Aston University facts for kids
|
Other name
|
Aston |
|---|---|
| Motto | Forward |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1895 – The Birmingham Municipal Technical School 1927 – Birmingham Central Technical College 1951 – College of Technology, Birmingham 1966 – gained university status by royal charter |
| Endowment | £1.47 million (2022) |
| Budget | £197.7 million (2021–22) |
| Chancellor | Sir John Sunderland |
| Vice-Chancellor | Aleks Subic |
| Students | 15,500 (2017–18) |
| Undergraduates | 11,935 (2017–18) |
| Postgraduates | 3,565 (2017–18) |
| Location |
,
England, United Kingdom
52°29′10″N 1°53′22″W / 52.4860°N 1.8895°W |
| Campus | Urban 60 acres (24 hectares) |
| Colours | Black and Red |
| Affiliations |
|
| Mascot | Cyril the Squirrel (now deceased ) |
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Aston University is a public university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It started as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School in 1895. Over time, it grew and became the UK's first advanced technology college in 1956. Aston University officially became a university on April 22, 1966, when Queen Elizabeth II gave it a special royal charter.
Aston University was one of the first to offer a "placement year." This means students can work in a real job for a year as part of their studies. More than 73% of Aston students do this, which is one of the highest numbers in the UK.
In 2020, The Guardian newspaper named Aston University "University of the Year." The university also won an award for being an "Outstanding Entrepreneurial University" in 2020 from the Times Higher Education Awards.
Contents
History of Aston University
How it Started
Aston University began as a School of Metallurgy in 1875. This school taught about metals. In 1895, it became the Birmingham Municipal Technical School. Here, students learned about chemistry, physics, and engineering. By 1917, it also taught subjects like botany to future teachers. In 1927, the school changed its name to the Birmingham Central Technical College. This name showed that it was focusing more on technology.
In 1951, the college was renamed the College of Technology, Birmingham. Work began on its main building. In 1956, it became the first special "college of advanced technology." This meant it was a top place for technology studies. The college moved into new buildings built between 1949 and 1955. Princess Margaret helped lay one of the first foundation stones in 1951. In 1955, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the College of Advanced Technology.
Becoming a University
On April 22, 1966, the college officially became the University of Aston in Birmingham. The university's main goal is to share knowledge through teaching and research. It aims to help businesses and the community. The university also wants to give students a great education. A big part of its history is offering "sandwich courses." These courses combine classroom learning with work experience. The university's motto is Forward, which is also the motto of the City of Birmingham.
In 1983, Aston University helped create the Aston Science Park. This park is next to the university. It helps new businesses grow. Because of the university's importance to Birmingham, the area around the campus was given its own postal address in 1984: "The Aston Triangle."
Recent Years (2000 to Present)
Aston University hosted the British Science Festival in September 2010. This was one of Europe's biggest public science events.
Since May 2011, Sir John Sunderland has been the Chancellor of Aston University.
The university also supports the Aston University Engineering Academy. This school opened in 2012 for students aged 14 to 19. It helps them prepare for careers in engineering. The school is located near the Aston University campus.
In October 2014, Aston announced plans to open Aston Medical School. The university also invested £35 million to improve its campus. This included a new £19 million update for Aston Business School.
In July 2017, Aston was the first UK university to have graduates from a "degree apprenticeship." This program combines university study with a real job.
In 2021, the university planned to close its History and Languages departments. This caused protests from students and teachers. Many people felt these subjects were important. After public discussion, the university decided to keep the History program. However, some language teaching would still be reduced.
Campus Life
Aston University is located on a 60-acre campus in the city centre of Birmingham. The campus is home to over 3,000 students. It has many useful facilities for students.
- Sports: There are sports centres, a swimming pool, and a large gym. Students can join over 35 sports clubs. The campus also has two outdoor sports pitches with lights.
- Library: The Aston University Library has over 250,000 books. It also has many online resources like e-books and journals. During exam times, the library is open 24 hours a day.
- Other Facilities: The campus has cafés, restaurants, shops, a hairdresser, a health centre, and a bank. There are also computer rooms open 24/7 for students.
Sports at Aston
Aston's sports facilities include a 25-meter swimming pool, a sauna, and two sports halls. There is a large gym with 120 stations and a dance studio. The university has 35 sports clubs. Many of these clubs train and compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) Leagues. Off campus, the university also has a 40-acre sports ground for outdoor sports.
How Aston University is Organized
In 2020, Aston University changed how its schools were organized. It created three main colleges:
College of Business and Social Sciences
- Aston Business School (ABS)
* Accounting * Economics, Finance, and Entrepreneurship * Marketing and Strategy * Operations and Information Management * Work and Organisation
- Aston Law School
- School of Social Sciences and Humanities
* English, Languages and Applied Linguistics * Sociology and Policy * Politics, History and International Relations
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- School of Computer Science and Digital Technologies
* Electrical and Computer Engineering * Mathematics and Data Science * Computer Science and Cybersecurity * AI and Robotics
- School of Engineering and Technology
* Mechanical Engineering and Design * Biomedical Engineering * Aston Foundation Centre * Aston Professional Engineering Centre
- School of Infrastructure and Sustainable Engineering
* Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry * Engineering Systems and Supply Chain Management * Civil Engineering
College of Health and Life Sciences
- School of Biosciences
- Aston Medical School
- School of Optometry
- Audiology and Healthcare Sciences
- Aston Pharmacy School
- Neuroscience
- School of Psychology
University Coat of Arms
The university's arms were given in 1955. They show the university's connection to Birmingham and to technology. The shield has a blue background with five gold diamonds. These diamonds are similar to those on Birmingham's city arms. This shows the link to the city. On the top part of the shield, there is an open book between two black hammers. The book means learning, and the hammers represent engineering and other technical trades.
