University of Bedfordshire

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University of Bedfordshire
University Bedfordshire logo.png
TypePublic
Established1882 - Teacher Training College
1993 - University of Luton gained University Status
2006 – renamed to University of Bedfordshire after merging with the Bedford campus of De Montfort University
Vice-ChancellorProfessor Rebecca Bunting
Location
Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes
,
Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire
,
UK

51°52′40″N 0°24′41″W / 51.87778°N 0.41139°W / 51.87778; -0.41139Coordinates: 51°52′40″N 0°24′41″W / 51.87778°N 0.41139°W / 51.87778; -0.41139
CampusUrban
Websitewww.beds.ac.uk Edit this at Wikidata
Image of the Campus Centre Building at the University of Bedfordshire
Campus Centre - Luton Campus

The University of Bedfordshire is a public research university with campuses in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, England. The University has roots from 1882, however, it gained university status in 1993 as the University of Luton. The University changed its name to the University of Bedfordshire in 2006 by the approval of the Privy Council, following the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford campus of De Montfort University.

It is spread across five campuses: there are three in Bedfordshire, in Bedford and Luton; and two in Buckinghamshire, in Aylesbury (for students studying Nursing and Midwifery), and in Milton Keynes. It is also active in London and Birmingham, as well as globally, with a growing portfolio of international partnerships as far afield as Egypt, Vietnam, Oman and Mauritius.

The University entered the Research Assessment Exercise in 2014 and achieved an improvement of 22 places in the REF Power Ranking – the fourth largest improvement in the sector with nearly half of its research considered to be world leading or internationally excellent.[1]

In 2012 it achieved FairTrade status.[2] The University has also come eighth in the UK in the People and Planet University Green League in 2019 and received the Eco Campus Platinum award in 2020.[3]

The University of Bedfordshire has a vibrant and cosmopolitan student population that includes more around 20,000 students from over 100 countries, working collaboratively with around 40 academic partners, both in the UK and overseas, to deliver a range of course from foundation degrees to doctorates.  More than 40% of its student population come from families with no history of participation in higher education. Around 70% are mature returners to education and over half are from black or ethnic minority backgrounds.[4]

Appointed in 2020, the current Vice Chancellor is Professor Rebecca Bunting.[5] The most recent Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire was John Bercow, the former Speaker of the House of Commons.[6]

History[]

The University of Luton had its roots in the Luton Modern School, which was established in 1908 and the Luton Modern School and Technical Institute which opened in 1937. This became Luton College of Higher Education following the merger of Luton College of Technology and Putteridge Bury College of Education, in 1976. It obtained university status in 1993. The Bedford campus of De Montfort University was originally part of the Bedford College of Higher Education, which stemmed from Bedford Teacher Training College, founded in 1882, and Bedford Physical Training College, founded in 1903. The University was created by the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford campus of De Montfort University in August 2006 following approval by the Privy Council.[7]

Campuses[]

The University's two main campuses are in Luton and Bedford.

Putteridge Bury - University of Bedfordshire campus building
Putteridge Bury

In Buckinghamshire, the dedicated Mary Seacole Aylesbury campus for Healthcare students opened in February 2020 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, in partnership with Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT).

A smaller fourth campus at Milton Keynes became part of the university in 2012, offering a variety of degree courses as well as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes.[8]

On the outskirts of Luton, is the University’s Putteridge Bury campus. The campus is situated in approximately 30 acres of landscaped gardens. The current building was completed in 1911 and was designed by architects Sir Ernest George and in the style of Chequers, having had various redesigns and rebuilds over the years.[9][10]

The site is utilised for University events including graduations, academic research symposia and seminars, The University of Bedfordshire Business School's postgraduate programmes, as well as a wide variety of public and private events including conferences, weddings, funeral receptions and public holiday functions.

Luton Campus[]

STEM Building

The University’s Luton campus is located in the town centre and is home to a purpose built STEM building, seven-storey library, a Postgraduate & CPD Centre, as well as an array of modern facilities to support each of the courses on offer.  These include the Media Arts Centre, a Moot Court, Business Pods, Healthcare Simulation Suites, a Campus Gym and a three-storey art studio with designated fashion and photography studios.

The University's Campus Centre, at Luton, opened in October 2010.[11] It houses a 240-seat lecture theatre, an exhibition area for displaying student work, a Student Information Desk and Students' Union support services.

The Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development Centre was completed in early 2013 and includes state-of-the-art IT and AV equipment, informal and quiet learning spaces, two "Harvard-style" lecture theatres.

The dedicated STEM building opened in 2019 and is set out over four storeys of teaching space including four computer laboratories and workshops for subjects such as automotive engineering, cyber-security and robotics, along with three large teaching labs, and four specialist containment labs.[12]

Bedford Campus[]

Bedford Campus building
Bedford Campus

The Bedford campus is close to Bedford town centre and local amenities. The University provides a free bus service running between the town centre and the campus. The campus includes a Physical Education and Sport Science Centre used to train athletes in the 2012 Olympic Games, and a Bedford Campus Centre boasting a 280-seat theatre, dance studios, a restaurant and social spaces for students. Liberty Park, on-site accommodation, offers 500 en-suite study bedrooms.

