Coventry University facts for kids
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Former names
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Coventry Polytechnic (1987–1992) Lanchester Polytechnic (1970–1987) |
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| Motto | Latin: Arte et Industria |
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Motto in English
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By Art and Industry |
| Type | Public |
| Established |
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| Endowment | £1.17 million (2023) |
| Budget | £480.6 million (2022/23) |
| Chancellor | Margaret Casely-Hayford |
| Vice-Chancellor | John Latham |
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Academic staff
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1,890 |
| Students | 29,430 (2015/16) |
| Undergraduates | 25,705 (2015/16) |
| Postgraduates | 5,985 (2015/16) |
| Location |
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England
52°24′29″N 1°30′22″W / 52.40805°N 1.50600°W |
| Campus | Urban, CU London |
| Colours | Coventry Blue |
| Affiliations |
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Coventry University is a large public university located in Coventry, England. A public university means it gets funding from the government. Its story began way back in 1843 with the opening of the Coventry School of Design.
Over the years, the university changed its name a few times. It was known as Lanchester Polytechnic from 1970 to 1987. Then it became Coventry Polytechnic until 1992. That year, a new law gave it university status, and it officially became Coventry University.
Coventry University is the bigger of the two universities in the city, with the other being the University of Warwick. It has grown very quickly and is now the fourth largest university in the UK by student numbers. The university has two main campuses: one in the heart of Coventry and another in Central London. The London campus focuses on business and management courses.
The university also runs other higher education places like CU Coventry, CU Scarborough, and CU London. These places offer a different way to study compared to traditional universities. Coventry University has four main colleges, which are made up of different schools and departments. They offer about 300 different courses for students studying for their first degree or a postgraduate degree. The university also has 11 research centres. These centres study many different topics, from farming and peace to the future of transport.
In 2022–23, the university's income was about £480.6 million. About £17.5 million of this came from research projects. The university has a "Gold" rating in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework. This shows how good its teaching is. Coventry University is also part of the University Alliance, a group of universities that work together.
Contents
History of Coventry University
The story of Coventry University began in 1843 with the Coventry School of Design. This school changed its name several times over the years. In the early 1900s, it became the Municipal Art School. By the 1950s, it was known as the College of Art.
In the late 1950s, a new college was needed to teach advanced technical skills. The Lanchester College of Technology opened in 1961. It was named after Frederick Lanchester, a famous car engineer.
In 1970, the Lanchester College of Technology, the College of Art, and the Rugby College of Engineering Technology joined together. They formed Lanchester Polytechnic. The name "Lanchester" sometimes caused confusion, as people often mixed it up with Lancaster or Manchester. In 1974, the polytechnic had to cancel its graduation ceremony due to safety concerns during a difficult time in the UK. Students finally celebrated their graduation 35 years later in 2009!
In 1987, Lanchester Polytechnic changed its name to Coventry Polytechnic. Then, in 1992, a new law allowed polytechnics to become universities. That's when Coventry Polytechnic officially became Coventry University.
In 2010, the university opened a campus in London. This helped attract more students from around the world. In 2012, "Coventry University College" was created on the main campus. It offered degrees at a lower cost than typical university fees.
By 2017, Coventry University was ranked very highly among newer universities in the UK. It was 12th overall in the Guardian University Guide. It also ranked in the top 200 young universities worldwide.
In July 2017, Margaret Casely-Hayford became the new leader of the university, called the chancellor.
The main campus in Coventry is getting a huge upgrade. A £430 million investment plan is in place until 2022. This includes a new £37 million science and health building and a £73 million student housing complex. These new buildings opened in 2017 and 2018.
In 2019, Coventry University bought a 22-acre farm called Ryton Organic Gardens. This farm is now home to the university's Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience.
University Campuses
Coventry Campus
The main Coventry campus is about 33 acres in size. It's located right in the city centre, next to Coventry Cathedral and the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum. The campus has a mix of brand-new buildings and older ones that have been updated.
The most important building on campus is The Hub, which opened in 2011. The Hub is where the Coventry University Students’ Union is located. It also has student support services, a bar, and places to eat. In 2012, a new £55 million engineering building opened. It has amazing features like a real Harrier jump jet, a wind tunnel, and flight simulators. Both The Hub and the engineering building are designed to be eco-friendly. They collect rainwater and use special boilers to save energy.
Coventry's £20 million library opened in 2000. It was officially opened by Princess Anne in 2001. The library holds over 350,000 books and many videos and films. It has a unique look with turrets and has won awards for its bright and open interior design.
Some older buildings on campus have been given new life. A former car engine factory from 1910 now houses the Coventry Business School. An old cinema from 1880 is now home to the School of Media and Performing Arts.
