University of Glamorgan

Infobox University
name = University of Glamorgan
native_name = Prifysgol Morgannwg


image_size = 165px
motto = Success Through Endeavour [cite web|url= http://www.glam.ac.uk/profile/74/crest|title= Glamorgan Crest - University of Glamorgan|accessdate= 2008-02-09|publisher= University of Glamorgan]
established = 1913 [cite web|url= http://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-uni-colleges/glamorgan-university-of-458933.html|title= Glamorgan, University of - A-Z Unis & Colleges, Getting Into University - Independent.co.uk|accessdate= 2008-02-09|date= 2007-07-27|publisher= The Independent]
staff =
chancellor = Lord Morris of Aberavoncite web|url= http://www.glam.ac.uk/profile/59/directorate|title= Directorate and Governors - University of Glamorgan|accessdate= 2008-04-28|publisher= University of Glamorgan]
vice_chancellor = Professor David Halton
city = Trefforest
country = Wales, UK
campus =
students = 25,465cite web|url= http://www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/dataTables/studentsAndQualifiers/download/institution0607.xls|title= Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2006/07|accessdate= 2008-04-20|format= Microsoft Excel spreadsheet|publisher= Higher Education Statistics Agency]
undergrad = 18,280
postgrad = 3,255
other = 3,930 FE
type = Public
website = http://www.glam.ac.uk

The University of Glamorgan ( _cy. Prifysgol Morgannwg) is a university in Pontypridd (in the former County of Mid Glamorgan), Wales with campuses in Trefforest, Glyntaff, Merthyr Tydfil, Tyn y Wern and Cardiff. It comprises seven departments and faculties. Glamorgan is the only University in Wales which has no current or former link with the University of Wales.Fact|date=March 2008

History

The University of Glamorgan was founded in 1913 as a School of Mines based in Trefforest, Pontypridd to serve the large coal mining industry in the South Wales valleys."The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales". John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg896 ISBN 9780708319536] It later became Glamorgan Polytechnic, then The Polytechnic of Wales, before becoming The University of Glamorgan in 1992, the second established University in Wales.Fact|date=March 2008 The University of Glamorgan was established to increase the availability of higher educationFact|date=March 2008 in the deprived Welsh Valleys.

Since 2003, the University has been engaged in an active "growth strategy", merging with Merthyr Tydfil College in 2004/5 and forming a "strategic alliance" with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2006. "Atrium", a new campus, was recently opened in Cardiff city centre. [ [http://cci.glam.ac.uk/opendays/ The ATRiuM is now open] ]

Presently, the University serves around 25,000 students, with 10,227 registered as full-time undergraduates. [cite web|url= http://www.glam.ac.uk/profile/61/figures|title= Facts and Figures - University of Glamorgan|accessdate= 2008-04-20|publisher= University of Glamorgan] It currently offers around 200 courses and has one of the highest graduate employment rates in the UK. The University of Glamorgan is also ranked the top new University in Wales for the third year (running). [ [http://www.glam.ac.uk/profile University Profile - University of Glamorgan ] ]

Academic rankings

Reputation

The University has been a major contributor to the widening participation agenda of the Welsh Assembly, providing a range of foundation certificate courses, some of which require B grades in order to permit progression to a degree programme. The bulk of full-time students enter through the UCAS system with A-levels or equivalent qualifications and many of the University's degree courses are selective in that they require specific A-levels or above average grades for entry.Fact|date=October 2007

*The only UK University to boast of the Next Generation Networks, IMS Experience Lab [http://www.comp.glam.ac.uk/ims-lab]
*Business school is ranked as the best in Wales and the 12th in U.K . [http://www.marketingmasters.co.uk/]
*In May 2001, the Times 'Higher Education' supplement numbered Glamorgan amongst the top Business Schools for teaching quality/Business studies [http://www.accountingmasters.co.uk/about_the_university.htm] , placing it with Warwick, Cranfield and London Business School. [http://www.marketingmasters.co.uk]
*In 2001 the accounting and finance courses were ranked in the top 5 in UK [http://bus.glam.ac.uk/]
*One of only 20 UK business schools to get an 'excellent ratings' from the government. [http://www.accountingmasters.co.uk/about_the_university.htm]
*Research partner for the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), world’s largest and most prestigious entrepreneurship research project [http://www.glam.ac.uk/bus/1247]
*Graduates have gone to set up the highest number of successful businesses in the UK of all universities. [http://www.glam.ac.uk/coursedetails/685/421]
*Research in biohydrogen production and wastewater treatment is internationally recognised. [http://serc.research.glam.ac.uk/about/]
*The only university in Wales to be awarded the Environmental ISO 14001 [http://www.glam.ac.uk/profile/63/awards]
*12 of the University's departments have been rated as "excellent" by the National Teaching Quality Assessments. [http://www.glam.ac.uk/profile/62/teaching]
*The University of Glamorgan, with Cardiff University and South Wales Police, forms the Universities Police Science Institute (UPSI) - a unique organisation in the UK dedicated to research and training in police related matters. The University of Glamorgan's BSc in Police Sciences is the only one of its kind in the UK. Specialists in police and forensic related matters are organised within the Glamorgan Centre for Police Sciences.Fact|date=February 2008
*The highest paid Graduates of any university in Wales, excluding the rest of the U.K. into account. [http://www.glam.ac.uk/whyglam/6/careerprospects] Fact|date=April 2008
*A £35 million (€46.7 million or $68.6 million) investment in the city of Cardiff, completed in 2007, houses the University Creative Industries Faculty also known as the Atrium; in effect, potentially creating one of the most important hubs in drama, media and production in Wales. [http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2005/11/02/university-expansion-plan-91466-16323108/] [http://cci.glam.ac.uk/]
*The University's chiropratic institute is the only University based centre for training chiropractors in the UK [http://www.glam.ac.uk/courses/606/healthsciences]
*In the 2006 National Student Survey, quality of teaching was awarded a grade of 4 out of 5. [http://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-uni-colleges/glamorgan-university-of-458933.html]

