University of Surrey Annual Review 2012 (PDF)
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Annual Review 2012 Best research in key areas Our researchers are changing the world in vital fields such as safe water, sustainable energy, telecommunications, disease control and health. We are proud to have won three Queen’s Anniversary Best research in key areas Prizes in recognition of this groundbreaking research, as well as four other Queen’s Awards, making an impressive total of seven since 1991. Continuing league table rises Record-breaking student satisfaction Continuing league table rises Our top-12 placing in the latest The Guardian University Guide – seven places higher than last year – reflects the Best graduate employment record upwardly-mobile status of the University of Surrey. We also climbed three places to 26th in the 2013 The Times Good University Guide and recorded a six-place improvement by securing 22nd position in The Complete University Guide. Record-breaking student satisfaction The results of the latest National Student Survey (NSS) revealed that our students are happier with their studies at Surrey than ever before. A record-breaking 90 per cent of respondents expressed their satisfaction with the quality of their higher education, a rise of three per cent from 2011. The result helped us climb an impressive 17 places to 15th in the overall NSS table. Best graduate employment record We have a track record spanning more than 15 years of being recognised as a leading light in graduate employment. The latest figures, showing that 94.8 per cent of our recent graduates were in employment or further study, are evidence of that trend continuing. Our renowned professional training year, which provides students with valuable practical experience to complement their academic development, is key to this success. * Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) University of Surrey Annual Review 1 of our research units are rated world-leading, internationally excellent, or recognised either nationally or internationally. Source: latest available Research Assessment Exercise data World-class Award-winning Enterprising Qualifications A cultured A truly research academics attitudes that work environment international outlook The last Research Assessment We recently won the Queen’s Few universities can match our We have been a leading light in In addition to our world-class The abilities of our talented Exercise (RAE) brought official Anniversary Prize for our ability for enterprise. graduate employment for more research activity and cutting- students and staff extend well recognition for the quality of world-leading research into than 15 years. edge teaching and learning, beyond our Surrey campus. Whether it’s supporting our our research. the sustainable provision of the University of Surrey is an students and academics as they This has much to do with the Whether through the safe water, the most prestigious increasingly vibrant cultural hub. It rated 99% of our research turn their inspiring ideas into success of our Professional international collaborative honour a UK university can world-leading, internationally profitable business propositions, Training Year, which allows From playing an integral part in research projects fostered attain. Turn to pages 8 and 9 for excellent, or recognised either working with commerce and students to develop professional the preparations of more than through the Universities Global more information. nationally or internationally, of industry to share our expertise and personal skills during year- 250 athletes competing at the Partnership Network (page 57) which 88% and more than half This was the third time our for everyone’s benefit, or creating long placements with major 2012 London Olympics (pages or students taking a professional our research units were rated academics have been honoured our own spin-out companies companies across a range of 48 and 49) to developing the training year overseas, the world-class or internationally with this prize: in 1997, we won to maximise the impact of our sectors at home and abroad. world’s first digital symphony University of Surrey nurtures a recognised. It also placed the award for our pioneering world-class research, our naturally orchestra (pages 34 and 35), truly global outlook. Our success in this area is four of our research areas – work in satellite technology, entrepreneurial culture has we play an important part in highlighted on pages 46 and 56. Sociology, Electric and Electronic while in 2002, the prize achieved success after success. fostering opportunities in sport, Engineering, General Engineering recognised our world-changing music and art. For more on our enterprising and Allied Health Professions and innovations in lasers, ion beams initiatives turn to page 33 and Studies – in the UK’s top ten. and optoelectronics. We have pages 52 to 55. also received the Queen’s Award A selection of this year’s research for Export Achievement, the successes are profiled on pages Queen’s Award for Technological 16 to 37. Achievement and two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise. 