Anglia Ruskin University is one of the largest universities in Eastern England, United Kingdom, with a total student population of around 30,000. It was named after John Ruskin, who founded the Cambridge School of Art in 1858. Its campuses are located in Cambridge and Chelmsford, England, UK.

History[link]

Anglia Ruskin University has its origins in the Cambridge School of Art in 1858 by John Ruskin: William John Beamont was also involved in the founding. The original location was near to Sidney Sussex College, however it subsequently moved to its present location near Mill Road, Cambridge. In 1960 this became the Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology (CCAT). In 1989 CCAT merged with the Essex Institute of Higher Education to form the Anglia Higher Education College. The merged college became a polytechnic in 1991, using the name Anglia Polytechnic, and was then awarded university status in 1992.

Initially Anglia Polytechnic University (APU), it retained the word 'polytechnic' in its title because "the term 'polytechnic' still had value to students and their potential employers, symbolising as it did the sort of education that they were known for – equipping students with effective practical skills for the world of work"^[1] although in 2000 there was some self-doubt about including the term 'polytechnic' – it was the last university in the country to have done so. Wanting to keep the 'APU' abbreviation, a suggestion put forward by the governors was 'Anglia Prior University' (after a former Chancellor), but the Governors decided to keep 'polytechnic' in the title.

The University eventually reconsidered a name change, because "Nowadays, few remember the old polytechnics and technical colleges, and there was no longer any value to students or faculty in retaining the word 'polytechnic' in the title. Indeed, it was sometimes seen as a hindrance, especially in non-vocational subject areas."^[1] From over two hundred suggestions and consultations with staff, students and local residents, communities and businesses, the University chose Anglia Ruskin University (thus incorporating into the title the surname of John Ruskin, who founded the Cambridge School of Art in 1858, which eventually became the university), with the new name taking effect following the approval of the Privy Council on 29 September 2005.

Past lecturers include Odile Crick, wife of Francis Crick; she created the simple iconic image of DNA as two intertwined ribbons linked by ten rungs per turn of the double helix that appeared in the article in Nature announcing the discovery of its structure.^[2] Author Tom Sharpe was a lecturer in History at CCAT between 1963 and 1972 and Anne Campbell,^[3] the Labour MP for Cambridge from 1992 to 2005, was formerly a lecturer in Statistics at CCAT.

The Chelmsford Central campus closed at the end of the 2007/8 academic year, with all facilities moving to the new buildings at the Rivermead campus in the town. Certain facilities had started to move at the end of the 2005/6 academic year when the site was sold to a private developer (with an agreement that the University could still use the site until 2008), and a brief period of demolition work was carried out in early 2007. No further demolition works took place until the beginning of 2010, when most of the ageing buildings on the site were demolished. Three buildings were saved - the East building (built 1931), the Frederick Chancellor building (built 1902), and the Grade 2-listed Anne Knight building (built in the mid-1800s), which was used by Quakers. The East and Frederick Chancellor buildings fall under a conservation area, meaning they cannot be demolished without planning permission, as they are historically important due to their uses in the early days of higher education in Essex. The site is currently vacant due to the recession halting development which had been planned for many years; however, new plans have been released by Genesis Housing, who currently own the site.^[4][5][6]

Campuses[link]

Anglia Ruskin University has campuses in Cambridge and Chelmsford, University Centres in King's Lynn, Peterborough and Harlow, and collaborative partnerships with institutions in a variety of locations throughout the world, including London, Berlin, Budapest, Athens, Basel, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Trinidad.

The campuses, one in the centre of Cambridge and the other in Chelmsford Essex, have seen over £81 million of investment over the last few years.^[when?] A further £58m is going to be invested over the next 3 years.^{[when?] [7]}

Specialist study facilities include:

• Forensic Science Laboratory, with scene of crime workshops
• Four University Libraries, with IT facilities
• Suite of multimedia sound and recording studios
• Human Energetics Sports Science Laboratory
• University Eye Clinic
• Simulated hospital wards and operating theatres
• Bespoke counselling rooms
• Mumford Theatre
• Two art galleries
• A Mock Courtroom
• Language Centre
• Multimedia Language Laboratories
• Postgraduate Medical Institute
• Music Recital Hall
• Two Drama Studios
• A Suite of Computer Music Studios
• Music Therapy Clinic

Organisational structure[link]

The main entrance to Anglia Ruskin University on East Road, Cambridge.

