University of South Wales

The University of South Wales (Welsh: Prifysgol De Cymru) is a university in Wales. It was formed on 11 April 2013 from the merger of the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport.[4] The university can trace its roots to the founding of the Newport Mechanics Institute in 1841. At formation it was reported that the university had more than 33,500 students from 122 countries and was then the sixth largest in the United Kingdom and the largest in Wales.[5][6][7] However the Office of the Independent Adjudicator stated that, in 2013, the number of students was 29,875 [8] The Higher Education Statistics Agency reported student total numbers of 27,710 for the 2014/15 academic year (12th largest in the UK and the second largest in Wales, by student number).


Establishment[edit]

The name for the university was chosen following a research exercise amongst interested parties and announced in December 2012 by the prospective vice-chancellor of the university, Julie Lydon.[9] The foundation of the new university dates back to 1841 when the Newport Mechanics Institute was formed, which later become the University of Wales, Newport. In 1913 South Wales and Monmouthshire school of mines was formed which in 1992 gained the status of University of Glamorgan.
The vice-chancellor of the university, Julie Lydon, was awarded an OBE for services to higher education in Wales in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours.[10]

Organisation[edit]

Associated organisations[edit]

The university is part of the University of South Wales Group comprising the university, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Merthyr Tydfil College.
The university has a band of 106 partner colleges, universities, FE institutions or organizations, who deliver University of South Wales's higher education programs or access courses in the UK and 18 other countries.[11]

Faculties[edit]

The university has four faculties spread over its four campuses in South East Wales.
Faculty of Business and Society
  • School of Business
  • School of Law, Accounting and Finance
  • School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
  • School of Computing and Mathematics
  • School of Engineering
  • School of Applied Sciences
Faculty of Creative Industries
  • School of Drama and Music
  • School of Art and Design
  • School of Media
Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
  • School of Psychology, Early Years and Therapeutic Studies
  • School of Education
  • School of Health, Sport & Professional Practice
  • Centre for Community Learning
  • School of Care Sciences
The university has a film school, animation facilities, broadcasting studios, a photography school, a reputation for theatre design, poets, scriptwriters and authors as well as the national music and drama conservatoire, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, as a wholly owned subsidiary. It offers a range of qualifications from further education to degrees to PhD study. As a Post 92 University it delivers a range of STEM subjects, from engineering and mathematics to computing and surveying.
In June 2013 the fine art course at Newport was closed, with the final degree show being entitled "depARTure". A tutor, Kathryn Ashill, said that the students had a "responsibility of going out with a bang".[12]

Campuses[edit]

The university has four main campuses:
  • Caerleon - located on the northern outskirts of Newport. The second largest campus and hosts a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including education, sports and photography. This Edwardian campus includes extensive sports facilities, library and students union. Formerly the main campus of the University of Wales, Newport. In 2014, it was announced by the university that the Caerleon campus will close in 2016[13] with courses being integrated into the remaining campuses.
  • Cardiff - The Faculty of Creative Industries is based at the ATRiuM building. Opened in 2007 by the University of Glamorgan, which converted a former BT office building. Some professional services courses are taught at the Atlantic House building, with fashion taught in the Cromwell House building.
  • Newport - The university's newest campus. The £35 million campus on the west bank of the River Usk in Newport city centre was opened in 2011, by the University of Wales, Newport. Hosts a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including business and the film school.
  • Pontypridd - This was formerly the main campus of the University of Glamorgan. Currently the university's largest campus, with a range of facilities, including an indoor sports centre and students' union. The campus is located in three parts:-
  1. Treforest - Which hosts a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses notable in engineering and related subjects.
  2. Glyntaff - Where nursing, science and sport courses are based.
  3. Tyn y Wern - The location of the University of South Wales' sport park.

Reputation[edit]

Rankings
Complete[14]
(2016, national)		102
The Guardian[15]
(2016, national)		113
Times/Sunday Times[16]
(2016, national)		114
The university is one of Wales’s five major universities and a member of the St David's Day Group.[17] Its precursor institutions have been recognised for producing some world-leading (4*) and internationally excellent (3*) research in specialist areas,[18][19][citation needed] such as nursing and midwifery, architecture and the built environment, English language and literature, history, communication, cultural and media studies, mechanical and aeronautical and manufacturing engineering.
The University of Glamorgan was recognised for providing outstanding student support, winning the 2012 Times Higher Award for Outstanding Support to Students.[20] The University of Wales, Newport received the 2013 Guardian Higher Education Award (with the University of Glamorgan) for widening participation through its Universities Heads of the Valleys Institute (UHOVI) initiative.[21][22]
The university offers independent advice to government and employers across the UK on health, education, economic growth, social policy and governance.[citation needed] It has provided a partnership platform for think-tanks such as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and NESTA to develop debate on public policy reform in the UK.[citation needed]
The Good University Guide 2015 published by The Sunday Times ranked the university as 114 out of 123 UK universities. The guide rated student satisfaction at 77.0%, (117th out of 123) and student numbers as 15,835 undergraduates plus 2,475 postgraduates.

Campaign for the vice chancellor to resign[edit]

There have been calls for the university's vice chancellor, Julie Lydon, to resign. These calls relate to the proposal raised in 2014 to close the Caerleon campus in 2016 and issues surrounding the London campus in 2015.
Paul Halliday, a vocal campaigner for the Caerleon campus to stay open, said: “Julie Lydon is clearly not fit to be vice chancellor of USW and should resign with immediate effect. Under her leadership not only have we seen the Caerleon campus of the university being run down, ultimately to be sold off, but we now see almost half a million pounds being wasted on a London campus vanity project. The comments I continue to get from students, staff and the community is that she has lost their trust and respect.”[23]

Notable alumni[edit]

See also: Category:Alumni of University of South Wales
See also: Category:Alumni of the University of Glamorgan
See also: Category:Alumni of the University of Wales, Newport

Artists and photographers[edit]

Authors and creative writers[edit]

Business and legal[edit]

Film[edit]

Healthcare professionals[edit]

  • Sue Bale OBE, Director of South East Wales Academic Health Science Partnership

Media personalities and performers[edit]

Musicians[edit]

Politicians[edit]

Scientists[edit]

Sports people[edit]

Gallery[edit]

Caerleon Campus[edit]

  • Caerleon Campus.jpg

Cardiff Campus[edit]

  • ATRiuM, Adam Street
  • Atlantic House, Tyndall Street
  • Cromwell House, Fitzalan Place

Newport City Campus[edit]

  • University of South Wales, Newport city centre campus.jpg

Treforest, Pontypridd Campus[edit]

  • Main buildings
  • Glamorgan Business School
  • The Students' Union

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