University of Westminster

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University of Westminster


Motto	Educating for professional life
Established	1838 as The Royal Polytechnic Institution
Type	University federation
Chancellor	Lord Swraj Paul
Vice-Chancellor	Dr Geoffrey Copland (retires June 2007)
Students	23,800
Location	London, England
Website	http://www.wmin.ac.uk

The University of Westminster is a university in London, England, formed in 1992 as a result of the Further and Higher Education Act, 1992, which allowed the London Polytechnic (Polytechnic of Central London or PCL ) to rename itself as a university. The London Polytechnic itself was formed from the merger of the Holborn College of Law, Languages and Commerce and the Regent Street Polytechnic in 1971. Its antecedents, the Royal Polytechnic Institution date back to 1838, making it one of the oldest post-school educational institutions in Britain.

1 Overview
2 History
3 Degrees offered
4 Fashion Design
5 Campuses and halls
6 Sporting achievements
7 List of notable lecturers and alumni
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Overview

Marylebone campus

The University of Westminster's headquarters is situated on Regent Street in the West End of London. It has evolved over 160 years from the first institution in the UK to provide post-school education for working people to a multi-faceted modern university. There are plans to celebrate 170 years by publishing a new History of the University in 2008. There are more than 23,800 students from 132 countries studying at the University of Westminster on a variety of programmes. These range from undergraduate and postgraduate courses to tailored professional programmes and short courses. Many Westminster students study part-time; courses are available both during the day and in the evening.

The University of Westminster ranked 55th out of 122 university-level institutions in the United Kingdom in 2005, according to the Guardian newspaper.^[1]

The University of Westminster Students' Union:[7] provides a wide range of activities for its members. It is based at the Marylebone campus, next to Baker Street tube station, where 'Inter:Mission', a new social venue, costing £750,000 was launched in 2006. ^[2]

The proposal and construction of the new venue was met with criticism, as a majority of students felt that the investment in to an alcohol bar was an unjustified use of funding, and could have been used for other social and health promoting projects, such as a sports centre or more computer facilities. The Union also has another bar and a night club, Area 51, located on the University's Harrow Campus.

The Union was founded in 1966 as The Polytechnic Students' Union. Its first three Presidents were Owen Spencer-Thomas 1966-1967, ^[3] Roger Beavil 1967-1968 ^[4] and Alan Smith 1968-1969. ^[5].

The University of Westminster is home to the Diplomatic Academy of London, which operates postgraduate degrees on international politics and diplomacy in both its campuses in London and Paris, France.

[edit] History

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The University has had four different names during its long history:

The Royal Polytechnic Institution (1838-1881)
Regent Street Polytechnic (1881-1970)
The Polytechnic of Central London - known as PCL (1970-1992)
The University of Westminster (1992 to present)

1838-1881 Royal Polytechnic Institution
The first polytechnic - The Polytechnic Institution- opened to the public at 309 Regent Street on 6th August 1838, under the chairmanship of the distinguished scientist and aeronatical engineer Sir George Cayley. Its aim was to demonstrate new technologies and inventions to the public. The Polytechnic played a significant role in the popularisation of science & engineering, and it became a major tourist attraction in Victorian London.

1839
The Polytechnic was the first institution in London to demonstrate the new invention of photography, and in 1841 the first photographic studio in Europe opened on the roof of the building.

1841
The name changed to The Royal Polytechnic Institution when Prince Albert - the husband of Queen Victoria - became Patron.

1848
A new theatre was added to the building, which became world famous for its spectacular magic lantern shows.

1850s-1870s
The Director of the Polytechnic, Professor John Pepper, was internationally known as a showman and popular science lecturer; he invented the popular theatrical illusion known as Pepper's ghost.

1881
The Royal Polytechnic closed in 1881. In 1881 the Regent Street Polytechnic was founded. The Polytechnic was subsequently to have a significant influence on English higher education and perhaps an even greater one on sport.[8]

The University's founder was Quintin Hogg who is described on a memorial plaque in the rebuilt flagship building (1911) as an "Education and Christian Benefactor", who "expanded his work by founding the Polytechnic in 1881-2". In Portland Place, is his statue, a memorial to both him and to those staff and students who died during the First World War. The imagery of Hogg's statue conveys the values and priorities of his Polytechnic, because he is depicted giving equal value to book learning and sporting activity. In essence, it reflects the ethos of muscular Christianity, a popular strain in Victorian culture. In the Fyvie Hall in the main building, a plaque explains that the reconstruction in 1911 was a memorial to the late Edward VII and it refers to the commitment of the Polytechnic to the "physical and moral development of youthful subjects".

