Kingston University

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This article is about the university in London, England. For other uses, see Kingston University (disambiguation).

Kingston University London
Kingston University Coat of Arms.png
MottoPer Scientiam Progredimur (Latin) [1]
Motto in English
"Through Learning We Progress" [1]
TypePublic
Established1992 – gained University Status
1899 – Kingston Technical Institute
Endowment£2.3 m[2]
ChancellorBonnie Greer[3]
Vice-ChancellorSteven Spier[4]
Students16,820 (2018/19)[5]
Undergraduates12,690 (2018/19)[5]
Postgraduates4,130 (2018/19)[5]
Location
Kingston upon Thames, London
,
United Kingdom

51°24′13″N 0°18′14″W / 51.4035°N 0.3039°W / 51.4035; -0.3039Coordinates: 51°24′13″N 0°18′14″W / 51.4035°N 0.3039°W / 51.4035; -0.3039
CampusUrban
ColoursBlue and White          
AffiliationsAssociation of MBAs
ACU
University Alliance
EUA
Universities UK
Websitewww.kingston.ac.uk
Logo of Kingston University

Kingston University London (abbreviated KUL) is a public research university located within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, in South West London, England. Its roots go back to the Kingston Technical Institute, founded in 1899. It received university status in 1992, before which the institution was known as Kingston Polytechnic.

Kingston has over 19,000 students and a turnover of £192 million.[6] It has four campuses situated in Kingston and Roehampton. The university specialises in the arts, design, fashion, science, engineering, and business and is organised into four faculties: Kingston School of Art (KSA), Faculty of Business and Social Sciences (which combines Kingston Business School (KBS) and the School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences), Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education and Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing (SEC). The Kingston Business School (KBS) is CNAA Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree approved.

Kingston is ranked 48th in the UK by The Guardian University Guide 2020 and the top 250 in the world for Business & Economics by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019. In 2017, the university won The Guardian University Award for teaching excellence.[7] Kingston is a member of the European University Association, the Association of Commonwealth Universities and University Alliance group.

History[edit]

Kingston was founded as Kingston Technical Institute in 1899, it offered courses in chemistry, electrical wiring, construction and nursing. In 1917 Gipsy Hill College for teacher training opened, a predecessor of Kingston University. In 1930 the Kingston School of Art separated from the Technical Institute, later to become Kingston College of Art in 1945. In 1946 Gipsy Hill College moved to Kingston Hill. In 1951, the first Penryhn Road campus buildings opened. Kingston was recognised as a 'Regional College of Technology' by the Ministry of Education in 1957. In 1970, the College of Technology merged with the College of Art to become Kingston Polytechnic, offering 34 major courses, of which 17 were at degree level.[8] In 1975, Kingston merged with the Gipsy Hill College of Education, incorporating the College's faculty into Kingston's Division of Educational Studies.[9]

Kingston was granted university status under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. In 1993, Kingston opened the Roehampton Vale campus building and in 1995, Kingston acquired Dorich House.

Controversies[edit]

BMus external examiner[edit]

In 2008, the BBC obtained e-mails circulated within Kingston's School of Music, relating to the opinions of an external examiner moderating the BMus course.[10] The messages showed that her final report caused considerable concern within the department. The examiner was persuaded to moderate her criticism following contact from a member of the University's staff. The e-mails also detailed a plan to replace her (at the end of her term) with a more experienced and broad-based external examiner, a process which Kingston stressed breaks no rules relating to the appointment of such examiners.[10] In October 2008, Peter Williams, Chief Executive of the UK Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), presented the agency's findings to a Parliamentary Select Committee charged with investigating standards in British higher education. Following an investigation of the allegations by a former University staff member that undue pressure was applied to the School of Music's External Examiner, QAA upheld all charges of wrongdoing, as alleged.[11][12][13]

Controversial speakers[edit]

In 2015, Prime Minister David Cameron named and shamed four British universities which gave platforms to allegedly 'extremist' speakers.[14][15]

Kingston's Vice Chancellor Julius Weinberg defended his decision to allow controversial speakers in the name of free speech.[16]

National Student Survey exaggeration[edit]

In 2008, an audio recording obtained by student media included two psychology lecturers asking students to inflate their graded opinions given as part of the National Student Survey.[17] One member of staff was recorded as encouraging students to boost specific satisfaction scores, because "if Kingston comes down the bottom [of the league tables], then the bottom line is that nobody is going to want to employ you because they are going to think your degree is shit".[17][18] In response, Vice-Chancellor Peter Scott confirmed that the recording was genuine but added that he believed that the incident was an isolated one.[19][20][21][22][23] In July 2008, the Higher Education Funding Council of England removed the University's Department of Psychology of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences from the League Tables for the year as its sanction for having fraudulently manipulated the National Student Survey results.[24]

Campuses and estate[edit]

Penrhyn Road[edit]

Main building, Penrhyn Road campus

This is the main university campus located close to Kingston town centre. Students based here study: Arts and Social Sciences, Civil Engineering, Computing and Information Systems and Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Geography, Statistics, Biosciences, Pharmacy, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science, and Radiography. Development at this site has extended it to the Learning Resources Centre. In 2015, the Union of Kingston Students, moved into the main building. Penrhyn Road also houses the refurbished Fitness Centre.

