Cranfield University Explained

Cranfield University
Motto:Latin: Post Nubes Lux
Mottoeng:After clouds light[1]
Established:1946 - College of Aeronautics
1969 - Cranfield Institute of Technology (gained university status by royal charter)
1993 - Cranfield University (adopted current name)
Type:Public research university
Chancellor:Dame Deirdre Hutton
Vice Chancellor:Karen Holford
Administrative Staff:1,800
Students:
(all postgraduates)
City:Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Shrivenham, Oxfordshire
England
Campus:Rural (both)
Former Names:Cranfield Institute of Technology
College of Aeronautics
Affiliations:ACU
PEGASUS
Midlands Innovation
Universities UK

Cranfield University is a British postgraduate-only public research university specialising in science, engineering, design, technology and management. Cranfield was founded as the College of Aeronautics (CoA) in 1946. Through the 1950s and 1960s, the development of aircraft research led to growth and diversification into other areas such as manufacturing and management, and in 1967, to the founding of the Cranfield School of Management. In 1969, the College of Aeronautics was renamed the Cranfield Institute of Technology, was incorporated by royal charter, gained degree awarding powers, and became a university. In 1993, it adopted its current name.[2]

Cranfield University has two campuses: the main campus is at Cranfield, Bedfordshire, and the second is at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom at Shrivenham, southwest Oxfordshire.[3] The main campus is unique[4] in the United Kingdom (and Europe) for having its own airportCranfield Airport and its own aircraft, used for teaching and research.

History

College of Aeronautics (1946–1969)

Cranfield University was formed in 1946 as the College of Aeronautics, on the then Royal Air Force base of RAF Cranfield. A major role was played in the development of the college by Roxbee Cox, later Lord Kings Norton, who was appointed to be the first governor of the college in 1945 and then served as vice-chair and (from 1962) chair of the board. He led the drive for the college to diversify, with the Cranfield University School of Management being established in 1967, and petitioned successfully for a royal charter and degree awarding powers. When these were granted in 1969, he became the first chancellor of the Cranfield Institute of Technology, serving until 1997.[5] [6]

Cranfield Institute of Technology (1969–1993)

The Cranfield Institute of Technology was incorporated by royal charter in 1969, giving the institution its own degree-awarding powers and making it a full university in its own right.[7] [8] [2]

In 1975 the National College of Agricultural Engineering, founded in 1963 at Silsoe, Bedfordshire, was merged with Cranfield and run as Silsoe College.[9]

An academic partnership with the Royal Military College of Science (RMCS) at Shrivenham was formed in 1984. RMCS, whose roots can be traced back to 1772, is now a part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and from 2009 has been known as "Cranfield Defence and Security". RMCS became wholly postgraduate in c.2007 with undergraduate courses moved elsewhere.

Cranfield University (1993–present)

In 1993 the institution's royal charter was amended changing its name to Cranfield University.[7] [8] [2] A decade later in 2003, Cranfield became wholly postgraduate and the Shrivenham site admitted its last undergraduates.[10]

In 2007, the university's first international campus was opened by the Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, located in the Torrens Building in Adelaide, alongside the Carnegie Mellon University. It offered short-term postgraduate degrees in defence management and technology, in partnership with local institutions and using some distance learning courses. However South Australia's "defence boom" did not materialise and its failure to attract enough students caused the closure of the campus in 2010.[11] [12] [13]

In 2009, Silsoe College was closed and its activities were relocated to the main campus at Cranfield.[9]

Location and campus

Cranfield campus is approximately 50miles north of central London and adjacent to the village of Cranfield,[14] Bedfordshire. The nearest large towns are Milton Keynes and Bedford, the centres of which are both about 8miles away. Cambridge is about 30miles east.

Shrivenham is about 73miles west of London, adjacent to Shrivenham village, 7miles from the centre of the nearest town, Swindon, and around 23miles from Oxford.

