University of Wales, Newport facts for kids
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Prifysgol Cymru, Casnewydd
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Coat of Arms of the University of Wales, including the University of Wales, Newport
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Former name
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Gwent College of Higher Education |
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| Type | Public |
| Active | 1841–10 April 2013 |
| Students | 9520 (2012) |
| Address |
Caerleon Campus, Lodge Road, Caerleon, NP18 3QT
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Wales
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| Affiliations | Alliance of Non-Aligned Universities ACU University of Wales Campaign for Mainstream Universities |
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The University of Wales, Newport (Welsh: Prifysgol Cymru, Casnewydd) was a public university in Newport, South Wales. It was a place where students went to learn and get degrees. The university started in 1841 as a special school for workers. In 2013, it joined with another university to become the University of South Wales.
The university had two main locations in Newport. One was in Caerleon, on the edge of the city. The other was in the city centre, next to the River Usk. In 2012, about 9,520 students attended the university.
Contents
A Look Back: University History
Newport has offered higher education since 1841. It began as a "mechanics' institute." This was a place for workers and tradespeople to learn more. It was located in Newport's Town Hall. People could attend lectures for a small fee. They learned about things like "The Pursuit of Attainment and Knowledge."
Later, in 1975, several colleges joined together. These included the Caerleon College of Education and the Newport College of Art and Design. Together, they formed the Gwent College of Higher Education. The College of Art was especially famous. Many of its students worked for big companies like the BBC.
In 1992, the college became part of the University of Wales. It officially became a university college in 1996. There was a special celebration with trumpets and balloons. In 2004, it was allowed to use the name University of Wales, Newport. This meant it was a full part of the larger University of Wales system.
On August 1, 2011, the university changed its structure. It created two new main departments, called faculties. Each faculty had different schools:
The Faculty of Arts and Business
- School of Design, Engineering, Fashion and Technology
- School of Film, Photography and Digital Media
- Newport Business School
The Faculty of Education and Social Sciences
- School of Education
- School of Humanities and Lifelong Learning
- School of Sport, Health and Applied Social Sciences
There was also a special center for learning in the community. It helped people in the local area get an education.
Important Dates in History
- 1841: The Mechanics' Institute opened in Newport.
- 1872: Art and Science classes began.
- 1910: The Newport Technical Institute opened.
- 1912: Caerleon Training College started.
- 1975: Colleges merged to become Gwent College of Higher Education.
- 1992: A fire happened at the Caerleon campus.
- 1996: The college officially became University of Wales College, Newport.
- 2003: It became a full university, named University of Wales, Newport.
- 2011: A new £35 million campus opened in Newport City Centre. The old Allt-yr-ynn campus closed.
- 2013: The university merged with the University of Glamorgan. They formed the University of South Wales.
- 2016: The Caerleon campus closed.
Plans for a New University
The Welsh Government suggested that the University of Wales, Newport should merge. The idea was to combine it with the University of Glamorgan and Cardiff Metropolitan University. This would create one big university in South East Wales.
Cardiff Metropolitan University did not want to merge. They worried the new university would be too big. However, Newport welcomed the idea. They wanted to create a truly new and exciting institution.
In July 2012, Newport and Glamorgan announced they would merge. They wanted to build on their strengths. The goal was to create a new kind of higher education for South Wales. The University of Wales, Newport officially closed on April 11, 2013. It became part of the University of South Wales.
University Campuses
The university opened a brand new campus in Newport's city centre. This happened on January 10, 2011. It cost £35 million to build. This project was a team effort. The university, Newport City Council, and the Welsh Government all worked together.
The city centre campus was on the west side of the River Usk. It was the first part of a bigger plan for the university. This campus was home to the Faculty of Arts and Business. The Caerleon campus housed the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences. The new campus was a big part of making Newport city centre better. The old city campus at Allt-yr-ynn closed down.
What Made the University Special?
The university had a long history in education, starting in 1841. In 2009, it was named the best university in Wales for teaching about business and starting new companies.
The School of Film, Photography and Digital Media was very famous. It taught students how to make documentary films. It also had the Newport Film School. This school started in 1966 and helped many students become award-winning filmmakers. In 2010, the Newport Film School became a full member of CILECT. This is a big international group for film and television schools.
Student Life and Activities
Newport Students' Union was a group that represented all students. It was run by student leaders. These leaders worked with staff to help the union operate. Many students also volunteered their time.
The Students' Union offered many sports teams and clubs. Students could join different societies based on their interests. The union also had a student newspaper called NewsPort. There was a magazine called newtwo, a TV station (NTV), and a radio station (Radio Noize). The union organized fun events like Freshers' Fortnight for new students. They also held a big May Ball at the end of the school year.
Famous People Who Studied Here
Many talented people studied at the University of Wales, Newport. Some of them include:
- Christopher Chung Shu-kun, a politician in Hong Kong
- Roger Cecil, an artist
- Ken Elias, an artist
- Green Gartside, the lead singer of the band Scritti Politti
- Harry Greene, a television personality
- Paul Groves, a poet
- Philip John, a director and screenwriter
- Kirk Jones, a director
- Natasha Rhodes, a science fiction author
- Asif Kapadia, a film director
- Scott Barley, a filmmaker and artist
- Justin Kerrigan, a writer and film director
- Tracey Moberly, an artist, author, and radio presenter
See also
- Newport Technical Institute, a historic building that was once Newport Art College
