London Metropolitan University

London Metropolitan University (abbreviated as London Met) is a public research university in London, England. The University of North London and London Guildhall University merged in 2002 to create the university. The University's roots can be traced back to 1848.

The university has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington, a museum, archives and libraries. Special collections include the TUC Library, the Irish Studies Collection and the Frederick Parker Collection.

History

London Metropolitan University was formed on 1 August 2002 by the merger of London Guildhall University and the University of North London. In October 2006, the University opened a new Science Centre as part of a £30m investment in its science department at the North campus on Holloway Road, with a "Super Lab" claimed to be one of Europe's most advanced science teaching facilities, and 280 workstations equipped with digital audio visual interactive equipment.

London Guildhall University

In 1848, Charles James Blomfield, the Bishop of London, called upon the clergy to establish evening classes to improve the moral, intellectual and spiritual condition of young men in London. In response, the bishop Charles Mackenzie, instituted the Metropolitan Evening Classes for Young Men in Crosby Hall, Bishopsgate, London, with student fees at one shilling per session. Subjects on the original curriculum included Greek, Latin, Hebrew, English, History, Mathematics, Drawing and Natural Philosophy. This fledgling college came under royal patronage following the visit of Prince Albert to the classes in 1851. In 1860, the classes moved to Sussex Hall, the former Livery Hall of the Bricklayers' Company, in Leadenhall Street. By this time, some 800 students were enrolled annually.

In 1861, the classes were reconstituted and named the City of London College. Over the next twenty years, the College was one of the pioneers in the introduction of commercial and technical subjects. The college built new premises in White Street at a cost of £16,000 (contributions were received from Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales) and were opened in 1881. In 1891, the college joined Birkbeck Institute and the Northampton Institute to form the City Polytechnic by a Charity Commissioners' scheme to facilitate funding for these institutions by the City Parochial Foundation, and to enable the three institutions to work cooperatively. However this attempted federation did not function in practice, as each institution continued to operate more or less independently. The City Polytechnic concept was dissolved in 1906 and the City of London College came under the supervision of London County Council.

In December 1940, the college's building was destroyed by a German air raid. City of London College subsequently moved into premises at 84 Moorgate in 1944. In 1948, the City of London College celebrated its centenary with a service of thanksgiving addressed by the Archbishop of Canterbury at St Paul's Cathedral. In 1970 the college merged with Sir John Cass College to form the City of London Polytechnic. In 1977, it also became the home of the Fawcett Society library, afterwards the Women's Library.

Campuses

The main university campus is on Holloway Road in the London Borough of Islington where five of the University's Schools are based. The School of Art, Architecture and Design is based in Aldgate.

Academic profile

London Metropolitan offers about 160 degree courses, to 10,390 students (including 7,000 overseas students from 155 countries). The university also maintains several offices abroad in Beijing, Chennai, Delhi, Dhaka, Lagos and Lahore. The university's operations are overseen by a board of governors comprising external members and senior administrative and academic staff.

Academic departments

The University's academic departments are currently arranged into five schools, where previously there were four faculties each comprising three schools. These are:

• School of Business, Environment and Law
• School of Computing and Digital Media
• School of Human Sciences
• School of Social Sciences and Professions
• School of Art, Architecture and Design

Scholarships

The university invests more than £700,000 annually in its scholarship programme to help academically excellent students as well as students with outstanding achievements in various sports disciplines, such as hockey, tennis and basketball. The university gives £1000 for any of its undergraduate international students who achieve "A" grade marks. The university also offers postgraduate scholarships, a range of full tuition scholarships, including some scholarships with free accommodation. Scholarships are offered in conjunction the BBC World Service, International Student House and Mahatma Gandhi Foundation. The university has several student exchange programmes with academic institutions in the US and Europe, with financial support for those who participate through the Erasmus programme.

Rankings and reputation

In the past, the university refused to participate in newspaper league tables on the grounds that Universities should be assessed by the UK Government and not (private) newspapers. The new management reversed this policy and in the 2013 rankings (published in 2012), the university was placed 118th out of 120 universities in The Guardian University Guide 2013. In the 2011 Institutional Audit, the Quality Assurance Agency expressed "reasonable confidence" in the "academic standards" of the university's awards. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, London Metropolitan was ranked equal 107th out of 132 institutions by the Times Higher Education's RAE league table. The university has not fared well in the past national league tables (2014/2015) and has placed last in each respective league table, Guardian University Guide 2015 (116th), Complete University Guide 2015 (123rd) and The Times and Sunday Times University League Table 2014 (121st). The university has fared better in the most recent Guardian University Guide 2024 (85th).

Student life

Students' union

London Metropolitan University Students' Union (MetSU) is the students' union for students at London Metropolitan University. It provides representation, advice and support to students at the university. MetSU is run by four full-time sabbatical officers and four part-time liberation officers.

MetSU has two offices, one at its City Campus at CM2-22 Calcutta House, Old Castle Street and on the North Campus at the Harglenis Building, 166–220 Holloway Road.

Student media

Student media at London Metropolitan University include:

Verve magazine – launched in 2009 by journalism students; articles about the university, general politics, entertainment, lifestyle, fashion and sports.

Verve Radio – launched in 2011 as a platform for student thoughts and opinions; regular shows hosted by student DJs.

Dictum – launched in 2010 by law students; articles on law, politics and international relations; notable guest writers include Supreme Court Judge Robert Walker and writer, blogger and barrister Tim Kevan.

Notable people

Arts and media

• Josy Anne, Nigerian media personality
• Helen Baker, author
• John Box, Academy Award and BAFTA-winning British film production designer and art director
• Noel Clarke, director, screenwriter and actor
• Alannah Currie, artist
• Chunkz, YouTuber (dropped out)

James Hyman, DJ, Radio & TV presenter, music supervisor and MD of JLH.

• Yinka Ilori, an artist and designer
• Henry Irving, first English Stage actor to be awarded a knighthood
• Jepchumba, Kenyan artist
• Will Kirk, furniture restorer, The Repair Shop
• Jon Klein, post-punk guitarist for Siouxsie and the Banshees
• J. W. R. Linton, West Australian artist and teacher
• Maimie McCoy, actress
• Tom McRae, English singer-songwriter

Эх сурвалж: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)