apply again, funding council tells universities". Times Higher Education Supplement. TSL Education Limited. 21 July 1995. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  78. "First Vice-Chancellor for computer profession" (PDF). The Computer Journal. Oxford Journals / Oxford University Press. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  79. "Professor Sir Roger Williams". University of Glamorgan. Archived from the original on 9 March 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  80. "Professor Gordon Marshall". University of Reading. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  81. "Farewell Vice-Chancellor". University of Reading. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  82. 1 2 "Introducing our new Vice-Chancellor". University of Reading. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  83. "Professor Mark Casson - University of Reading". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  84. Law, Cheryl (2004). "Morley, Edith Julia (1875–1964)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2011-02-14. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  85. Deal or no deal? by Robert Blincoe, thegoodgamblingguide.co.uk 19 July 2008. Archive here
  86. "HKMD Daily News, February 25, 2009". Hkmdb.com. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  87. "Introducing Bishop Rachel". About the Diocese. Diocese of Gloucester. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to University of Reading.

Coordinates: 51°26′31″N 0°56′44″W / 51.44194°N 0.94556°W / 51.44194; -0.94556

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/6/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.