University of South Wales

University of South Wales
Prifysgol De Cymru
Former names
 University of Glamorgan, University of Wales, Newport
Type Public
Established 11 April 2013 (origins 1841)
Chancellor Rowan Williams[1]
Vice-Chancellor Julie Lydon
Administrative staff
 3,234[2]
Students 23,465 (2016/17)[3]
Undergraduates 19,275 (2016/17)[3]
Postgraduates 4,185 (2016/17)[3]
Location Wales
Campus Cardiff, Dubai, Newport and Pontypridd
Affiliations University Alliance
Website southwales.ac.uk

The University of South Wales (Welsh: Prifysgol De Cymru) is a public university in Wales, with campuses in Cardiff, Newport, Pontypridd and Dubai[4]. It was formed on 11 April 2013 from the merger of the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport.[5] The university is the second largest university in Wales in terms of its student numbers, and offers around 200 courses. The university has four main faculties across its campuses in South Wales.

History

The university can trace its roots to the founding of the Newport Mechanics' Institute in 1841. The Newport Mechanics' Institute later become the University of Wales, Newport. In 1913 the South Wales and Monmouthshire School of Mines was formed.[6] The school of mines was later to become the Polytechnic of Wales, before gaining the status of University of Glamorgan in 1992. The name for the new merged university was chosen following a research exercise amongst interested parties and announced in December 2012 by the prospective vice-chancellor of the university, Julie Lydon.[7]

Notable dates

  • 1841 Opening of Mechanics Institute, Newport
  • 1913 Opening of South Wales and Monmouthshire School of Mines, Treforest
  • 2013 Merger between the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport
  • 2014 Rowan Williams appointed Chancellor
  • 2015 London Campus closes
  • 2016 Caerleon Campus closes

Student numbers

At formation it was reported that the university had more than 33,500 students from 122 countries and was then the sixth largest in the United Kingdom and the largest in Wales.[8][9][10] Following the decline in student numbers reported by the HESA over the years since the formation of the university, for the academic year 2016/17[3] the University ranking was 31st largest in the UK and the 2nd largest in Wales when measured by the numbers of students enrolled.[11]

University00-0101-0202-0303-0404-0505-0606-0707-0808-0909-1010–1111–1212–13
Glamorgan17,530Increase 18,875Increase 19,820Increase 20,595Increase 21,325Decrease20,825Increase 21,535Increase 22,710Decrease20,900Increase 21,070Decrease20,210Increase21,190Decrease20,345
Newport8,185Increase 8,505Increase 8,980Increase 9,0659,065Increase 9,380Increase 9,535Decrease 9,120Decrease 9,065Increase 9,290Increase 10,040Decrease 9,990Decrease 9,780
Total25,715Increase 27,380Increase 28,800Increase 29,660Increase 30,390Decrease30,205Increase 31,070Increase 31,830Decrease29,965Increase 30,360Decrease 30,250Increase 31,180Decrease 30,125
South WalesBaseline13–1414–1515–1616–17
Numbers30,125Decrease29,195Decrease27,710Decrease25,265Decrease23,465
Percentage ChangeDecrease-3%Decrease-8%Decrease-13%Decrease-22%

Source:- The Higher Education Statistics Agency [12]

Organisation

Associated organisations

The university is part of the University of South Wales Group comprising the university, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Merthyr Tydfil College.

The university has a band of 106 partner colleges, universities, FE institutions or organisations, who deliver University of South Wales's higher education programmes or access courses in the UK and 18 other countries.[13]

Faculties

The university has four faculties[14] spread over its campuses in South East Wales.

Faculty of Business and Society

Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science

Faculty of Creative Industries

  • School of Drama and Music
  • School of Art and Design
  • Film and TV School Wales

Faculty of Life Sciences and Education

  • School of Psychology and Therapeutic Studies
  • School of Education, Early Years and Social Work
  • School of Health, Sport & Professional Practice
  • School of Care Sciences

The university has a film school, animation facilities, broadcasting studios, a photography school, a reputation for theatre design, poets, scriptwriters and authors as well as the national music and drama conservatoire, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, as a wholly owned subsidiary. It offers a range of qualifications from further education to degrees to PhD study. As a Post 92 University it delivers a range of STEM subjects.

Campuses

The university has three main campuses located across South Wales:

Cardiff

The Faculty of Creative Industries is based at the Cardiff Campus, along with a smaller number of courses from the Faculty of Business and Society. The Atrium Building is the main building at the campus, originally opened by the University of Glamorgan in 2007 the building was recently extended at a cost of £14.7 million[15] to replace the Caerleon campus. The building re-opened during September 2016. The campus also includes the Atlantic House building.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The new campus in Dubai will be opening in September 2018 at Dubai South located near Al-Maktoum International Airport. The courses offered will be British Bachelor degrees which include Aviation Maintenance Engineering.

