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University of Stirling

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University of Stirling
File:Stiru crest.jpg
MottoInnovation and Excellence
TypePublic
Established1967
ChancellorDame Diana Rigg
PrincipalProfessor Christine Hallett
Chairman of the CourtDr Doris Littlejohn CBE
Students8,940 [1]
Undergraduates6,905 [1]
Postgraduates2,030[1]
Other students
10 FE[1]
Location
Stirling
,
Scotland
,
UK
AffiliationsAssociation of Commonwealth Universities
Websitehttp://www.stir.ac.uk

The University of Stirling (Template:Lang-gd) is a campus university, founded in 1967, in Stirling, Scotland. It is a national centre for teaching and research, with an international reputation.[2] In 2006, The Times University Ranking tables placed the university thirty-seventh in a list of 109 UK universities.[3]

Campus

The main campus is situated around 3 miles (5km) from the centre of Stirling, but is much closer to the town of Bridge of Allan. It was formerly the estate of the Robert Adam designed Airthrey Castle, which the University has retained and incorporated into the campus as teaching facilities and offices. It is regularly described as one of the most beautiful campuses in the world, and nestles at the foot of Abbey Craig and the Ochil Hills in 300 acres (1.2 km²) of grounds centred around the man-made Airthrey Loch.

Stirling University is a "plate glass university", established as a result of the Robbins Report on Higher education, along with Heriot-Watt University and the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. When the University first received its Royal Charter on 13 November 1967, there were 160 students. In 2006, the University catered for nearly 9,000 students, around a third of whom live on-campus. It is also home to the MacRobert Arts Centre which is a small theatre and cinema complex, located on the main campus. The Centre is open both to members of the University community and to the general public.

The university is also home to the Scottish Institute of Sport, which opened in 2002. The university itself has its own dedicated Sports Studies department and was ranked amongst the best in the United Kingdom for its provision of sports facilities, with the maximum 5 star award, a standard achieved by only 16 other universities in the UK.[4]

Looking out over Airthrey Loch on the main campus of The University of Stirling

Students of over 80 nationalities are represented at the university, with 14 per cent of students coming from overseas.[5] It has grown into a major research centre, with a large science park - Innovation Park, located immediately adjacent to the main university campus. Innovation Park has grown since its initiation in 1993, and is now home to 40 companies engaging in various forms of research and development.[6]

Organisation

The University is organised academically into 19 departments:

  • Department of Accounting and Finance
  • Department of Applied Social Science
  • Institute of Aquaculture
  • School of Biological and Environmental Sciences
  • Department of Computing Science and Mathematics
  • Department of Economics
  • Institute of Education
  • Department of English Studies
  • Department of Film and Media Studies
  • Department of History
  • School of Languages, Culture and Religion
  • School of Law
  • Department of Management
  • Department of Marketing
  • Department of Nursing and Midwifery
  • Department of Philosophy
  • Department of Politics
  • Department of Psychology
  • Department of Sports Studies

Teaching

Since its inception, Stirling has offered modular degree programmes allowing greater flexibility and choice. Stirling was the first United Kingdom university to introduce the system of two semesters rather than having three terms. The first semester lasts from mid-September to Christmas and the second from mid-February to the end of May. Programmes are also offered in the evening and during the summer through the Summer Academic Programme.

There are now over 256 courses (including combination courses) at the undergraduate degree level. A wide variety of courses are also available at the postgraduate level.

The University has always been highly rated for teaching. Excellent teaching ratings for politics, accounting, finance, economics, sociology, religious studies, business studies, psychology and English language demonstrate Stirling's expertise in the arts and social sciences. Among the natural sciences, environmental science also achieved high ratings, its success reflected in the recently completed School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, with substantially refurbished facilities for both teaching and research. All but one of the subjects assessed for teaching quality were rated at least "highly satisfactory" and was ranked in the top ten in the UK for Teaching Assessment by The Times Higher Education Supplement.

Despite a fall in graduate recruitment in recent years, the percentage of Stirling graduates in employment six months after graduation continues to rise. Stirling is ranked third in the UK for graduate employability, according to the 2006 Sunday Times Good University Guide.

Research

Stirling University's range of specialist research centres include:

  • Scottish Network for Economic Methodology
  • Institute of Aquaculture
  • Centre for European Neighbourhood Studies
  • Centre for Environmental History and Policy
  • Stirling Media Research Institute
  • Social Work Research Centre
  • Centre for Social Research on Dementia
  • Scottish Addiction Studies
  • Scottish Network for Chronic Pain Research Centre
  • Scottish Centre for Information on Language, Teaching and Research
  • Centre for Lifelong Learning
  • Institute for Retail Studies

In the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), Stirling witnessed a dramatic upturn in its research performance, with more than half of the University’s research-active academics now working in subjects in the top rated category of "5" (which indicates that the majority of the research in these areas is deemed to attain levels of at least national excellence, with a high proportion meeting international standards of excellence). Half the academic departments are ranked top in Scotland for research. The "5"-rated subjects include: accounting, finance and law; aquaculture; film and media studies; English studies; French; history; psychology; philosophy; social work; religious studies. Other subject areas were also highly rated: biological sciences; business and management; economics; education; German; sports studies.