The Cranfield campus sits within the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford corridor where there are plans to link these cities and stimulate economic growth.[15] There is also a proposal for a rapid transit system between (an expanding) Milton Keynes and the campus, although this is still at an early concept stage.[16]

Technology Park

There are a number of companies located on the Cranfield University Technology Park ranging from large international companies to small start-ups. Major companies on the park include:

Prior to 2016:

Milton Keynes

Cranfield University is the academic partner in project with Milton Keynes City Council to establish a new university, code-named MK:U, in nearby Milton Keynes.[19] [20] The plan anticipates opening by 2023, with a campus in Central Milton Keynes. In January 2019, the partners announced an international competition to design a new campus near the Central railway station.[21] In May 2019, Santander Bank announced a 'seed funding' grant of £30 million to help with building and initial running costs. On 4 July 2019, the shortlisted proposals for the campus were announced.[22] On 30 July 2019, the evaluation panel announced that Hopkins Architects had produced the winning design.[23]

, the project is stalled following a government decision to deny funding.[24]

Coat of arms

Escutcheon:Per chevron barry undy Or and Azure and Azure in base a torch of three branches Or inflamed Proper.
Crest:On a wreath Argent and Gules, out of an Astral Crown Azure in front of an owl wings displayed Argent two keys addorsed wards upwards Or.
Supporters:On either side a crane Proper, pendant from the neck of each a Crown Rayonnée Or; the whole on a Compartment composed of a marshy bank with reeds Proper.
Motto:'Post Nubes Lux'

The university's motto, post nubes lux, means 'after clouds light'. It is depicted on the university coat of arms which was introduced when the university was awarded its royal charter.[25]

Organisation and governance

Chancellors

Vice-chancellors

Schools

The academic schools are:

Academic disciplines

Disciplines studied in the university include:[29]

Academic profile

Reputation and rankings

Arwu W:801—900

As an exclusively postgraduate university, Cranfield University is excluded from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, The Times World Rankings, The Complete University Guide and The Guardian, which focuses on helping prospective undergraduate students to compare universities. Consequently, direct comparison with undergraduate institutions is difficult. Some key facts and figures are:

Admissions

Cranfield welcomes around 5,000 postgraduate students from more than 100 countries each year.

Cranfield University's student to academic staff ratio is 5:1, one of the best ratios in all UK universities.[44]

41% of Cranfield University's students are over 30 years of age.

Partnerships

Cranfield University has links with business, industry and governments. Cranfield University has mutually beneficial relationships with nearly 1,500 organisations around the world including small owner-managed SMEs to large multinational conglomerates; British and international universities, non-government organisations and governments. Some of Cranfield's close partnerships include Airbus, Rolls-Royce Group, Grant Thornton, BAE Systems, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Ford, BP, British Airways, PWC, Jacobs, Metro Bank, L'Oréal, Royal Dutch Shell, Jaguar Land Rover, Oracle Corporation, PepsiCo, Unilever, to name just a few.[45]

Cranfield University has links with more than 130 universities in the Americas, Asia and Oceania, Europe, Middle East and Africa.[46] The university collaborates with the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) on SUSS's BEng Aerospace Systems.[47]

The IMRC – Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre at Cranfield University is a project funded by the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) undertaking research that addresses issues identified in the UK government's High Value Manufacturing strategy.[48]

Student life

Facilities at the Cranfield University campus include a sports centre, which incorporates a fitness centre and aerobics studio, playing fields, sports pitches and several tennis courts. On campus there are two small shops, one run by the CSA and one by Budgens. There are a limited range of eateries open during mealtimes, two Costa Coffee outlets, and one bar, also run by the CSA, which is open intermittently Monday to Friday.

Students' union

Cranfield Students Association (CSA) is the students' union and runs the main student bar, cafe and shop on the Cranfield campus. It is based in building 114 close to the centre of the campus.