Newport

The university's newest campus is the £40 million campus on the west bank of the River Usk in Newport city centre. The 'City Campus' was built built for the University of Wales, Newport and was opened in 2011 by Sir Terry Matthews.[16] Originally built to house a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the Newport Business School, Newport Film School and the universities art and design department, it now hosts courses from the Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, including teaching, social work and youth work as well as some courses in business together with the National Cyber Security Academy.

Pontypridd

This was formerly the main campus of the University of Glamorgan. Currently the university's largest campus, with a range of facilities, including an indoor sports centre and students' union. The campus is located in three parts:-

1) Treforest – Which hosts a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses notable in engineering and related subjects.

2) Glyntaff – Where nursing, science and sport courses are based.

3) Tyn y Wern – The location of the University of South Wales' sport park.

Former campuses

Caerleon

Caerleon is located on the northern outskirts of Newport. Formerly the second largest campus, it hosted a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including education, sports, history, fashion design, art and photography. The campus had extensive sports facilities, library, students' union shop and a students' union bar. It was formerly the main campus of the University of Wales, Newport. In 2014, it was announced by the University of South Wales that the Caerleon campus would close in 2016.[17] The university cited the need to invest around £20 million to improve and upgrade facilities as the primary reason for its closure.[18] The university relocated courses to the Newport City campus and the Cardiff Campus where it invested £14.7 million [15] to extend and upgrade the Atrium building. The campus opened during 1914 and closed for the last time on 31 July 2016, after 102 years. The University is proposing to sell the campus for housing development but there is strong opposition to the planned re-development from local residents.[19] The Caerleon Civic Society asked Cadw, the body that looks after historic monuments and buildings in Wales, to give the Edwardian main building Grade II Listed building status to save it from demolition.[20] On 7 August 2016 the Welsh Government announced that they would recommend that the main building, gatehouses and gate-piers be listed as 'buildings of special architectural and historic interest'. The University of South Wales expressed their continued opposition to the proposed listing but the announcement was welcomed by local politicians and the Caerleon Civic Society.[21] Grade II listing of the Main Building, the Principal's Residence, Gate Piers and Caretaker's / Gardener's Lodge was confirmed on 3 March 2017 .[22]

London

In 2014, USW spent an estimated £300,000 developing a campus in the Docklands area of London, but in January 2015 cancelled the project before taking on any students. The university described this as a test of the market, but blamed problems created by new UK visa regulations.[23]

Academic profile

Awards

The University of Wales, Newport received the 2013 Guardian Higher Education Award (with the University of Glamorgan) for widening participation through its Universities Heads of the Valleys Institute (UHOVI) initiative.[24][25] The University of Glamorgan was recognised for providing outstanding student support, winning the 2012 Times Higher Award for Outstanding Support to Students.[26]

The vice-chancellor of the university, Julie Lydon, was appointed an OBE for services to higher education in Wales in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours.[27]

Rankings and Reputation

Rankings
Global rankings
THE[28]
(2019) 		601–800
Complete[29]
(2019)		 107
The Guardian[30]
(2019)		 109
Times / Sunday Times[31]
(2019)		 115

In 2017, the university entered the top five percent of universities in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

In the 2017 National Student Survey the University was placed equal 140 out of 149 universities and institutions surveyed.[32] [33] [34]

The Complete University Guide 2016/7 ranked the university as 99 out of 127 UK universities.,[35] however the ranking declined to 110 out of 129 UK Universities in 2017/8

The University came 35th in the 2017 What Uni Awards[36]

The University did not participate in the 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework which is a government assessment of the quality of undergraduate teaching in universities and other higher education providers.

Year13-1414-1515-1616-1717-18
National Student Survey80%Decrease79%Increase80%Decrease78%-
Complete University Guide91Decrease100Decrease102Increase99Decrease110
The Guardian-102Decrease113Increase111Decrease116
Times/Sunday Times-114Increase112Decrease115-
WhatUni? Student Choice Awards79Decrease95Increase8Decrease35-

National Cyber Security Academy

In 2016, the university launched its National Cyber Security Academy. This academy is a joint venture with industrial partners and Welsh Government and has been recognised by the UK's national security organisation GCHQ. [37]

Research

The university is one of Wales's five major universities and a member of the St David's Day Group.[38] Its precursor institutions have been recognised for producing some world-leading and internationally excellent research in specialist areas, such as mechanical, aeronautical & manufacturing engineering, social work, social policy & administration, education, history, art and design,[39] nursing and midwifery, architecture and the built environment, English language and literature, communication, cultural & media studies, sports-related studies.[40]

The university offers independent advice to government and employers across the UK on health, education, economic growth, social policy and governance. It has provided a partnership platform for think-tanks such as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation[41] and NESTA to develop debate on public policy reform in the UK.

The Research Excellence Framework in 2014 concluded that the university's research output is 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent', placing the university's research strengths placed in the creative industries, social policy and criminology and sports and exercise science.[42]

Student life

Student Union

University of South Wales Students' Union is the students' union of the university. It exists to support and represent the students of the university. It is a member-led organisation and all students are automatically members.[43]

Accommodation

Pontypridd has halls of residence and facilities on its Treforest campus. Students studying at the university's Cardiff campus have access to private halls of residence, which are shared with the city's other universities. The Newport City building has nearby private student halls of residence.