Smoke Radio is the student radio station of the University of Westminster. It was brought about in late 2004. After the intake of new students in September 2005 the station took to running a 24 hour playout system and running live programmes during the week.

By 2006 Smoke Radio had established itself as a leading UK Student station, winning awards at the Student Radio Awards. These included the Gold Award for 'Best Journalistic Programming' and two Bronze Awards for 'Best Marketing and Station sound' and 'Best Station 2006'. Currently the station is run by 3 ‘editors’ who look after the day to day running of programming, news & online and marketing. Smoke Radio is the sister media of The Smoke (Newspaper) and Smoke Screen (TV).

The Smoke is the newspaper of the University of Westminster. It was originally brought about in 1992 as a magazine. In 2006 The Smoke was switched to a newspaper, initially being published fortnightly during term time. The Newspaper currently features News, Comment, Politics, Media Business, Film, Music, Arts and Culture, Fashion, Sports, Science and Technology, Listings and Comic Strips.

[edit] Degrees offered

The University offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees via its departments:

School of Architecture and the Built Environment
School of Biosciences
School of Law
School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Languages
School of Media, Arts and Design
School of Integrated Health
School of Informatics (formerly the Cavendish School of Computer Science)
Harrow Business School
Harrow School of Computer Science
Westminster Business School

[edit] Fashion Design

Graduate fashion collection from 2006

A number of notable fashion designers have attended The University of Westminster. These include both Vivienne Westwood and Christopher Bailey, who have each been awarded British Fashion Designer of the Year in the past. Vivienne Westwood in 1990, 1991 and 2006, and Christopher Bailey in 2005.

Other notable alumni include Katie Hillier, accessories designer for Marc Jacobs; Stuart Vevers, the Creative Director of Mulberry; and Carrie Munden the Creative Director of Cassetteplaya.

Additionally, a number of Fashion Designers have also been awarded honorary doctorates from The University of Westminster. These include Christopher Bailey 2006, Jeff Banks in 1992, and Zandra Rhodes in 1999.

The graduates from the BA Fashion Design course stage a runway shows every June during Graduate Fashion Week in London.

In June 2006 The Daily Telegraph wrote “Central St Martins, the London fashion college that produced Britain's brightest design talents of the last decade, lost its place on the cutting edge at Graduate Fashion Week last night. It was usurped dramatically by Westminster University in a show that featured the work of only 17 students, compared with CSM's roll-call of 40 BA graduates.

"This is what British fashion is really about, said Christopher Bailey, Westminster graduate and now creative director of Burberry.” It was rebellious, rude and individual. Most fashion colleges are too afraid to shock.” ^[6]

The BA Fashion Design course also has its own website at westminsterfashion

[edit] Campuses and halls

This University is divided into four campuses; three of these are in central London and the fourth is in Harrow. The nearest Tube station to the Harrow Campus is Northwick Park, on the Metropolitan Line, which takes 18 minutes from Baker Street. The campus includes a Business School, Computer School and Media School. Each campus contains a set of architecturally distinctive buildings and has its own library, IT and catering facilities.

The English language section has 14 classes and 200 students who come from every part of the world (Japan, China, France etc.). There is also a Learning Advice Centre in the library.

There are several Halls of Residence dispersed throughout London, including Furnival House in Highgate and Alexander Fleming situated near Old Street, one based at the Marylebone campus and as of September 2005 there are two based at the Harrow campus.

The University established Westminster International University in Tashkent in 2002 at the invitation of and with the co-operation of the government of Uzbekistan.