The CSA is run by a team of elected students and supported by a small team of staff. The aim of the CSA is to support and represent Cranfield University students, promote student welfare and organise social, cultural and sporting activities.

Student accommodation

At the Cranfield University campus there are a wide range of accommodation options for full-time students, from halls of residence to shared houses, apartments for couples and houses for families.

For part-time students, there are two options available – the 186-room Cranfield Management Development Centre and the 114-room Mitchell Hall, both of which are situated on campus.

Notable alumni

Cranfield University has a number of notable academic staff and alumni, including politicians, business people, entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists, authors, and TV personalities.

Cranfield University is in the top 1% of institutions in the world for alumni who hold CEO positions at the world's top companies according to the Centre for World University Rankings, 2017.[44]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Arms of the University. 1 July 2017. Cranfield University.
  2. Web site: n.d.. Cranfield College of Aeronautics history. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160709011626/http://www.cranfield.ac.uk:80/about/history-and-heritage . 9 July 2016 . 28 December 2017. Cranfield University. 1. The institution ... was granted university status in 1969 becoming the Cranfield Institute of Technology and it changed its name to Cranfield University in 1993.
  3. Web site: How to find us - Cranfield University at Shrivenham. 1 July 2017. Cranfield University.
  4. Web site: Piesing. Mark. The university shaping aviation's future. 2021-01-26. www.bbc.com. en.
  5. Web site: History and heritage. Cranfield University . 1 July 2017.
  6. Web site: Cranfield University. Lord Kings Norton. Cranfield University. 1 July 2017.
  7. Web site: Is Cranfield's postgraduate-only university a model for the future?. Swain. Harriet. The Guardian. 23 January 2012. 28 December 2017.
  8. Web site: Cranfield University. The Independent. 23 July 2014. 28 December 2017.
  9. News: Silsoe college remembered on new homes estate. Bedford Today. 15 December 2013. 1 July 2017.
  10. Web site: Analysis: Military redeploys intellectual might. 29 November 2002 . Times Higher Education . 26 December 2009.
  11. Web site: Adelaidia. Torrens Building. Alexander. Parsons. 7 July 2017. 15 November 2019. This entry was first published in S.A.'s Greats: The men and women of the North Terrace plaques, edited by John Healey (Historical Society of South Australia Inc., 2001)..
  12. News: The Guardian. Coalition courses. David. Cohen. 8 August 2007. 16 November 2019.
  13. News: In Daily. Adelaide's "uni city" dream is over. Malcolm. King. 4 February 2015. 16 November 2019.
  14. Web site: Cranfield Village Newsletter including a history and information on the airfield . Cranfield Parish Council . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070607211624/http://www.cranfieldexpress.co.uk/ . 7 June 2007.
  15. News: Sajid Javid exclusive interview: Garden towns and expressway to sprout up in Oxbridge corridor. The Times. 23 May 2018.
  16. Web site: National Infrastructure Commission - Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford Future Planning Options Project Final Report. National Infrastructure Commission. 23 May 2018. 11 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190411212659/https://www.nic.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/NIC-FinalReport-February-2018-Rev-A-optimised.pdf. dead.
  17. Web site: Nissan UK . Nissan, UK . 10 June 2007.
  18. Web site: Trafficmaster plc . Trafficmaster plc . 10 June 2007.
  19. Web site: Project Two: MK:U A new University for Milton Keynes . MK2050 Futures Commission . October 2017 . 6 February 2019.
  20. Web site: Santander provides £30m boost to plans for innovative new university in Milton Keynes . MKFM . 28 May 2019 . 28 May 2019.
  21. News: Competition: MK:U, Milton Keynes . Merlin . Fulcher . . 31 January 2019 . 6 February 2019.
  22. News: Milton Keynes £188m university contest finalists revealed . Merlin . Fulcher . Architects' Journal . 4 July 2019 . 4 July 2019.