The top part of the arms, called the crest, also shows the search for knowledge. It has a red torch held by an arm, surrounded by two gold laurel branches. The crest sits on a special crown that looks like a wall. This type of crown is used for groups connected to public organizations.
In 2016, for the university's 50th anniversary, two animals were added to support the arms: a Canada goose and a red squirrel. The Canada goose represents the geese living on campus. The squirrel is from the old arms of Aston Manor. It also appears on the university's special ceremonial staff and the Chancellor's chain. The gorse plant around the animals' necks refers to Gosta Green, the area where the university is located.
Academic Achievements
Rankings and Reputation
| National rankings | |
|---|---|
| Complete (2021) | 39 |
| Guardian (2021) | 25 |
| Times / Sunday Times (2021) | 38 |
| Global rankings | |
| ARWU (2020) | 701–800 |
| QS (2021) |
423= |
| THE (2021) | 401–500 |
| British Government assessment | |
| Teaching Excellence Framework | Gold |
Aston University has been ranked among the top 25 UK universities in The Guardian University Guide for 2022.
The UK Government's 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework gave Aston University an overall Gold rating. This rating looks at teaching quality, the learning environment, and what students achieve after graduation. It considers things like how happy students are and how many get jobs.
Aston University is proud of its strong results for student success. For example, in the 2021 Guardian University Guide, Aston was ranked 11th in the UK for "Continuation." This means a high number of students continue their studies after their first year. The same guide also ranked Aston joint 24th for "Value Added." This compares students' university grades to what was expected based on their entry qualifications.
The 2021 Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide ranked Aston University 31st in the UK. This was for the number of students who achieved top degrees (1st or 2:1). It also ranked Aston 30th for "Graduate Prospects." This looks at how many graduates get professional jobs or continue their studies within 15 months.
Aston degrees also offer good long-term benefits. A 2020 study found that Aston graduates had some of the highest average salaries among UK universities five years after graduating.
Research at Aston
Aston University is known for its research. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, which checks the quality of research in UK universities, Aston was ranked highly. Its strengths include Business and Management, Engineering, and subjects related to Medicine (like Optometry, Pharmacy, and Psychology).
Aston Business School
Aston Business School (ABS) was founded in 1947. It is one of the largest and oldest business schools in the UK. In 2012, QS World University Rankings placed it 8th in the UK and 33rd in the world. It is also one of the top 60 business schools globally to have "triple accreditation." This means it meets high standards from three different international groups. ABS was the first UK business school to get the EQUIS accreditation in 1999.
In 2020, Aston University was ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide for Business and Management studies by QS World Subject Rankings. It was also in the top 200 for Accounting and Finance.
The Financial Times ranked the business school's Masters Management course highly in 2012. It was 5th in the UK, 33rd in Europe, and 36th in the world. The paper also said Aston Business School was 4th in the world for careers in 2011.
Student Life
Students' Union
The Aston Students' Union (SU) is a non-profit group that helps and represents students. It offers services like advice, support for sports clubs, and support for many non-sporting clubs. The SU also runs a shop and a bar. It is managed by elected students and staff. The SU building has five floors and is in the middle of the campus.
In 2014, students voted for the SU to join the National Union of Students again.
Student Homes
Aston University used to own student housing in three tall buildings called Dalton, Lawrence, and Stafford Towers. These towers were built in the 1970s. In 2011, Lawrence and Dalton Towers were taken down. Stafford Tower was demolished in 2014. This made space for a new entrance to the university and a large green area.
New student housing buildings were built. They are named the William Murdoch, the James Watt, the Harriet Martineau, and the Mary Sturge Residences. Another student housing complex called Lakeside was finished in 1999.
Notable People from Aston University
Chancellors of Aston University
- Lord Nelson of Stafford (1966 – 1979)
- Sir Adrian Cadbury (1979 – 2004)
- Michael Bett (2004 – 2011)
- John Sunderland (Since 2011)
Vice-Chancellors of Aston University
- Peter Venables (1966 – 1969)
- Sir Joseph Pope (1969 – 1979)
- Sir Frederick W. Crawford (1980 – 1996)
- Michael T. Wright (1996 – 2006)
- Dame Julia King (2006 – 2016)
- Alec Cameron (2016 – 2021)
- Aleks Subic (2022 – present)
Famous Alumni (Graduates)
Many people who studied at Aston University have gone on to do amazing things.
Academia and Science
- Paul Drayson, Baron Drayson: A vaccine maker and former government minister.
- Kevin Warwick: A professor who studies cybernetics (how machines and living things work together).
Arts and Media
- Frankie Boyle: A well-known stand-up comedian and TV presenter.
- Nic Robertson: A senior international reporter for CNN.
Business
- Ben Francis: The founder of Gymshark, a popular fitness clothing brand.
- Tony Hayward: Former chief executive of BP Group, a large energy company.
Politics
- Keith Bradley, Baron Bradley: A Labour Party politician.
- Rachel Maclean: A Conservative Party politician.
Sports
- Gregor Townsend: A famous Scottish and British Lions Rugby Union Player.
Other Notable People
- Rick Stanton: A cave diver, known for his rescue efforts.
Images for kids
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The EBRI building.
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Aston Brain Centre.jpg
Aston Brain Centre.
See Also
In Spanish: Universidad de Aston para niños
- Armorial of UK universities
- College of advanced technology (United Kingdom)
- List of universities in the United Kingdom