[edit] Sporting achievements

This twin commitment to education and sport is further exemplified by a double set of honours boards which show that, from 1898 until the establishment of what was to become the University of Westminster, it awarded an annual trophy for the best educational achievement, and for the best sports performance. The latter award was the Studd Trophy. Over the years, the awards have been given to sportsmen from various disciplines, such as swimming, boxing and cycling, but the majority of awards have been given to athletes. Six names stand out: Willie Applegarth (1912/13), Olympic medallist and the greatest of the pre-First World War sprinters; Albert Hill (1919/20), Olympic gold medallist and the greatest middle-distance runner of his time; Harry Edward (1922), Olympic sprint bronze medallist; McDonald Bailey (1950), the greatest sprinter of the immediate post-Second World War years; Colin Campbell (1968 and 1970), a great quarter miler; and Alan Pascoe (1971/72/73/74/75), one of the greatest hurdlers of all time.

This roll of honour explains why, of the many sports clubs that arose from the Regent's Street Polytechnic, the Polytechnic Harriers were the most remembered and celebrated. The Polytechnic Harriers became associated with the Chiswick track, but their name confirmed that they were connected to this important educational and sporting institution. However, the Polytechnic Marathon [9], founded after the London Olympic Marathon of 1908, has ceased. Indeed, even the Polytechnic Harriers have been subsumed into another club. Although the club, as Kingston and Polytechnic A.C., still compete, at their Kingston home, for their Kinnaird and Sward Trophies every April against the famous Achilles Club and others. Nevertheless, the achievements of this unique establishment, especially in athletics, still stand the test of comparison with modern activities and clubs.

The other two sports with which the Polytechnic has a strong association are cycling and water polo.

[edit] List of notable lecturers and alumni

[edit] Notable lecturers

Cherie Blair, senior barrister, wife of Tony Blair

Russell Simmons, co-founder Def Jam Records
Reverend Run, of RUN DMC, hip hop legend

Chantal Mouffe, political theorist

John Keane, political theorist

David Greene, architect and founder of Archigram

[edit] Notable alumni

Sir Alexander Fleming, The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1945
Carlos the Jackal, self-proclaimed leftist revolutionary and mercenary, terrorist
Christopher Bailey Design Director, Burberry
Arnis Balcus, photography and video artist
Sinclair Beecham, co-founder of Pret a Manger
Luke Busby, producer/songwriter
Anthony Caro, sculptor
Hilary Carty, Director of Performing Arts, Arts Council of England
Caroline Cox of Queensbury, lobbyist
Wilfred Cass, businessman and philanthropist
Rob Diament, singer/songwriter
Andy Enright, journalist
John Fleming, writer and TV producer
Trisha Goddard, TV presenter/Chat show host
Tony Grisoni, screenwriter
Alan Heath, founder and publisher of Polish Business News
Stephen Hesford, Labour politician
Michael Jackson, Chairman, Universal Television Group USA
Asif Kapadia, director/screenwriter
Markus Lupfer, fashion designer
Arif Ahmed, COO of Ikonami
Mari Mahr, artist
Julian Metcalfe, co-founder of Pret a Manger
Trevor Miller, author and screenwriter
Jake Nava, Music video and commercial director
František Jan Nevrkla, Chairman and CEO, Phonographic Performance Limited
Scarlet Page, Photographer and daughter of Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page
Raoul Michael Pinnell, Chairman of Shell Brands International AG
Ian Ritchie, architect - see Ian Ritchie Architects
Jon Ronson, journalist
Ruth Elizabeth Rouse, British High Commissioner to Grenada
James Siabi and Ori Yiassoumis, founders, HiGrade Computers
Owen Spencer-Thomas, television journalist, Anglican clergyman and first president of the Students' Union
Philip Sycamore, former President of the Law Society
Mousir Syed, actor/director
Manish Sahi, radio broadcaster and columnist
Mitra Tabrizian, artist
Sam Dodwell, Cornish artist
Vedat Tavsanoglu, electronic engineer
Simon Toulson-Clark, Red Box
Danny Wallace (writer), TV presenter and author
Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason of the rock group Pink Floyd studied architecture in the 1960s but did not graduate
Vivienne Westwood, Fashion designer
Chris Wilkinson, architect
Ewart Wooldridge, Chief Executive, Leadership Foundation for Higher Education
Jamie Woon musician
Ravi Bhudiya, Computer Science & Applied Mathematics – Development of Investment Banking Software