South of the main campus is the 20-acre Coventry University Technology Park. This is a special area owned by the university where small businesses can work. These businesses get support from the university and can use its library. The park also has conference rooms and a digital lab for creating serious games and other technology.
Coventry University names its buildings after important local people or groups. These include car companies like Armstrong Siddeley, famous people like actress Ellen Terry, and inventors like Frederick Lanchester.
The Faculty of Engineering, Environment & Computing has a real former RAF Harrier T.4 aircraft. It's used to help students learn about engineering.
Gallery
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The Priory Building, used for pre-courses.
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The Ellen Terry building is a former 20th-century cinema that was updated in 2000.
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The Graham Sutherland building was the main building for the Art and Design faculty. It has since been demolished and replaced with the Delia Derbyshire building.
CU Coventry
CU Coventry started in 2012 on the main campus. It's a part of Coventry University that offers full-time and part-time courses. These courses include subjects like accounting, law, and marketing. CU Coventry has its own staff and facilities, but its degrees are still given by Coventry University. The courses are flexible, and the fees are often lower than typical university costs. Classes can even run in the evenings and on weekends.
CU London
CU London opened in 2017 in Dagenham, East London. It offers many full-time and part-time courses. This campus focuses on high-quality, affordable education that helps students get jobs. The courses are set up to fit around students' lives. CU London has given over £95,000 in help to local students. This makes higher education easier to access for them.
Since November 2020, CU London also has a new campus on the Greenwich Peninsula. This campus was set up for students from another college that closed, as well as new students.
CU Scarborough
The university opened CU Scarborough in Scarborough, North Yorkshire in 2016. This was part of a new £45 million project. The university put £12 million into this development. Courses offered here include Law, Science, and Engineering. The site also has a new sports village and a University Technical College for 14–18-year-olds.
Coventry University London
Coventry University's London campus opened in 2010. Many British universities have opened campuses in London to attract more international students. This helps build the university's reputation around the world. The London campus is located in the City of London, about 100 miles from Coventry.
Coventry University Wrocław
Coventry University Wrocław is a campus that opened in September 2020 in Poland. It offers courses taught in English, such as IT, cybersecurity, business, and aviation management. More courses will be added in the future. This is the first foreign university in Poland. It will also offer student exchange programs with the UK campuses.
How the University is Run
Leadership
Coventry University is formally led by the Chancellor, Margaret Casely-Hayford. This role is mostly ceremonial. The Chancellor is supported by six Pro-Chancellors. The university's daily operations are managed by the Vice-Chancellor, John Latham, who has been in this role since March 2014. He is supported by several Deputy and Pro Vice-Chancellors.
Coventry University is a member of the University Alliance, a group of universities that work together. John Latham used to be the head of this group.
Colleges and Schools
Coventry University is divided into three main colleges and one independent school. In 2023, the university changed how its faculties were organized.
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College of the Arts and Societies
College of Business and Law
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College of Engineering, Environment and Science
School of Health and Care This school is separate from the college structure.
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Money Matters
In the financial year ending July 31, 2013, Coventry University had a total income of £220.43 million. Most of this money came from student tuition fees and contracts. The university also received money from government grants and research projects.
Coventry University is a special type of charity. It also has six smaller companies that are fully owned by the university. These companies, called the Coventry University Group, help deliver education, business support, and other services.
What Students Learn and Achieve
Coventry University offers over 130 different degrees for undergraduate students and 100 for postgraduate students. They also offer other qualifications like foundation degrees. The university was the first in the UK to offer a course in disaster management at the undergraduate level. They also have unique postgraduate courses in parapsychology and health journalism.
In 2015/16, Coventry University had 29,430 students. Most of these were undergraduate students. About 97% of undergraduate students come from state schools. The university employs over 1,800 academic staff. It is the fourth largest employer in Coventry.
Tuition fees for undergraduate students can vary, usually from £7,500 to £9,000. This depends on the specific degree program. Even with these fees, the university saw more applications in 2012 compared to the previous year.
Research at Coventry
In 2008, a study called the Research Assessment Exercise looked at the research done by universities. It found that Coventry University's research in subjects like 'Allied Health Professions', 'Computer Science', 'Electrical and Electronic Engineering', and 'Art and Design' included some 'world-leading' work.
University Rankings
| National rankings | |
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| Complete (2021) | 68= |
| Guardian (2021) | 46 |
| Times / Sunday Times (2021) | 58 |
| Global rankings | |
| ARWU (2020) | 901–1000 |
| QS (2021) |
531= |
| THE (2021) | 801–1000 |
| British Government assessment | |
| Teaching Excellence Framework | Gold |
Nationally, Coventry University is ranked highly by different guides. In 2023, The Guardian ranked it 38th. The Times and Sunday Times ranked it 44th, and The Complete University Guide ranked it 53rd. Globally, the 2020 QS World University Rankings placed Coventry in the top 601–650 universities worldwide.
