University of Roehampton

University of Roehampton
The University of Roehampton, London, 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. The University traces its roots to four institutions founded in the 19th century, which today make up to university's constituent colleges, around which student accommodation is centred: Digby Stuart College, Froebel College, Southlands College and Whitelands College.
Between 2000 and 2004, Roehampton, together with the University of Surrey, partnered as the Federal University of Surrey. In 2004, Roehampton became an independent university, and in 2011, it was renamed the University of Roehampton. The university is one of the post-1992 universities. Roehampton is a member of the European University Association and Universities UK.
Roehampton's academic faculties include the Faculty of Business and Law, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences and Faculty of Psychology.
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:
Whitelands College – Founded in 1841, the college is one of the five oldest institutions for training educators in England. A flagship women's college of the Church of England, it was the first college of higher education in the UK to admit women. It occupies a 14-acre site overlooking Richmond Park.
Southlands College – Established in by the Methodist Church in 1872, originally in Battersea, as a teacher training college for women, becoming coeducational in 1965. Today it is the location of the University's Business School.
Digby Stuart College – Established in 1874 as a teacher training college for Roman Catholic women. The college owes its existence to the Society of the Sacred Heart, whose members continue to support the college and the university.
Froebel College – Founded in 1892, the secular college (non religious) was established to further the values of Friedrich Fröbel, the German educationalist who pioneered a holistic view of child development. It is one of the UK's major centres for initial teacher training.
All four colleges were founded to address the need to educate poor and disadvantaged children. In 1976, the four colleges joined to form the Roehampton Institute of Higher Education. Its first Rector was Kevin Keohane, the former Professor of Science Education at Chelsea College of Science and Technology.
Since 2011, the university has been branded the 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.
Academic departments
Faculty of Business and Law (including Roehampton University Business School and Roehampton University Law School)
School of Arts (including Computing)
School of Education (rated as an outstanding provider by OFSTED)
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
School of Life and Health Sciences (including Nursing)
School of Psychology
Sustainable Engineering and Technology Education Centre (to be launched in 2023)
Reputation and standing for research
The University was recognised (jointly) as the best UK modern university for research in the REF 2021, for which 218 staff were submitted in 12 areas and were graded 3*-4* overall. Overall 77% of the research submitted was ranked as 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent', an increase of 11% since REF2014.
In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), the university was already ranked as 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. This is the highest proportion of any post-1992 university. 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 4th for English. Roehampton was the strongest-performing university in London in these subject areas. Overall, 66 per cent Roehampton's research was judged either world-leading or internationally excellent.
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 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.
Knowledge exchange and cultural partnerships
The University works with local businesses, arts organisations, the third sector, and higher education across the UK and internationally. It has established partnerships with Wandsworth and Merton Chambers of Commerce, Crystal Palace Football Club, Citizens Advice Wandsworth, South West London Law Centres, and Santander to provide enriching educational and knowledge-sharing opportunities for students. It also works with Kew Gardens, Richmond Park, the National Archives, and Queen Mary's Hospital. Cultural partnerships, include the Wimbledon BookFest, Barnes Children's Literature Festival, Battersea Arts Centre.
Facilities
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 (1890–1969).
Biomedical research facilities
The university has a biomechanics laboratory, which is based at Whitelands College. The lab is equipped with advanced optical motion analysis systems, Kistler force plates, Biometrics Electromyography equipment, Goniometers and 3D Accelerometers, Motion Tracking Sensors, and Physiological assessment equipment.
E-sports
The university has an e-sports arena, with 20 PCs and facilities for live streaming and video editing. The University of Roehampton was the first university in the UK to offer e-sports scholarships.
Mary Seacole Health Innovation Centre
The Centre was unveiled in a ceremony on 28 September by Sir David Warren, the Chair of the Nursing and Midwifery Council. It cost £3.2m to construct and was made possible by a capital grant from the Office for Students (OfS) to support the development of a state-of-the-art Healthcare Hub. The Centre has been supported by several external partners, including Croydon Health Services, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals, St George's University Hospitals, Kingston Hospital, Sutton Health and Care, Your Healthcare, Central London Community Health, Southwest London and St George's Mental Health, Surrey and Borders Partnership and CCGs. The Centre is named after Mary Seacole, a British-Jamaican nurse known for her role in supporting British soldiers during the Crimean War. The facility bears a mural, painted by Alban Low, which portrays her likeness alongside images of her caring for British soldiers and the medals she received for doing so.
Accommodation
Digby Stuart College
Bede House
Elm Grove Hall
Lee House
Newman House
Shaw House
Froebel College
Aspen House
Chadwick Hall - Shortlisted for the Stirling Prize for excellence in architecture in 2018.
Garden Court
Lawrence
Linden House
Mount Clare
New Court
Old Court
Willow House
Southlands College
Aldersgate and Epworth Court
Wesley Hall
Whitelands College
Beverley and Cheltenham
Durham and Gilesgate
Kings and Melrose
Sutherland and Walpole
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 union's 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. This initiative has supported the community through efforts such as Project Grow, a gardening exchange between students and the elderly, and Soil in the City, a program that provides local young people with a space for nature and sustainability-focused activities. More recently, Growhampton has partnered with local charity Regenerate, Heathmere Primary School, and Rackets Cubed to distribute a weekly community box of fresh produce to over 200 local families, with positive feedback from recipients
The Union runs Fresh Network for student media.
Third Row Dance Company
The Third Row Dance Company is a company for undergraduate dance students, led by students. Founded in 2008, the company is made up of dancers selected through an audition process. It commissions professional choreographers to create works, in order for the dancers to gain experience of the professional dance world, which are performed to other students both within the university and outside. Guest choreographers have included Australian dancer and choreographer Daniel Riley, formerly of Bangarra Dance Theatre and since late 2021 artistic director of the Australian Dance Theatre.
People associated with Roehampton University
Notable alumni
Amongst the alumni of the University of Roehampton, and other institutions that fall under that banner are:
Niki and Sammy Albon, YouTubers
Toby Anstis, radio DJ
Mike Bailey, actor
Lyn Brown, a politician
Jack Garratt, singer
Jon Gilbert, bibliographer
Jon Goodman, footballer
Matt Henry, actor and singer
Rachel John, actress and singer
Allyson Jule, professor/author
Daniel Kitson, comedian
Samira Makhmalbaf, filmmaker
Helen Metcalf, educator/politician
Alize Mounter, former Miss England
Beverly Naya, actress
Brody Neuenschwander, artist and calligrapher
Danielle Perez, former Miss Gibraltar
Rita Ramnani, actress and dancer
Chris Robshaw, Harlequins and England rugby captain
David Rossdale, Bishop of Grimsby
Djoumin Sangaré, footballer
Darren Shan, author
Joe Tillen, footballer
Deepak Tripathi, historian
Lamorna Watts, actress
Tim Woolcock, painter
Chancellors and vice-chancellors
Baroness Sandip Verma was appointed the Chancellor in 2022. Dame Jacqueline Wilson was appointed Chancellor of the university in August 2014, she succeeded the first Chancellor John Simpson (2004–2014). Jacqueline Wilson retired from the role in 2020. Jacqueline is also a Teaching Fellow, who teaches modules.
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 (CBE) in the Queen's 90th Birthday Honours list for his services to higher education and the literary history of the First World War.
See also
Armorial of UK universities
College of Education
List of universities in the UK
References
External links
Official website
Roehampton University Students' Union
1975 establishments in England
Universities and colleges established in 1975
Education in the London Borough of Wandsworth
Roehampton
Roehampton
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