Kingston Hill[edit]

Kingston Hill campus, Kingston University

Kingston Hill mainly caters to Nursing (adult, child, mental health and learning disability), Education, Business, Music and Social Care. Before 1989, this campus was known as Gipsy Hill.

The Business School moved to a new building on the Kingston Hill Campus in 2012.[25]

Knights Park[edit]

Knights Park campus

Located on Grange road, Knights Park campus is home to some of the students from Kingston School of Art (KSA) - architecture an art and design students. The campus is built on the northern banks of the Hogsmill River and opened in 1939.[26]

A 2019 £12 million refurbishment of workshops, studios and the reception area includes a gallery, a social space and an art shop.

Roehampton Vale[edit]

The Roehampton Vale campus was opened in 1993 by Sir William Barlow, the president of the Royal Academy of Engineering. The site is located on Friars Avenue, on the outskirts of Kingston. This campus is purpose-built and completely dedicated to the study of engineering (aerospace, automotive, motor vehicle and mechanical engineering).[27]

Facilities on site include a wind tunnel, engineering workshops, a flight simulator,a range of vehicles, a Learjet 25 plan, plus automotive and aeronautical learning resources.

Reg Bailey Theatre Complex[edit]

Former church converted into the Kingston Drama students’ base, the Reg Bailey has two theatres with professional lighting and sound equipment, three rehearsal rooms and a costume room while its annexed Surrey Club is dedicated to Dance students through imposing performance studio with a state-of-the-art LED lighting system and professional sound technology, two rehearsal studios and a body conditioning room, all with fully sprung Harlequin floors. The Reg Bailey has been home to such alumni members as Ben Barnes, Sam Chan, Mandy Takhar, Alphonsia Emmanuel, Jessie Cave, Laura Harling and Trevor Eve.[28]

Tolworth Court Sports Ground[edit]

The University's 55-acre sports ground houses twelve football pitches, two rugby pitches, three cricket squares, one American football pitch, one lacrosse pitch, two netball courts and three tennis courts.[29]

Other locations[edit]

In addition to the four main campuses are two administration buildings: Cooper House near Penrhyn Road Campus and Hind Court on London Road which is home to the office of the Vice-Chancellor.

In addition art and design studies students from Kingston School of Art are based at River House, on the High Street in Kingston town centre.

Organisation[edit]

Teaching and research are organised in four faculties.[30]

Kingston School of Art[edit]

Kingston School of Art (KSA) was established as part of Kingston Technical Institute founded 1899. The School of Art separated from the Technical College in 1930 and left Kingston Hall Road to move to Knights Park in 1939. It became Kingston College of Art in 1945 and merged back with the Technical College to form Kingston Polytechnic in 1970. The Polytechnic later became Kingston University in 1992, under which the school was known as the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) until 2017 when it reverted to its historic name.[31][32] Kingston School of Art delivers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes of study across three schools:[33]

Faculty of Business and Social Sciences[edit]

The Faculty of Business and Social Sciences combines Kingston Business School and the School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences.

Kingston Business School (KBS) can be traced back to the 1960s. In 1985, the CNAA approved the school's Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and the following year KBS moved to Kingston Hill Campus. The Business School is divided into four departments:[34]

Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education[edit]

Founded in 1995, the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education runs courses in education, health and social work and is a partnership between Kingston University and St George's, University of London (SGUL).[35] The faculty is based at Penrhyn Road, Kingston Hill and St George's Hospital in Tooting. The School of Education joined the Faculty in 2012.[36]

Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing[edit]

The Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing (SEC) was formed in 2011. The School of Geography, Geology and the Environment hosts Geographical Information Systems (GIS), which was the very first degree of its kind.[citation needed] The faculty's teaching is split between undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Facilities at the Roehampton Vale campus including a Learjet 25, flight simulator, wind tunnel and automotive workshops including a range of vehicles and testing facilities.

