London South Bank University facts for kids
Coat of arms of the university
|
|
|
Former names
|
Borough Polytechnic Institute (1892–1970), Polytechnic of the South Bank (1970–1987), South Bank Polytechnic (1987–1992) |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1992 (university status) 30 September 1892 (Borough Polytechnic Institute) |
| Chancellor | Sir Simon Hughes |
| Vice-Chancellor | David Phoenix |
|
Administrative staff
|
1,700 |
| Students | 17,605 (2015/16) |
| Undergraduates | 12,765 (2015/16) |
| Postgraduates | 5,220 (2015/16) |
| Location |
Southwark, London
,
England, United Kingdom
|
| Campus | Urban |
| Affiliations | EUA |
 |
|
London South Bank University (LSBU) is a public university located in Elephant and Castle, London. It's in the London Borough of Southwark, close to the South Bank of the River Thames. This is where the university gets its name!
LSBU started way back in 1892 as the Borough Polytechnic Institute. It became a full university in 1992. In 2003, it got its current name, London South Bank University. The university has grown a lot since then. It now has many new buildings and centres. These include the School of Health and Social Care and Elephant Studios, a modern media centre. LSBU has thousands of students and many staff members.
In 2016, LSBU was named the "Entrepreneurial University of the Year". This award means it's great at helping students start their own businesses. The university also received a "Silver" rating in 2017 and 2023 for its excellent teaching quality.
Contents
A Look Back: LSBU's History
How It All Started
London South Bank University began as the Borough Polytechnic Institute in 1892. Over the years, its name changed a few times. It was called the Polytechnic of the South Bank in 1970. Then it became South Bank Polytechnic in 1987. In 1992, it was named South Bank University. Finally, in 2003, it became London South Bank University. The university also joined with other schools over time.
In 1888, a lawyer named Edric Bayley helped start a committee. This group wanted to create polytechnics (schools for practical skills) in South London. They managed to raise a lot of money from the public. This money helped set up schools in Battersea and at Borough Road, which is now LSBU.
In 1890, the old buildings of the British and Foreign School Society were bought for the new Institute. By 1891, the goals for the new school were set. These goals included teaching "industrial skills" and improving the "health, and well-being of young men and women." It also aimed to help people who wanted to move to other countries.
On September 30, 1892, the Borough Polytechnic Institute officially opened. Lord Rosebery opened the school. Its main job was to teach practical skills to the local community. The school's motto was "Do it with thy Might."
Early Days and Growth
The Polytechnic taught courses that matched local jobs. These included leather tanning, printing, metalwork, and electrical engineering. They also taught baking and shoe making. Students could also learn about art, science, and literature. Famous speakers like George Bernard Shaw gave talks there.
In 1894, the National School of Bakery and Confectionery opened. It had 78 students! In 1908, the Edric Hall was built. This added new bakery rooms, a gym, and workshops to the school.
In 1911, famous artists were asked to paint murals for the student dining room. These paintings showed "London on Holiday." Artists like Duncan Grant and Roger Fry created these works. Later, in 1931, these paintings were sold to the Tate Gallery.
During the First World War, the Polytechnic helped with the war effort. It made things like munitions and gas masks. After the war, more engineering courses were offered, even to women in the 1920s. By 1927, the number of students grew to over 8,000. In 1930, the Duke of York opened the Polytechnic's new buildings.
War and New Beginnings
During the Second World War, about a third of the Polytechnic's campus was damaged. This was due to the Blitz bombings. Even so, the school kept helping the community. It provided hundreds of meals each day to people who lost their homes.
After the war, from 1945 to 1953, the British painter David Bomberg taught art at the Polytechnic. He even started an art group called the 'Borough Group' with his students. In the 1960s, the campus grew even more. New buildings and a tall Tower Block were opened by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
In 1970, several other colleges joined with the Polytechnic. These included the Brixton School of Building. The new, bigger school was called the Polytechnic of the South Bank. In 1972, a new site opened for the Faculty of the Built Environment. This was a huge department for subjects like surveying and architecture. In 1975, the large London Road building opened. It had space for business courses and the library.
