Napier University

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{{Infobox_University |name = Napier University |latin_name = |image = |motto = nisi sapientia frustra |established = 1992 (founded 1964 as Napier Technical College) |type = Public |staff = 1,648 <ref name="facts">Template:Cite web</ref> |chancellor = vacant |vice_chancellor = |head_label = Principal |head = Professor Joan Stringer CBE |students = 14,162 <ref name="facts" /> |city = Edinburgh |country = United Kingdom |free_label = Turnover |free = £70 million (GBP, 2003) <ref name="facts" /> |affiliations = |website = www.napier.ac.uk }}

Napier University is a university in Edinburgh, Scotland.

1 History
2 Campuses
3 Office Holders
4 Alumni
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

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History

It was opened as Napier Technical College in 1964, taking its name from John Napier, the inventor of logarithms, who was born on the site of the Merchiston campus. In 1966, it was renamed Napier College of Science and Technology. Since 1971, it has offered degree-level education. Three years later, it merged with the Sighthill-based Edinburgh College of Commerce to form Napier College of Commerce and Technology.

The college was renamed Napier Polytechnic in 1986 and in the same year acquired the former St Andrews College buildings at Craiglockhart. It gained full university status in its own right in June 1992, but only a matter of months before other former polytechnics. In 1994, Napier University acquired its Craighouse campus.

In 1996, the university gained a new Faculty of Health Studies, a merger of the Scottish Borders College of Nursing and Lothian College of Health Studies.

It was ranked joint 90th overall amongst UK universities in a 2004 article published in the Financial Times. It is especially noted for a range of subject areas including timber engineering and transport studies, and in addition its journalism courses are considered to be of a high standard with some lecturers giving expert testimony to the Scottish Parliament.

The computing department at Napier University is the largest of any university in Scotland.

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Campuses

The university is based around its Merchiston, Craighouse, Craiglockhart and Sighthill campuses. The latter is not much used, and may be decommissioned. There are also smaller, medical campuses at Canaan Lane and Comely Bank in Edinburgh, as well as in Melrose and Livingston.

The Merchiston campus is built around the refurbished shell of Merchiston Tower (or Castle), the family home of John Napier. Merchiston Tower is also the ancient seat of Clan Napier. This campus plays host to the sports, science and engineering courses. The Napier Students' Association (NSA) is located nearby on Merchiston Place in a converted house. Until recently, it housed "Bar 12", the last remaining student bar, although there has been a campaign to have it reopened under a new structure.

The Craiglockhart campus is notable for including the former Craiglockhart War Hospital where war poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon were treated. This campus is the home of the law and business courses and is also marketed as a conference centre. Tony Blair gave a speech there in 2004. The campus has recently benefited from a £24m development for the Business School at Craiglockhart. The Business School at Napier University is currently seeking EQUIS accredidation.

The Craighouse campus is based around the former Thomas Clouston Clinic which was a mental hospital (The Royal Edinburgh Asylum) until around 1990. This campus is home to the social science and communication arts courses as well as the Ian Tomlin School of Music. It was here that Joseph Conrad stayed during his visit to Edinburgh and where he wrote his iconic novella Heart of Darkness, published in 1902.

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