  23. Web site: Milton Keynes university contest winner revealed . Architects Journal . 30 July 2019 . 30 July 2019.
  24. News: Milton Keynes' plan to create world-class university in tatters after government refuses multi million pound funding . . 19 January 2023 . 20 January 2023 . Sally . Murrer.
  25. Web site: Cranfield University History. 22 May 2018. Cranfield University.
  26. Web site: Sir John O'Reilly . Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK . 9 June 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070607181049/http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/Content/Documents/Biographies/OReillyJ.htm . 7 June 2007.
  27. Web site: Sir John O'Reilly . Cranfield University - Biography . 18 March 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090718021551/http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/about/people/page1573.jsp . 18 July 2009.
  28. Web site: Professor Sir Peter Gregson FREng . Cranfield University - Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor . 27 February 2014.
  29. Web site: Cranfield University Academic Disciplines . Cranfield University . 22 May 2018.
  30. Web site: REF 2021: Cranfield research is world-leading with a global impact . 2024-05-08 . Cranfield University.
  31. Web site: Rankings . 2024-05-08 . Cranfield University.
  32. Web site: Rankings . 2024-05-08 . Cranfield University.
  33. Web site: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024 . 2024-05-08 . Top Universities . en.
  34. Web site: 2024-05-04 . QS Sustainability University Rankings 2024 . 2024-05-08 . Top Universities . en.
  35. Web site: 2023-05-11 . Impact Ranking . 2024-05-08 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
  36. Web site: Queen's Anniversary Prize. Cranfield University.
  37. Web site: Winners of the Queen's Anniversary Prizes announced. WebstarsLtd.com //. staff@webstarsltd.com. www.royalanniversarytrust.org.uk.
  38. News: Cranfield University-Research Changes Tide . Bedfordshire on Sunday .
  39. Web site: Cranfield University Rankings and Awards. 22 May 2018.
  40. 'Flying classroom' lands University the highest UK honour . 20 February 2020 . 24 March 2020. Cranfield University.
  41. News: Brian . Sims . Burrill, Cahalane and Finch win Imbert Prizes . Info4Security . 3 August 2006 . 26 June 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713030835/http://www.info4security.com/story.asp?storyCode=3081470&sectioncode=10 . 13 July 2011.
  42. News: ASC lunch . Professional Security Magazine . 30 June 2008 . 26 June 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111003185324/http://www.professionalsecurity.co.uk/newsdetails.aspx?NewsArticleID=9411&imgID=1 . 3 October 2011.
  43. News: Brian . Sims . Policing with a Brain: the 2009 ASC Annual Luncheon . Info4Security . 30 June 2009 . 30 June 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713030844/http://www.info4security.com/story.asp?sectioncode=16&storycode=4122568&c=1 . 13 July 2011.
  44. Web site: Cranfield University Fact and Figures . 22 May 2018.
  45. Web site: Cranfield University International Partnerships (Who we work with). 22 May 2018. Cranfield University International Partnerships.
  46. Web site: Cranfield University International Partnerships. 22 May 2018.
  47. Web site: Collaborations with Overseas Universities. SUSS. 29 May 2018. 29 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180529202950/http://www.suss.edu.sg/Partnership/UProgrammes/Pages/Overview.aspx. 29 May 2018. dead.
  48. http://www.govopps.co.uk/high-value-manufacturing-strategy-published Government Opportunities
  49. Web site: Karan Bilimoria - Founder of Cobra Beer. London Speaker Bureau. 21 May 2018. 3 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160503114709/http://www.londonspeakerbureau.com/speakers/karan_bilimoria. dead.
  50. Web site: Hundreds celebrate, as in-person graduation ceremonies return to Cranfield University .
  51. Web site: John McFarlane OBE, awarded honorary degree from Cranfield. Cranfield School of Management.
  52. Book: 2001. Who's Who in Science and Engineering: 2002-2003. 0837957605. Marquis Who's Who; 6th edition. 906.

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