The Library was designed by van Heyningen and Haward Architects as a gateway to the campus. The building was completed in 2001 and provides approximately 360 individual study spaces, teaching space, staff work areas and traditional library services.[13] There is also the Gateway building which offers teaching and informal learning spaces, lecture theatres and a student service centre over three storeys.

Mary Seacole, Aylesbury Campus[]

Mary Seacole Building
Mary Seacole, Aylesbury Campus

The University’s Mary Seacole Campus opened in February 2020 at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury and in partnership with Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT). 

The three-storey building, located on the hospital site, provides a specialist skills lab, set out as a hospital ward with state-of-the-art audio visual technology. There are also a suite of classrooms, a library, social learning spaces and computer study facilities.[14]

Milton Keynes Campus[]

The Milton Keynes campus became part of the University in September 2012.[8]

The Milton Keynes Campus offers foundation degrees, Honours degrees, Master's degrees and Doctorates, as well as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course in a variety of subject areas.

Organisation and structure[]

The University has four faculties: Creative Arts, Technologies and Science; Education and Sport; Health and Social Sciences; and the University of Bedfordshire Business School.

Academic profile[]

In 2000 the University of Luton was ranked 83 out of 93 British universities by The Times[15] in their annual university ranking, rising to 72 out of 101 two years later.[16]

The Sunday Times awarded the University of Luton the title of Best New University in 2004 (prior to the purchase of the Bedford campus and rebranding).[17] The QAA conducted a thorough institutional audit of the university as a whole in 2005 (prior to the merger of the University), which resulted in the audit team's questioning of the academic standards of its awards and its lack of confidence in the university's quality standards.[18] However, after the audit was taken the QAA was provided with information that indicates that appropriate action was taken by the university in response to the findings of this report. As a result, the audit was signed off in July 2007.[19] The University was subsequently commended by the QAA for the high quality and standards of our higher education provision in 2015.[20]

Postgraduate Centre - Luton Campus
Postgraduate Centre - Luton Campus

The University appears in Times Higher Education World University rankings, ranked as one of the top 300 universities in the world under 50 years old in the Young University rankings and was awarded Silver in the first ever Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in 2017.[4]

The University hosts the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research, opened in 2012,[21] which carried out the first British study of cyberstalking and other forms of harassment online.[22] In 2012 it established a UNESCO chair in New Media Forms of the Book to analyse trends in the use of electronic media, mobile media and Internet technologies[23] through research and practice.[24]

Teaching quality[]

Rankings
National rankings
Complete (2022)[25]123
Guardian (2021)[26]121
Times / Sunday Times (2021)[27]131
Global rankings
THE (2022)[28]801–1000
British Government assessment
Teaching Excellence Framework[29]Silver

In 2004 The Sunday Times awarded the University the title of 'Best New University'[30] and in 2007 it was short-listed for the Times Higher Education Supplement's University of the Year 2007.[31]

Awards[]

  • Awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade in 2011.[32]
  • Outstanding Finance Team winners in the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards 2011.[33]
  • 'Gold' award from Investors in People in 2011.
  • One of 21 Business Schools awarded the Bronze Award for start-up and business growth advice (Small Business Charter)
  • 8th in the country in the University Green League (People and Planet 2019)

Educational partner institutions[]

The University works together with a number of partner institutions to offer a range of courses:[34]

  • Buckinghamshire College Group (Aylesbury)
  • Barnfield College
  • Frontline
  • Global Banking School
  • Institute of Family Therapy
  • London School of Commerce
  • Milton Keynes College
  • New Stamford College
  • Pen Green Leadership Centre
  • Emil Dale Academy
  • Holmes Institute
  • London Studio Centre
  • Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College
  • CTS College of Business and Computer Science, Trinidad
  • Executive Business and Computational Institute, Mauritius
  • Foreign Trade University, Vietnam
  • Kaplan Higher Edcuation, Hong Kong
  • Majan College, Oman
  • MAPS College, Maldives
  • Marbella Design Academy, Spain
  • Modern Sciences and Arts University, Egypt
  • Music Production and Dance Academy, Italy
  • Middle East University, Jordan
  • Nations School of Business and Management, Guyana
  • Oxford College of Business, Sri Lanka
  • Patan College for Professional Studies, Nepal
  • SHEL School of Higher Education Limited, Trinidad and Tobago
  • SLIIT Academy, Sri Lanka
  • STI Myanmar
  • Westminster International College, Malaysia
  • Asian Centre for Management and Technology Ltd (LSC Dhaka), Bangladesh
  • Hong Bang University, Vietnam
  • Roots IVY International Schools, Pakistan

The University was a co-sponsor of UTC Central Bedfordshire, a university technical college which operated in Houghton Regis from 2012 - 2016.