Galleries and museums[edit]

The Stanley Picker Gallery is the Faculty's exhibition space which is now used to present a variety of research-based projects, fellowships and exhibitions.[37] In 2003, the Stanley Picker Gallery gave birth to Transitstation,[38] which was created/curated by Stanley Picker Fellow Dagmar Glausnitzer-Smith, and former gallery curator Charles Ryder. In 2003, the Director of Foundation Studies in Art and Design, Paul Stafford, converted a run-down public convenience in Kingston town centre into the Toilet Gallery.[39]

Kingston University runs Dorich House Museum [40] which houses a huge collection of sculptor Dora Gordine's work, and fine examples of Russian Imperial art and furniture. Dorich House is also used as meeting and conference venue.

Research[edit]

The Kingston School of Art runs a number of research centres:

  • Contemporary Art Research Centre ("CARC"), a Research Centre within the Department of Fine Art
  • Colour Design Research Centre
  • Screen Design Research Centre
  • Modern Interiors Research Design[41]
  • Sustainable Design Research Centre[42]
  • Centre for the Contemporary Visual & Material Culture
  • Curating Contemporary Design Research Group
  • Real Estate Research Group
  • Fashion Industry Research Centre
  • Fire, Explosion and Fluid Dynamics (FEFD)

Academic profile[edit]

Rankings
National rankings
Complete (2020)[43]93
Guardian (2020)[44]48
Times / Sunday Times (2020)[45]117
Global rankings
QS (2020)[46]
591–600
THE (2020)[47]601-800
British Government assessment
Teaching Excellence Framework[48]Bronze

Rankings and reputation[edit]

Kingston University came 102 out of 127 UK universities in the Complete University Guide (2018). The Times/The Sunday Times Guide placed it at no. 102 (Good University Guide, 2018). In 2018, The Guardian placed Kingston 58th out of 121 surveyed universities.[49] Kingston was ranked 1st out of 121 institutions for its graphic design and product design courses by The Guardian in 2017.[50] In 2017, Kingston University won The Guardian University Award for teaching excellence.[7] Kingston is ranked as one of the top 50 universities in the UK by The Guardian University Guide 2020 and ranked in the top 250 in the world for Business & Economics by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019.

Student life[edit]

Union of Kingston Students[edit]

The Union of Kingston Students (UKS), formerly Kingston University Students' Union (KUSU), and in the 1990s KUGOS (Kingston University Guild of Students') is a charitable organisation representing the student body and aiming to provide services and activities beneficial to the student experience. It is a student union in the meaning of the term given in the Education Act 1994, and whilst independent of the university is funded by a block grant from it.

Halls of residence[edit]

The university has six halls of residence. Chancellors' and Walkden are based at the Kingston Hill campus. Middle Mill is adjacent to Knights Park campus, while Clayhill and Seething Wells are on opposite sides of Surbiton. Finally, there is Kingston Bridge House which is situated on the edge of Bushy Park at the Hampton Wick end of Kingston Bridge, London.

International partners[edit]

The university holds a number of links with institutions from around the world to share teaching and research and facilitate staff and student exchanges. Kingston has a number of international 'Study Abroad' or 'Exchange' partner institutions.[51]

Notable faculty and staff[edit]

Main page: Category:Academics of Kingston University
Philippa Gregory

Arts[edit]

Philosophy and Literature[edit]

Fashion and Design[edit]

History and Politics[edit]

Health[edit]

  • Robert Istepanian, Professor of Data Communications
  • Fiona Ross, Professor of Health Research, formerly Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Care

Notable alumni[edit]

Ben Barnes at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con.
Sam Chan at the 2016 Golden Flower Awards.
Glenda Bailey
Sir David Alan Chipperfield
Eric Clapton, CBE is the only three-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Film and entertainment[edit]

Arts[edit]

Fashion[edit]

Architecture[edit]

Music[edit]

Politics[edit]

Literature[edit]

Lawrence Dallaglio holding the Rugby World Cup.

Religion[edit]

Sports[edit]

Technology[edit]