There are four Faculties of study at Anglia Ruskin University:

• Lord Ashcroft International Business School
• Faculty of Arts, Law & Social Sciences
• Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education
• The Faculty of Science & Technology

Faculties are sub-divided into departments or divisions.

At the beginning of the 2011-2012 academic year The Faculty of Education and The Faculty of Health & Social Care merged to create a new faculty called, The Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education.

HSHS, the former Homerton School of Health Studies, was acquired by the University from the Trustees of Homerton College in 2005, after working closely in partnership for a number of years.

Faculty information[link]

The Faculty of Science & Technology[link]

The Faculty of Science & Technology is one of the largest faculties at Anglia Ruskin University and offers a range of programmes from Foundation Degree through to PhD and Professional Doctorate running at both Cambridge and Chelmsford campuses. The Faculty has five departments:

Built Environment The Department of the Built Environment is a large multidisciplinary department with the most comprehensive Built Environment portfolio in Eastern England. Based at the Chelmsford campus, courses cover topics in Architecture, Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction, Housing and Real Estate Management. ^[8]

Computing and Technology The Department of Computing and Technology is located at both the Chelmsford and Cambridge campuses. Courses range from Computer Science, Electronics, Engineering, Information Systems, Networking, Computer Gaming and Audio & Music Technology. The department maintains close links with the electronics, software, automotive and creative industries, and is a Cisco Systems Regional Networking Academy. ^[9]

Life Sciences The Department of Life Sciences is located at the Cambridge campus and offers a range of degrees in four main subject areas: Animal and Environmental Biology, Biomedical and Molecular Science, Forensic Science and Sport & Exercise Sciences. State-of-the art industry-standard equipment for teaching includes well-equipped laboratories, gas and liquid chromatographic systems, and facilities for drugs analysis, toxicology, fire investigation and DNA analysis. ^[10]

Psychology The Department of Psychology is based at the Cambridge campus and offers a range of courses covering topics such as Abnormal, Clinical, Cognitive, Child, Applied, Social and Health psychology. It was recognised for its outstanding performance in the 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise, making it the UK’s top-rated Psychology department in a post-1992 university for the quality of its research. ^[11]

Vision & Hearing Sciences The Department of Vision & Hearing Sciences is based at the Cambridge Campus and received 100% Student Satisfaction for Optometry and Ophthalmic Dispensing in the 2011 National Student survey, as well as excellent scores for Audiology. Courses cover topics in Optometry, Ophthalmic Dispensing and Hearing Aid Audiology. ^[12]

International There is a diverse, growing community of international students within the Faculty and the level of support throughout the studying process for international students ranges from finding accommodation and writing CVs to academic and English support. ^[13]

Research Psychology, Vision, and Environmental Sciences research was rated as world leading or of international quality in the 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise. ^[14] Successes include discoveries of new animal species^[15] , design of new car bonnets for improved pedestrian safety^[16] , and leading study in the first to study the toxic effects of Benzylpiperazine (BZP)^[17] . Research informs teaching, ensuring students are exposed to the latest discoveries and findings in their field.

The Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education[link]

The Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education is the largest provider of health, social care and education courses across the East of England with campuses based in Chelmsford, Cambridge and Peterborough. The Faculty is divided in 5 departments including Acute Care, Allied Health & Medicine, Education, Family & Community Studies and Primary & Public Health.

The Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education offers courses over a range of study levels, from foundation and undergraduate degrees to postgraduate qualifications. A variety of disciplines are available from nursing, operating department practice and social work to midwifery, education studies, public health and laparoscopic surgery.

The Faculty welcomes a diverse community of international students and offers a range of courses specifically designed for an international audience.

Research is central to the Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education. Considerable experience and a growing reputation in the use of multiple research methods have been developed including participatory inquiry, mixed methods and collaboration with service users. Research is situated in one of two Research Institutes, the Postgraduate Medical Institute ^[18] or the Childhood & Youth Research Institute ^[19]

Facilities[link]

Anglia Ruskin's Cambridge Campus is home to one of only 6 optometry schools in England (of only 9 in the whole of the UK) ^[20] having its own optometry clinic offering free eye tests and a full range of optometric services to members of the public throughout the academic year.^[21]

The Cambridge campus has recently been redeveloped, which began with the refurbishment of Helmore, the main building on East Road, completed in 2006. In 2009, one of the University's largest buildings, Rackham, in the centre of the campus, was demolished to make way for the brand new Lord Ashcroft International Business School.

