University of Roehampton


The University of Roehampton, formerly Roehampton Institute of Higher Education, is a public university in the United Kingdom, situated on three major sites in Roehampton, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. Roehampton was formerly an equal partner, along with the University of Surrey, in the now-dissolved Federal University of Surrey. In 2004, Roehampton became a university. In 2011, it was renamed the University of Roehampton. The university is one of the post-1992 universities.
Roehampton consists of four colleges, around which accommodation is centred: Digby Stuart College, Froebel College, Southlands College and Whitelands College. Roehampton's departments include the Department of Dance, Department of Drama, Theatre and Performance, Department of English and Creative Writing, Department of Humanities, Department of Life Sciences, Department of Media, Culture and Language, Department of Psychology, Department of Social Sciences and Adult Nursing. It has its Business School, Law School and School of Education. Roehampton is a member of the European University Association and Universities UK.

History

The university has its roots in the traditions of its four constituent colleges, all of which were founded in the 19th century as women's teacher training colleges:
All four colleges were founded to address the need to educate poor and disadvantaged children. In 1975, the four colleges joined to form the Roehampton Institute of Higher Education.
Roehampton was formerly an equal partner in the now-dissolved Federal University of Surrey. On 1 August 2004, the University of Surrey Roehampton became Roehampton University.
Since 2011, the university has been branded University of Roehampton. However, its legal name remains Roehampton University. In 2012 the last college, Whitelands, was legally merged with the university, bringing all the colleges into a common management structure. Schiller International University degrees are awarded and accredited by Roehampton.

Facilities

Specialist facilities

The University has a range of specialist facilities for use in teaching and research. This includes:
Biomechanics Laboratory: used for a wide range of biomechanical assessments. Facilities include a nine-camera Vicon 3D motion capture system, three Kistler force plates, two isokinetic dynamometers, a range of accelerometers, electromagnetic tracking device, FASTRAK system, ultrasound bone scanner, acoustic emission measuring system, pressure plate, 2D video analysis, portable ultrasound and software associated with devices and analysis.
Physiology Laboratory: for use in physiological experiments, with equipment including a metabolic cart; environmental chamber; head, neck, and chest cooling systems; 16-channel wireless electromyography system; neuromuscular electrical stimulator; isometric strength testing devices; temperature logger and thermistors; various bike, running and rowing ergometers.
Sport and Exercise Psychology laboratories: facilities include standalone and mobile eye-tracking systems, electroencephalography systems, transcranial magnetic stimulation systems, and functional magnetic resonance imaging technology.
Dance facilities: Four dedicated studios for studio-based learning, technique classes, portfolio development and professional training courses and a dance theatre for live performance and practice.

Library

The university opened a new library in 2017, designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. The library houses the Jewish Resource Centre Collection, the Centre for Marian Studies, a collection of resources covering all matters regarding the Virgin Mary, the Queen's Archive, featuring material on authority and governance within the Roman Catholic Church in the UK and the Richmal Crompton Collection of books and archive material accumulated during the lifetime of the author Richmal Crompton.

Sports

The university has a modern fitness centre, grass football pitches, a multi-use games area, studio facilities and a sports hall for indoor sports and classes. Teams also have access to nearby facilities, including the Roehampton Club and the National Tennis Centre. Sports are managed by Sport Roehampton, and the options available to students range from football and cricket to ultimate and Zumba.

esports

The university has an esports arena, with 20 PCs as well as facilities for live streaming and video editing. The University of Roehampton was the first university in the UK to offer esports scholarships.

Accommodation

Roehampton consists of four colleges, around which accommodation is centred. Mount Clare is offered to continuing students and Linden House is offered to Postgraduate students, whilst a majority of the others are available to First Year undergraduate students. Since 2014 it has also offered accommodation in central London at the Spring Mews development in Vauxhall, central London. In September 2015, it opened new student accommodation in the grounds of Downshire House – Chadwick Hall. In September 2016 new student accommodation opened on Digby Stuart College – Elm Grove Hall.
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Digby Stuart College
Froebel College
Southlands College
Whitelands College
In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, 66 per cent of Roehampton research submissions were classed as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'.
Dance was the top performing subject, with 94% of research rated 4* and 3* – making it the highest rated department in its subject area in the UK. Roehampton was also ranked 3rd in London for research quality in Education, and the 4th for English. In both Roehampton was the strongest performing university in London in these subject areas.
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, Roehampton University was ranked first in the country for Dance and Biological Anthropology. Ten out of the fifteen subjects that submitted work included at least some proportion of research judged to be world-leading in terms of its originality and significance. 78% of all research undertaken at the university was of an international standard. This has led to the university having "one of the strongest research profiles among modern universities".
In December 2014, according to Higher Education Funding Council for England, the university is the most research-intensive post-1992 university in the UK. Roehampton submitted work by more than two-thirds of its academic staff, in 13 subject areas, to Hefce's Research Excellence Framework programme. This is the highest proportion of any post-1992 university. Overall, 66 per cent Roehampton's research was judged either world leading or internationally excellent.

Roehampton Students' Union (RSU)

The RSU is the main organisation of student representation at the University. It is led by student officers elected by the student body, and aims to promote the interests and welfare of all those studying at Roehampton. It is also a focal point for social activities, and is responsible for organising events like the Summer Ball, Summer Ball being the biggest event of the academic year. Attracting over 2000 students and held on campus, the event attracts a variety of musical and entertainment acts. The RSU also organises nights out in London, some of these consist of the Clapham grand once a month, fez club Putney on Wednesday nights and the unions special event the Bop hosted at the union bar. The Union itself has 12 different bars, cafes and restaurants spread around the campus.
In September 2013 Roehampton Students' Union was awarded £226,900 from NUS Students' Green Fund for a sustainability initiative with a focus on urban food growing. The project is called Growhampton. Growhampton runs a cafe, the Hive, alongside a regular market day, where food produced by students and small local organisations is sold. In June 2015, Wandsworth Council awarded Growhampton funds to launch a food education outreach programme, which now operates in Wandsworth schools, youth groups and community groups, with a focus on food growing. Growhampton also works directly with a local charities, including Regenerate and Paradise Co-op.
The Union runs Fresh Network, which provides the opportunity for students to get engaged in radio and TV production, and social media.
The Union also runs charity events called R.A.G. This involves students voting for 3 charities to help raise money for during events such as R.A.G we. From 2014 the RAG has included a 'jailbreak' in which pairs of students would try to get as far away from the university as possible on little or no money.

People associated with Roehampton University

Notable alumni

Amongst the alumni of the University of Roehampton, and other institutions that fall under that banner are:
was appointed Chancellor of the university in August 2014, succeeding the first Chancellor John Simpson. She is also a Teaching Fellow, who teaches modules in both the Children's Literature and Creative Writing master's degree programs offered by the University.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university is Professor Jean-Noël Ezingeard, who succeeded Professor Paul O'Prey in May 2019. Former Vice-Chancellor O'Prey was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 90th Birthday Honours list for his services to higher education and the literary history of the First World War.