University of Wales, Newport

History

Newport had been involved in higher education since 1841. Originally a mechanics' institute, set up to provide further education for workers and tradesmen, it was based in Newport's Town Hall on Commercial Street. Working men and women were able to attend a variety of lectures for two shillings per quarter to study subjects including "The Pursuit of Attainment and Knowledge" and "Popular Superstition".

The institution was later formed as Gwent College of Higher Education by a merger of the Caerleon College of Education (the former Monmouthshire Training College), the Newport College of Art and Design and the Gwent College of Technology in 1975. All three former institutions had established regional and national reputations, most notably the College of Art with many of its students gaining commissions from the BBC and other major organisations in light of the college being among a select number of art colleges in the country awarded Diploma in Art and Design status.

The college became an affiliated institution of the University of Wales in 1992, being admitted as a university college in 1996 where there was a ceremony at which trumpeters of the Prince of Wales's Division played a fanfare from the top of the university clocktower and balloons were released in the faculty colours.

In May 2004, the University of Wales College, Newport secured Privy Council approval to use the title University of Wales, Newport, as a full constituent of the federal university.

On 1 August 2011, the university was restructured, creating two new faculties, each containing three schools:

The Faculty of Arts and Business

School of Design, Engineering, Fashion and Technology

School of Film, Photography and Digital Media

Newport Business School

The Faculty of Education and Social Sciences

School of Education

School of Humanities and Lifelong Learning

School of Sport, Health and Applied Social Sciences

The Centre for Community and Lifelong Learning (CCLL) continued to be based in Tredegar and focused on the university's work to widen participation within the Heads of the Valleys and the wider Gwent region. CCLL was also a key deliverer of the UHOVI (Universities, Heads of the Valleys Institute) project in partnership with the University of Glamorgan and Further Education Colleges.

Notable dates

1841 Opening of Mechanics' Institute, Newport

1872 Classes in Art and Science begin under the Free Library Committee

1882 New building opened in Dock Street, Newport

1886 Teacher training classes begin

1891 Newport Technical School opened

1898 New premises opened at 24 Bridge Street. Separation of Art Department and Science, Technology & Commerce. Two Heads appointed.

1899 Clarence Place land bought from Lord Tredegar

1909 Foundation stone laid at Clarence Place

1910 Newport Technical Institute opened at Clarence Place

1912 Foundation stone laid at Caerleon Training College

1915 Schools of Art and Science, Technology and Commerce combined under a single principal

1919 Newport Technical Institute renamed "The County Borough of Newport Technical College and Institute"

1923 Ordinary National Certificates offered for the first time

1934 Name changed to "Newport Technical College"

1938 Higher National Certificates offered for the first time

1939 – 45 Second World War: college used for troop lectures and evacuees. 19 Caerleon students killed in the war.

Proposed merger

Along with the University of Glamorgan and Cardiff Metropolitan University, it was proposed by the Welsh Government that the University of Wales, Newport merge to create a single post-92 university in South East Wales.

The plans proved to be highly controversial, with Cardiff Metropolitan opposing any merger, citing the lack of a business case, concerns that the new institution would simply be too big to manage properly, and the 'predatory' attitude of Glamorgan. Newport, however, welcomed the plans, providing they created a genuinely new institution.

Stephen Hagen, appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor by the Newport Board from 1 June 2012 to lead the merger upon the sudden resignation of Peter Noyes, circulated a proposal for the new university to focus on entrepreneurialism, generating start-ups, equipping students with entrepreneurial skills and supporting the industries of South Wales, a concept which was initially well received by the Minister's Office.

In July 2012, Newport and Glamorgan announced talks to create a new University for South Wales, citing the opportunity to: "build on their respective strengths to develop a new, entrepreneurial model of higher education across south Wales". The university was dissolved on 11 April 2013 absorbed into University of Glamorgan and renamed University of South Wales.

In response to Cardiff Metropolitan's opposition to its involvement in any merger plans, Leighton Andrews (a strong proponent of mergers) threatened to forcibly dissolve Cardiff Metropolitan and hand its assets over to the new university formed by Glamorgan. Cardiff Metropolitan still demanded more evidence before committing to further talks and, in November 2012, Leighton Andrews withdrew a consultation on plans to force a merger.

Campuses

The university opened a new £35 million campus in Newport's city centre formally on 10 January 2011. The project was a collaboration between the university, Newport City Council and the Welsh Assembly Government operating through Newport Unlimited, the urban regeneration company for the city.

The campus is situated on the western side of the River Usk in the city centre and it was the first phase of an intended £50m development for the university. It housed the Faculty of Arts and Business whilst the Caerleon campus housed the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences. The campus was part of a major redevelopment of Newport city centre. The old city campus at Allt-yr-yn was closed and demolished.

Reputation

The university had been involved in higher education since 1841. In 2009, it was rated the number one university in Wales for enterprise education by the Knowledge Exploitation Fund.

The School of Film, Photography and Digital Media taught a documentary photography degree programme as well as housing the Newport Film School, founded by John Grierson in 1966 and producing many award-winning film-makers since then.

The 2010 CILECT Congress (the international association for film and television schools) unanimously voted in Newport Film School as a full member – only two of the ten new applicant schools for full membership were given this accolade.

Students' Union

Newport Students' Union was the students' union representing all students at the university. The union was run day-to-day by a team of sabbatical officers. Alongside this sabbatical team, full-time and part-time staff were employed to assist in the operation of the union and part-time officers, team captains, society presidents and student managers who all worked alongside their studies to assist the union.

Newport Students' Union provided a range of sports teams, societies and entertainment for students to get involved in. The union also housed a newspaper (NewsPort), magazine (newtwo), TV station (NTV) and radio station (Radio Noize). As well as weekly social events and club nights, the union organised Freshers' Fortnight, Freshers' Fayre, Re: Freshers Week, RAG (Raising and Giving Week) and the May Ball.

Notable alumni

(View University of South Wales for further alumni )

Christopher Chung Shu-kun, a member of Hong Kong Legislative Council

Roger Cecil, artist

Ken Elias, artist

Green Gartside, the frontman of the band Scritti Politti

Harry Greene, television personality

Paul Groves, poet

Philip John, director and screenwriter

Kirk Jones, director

Natasha Rhodes, science fiction author

Asif Kapadia, film director

Scott Barley, filmmaker and artist

Justin Kerrigan, writer and film director

Tracey Moberly, artist, author and radio presenter

Ian Watkins, former singer in the rock band Lostprophets; convicted sex offender