The University's funding for research following the 2001 RAE increased more than any other pre-1992 university in Scotland, and was amongst the largest increases in the UK. The University has a developing track record in externally funded research, attracting grants and awards from bodies such as the Research Councils, central and local government, the European Union, and charitable sources. It conducts high quality research ranging from basic through strategic to applied, making a vital contribution to the economic, social and cultural life of Scotland and beyond.

Sport facilities

The University has extensive sports facilities and is one of only sixteen universities in the country with 5-star sports facilities (Sunday Times, 2003). The University has it's own 9-hole Golf course and driving range, and a host of other sporting facilities are located in and around the campus. The Gannochy National Tennis Centre on the University campus is recognised as a national centre of excellence,[7] and also has an indoor swimming pool, badminton and squash courts, sports halls and playing fields available for student, staff and public use. The campus has been selected as the headquarters for the Scottish Institute of Sport and a new 50-metre Olympic size swimming pool has been created as part of the Scottish National Swimming Academy.

Student representation

The students of the University are represented by Stirling University Students' Association (S.U.S.A.) which was named "Best Students' Union in Scotland" by the Bar Entertainment and Dance Association in 2003. The Association is based on-campus in the Robbins Centre. It is responsible for providing services to students and representing students to organisations including the University itself. On its premises in the Robbins it runs several venues: Studio, Glow and Long-Bar.

Stirling University also has student-run media services. Brig has been the campus newspaper since 1969 Air3 1350, was the first campus radio station in Scotland and AirTV (formerly Videoworks) is a television station for students.

The Highland and Western Isles campuses

As well as the main campus in Stirling, the University also has campuses in Inverness and Stornoway which specialise in Nursing and Midwifery. The Highland site is on the outskirts of Inverness and within the grounds of Raigmore Hospital. The site has purpose-built teaching facilities and student accommodation. The Highland Health Sciences Library is also on this campus, and caters for both the students and staff of the University as well as the employees of NHS Highland and its associated Trusts.

The Western Isles campus is located in Stornoway and the teaching accommodation is an integral part of the recently built Western Isles Hospital. This is a small campus site which also has student accommodation within the environs of the Lewis Hospital.

Other functions

The 9th Assembly of the Conference of European Churches was held at the University of Stirling in 1986, with delegates from almost every country in Europe.

Ratings

  • Ranked 1st in UK for widening access to Higher Education, teaching and research standards, and low non-completion rates (Times Higher Education Supplement, 2002)
  • The University was ranked among the Top 10 Universities in the Times Higher Education Supplement Award for the UK's Best Student Experience 2006
  • In 2006, The Times University Ranking tables placed the university thirty-seventh in a list of 109 UK universities[3]
  • Ranked in Top 20 in UK for the following subjects: "Education" (#6), "Philosophy" (#14), "Communications and Media Studies" (#14), and "Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation, Sport and Tourism" (#15)[3]
  • One of only 16 universities in the UK with 5 star sports facilities (Sunday Times, 2003)
  • Ranked 1st in Scotland for the Best Students' Union in Scotland award (Bar Entertainment and Dance Association, 2003)
  • Ranked 23rd in the UK for awarding firsts and upper seconds (Times Higher Education Supplement, 2003)
  • In The Times Good University Guide (June 2006), Accounting and Finance was listed as one of the Top 20 university departments in the UK for Accounting and Finance - one of only four Scottish departments to make the Top 20
  • Ranked 20th in the UK for Politics and 28th in the UK for Economics by The Guardian[8][9]

Notable faculty and alumni

See also: Category:People associated with the University of Stirling

Faculty

Alumni

Arts

Politics

Sport:

Other:

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2005/06". Higher Education Statistics Agency online statistics. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
  2. ^ [1], retrieved 20th June 2007
  3. ^ a b c O'Leary, John. "Good University Guide 2007" (HTML). Times Online. The Times. Retrieved 6 September. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Stirling University External Visitor Information
  5. ^ Visitor Information - Useful facts and figures Stirling University Facts and Figures
  6. ^ Stirling University Innovation Park About us
  7. ^ Stirling University University background
  8. ^ Guardian Subject Rankings - Economics
  9. ^ Guardian Subject Rankings - Politics

Template:Scottish Universities

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