Some of Coventry's strongest subjects, according to The Complete University Guide 2020, include Food Science (7th), Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism (13th), and Drama, Dance and Cinematics (20th).
In 2015, The Guardian rankings highlighted strengths in Architecture (16th), Design & Crafts (15th), and Film Production and Photography (1st). In 2023, its International Relations program was ranked 7th best in the UK.
In 2017, the university received a Gold rating in the government's Teaching Excellence Framework. It kept this rating in 2023, showing its commitment to excellent teaching.
Awards and Recognition
Coventry University's Department of Industrial Design won the Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2007. This award was for their excellent work in "educating tomorrow’s world leaders in automotive design." In 2020, the university's Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering also received this award.
The university's BA Theatre and Professional Practice Degree has won several international awards. Their 'Immersive Telepresence in Theatre' project allows students to rehearse and perform remotely using special technology. This project won Gold awards in 2016 and 2018/19. It was also praised at the 2018 Times Higher Education Awards. In 2020, the project won the Guardian University Award for Internationalisation.
Coventry was named 'Entrepreneurial University of the Year' in the Times Higher Education Awards 2011. This means it's great at encouraging new business ideas.
The university is one of the few higher education places to be honored with a Queen's Award. In 2015, it was recognized in the International Trade category for its success since 2009.
Student Life
The university holds an annual show where final year students from the Coventry School of Art and Design display their creative designs and performances.
Student Housing
Students can live in housing provided by the university or by private companies. Coventry University owns four places for undergraduate students: Bishop Gate, Godiva Place, Singer Hall, and Cycle Works. It also manages other housing facilities.
Private companies also offer housing for Coventry students. These include places like Liberty Park, Trinity Point, and Paradise Place. In total, the university and its partners can provide housing for 3,579 students.
Students' Union
The Coventry University Students' Union (CUSU) is a charity that helps and represents students. It is located in The Hub. CUSU supports over 100 sports clubs and societies. It also offers a free advice centre and a volunteering department. CUSU runs its own nightclub on Far Gosford Street, which opened in 2012.
Coventry University's sports teams are called Team Phoenix. They compete in various sports. Coventry students also compete against the University of Warwick in a series of sports matches each year. Coventry's Phoenix Racing team also competes in Formula Student, a competition where students design and build a racing car.
The student radio station at Coventry University is called Source Radio.
Notable People
Former Leaders (Polytechnic)
The head of the polytechnic was called "Principal" and later "Director":
- Alan Richmond (1970–1972)
- Keith Legg (1972–1975)
- Geoffrey Holroyde (1975–1987)
- Michael Goldstein (1987–1992)
Vice-Chancellors
- Michael Goldstein (1992–2004)
- Madeleine Atkins (2004–2013)
- John Latham (2013–present)
Famous Alumni
Many notable people have studied at Coventry University, or its earlier forms like Lanchester Polytechnic and Coventry Polytechnic. Some of them include:
- Neil Carson, a CEO of a big company called Johnson Matthey plc.
- Nick Buckles, a former CEO of the security firm G4S.
- Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud, a Saudi prince and investor.
- Sultan Al Jaber, a politician from the UAE and CEO of ADNOC.
- John Iley, an expert in aerodynamics (how things move through air).
- David Yelland, a writer and journalist.
- Alex T. Smith, a well-known author and illustrator.
- Christopher Townsend, a visual effects supervisor who has been nominated for awards.
- Ian Callum, a British car designer for famous brands like Aston Martin.
- Steve Mattin, a chief designer for Lada cars.
- David Borrow, a politician and former Member of Parliament.
- Tobi Brown (TBJZL), a popular YouTuber and part of the Sidemen group.
- Nira Chamberlain, a mathematician and consultant.
- Matthew Macklin, a professional boxer.
- Hannah Cockroft, a British wheelchair racer and world record holder.
- Horace Panter, a musical artist.
- Andrea McLean, a television presenter.
- Louise Cook, a British rally driver.
- Pauline Black, a singer, actress, and author.
- John Kettley, a meteorologist (weather forecaster).
- Ralph Debbas, CEO of W Motors and designer of the Lykan HyperSport car.
- Gideon Coe, a radio presenter and journalist.
- Jerry Dammers, a musician.
- Spencer Kelly, a presenter for the BBC's technology program.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Coventry para niños
- Academics of Coventry University
- Armorial of UK universities
- Coventry School of Art and Design
- Coventry University Business School
- List of UK universities
- Post-1992 universities
- University of Warwick