2 Reputation University of Surrey Annual Review 3 An overview of 2011-12 from the Vice-Chancellor Like the Team GB athletes in the London 2012 Olympics, Surrey has put in a strong performance over the past 12 months resulting in record achievements and awards. Our meteoric rise up the league Much like the Olympic promise, tables, especially in The Guardian here at Surrey we are inspiring where we rank 12th in the UK, is a generation through our one of the year’s major success groundbreaking research which stories and acknowledges the is addressing this century’s most continuing improvements to our pressing challenges and receiving academic offering. The results international recognition. We of this year’s National Student were honoured to be awarded the Survey, where we climbed an prestigious Queen’s Anniversary impressive 17 places, and our Prize for Higher Education for shortlisting to 3rd place in The our research into safe water Sunday Times University of the and sanitation which is helping Year Award 2011, further reflects to safeguard many lives and our exceptional progress in communities worldwide. This is delivering the best experience we the third time Surrey has received possibly can for our students. this accolade. As a result, we are attracting more The effects of the Government’s highly-talented applicants than reforms to university funding and ever before and since 2006 we student number controls have have seen a significant increase continued to dominate the Higher in our undergraduate entrance Education headlines and Surrey, standards. Our average A-Level along with all UK universities, will be grades on entry in 2011-12 were entering a very different environment AAB, meeting the Government’s for the sector in the new academic new threshold for unlimited year. Taking a leaf from Team GB’s recruitment which is introduced training book, Surrey has set very next academic year. clear goals to maximise our success and ensure we prosper as a thriving Providing access to world-class university of excellence. We will sporting facilities is just one continue to strive for the highest example of how we are meeting standards in our teaching, scholarship student needs and this summer and research and we are confident they had the exciting opportunity of even greater achievements in this to train alongside Olympic critical period ahead. athletes. Surrey Sports Park hosted over 250 Olympians and their coaching teams including the US triathletes, Chinese synchronised swimmers and the Team GB basketball team as they Professor Sir Christopher Snowden made their final preparations for FRS, FREng the London 2012 games. President and Vice-Chancellor University of Surrey Annual Review 5 Contents Awards and achievements 8-15 Research 16-37 Media milestones 38-41 Learning and teaching 42-43 Student experience 44-47 Celebrate Surrey – London 2012 48-51 Business, innovation and enterprise 52-55 Internationalisation 56-57 Future plans 58-59 Financial review 60-65 University of Surrey Annual Review 7 Royal recognition for water research THE University received royal recognition for its world-leading research into the world of water with the award of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize. Announced by the Royal Its Centre for Osmosis Research Anniversary Trust on behalf of and Applications has been Her Majesty The Queen, the prize responsible for innovations came in the 2010-12 Diamond including Manipulated Osmosis Jubilee Round and recognised Desalination, a system that Surrey’s 30-year track record in produces clean drinking water improving access to safe water by removing salt from sea water around the world. in a very efficient fashion. The award is the most prestigious With the Centre striving towards honour open to a UK university a mission of providing affordable and President and Vice-Chancellor access to water for drinking and Professor Sir Christopher Snowden irrigation around the world, Centre was delighted for Surrey to Director Professor Adel Sharif said become one of a select few the Queen’s Anniversary Prize was institutions to have won the a “significant endorsement” of prize for a third time. its work. The University previously received Surrey’s expertise has also helped the award in 2002 for its work in communities in Patagonia the fields of ion beam applications through the Water for Life project. and optoelectronic devices and Run by Professor Neil Ward and in 1996 for engineering for the PhD researchers, the project saw space industry and teaching and University staff working with research for satellite operations. children from six schools in Argentina to carry out analyses of Sir Christopher said: “The Queen’s The Queen’s the water in the Rio Negro and Rio Anniversary Prize acknowledges Colorado rivers. Anniversary Prize that Surrey’s research in crucial acknowledges that fields such as safe water and Professor Ward said: “The Prize is sanitation is second-to-none.” recognition both of our work here Surrey’s research at the University and the efforts of During the last three decades, local communities in Argentina.