University of Worcester facts for kids
Coat of Arms
University of Worcester |
|
| Motto |
Latin: Ad Inspirandum Aspiramus
|
|---|---|
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Motto in English
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Aspire to Inspire |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1946 – Worcester Emergency Teacher Training College 1948 – Worcester Teacher Training College 1976 – Worcester College of Higher Education 1997 – University College Worcester (Given degree awarding powers) 2005 – University Status |
| Chancellor | Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester |
| Vice-Chancellor | David Green |
|
Academic staff
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300 |
|
Administrative staff
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700 |
| Students | 10,455 (2015/16) |
| Undergraduates | 8,975 (2015/16) |
| Postgraduates | 1,770 (2015/16) |
| Up to 30 at any time | |
| Location |
Worcester, England, UK
52°11′53″N 02°14′37″W / 52.19806°N 2.24361°W |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colours | Blue and White |
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The University of Worcester is a public research university located in Worcester, England. It started in 1946 as a college for training teachers. The university began giving out its own degrees in 1997. It became a full university in 2005.
Contents
History of the University
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The university started in 1946 as a college to train teachers. It was built on an old RAF base from World War II. Henry Hines was the first leader. Later, E.G. Peirson took over in 1951. During his time, the college started offering degrees.
In 1997, the university was allowed to give out its own degrees. It was then called University College Worcester. In 2005, it officially became the University of Worcester. This meant it could offer more types of degrees. In 2010, the university was also allowed to award research degrees, like PhDs.
The university opened its City Campus in 2010. This campus is for the Business School. In 2012, a big new building called The Hive opened. It cost £60 million and is a library and study space. The Queen herself opened The Hive.
In 2021, the university decided to close its archaeology department. This led to many people asking them to change their minds.
University Locations
Since 2005, the University of Worcester has grown a lot. It has opened many new places around the city. The university wants to build more shared spaces for students and the community.
St John's Campus
St John's is the main campus of the university. Most courses and support services are here. It has student housing for over 870 students. There is also a sports centre and fields. The campus has special facilities for training nurses and doctors' assistants. The Peirson Centre offers study areas and computer access.
City Campus
The City Campus is the second university campus. It is home to the Worcester Business School. This campus opened in 2010. It is built on the site of an old hospital. The old hospital buildings were designed by a famous architect.
The City Campus also has student housing for 250 students. The Art House is another building here. It used to be a warehouse. It is one of the few buildings in the UK to get a Gold award for being good for the environment. The old chapel and boardroom in the hospital have been restored. An exhibition about the hospital's history opened here in 2012.
Riverside and Worcester Arena
The university also has a large area next to the River Severn. This area is called "Riverside." It has an art space and a large sports arena. The arena can hold 2,000 people. It is used for sports, events, and as a home for the Worcester Wolves basketball team. It is also a special centre for sports for people with disabilities. The community can also use the Worcester Arena.
Lakeside Campus (Outdoor Education)
The Lakeside Campus is in the countryside. It is only a 10-minute drive from the main campus. This 50-acre site has a lake for water sports. It also has grass fields, woodlands, and an activity centre.
The Hive (Library and Study Centre)
The Hive is a special building shared by the university and the local council. The Queen opened it in 2012. It is next to the City Campus. The Hive is a library for both students and the public. It has sections for adults, children, and academic studies. It also holds historical records for the county.
The Hive has over 250,000 books. It also has 12 miles of old archive collections. There are meeting rooms, exhibition spaces, and a small theatre. Students can find many study areas and over 500 computers across its five floors.
University Park
The university plans to build a third campus called University Park. It will be on a 47-acre piece of land. This new campus will take about 15 years to finish. It will include areas for business, science, and sports. It will also help with healthcare and wellbeing studies.
Environmental Efforts
The university cares about the environment. It has won awards for being eco-friendly. It was the first university in England to get a Gold EcoCampus Award. This shows it is working hard to reduce its carbon footprint.
How the University is Organized
In 2008, The Duke of Gloucester became the first Chancellor of the university. He attends special events and helps promote the university. The university also has a group of important "ambassadors" called the College of Fellows.
The university is divided into different academic schools. These schools focus on different subjects. For example, there is a School of Education and a Worcester Business School. Each school helps students and teachers with their studies.
Academic Programs and Reputation
The university's teaching program for teachers was rated "Excellent" by Ofsted. In 2010, it was even rated "Outstanding" for teacher training.
Surveys have shown that students are very happy at Worcester. In 2008, it was in the top 40 universities for student satisfaction. Students studying English, History, and Teacher Training were especially satisfied.
Research at the University
Since 2010, the university can award its own research degrees, like PhDs. The university has several important research centres:
- The National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit: This unit creates all the UK's national pollen forecasts. They also test new products for hay fever.
- The Centre for Rural Research: This centre studies how things like floods affect people in the countryside.
- The International Centre for Children's Literature, Literacy and Creativity: This centre studies children's books and how children learn to read and write.
- The Motion Performance Centre: This centre looks at sports injuries and how to help people recover. They use special technology to study body movement.
- The Association for Dementia Studies: This group studies dementia to help people living with it.
Student Life
The Worcester Students' Union is a group that represents all students at the university. It is located on the St John's Campus. The union offers many services and activities for students. It is led by elected student officers. The student newspaper is called The Voice.
Sports Activities
The university is home to several sports teams. These include the Worcester Wolves basketball team. There is also the Worcester Allstars Football team and the Worcester Royals American Football team. Some students at the university are even England Blind Footballers.
The university also works with the Premier 15s rugby team, Worcester Warriors Women. They are now called 'University of Worcester Warriors'.
Famous Alumni
Many notable people have studied at the University of Worcester. Some of them include:
- Waqar Azmi – a diplomat and former adviser to the prime minister.
- Pat Brown – a cricketer.
- Matthew Hudson-Smith – an Olympic athlete.
- Daryl Mitchell – a cricketer.
- Kyle Pryor – an actor.
- Swaroop Sampat – an actress and former Miss India.
- Jacqui Smith – a politician.
- Imogen Thomas – a model.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Worcester para niños
- Armorial of UK universities
- College of Education
- List of universities in the UK