Campuses

The University has several campuses:

* Trefforest - the main campus plays host to the bulk of academic departments and facilities, including the indoor sports centre and students union. It is easily accessed via Trefforest railway station from either Cardiff, Merthyr or the Rhondda; regular bus services or the A470.
* Glyntaff - is the home of the Law School and the majority of the provision belonging to the Faculty of Health, Sport and Science
* Partner colleges - The University has specialised "partner colleges" throughout South Wales; for example, Barry College for aeronautical engineering.
* Merthyr Tydfil - the former Merthyr Tydfil College has become part of the University of Glamorgan, although its focus remains on delivering Further Education rather than Higher Education.
*Tyn y Wern - Is home to the university's sports facilities and playing fields.
* Atrium - The Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries is based at a new Cardiff campus located close to Queen Street train station.

List of Faculties and Departments

* Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries, the Atrium
** Art and Design
** Media and Communication
** Drama and Music
* Faculty of Health, Sport & Science
** Health Sciences including Nursing and Chiropractic
** Police Sciences
** Social Work
** Life Sciences
** Physical Sciences
** Sport
** Geography and the Environment
** C.A.S.E. (Centre for Astronomy and Science Education)
* Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
** English and Creative Writing
** Humanities and Social Sciences
** Law, Policing and Criminology
* Faculty of Advanced Technology
** Built Environment
** Computing and Mathematics
** Engineering
* Glamorgan Business School
** Business Excellence BA
** Accounting
** Leisure, Sport and Tourism Courses
** Management and Business
* Faculty of Further Education and Collaborative Activities
* Centre for Lifelong Learning
** Combined Studies Unit
** Glamorgan GATES
** Centre for Intergenerational Practice
** Llynfi Valley Project
** Race and Ethnicity
** First Campus

Facilities

There are two halls of residence, both within the Trefforest campus:

* Glamorgan Court - is the newer, with all the rooms in the hall buildings arranged into clusters of six en-suite bedrooms with a shared kitchen.

* Neuadd Philip Evans & Neuadd Philip Squire - which have kitchens on each of the three sections of each of the three floors, communal toilets and showers. Each building also has a communal lounge with a TV.

The Students Union is also on the Trefforest campus. The Student Union is the home to a number of sports teams, sports clubs and societies as well as Leek, the student newspaper and GlamTV, the student TV station for Glamorgan (and the only student TV station in Wales).Fact|date=April 2008

Additional educational facilities include a 24-hour PC lab, wireless internet access in specified areas, world class equipment for nursing courses (including life sized dummies that simulate human beings, from breathing to giving birth), a TV studio, an on-campus radio studio, two theatres, and an art gallery.

* Learning Resource Centre: The library of the University has books and all other media facilities as well as daily newspapers from around the country and journal articles. Online research journals such as Mintel and Keynotes are available for students to use for free.

Awards

* The University of Glamorgan has been rated the "most environmentally friendly university" in Wales, and 4th "greenest" facility in the UK, in the 2007 Green League Table being published in the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES), produced by People & Planet [ [http://peopleandplanet.org/gogreen/greenleague2007/table Green League Table 2007] ]

* Glamorgan is the first university in Wales, and only the 8th in the whole of the UK, to have been awarded the nationally recognised Investor in People status, for staff training and development. [ [http://www.glam.ac.uk/jobs/547 http://www.glam.ac.uk/jobs/547] ]

*The Business School received Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Centre of Excellence accreditation, being one of only 13 accredited centres in the UK. [http://www.glam.ac.uk/profile/63/awards http://www.glam.ac.uk/profile/63/awards] ]

* Glamorgan has received the first prize in the national competition for best course designs and teaching ability three times.

*Electronic Product Engineering within the School of Electronics, and Environmental Technology and Management, have been designated "Centres of Expertise" for Wales.

References

External links

* [http://www.glam.ac.uk/ University of Glamorgan] – official website
* [http://www.glamsu.com/ University of Glamorgan Student Union] – official website