The Chelmsford Rivermead campus has also seen much development. The campus already housed the Queen's Building (opened in 1995) and the Sawyer's Building (opened in 2001). The Michael A Ashcroft Building opened in 2003; the Mildmay Sports Centre, and the Tindal Building, in 2005; the William Harvey Building in 2007; The Faculty Building (renamed The Marconi Building in 2011) in 2008; and the Postgraduate Medical Institute building, opened 2011. More minor developments include roadworks to incorporate Park & Ride buses on the site, and the redevelopment of the nearby Bishop Hall Mill Pond.^[22][23]

Both the Cambridge and Chelmsford campuses have accommodation for students to live in during term-time.

Ruskin Gallery[link]

The Ruskin Gallery is the University's public art gallery. Admission is free. Exhibits have included historic and contemporary art, as well as works by students and staff. The gallery is surrounded by fine art, illustration, design, and media studios.

Profile and reputation[link]

Anglia Ruskin University's Helmore Building, East Road, Cambridge.

Anglia Ruskin University is one of the largest universities in the East of England, and one of the largest providers of face-to-face part-time training in the country. Anglia Ruskin has its Royal Charter, being fully accredited by the British Accreditation Council.

In the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008, 31% of Anglia Ruskin's submissions were rated as Internationally Excellent (3*) or World-Leading (4*), resulting in 86th place in the THES rankings, a 35 position improvement over 2001. Among the academic disciplines now rated World-Leading are Allied Health Professions & Studies; Art & Design; English Language & Literature; Geography & Environmental Studies; History; Music; Psychology; and Social Work & Social Policy & Administration.

Anglia Ruskin University was shortlisted for the Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative Award at the Times Higher Education Awards 2008.^[24]

Anglia Ruskin University was awarded a First in the Green League 2012 by People & Planet. The league is based on ten environmental criteria, both policy and performance related. It incorporates data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, including the percentage of waste recycled and CO₂ emissions for each individual institution.

Anglia Ruskin University is ranked as the 949th best higher educational intitution by 4icu.org globally, and the 2486th best university in the world according to Webometrics.info. The primary purpose of this ranking is to promote Internet publication, including formal and informal communication, by supporting Open Access initiatives, electronic access to scientific publications and other academic material thus increasing the visibility of universities.

A recent investigation performed at the end of 2007 by the QAA reveal that as a result of its investigations, the audit team's view of Anglia Ruskin University is that confidence can reasonably be placed in the soundness of the institution's present and likely future management of the academic standards of the awards that it offers and the quality of the learning opportunities available to students.^[25] However, an external inspection of Initial Teacher Education revealed inadequacies in 2010. The areas highlighted were the effectiveness of the provision in securing high quality outcomes for trainees, and the extent to which the training and assessment ensures that all trainees progress to fulfil their potential given their ability and starting points.^[26] It was only the Primary ITE that was found to be inadequate in the inspection, the Secondary and FE ITE were awarded a mark of satisfactory. Since this inspection the Primary ITE has been awarded 'satisfactory' grades by Ofsted in May 2011.

Successful Alumni[link]

Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett; Ronald Searle, creator of St Trinian’s; Peter Fluck and Roger Law, creators of Spitting Image; TV presenter Nick Crane, presenter of Coast, Great British Journeys and Town with Nicholas Crane; Lord Ashcroft KCMG; Rt Hon Dr Kim Howells, former Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, overseeing MI5 and MI6; businessman Peter Dawe of Pipex, Unipalm and Cable Red TV who made the internet a commercial success in this country; Mark Wood, CEO of the NSPCC; David Driver, Head of Design at The Times; Shoo Rayner, Author and Illustrator; Alexandra Pringle, Editor in Chief of the Bloomsbury Press; Howard Kemp, District Judge and composer and electro-music designer Olivier Pasquet. Nicky Richards, CEO and Chief Investment Officer MLC Asset mgt, former Chief Investment Officer Fidelity International. Hannah Clark (pseudonym AG Bellamy), author of "Runes Shalt Thou Dream."

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• Official website

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