Ruby McGregor-Smith
  • Ed Parsons, Geospatial technologist and tech evangelist

Business[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "File: Machines - Kingston College of Technology coat of arms :: Kingston University Historical Photographs". cdm16680.contentdm.oclc.org.
  2. ^ "Kingston University, London : Financial Statements 2014-15" (PDF). Kingston University. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Kingston University's new chancellor sets out her aims". Times Higher Education. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Vice-Chancellor's Team - How the University works - Kingston University London". Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  5. ^ a b c "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Financial statements - Facts and figures - Kingston University London". www.kingston.ac.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Kingston University wins Guardian University Award for teaching excellence". www.kingston.ac.uk.
  8. ^ "Our history - Facts and figures". Kingston University Website. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  9. ^ Gibson, Michael (1999). "A History of Kingston university" (PDF). Kingston University.
  10. ^ a b Coughlan, Sean (24 June 2008). "Examiner dropped course criticism". BBC. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  11. ^ The Committee Office, House of Commons. "House of Commons - Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills - Minutes of Evidence". Parliament.the-stationery-office.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  12. ^ "Kingston University Special review of the circumstances surrounding the amendments to an external examiner's report". Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  13. ^ Newman, Melanie (26 March 2009). "Kingston Showed Lack of Regard for External Examiner's Role, Says QAA". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 27 March 2008.
  14. ^ British universities that give the floor to extremist speakers are named and shamed, The Telegraph
  15. ^ "'Show us the evidence David Cameron': Supporters rally after Kingston University listed for extremism". Surrey Comet.
  16. ^ I won't stop offering a platform to so-called 'hate speakers', The Guardian
  17. ^ a b Coughlin, Sean (13 May 2008). "University staff faking survey". BBC. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
  18. ^ Mostrous, Alexi (14 May 2008). "Kingston University students told to lie to boost college's rank in government poll". The Times. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
  19. ^ "Kingston University witness intimidation". Wikileaks. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  20. ^ "Kingston University governers grievance appeal recording part 1". Wikileaks. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  21. ^ "Kingston University governers grievance appeal recording part 2". Wikileaks. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  22. ^ "Kingston University National Student Survey fraud recording". Wikileaks. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  23. ^ "Statement in response to National Student Survey complaint". Kingston University Press Office. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  24. ^ Coughlin, Sean (26 July 2008). "Faculty in league table expulsion". BBC. Retrieved 26 July 2008.
  25. ^ Kieran Long (11 April 2012). "Look and learn: intelligent design for education - Architecture - Arts". Evening Standard. London. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  26. ^ "A history of Kingston School of Art". www.kingston.ac.uk.
  27. ^ https://www.kingston.ac.uk/aboutkingstonuniversity/location/roehampton-vale-kingston/
  28. ^ "Your council and democracy: REG BAILEY BUILDING". Kingston Council. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  29. ^ "Tolworth Court sports ground - Sport and Active Lifestyles". www.kingston.ac.uk. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  30. ^ "Faculties and schools at Kingston University - Kingston University London". www.kingston.ac.uk.
  31. ^ "Our History". Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  32. ^ "Knights Park celebrates the launch of the Kingston School of Art | River Online". riveronline.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  33. ^ "Study at Kingston School of Art". www.kingston.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  34. ^ "Kingston Business School | Find Out About Our Faculty and Facilities | Kingston Business School, London". business.kingston.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  35. ^ "About | Kingston and St George's". www.healthcare.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  36. ^ Kingston University. Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education
  37. ^ "The Stanley Picker Gallery at Kingston University is a public venue dedicated to the research, development, production and presentation of interdisciplinary contemporary arts practice". Stanley Picker Gallery. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  38. ^ "transitstation - Exhibition as Event". Transitstation.de. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  39. ^ "育毛剤の人気ランキング情報". Toiletgallery.org. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  40. ^ "Dorich House Museum". Kingston University. Archived from the original on 16 April 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  41. ^ "Kingston University - Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture - Modern Interiors Research Centre". Kingston University. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  42. ^ "The Sustainable Design Research Centre". Kingston University. Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
  43. ^ "University League Table 2020". The Complete University Guide. 1 May 2019.
  44. ^ "University league tables 2020". The Guardian. 7 June 2019.
  45. ^ "The Times and Sunday Times University Good University Guide 2020". Times Newspapers.
  46. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2020". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd.
  47. ^ "World University Rankings 2020". Times Higher Education.
  48. ^ "Teaching Excellence Framework outcomes". Higher Education Funding Council for England.
  49. ^ "University league tables 2019". the Guardian. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  50. ^ "The best design courses in the UK, according to The Guardian University Guide 2017". It’s Nice That. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  51. ^ "International partner institutions - Study Abroad - Visiting students - Kingston University London". www.kingston.ac.uk.
  52. ^ "Henry Bond - The Guardian". the Guardian.
  53. ^ "Paul Andrew Williams joins Film Team - Activities - Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences - Kingston University London". Kingston University. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  54. ^ Barber, Lynn (29 August 2009). "Rachel Cusk interview - Lynn Barber". The Guardian.
  55. ^ a b "Kingston University – A–Z Unis & Colleges, Getting Into University". The Independent. Independent News and Media. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  56. ^ Unattributed, "Anya Gallaccio Archived 7 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine," British Council - online biography, retrieved, 22 August 2011
  57. ^ Ian MacDonald, "Preface to the First Revised Edition." In MacDonald, Revolution in the Head (London: Vintage, 2005), p. xix.
  58. ^ Elliott, David (30 May 2017). "Humberside Police reveal preferred Chief Constable candidate". Scunthorpe Telegraph. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  59. ^ "Lavinia Greenlaw - Literature". literature.britishcouncil.org. British Council.

External links[edit]

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