University of Strathclyde

University of Strathclyde
Oilthigh Srath Chluaidh (Gaelic)
Motto	The Place of Useful Learning
Established	1796 Andersonian Institute ; 1964 granted University Status by Royal Charter The University of Strathclyde
Type	Public
Chancellor	Lord Hope of Craighead
Principal	Professor Jim McDonald
Convenor of the Court	Fraser Livingston
Admin. staff	3,200
Students	26,000
Undergraduates	16,185
Postgraduates	9,815
Location	Glasgow, Scotland
Campus	Urban
Colours	Engineering Humanities Science Business
Affiliations	AACSB AMBA EQUIS ECIU
Website	http://www.strath.ac.uk/

The University of Strathclyde (Scottish Gaelic: Oilthigh Srath Chluaidh, Scots: Varsitie o Straithclyde), Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university. It takes its name from the historic Kingdom of Strathclyde and is characterised today by its approach of innovative, flexible learning concentrated on practical subjects, striving to fulfill the vision of a "place of useful learning". The University of Strathclyde is Scotland's third largest university by number of students carrying an international reputation and outlook, with students and staff from over 100 countries. The institution was named UK University of the Year 2012/2013 in the Times Higher Education Awards which took place on 29 November 2012.

History

The university was founded in 1796 through the will of Professor John Anderson, professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Glasgow who left instructions and the majority of his estate to create a second university in Glasgow which would focus on "Useful Learning" – specialising in practical subjects – "for the good of mankind and the improvement of science, a place of useful learning". The University later named its city centre campus after him.

In 1828, the institution was renamed Anderson's University, partially fulfilling Anderson's vision of two universities in the city of Glasgow. The name was changed in 1887, to reflect the fact that there was no legal authority for the use of the title of 'university'. As a result the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College was formed, becoming the Royal Technical College in 1912, and the Royal College of Science and Technology in 1956 concentrating on science and engineering teaching and research. Undergraduate students could qualify for degrees of the University of Glasgow or the equivalent Associate of the Royal College of Science and Technology (ARCST).

Under Principal Samuel Curran, internationally respected nuclear physicist (and inventor of the scintillation counter), the Royal College gained University Status, receiving its Royal Charter to become The University of Strathclyde in 1964, merging with the Scottish College of Commerce at the same time. Contrary to popular belief, The University of Strathclyde was not created as a result of the Robbins Report – the decision to grant the Royal College university status had been made earlier in the 1960s but delayed as a result of Robbins Report. The University of Strathclyde was the UK's first technological university reflecting its history, teaching and research excellence in technological education. In 1993, the University incorporated Jordanhill College of Education.

The university has developed its reputation and grown from approximately 4,000 full-time students in 1964 to over 20,000 students in 2003, when it celebrated the 100th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the original Royal College building.

Campus development

The Royal College Building

A view to the western half of the John Anderson campus with Rottenrow gardens in the foreground

The Student Village - the part of the campus where most of the student halls are located

Since taking over the Jordanhill college in 1993, the University operated two campuses - The John Anderson Campus and the Jordanhill campus until 2012 when the Jordanhill campus was closed and everything was moved to the John Anderson Campus.

The centrepiece building has long been the massive Royal College Building. Started in 1903 and completed in 1912, it was partially opened in 1910 and at the time was the largest educational building in Europe for technical education. Originally built as the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College Building, it now houses Bioscience, Chemistry, and Electronic and Electrical Engineering. The building is currently undergoing major internal renovation following the relocation of the Pharmacology and Bioscience departments to new accommodation in the John Arbuthnott (SIPBS) building, and the installation of a new heating system.

Meanwhile, a new biomedical sciences building was opened in early 2010. It was designed by Shepparrd Robson, and is a purpose-built centre which aims to bring the multi-faceted disciplines of the Institute together under one roof. The building is central to the Institute’s aims of delivering speedier, more efficient drug discovery in a pioneering, world-class centre for research and development. Sited on Cathedral Street in Glasgow, the 8,000m2 building is the gateway to the University campus and city centre from the motorway.

The James Weir Building is currently undergoing reconstruction after a serious fire resulted in many rooms being unusable.

The Architecture Building, completed in 1967, is considered to be the best post-war building on campus. It was designed by Frank Fielden and Associates, Frank Fielden being the Professor of Architecture in the Architecture School at the time. The Architects Journal Magazine at the time highly praised this building for its restraint in the choice of materials and its organisational of the programe within the constraints of a difficult site. In 2012, Historic Scotland granted Listed Building Status (grade B) to it, along with the Wolfson Building designed by Morris and Steedman Architects. 2012 also saw the 20th Century Society select the Architecture Building as their 'Building of the Month' for September due to its cultural significance and enduring appeal. 20th century society building of the month

Teaching

Rankings

QS (2012/13, world)	254
THE (2012/13, world)	351-400
Complete (2014, national)	41
The Guardian (2014, national)	26
The Times (2013, national)	36

Departments are organised into four faculties:

• Humanities & Social Sciences
• Engineering
• Science
• Strathclyde Business School

The university delivers teaching to over 25,000 full-time and part-time students: 15,000 undergraduates and 10,000 postgraduates^{citation needed}. Another 34,000 people take part in continuing education and professional development programmes. The university's main campus, John Anderson Campus, is located in the centre of Glasgow, near George Square, and it has an education campus in the suburb of Jordanhill, at the site of the previousJordanhill Teacher Training College.

Strathclyde is the only Scottish university that offers the IET Power Academy engineering scholarships to its engineering students.

Research

The university dropped six places to number 50 in the UK RAE league table published by the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES). although it did rank highly in a number of areas in the same newspaper article – 8th in the UK for Pharmacy, 12th for Business and management studies, 17th for Chemistry, 13th for Law, 21st for Electrical and Electronic Engineering and 12th for Allied health professions and studies. However the RAE 2008 led directly to cuts in the university's research funding in 2009.

The University is currently building its own Technology & Innovation Center.

Notable academics and alumni

Thomas Graham

See also List of University of Strathclyde people

• Sir Samuel Curran - Inventor of the Scintillation counter
• John Logie Baird - Invented the world's first working television
• Thomas Graham - Formulated the Law of Diffusion of Gases
• David Livingstone - explorer and missionary
• James Young - Successfully separated paraffin wax, naphtha, lamp oil and lubricating oil from oil
• James Blyth - responsible for one of the earliest applications of wind power
• Henry Faulds - Originator of fingerprint identification
• James Croll - Early investigator of climate change
• Robert Thom - Inventor of water filtration systems
• Andrew Ure - His research is believed to be the inspiration behind Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein.
• Jim McColl - Scotland's richest man
• Sir Thomas Hunter - Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

See also

• Careers Scotland Space School
• University of Strathclyde Students' Association

External links

• University of Strathclyde website
• David Livingstone Center for Sustainability website
• James Goold Halls of Residence
• Livingstone Tower
• Glasgow Digital Library at the University of Strathclyde
• Strathclyde Students' Union website
• University of Strathclyde Students' Association
• EDWARD VII LAYS FOUNDATION STONE (1903) (archive film of King Edward VII laying the foundation stone for the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College (University of Strathclyde) – from the National Library of Scotland: SCOTTISH SCREEN ARCHIVE)