Student life[]

The University of Bedfordshire Students' Union is affiliated to the National Union of Students, which represents students nationwide.[35]

In 2020, Radio LaB 97.1FM - the University's affiliated community radio station - won two Community Radio Awards.[36][37]

Notable alumni[]

Photo gallery[]

  • Campus Centre - Luton Campus

    Campus Centre - Luton Campus

  • Putteridge Bury

    Putteridge Bury

  • STEM Building

    STEM Building - Luton Campus

  • Bedford Campus

    Gateway Building - Bedford Campus

  • Mary Seacole, Aylesbury Campus

    Mary Seacole, Aylesbury Campus

  • Postgraduate Centre

    Postgraduate Centre - Luton Campus

  • Bedford Campus Library

    Bedford Campus Library

  • Bedford Theatre

    Bedford Theatre

  • Alexon Building - Luton Campus

    Alexon Building - Luton Campus

  • Aspire Gym - Luton Campus

    Aspire Gym - Luton Campus

  • Aylesbury Simulation Suite

    Aylesbury Simulation Suite

  • Luton Campus Library

    Luton Campus Library

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "University praised for REF 2014 results - beds.ac.uk | University of Bedfordshire". www.beds.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  2. ^ "People & Planet Green League 2012 - University Profile - People & Planet". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  3. ^ "University awarded EcoCampus Platinum standard | University of Bedfordshire". www.beds.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Our University | University of Bedfordshire". www.beds.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  5. ^ "University of Bedfordshire appoints new Vice Chancellor | University of Bedfordshire". www.beds.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  6. ^ "University Court". Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Luton University: Taking on a new identity". The Independent. 3 August 2006. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "'University College Milton Keynes' to open in 2012 - beds.ac.uk". www.beds.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  9. ^ James Dyer, The Stopsley Book, Book Castle, 1998, ISBN 1-871199-04-2, pp. 56–64.
  10. ^ Good Stuff. "Putteridge Bury (Luton College of Higher Education) - Offley - Hertfordshire - England - British Listed Buildings". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Dame Kelly Holmes opens University buildings". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Luton campus | University of Bedfordshire". www.beds.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 September 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "Aylesbury campus - beds.ac.uk | University of Bedfordshire". www.beds.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Times University Ranking 2000 - Good University Ranking Guide". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  16. ^ "Times University Ranking 2002 - Good University Ranking Guide". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ University of Luton – APRIL 2005 Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ "Institutional audit – University of Luton". qaa.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  20. ^ "University of Bedfordshire awarded Quality Mark for higher education - beds.ac.uk | University of Bedfordshire". www.beds.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  21. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ "Social networks 'should do more' on cyberstalking". The Daily Telegraph. London. 11 July 2011.
  23. ^ "UK National Commission for UNESCO". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  24. ^ emplod. "augmentedwonder". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  25. ^ "Complete University Guide 2022". The Complete University Guide. 8 June 2021.
  26. ^ "Guardian University Guide 2021". The Guardian. 5 September 2020.
  27. ^ "Good University Guide 2021". The Times. 18 September 2020.
  28. ^ "THE World University Rankings 2022". Times Higher Education. 2 September 2021.
  29. ^ "Teaching Excellence Framework outcomes". Higher Education Funding Council for England.
  30. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ^ "Times Higher Education" (PDF). Retrieved 16 July 2015.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ "University of Bedfordshire «". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  33. ^ "Search". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  34. ^ "Academic Partners | University of Bedfordshire". www.beds.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  35. ^ Bed SU. "ISSUU - The Blend Summer edition by Bed SU". Issuu. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  36. ^ "Radio LaB are Winners at Community Radio Awards 2020". Radio LaB 97.1FM. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  37. ^ "Community Radio Awards 2020 shortlist revealed". 15 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  38. ^ "Abbey makes up for lost time | Nationwide 1 | Football | Sport | Telegraph". Telegraph. 24 May 2007. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007.
  39. ^ "Media student success stories - beds.ac.uk | University of Bedfordshire". University of Bedfordshire.
  40. ^ "Gemma Hunt: BA Hons Media Performance - beds.ac.uk". University of Bedfordshire. 22 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013.
  41. ^ "Becky Jago: BA Hons Media Performance - University of Bedfordshire". University of Bedfordshire. 27 September 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  42. ^ "Graduation season at Bedfordshire comes to an end in Luton - beds.ac.uk | University of Bedfordshire". University of Bedfordshire.
  43. ^ "3am Interview: FUCKING THE BOOKS - AN INTERVIEW WITH BEN MYERS". www.3ammagazine.com.
  44. ^ "Melvin Odoom - beds.ac.uk | University of Bedfordshire". University of Bedfordshire.
  45. ^ "Dami Olonisakin - beds.ac.uk | University of Bedfordshire". www.beds.ac.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2021.

External links[]

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