Notable alumni

Artists and photographers

Authors and creative writers

Film

Healthcare professionals

  • Sue Bale OBE, Director of South East Wales Academic Health Science Partnership

Media personalities and performers

Musicians

Politicians

Scientists

Sports people

References

  1. ↑ "Rowan Williams named as University of South Wales chancellor". ITV.com. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Freedom of Information request". whatdotheyknow.com. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "2016/17 Students by HE provider, level, mode and domicile" (CSV). Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "USW Dubai". www.southwales.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  5. ↑ "University merger 11 April 2013". Southwalesargus.co.uk. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  6. ↑ The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg896 ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6
  7. ↑ "Preferred Name Announced For New University (press release)". Newport.ac.uk. 17 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "University of South Wales opens for 33,500 students". The BBC. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "University guide 2014: University of South Wales". The Guardian. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  10. ↑ USW Annual Review 2013
  11. ↑ https://www.hesa.ac.uk/files/sfr-files/student_sfr242_1516_all_tables.xlsx
  12. ↑ https://www.hesa.ac.uk
  13. ↑ "Collaborative Registers". A check of the listed documents on the university site yielded total number of partner colleges and their countries. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  14. ↑ http://www.southwales.ac.uk/about/faculties-and-schools/
  15. 1 2 http://www.southwales.ac.uk/new-atrium/
  16. ↑ "Sir Terry Matthews opens Newport university campus". BBC. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  17. ↑ "Campus Changes". University of South Wales Campus Changes. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  18. ↑ http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/11533883.Caerleon_Campus___20m_repair_bill_claim____bogus___/
  19. ↑ "Campus Changes". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  20. ↑ "Open Letter". Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  21. ↑ "Lifeline for part of Caerleon Campus after minister says building should be listed". Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "Historic Caerleon college campus given listed status by Cadw". Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  23. ↑ "USW London campus shut down before taking on any students". South Wales Argus. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  24. ↑ "Universities Heads of the Valleys Institute (UHOVI)". Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  25. ↑ Tickle, Louise (28 February 2013). "Commitment to widening participation winner: University of Wales, Newport with the University of Glamorgan". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  26. ↑ "Glamorgan wins national award for outstanding student support, News Centre". glam.ac.uk.
  27. ↑ Rupert Denholm-Hall (13 June 2014). "Business leaders across Wales recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours". walesonline. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  28. ↑ "World University Rankings 2019". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  29. ↑ "University League Table 2019". The Complete University Guide. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  30. ↑ "University league tables 2019". The Guardian. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  31. ↑ "The Times and Sunday Times University Good University Guide 2019". Times Newspapers. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  32. ↑ "The National Student Survey website". Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  33. ↑ "NSS Results website". Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  34. ↑ "National Student Survey on HEFCE website". Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  35. ↑ "Complete University Guide website". Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  36. ↑ "WhatUni 2017". Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  37. ↑ David Williamson (23 May 2016). "Intelligence agency GCHQ gives its seal of approval to Welsh university". walesonline. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  38. ↑ "St Davids Day Group". stdavidsdaygroup.ac.uk.
  39. ↑ "Newport RAE 2008 : Quality profiles". Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  40. ↑ "Glamorgan RAE 2008 : Quality profiles". Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  41. ↑ Fred Robinson (12 September 2012). "How can universities support disadvantaged communities?". Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  42. ↑ "REF 2014 – USW celebrates world leading research and impact".
  43. ↑ "University of South Wales Students' Union". Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  44. ↑ "biography". Emma Darwin. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  45. 1 2 3 "UniLife". southwales.ac.uk.
  46. ↑ "About". Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  47. ↑ "undefined undefined undefined undefined: Executive Profile & Biography". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  48. ↑ "'The Raid' directed by Glamorgan graduate Gareth Evans released today, News Centre". glam.ac.uk.
  49. ↑ "Philip John / Director & Writer". Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  50. ↑ "History". documentary newport. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  51. ↑ "FIRST PERSON: Film maker Peter Watkins-Hughes, 47, on campaiging to save Brynmawr Market Cinema". documentary newport. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  52. ↑ "Scott Barley | Filmmaker & Fine Artist". Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  53. ↑ "Behnaz Akhgar". Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  54. ↑ "Lorna Dunkley • Biography & Pictures". TV Newsroom. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  55. ↑ "Ben Green". Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  56. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  57. ↑ "Richard James Burgess". Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  58. ↑ "Newport pop singer co-writes Union J hit". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  59. ↑ "Kevin Brennan MP – Cardiff West". Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  60. ↑ Suzy Davies AM/AC. "About Suzy". Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  61. ↑ http://leannewood.org/
  62. ↑ http://news.glam.ac.uk/news/en/2010/may/07/mba-successes-celebrated/
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