University of Westminster

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Image:UniversityOfWestminster.jpg The University of Westminster is a British university in London, 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.

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Overview

The University of Westminster's headquarters is situated on Regent Street in the West End of London. It has evolved over 150 years from the first institution in the UK to provide post-school education for working people to a multi-faceted university.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:[2] provides a wide range of activities for its members. It is based in Wells Street(300 metres from Regent Street) where there is a lively and often noisy bar. The Union also has another bar located on the University's Harrow Campus: [3].

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History

Although there had been an attempt to establish a polytechnic institute in Regent Street as early as 1838,it was not until 1881 that 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.[4]

The founder was Quintin Hogg who is described on a memorial plaque in the rebuilt Polytechnic building (1911) as an "Education and Christian Benefactor", who "expanded his work by founding the Polytechnic in 1881-2". In nearby Portland Place, amidst the traffic, is a statue of Quintin Hogg, which is a memorial to both him and to those staff and students who died during the First World War. The imagery of Hogg's statue conveysTemplate:Fact 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".

This twin commitment 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, thereby confirming the messageTemplate:Fact of the nearby statue. 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 timeTemplate:Fact; Harry Edward (1922), Olympic sprint bronze medallist; McDonald Bailey (1950), the greatest sprinter of the immediate post-Second World War yearsTemplate:Fact; Colin Campbell (1968 and 1970), a greatTemplate:Fact quarter miler; and Alan Pascoe (1971/72/73/74/75), one of the greatest hurdlers of all timeTemplate:Fact.

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 celebratedTemplate:Fact. The Polytechnic Harriers became associated with the Chiswick track, but their name confirmed that they were connected to this importantTemplate:Fact educational and sporting institution. However, the Polytechnic's Kinnaird and Sward Trophies are now no more, and the Polytechnic Marathon, founded after the London Olympic Marathon of 1908, has also ceased. Indeed, even the Polytechnic Harriers have been subsumed into another club. Nevertheless, the achievements of this uniqueTemplate:Fact establishment, especially in athletics, still stand the test of comparisonTemplate:Fact with modern activities and clubs.

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

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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
  • Cavendish School of Computer Science
  • Harrow Business School
  • Harrow School of Computer Science
  • Westminster Business School
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Strike

On 7 March 2006 and 29 March 2006, the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education called for many lecturers of the University to take part in a strike [i.e. refusing to lecture], centering on a pay dispute with the University. This widely disrupted the University day. They further promised to take part in action "short of a strike" [not marking work etc.]

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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 20 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. Some of them are in central London, and as of September 2005 there are two based at the Harrow campus.

It was announcedTemplate:Fact in February, 2005, that the University would cease all future enrolment on the German and Russian degree courses, following Italian the previous year. This meant that the Languages department has been left with just Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish languages.

This Strike is still in force; no work is being marked which is affecting all of the University's students. Especially those who are hoping to graduate this year.

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List of Lecturers and Alumni

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Notable Lecturers

Cherie Booth, senior barrister, wife of Tony Blair

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Notable alumni

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External links

Template:Universities in Londonde:University of Westminster zh:威斯敏斯特大學

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