In 1987, the school changed its name again to South Bank Polytechnic. That same year, the British Youth Opera (BYO) found a home at the campus. In 1992, the Polytechnic officially became a university. It was then called South Bank University. It even had a slogan: "the University without Ivory Towers."
LSBU in the 21st Century
In 2003, the university changed its name to London South Bank University (LSBU). It also opened the Keyworth Centre. In 2009, a major new building called K2 opened. It houses the School of Health and Social Care. This building has special labs for nursing students. LSBU also opened a new Student Centre in 2012 and an Enterprise Centre in 2013. In 2016, Elephant Studios at LSBU, a new media centre, was opened.
In 2014, there was a disagreement about a poster displayed by students. University officials removed it, saying it was offensive. This caused some discussion about free speech.
LSBU also sponsors the University Academy of Engineering South Bank. This school opened in 2014 for students aged 11–19.
LSBU Campus
LSBU's main campus is in the London Borough of Southwark. It's just north of the Elephant and Castle area. The main entrance is on Borough Road, where the original building stands. The campus is also near London Road and Southwark Bridge Road. The famous South Bank of London is just a short trip away by tube or bus.
LSBU also has a smaller campus in east London, called LSBU at Havering. A new campus in Croydon is also planned to open in 2021.
What LSBU Studies
The university is divided into seven main Schools:
- School of Applied Sciences
- School of Arts and Creative Industries
- School of the Built Environment and Architecture
- School of Business
- School of Engineering
- School of Health and Social Care
- School of Law and Social Sciences
In 2021, the university announced it would not be taking new students for history or human geography courses.
Academic Achievements
The famous British painter David Bomberg taught art at the Borough Polytechnic from 1945 to 1954. One of the university's student halls is named David Bomberg House in his honour. You can even see some of his paintings at the university.
London South Bank University works with schools and organizations all over the world. This includes partners in China, like the Beijing Institute of Technology. LSBU even started the first Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2007.
Rankings and Reputation
| National rankings | |
|---|---|
| Complete (2021) | 112 |
| Guardian (2021) | 81 |
| Times / Sunday Times (2021) | 116 |
| Global rankings | |
| QS (2021) |
801–850 |
| THE (2021) | 601–800 |
| British Government assessment | |
| Teaching Excellence Framework | Silver |
In 2016, LSBU was named the "Entrepreneurial University of the Year." This shows its strong focus on helping students develop business skills.
The Guardian newspaper ranked LSBU 92nd out of 121 British universities in 2018. However, for law students, The Guardian rated LSBU as joint 13th!
In 2017, LSBU received a "Silver" rating for its teaching quality. This means the university provides a high standard of education to its students.
Who Studies Here?
Most of LSBU's UK students are from London. Many come from South London areas like Southwark and Lambeth. About 12% of the students are from other countries, coming from over 130 different nations. Many students are also from different ethnic backgrounds. Over 80% of students are considered "mature students," meaning they are 21 or older when they start their courses.
Famous People Who Went to LSBU
- Sir David Adjaye, a famous architect.
- Frank Auerbach, a well-known painter.
- Shaun Bailey, a politician.
- Sue Black, a computer scientist.
- Edd China, a television presenter and engineer.
- Edna Adan Ismail, a former foreign minister of Somaliland.
- Leon Kossoff, an artist.
- Norma Major, wife of former UK Prime Minister Sir John Major.
- Shahid Malik, a politician.
- Sarah Mullally, a nurse and bishop.
- Joan Ryan, a politician.
- Phil Spencer, a TV personality known for property shows.
See also
- Armorial of UK universities
- Borough Road Gallery, opened 2012
- List of universities in the UK
- Post-1992 university
Images for kids
-
Borough Road Entrance
-
London South Bank University accommodation at Dante Road
-
Inside London South Bank University
