Annual Review 2013-2014 Annual Review 2013-2014 Contents - Big Picture – University of the Year 02-03 Welcome from the Vice-Chancellor 04-05 Feature: University of the Year 06-07 Top 10 Achievements of the Year 08-09 Student Experience 10-23 Feature: Employability 24-25 Research and Impact 26-41 Feature: Research Institutes 42-45 Feature: 12 Degrees North 46-47 External Engagement 48-57 International 58-65 People 66-77 Sustainability 78-85 Honorary Graduates 86-91 Financial Summary 92-95 Principal Officers of the University 96 Donors 96 1 Welcome 2 Annual Review 2013-2014 3 Welcome 4 Annual Review 2013-2014 statistically significant ‘better than benchmark’ Welcome from the figures for retention and the region’s highest rating for student satisfaction, across all 23 Vice-Chancellor questions, in the 2014 National Student Survey. The Times Higher Education’s Student Experience Survey reinforces this message, with Edge Hill University the highest-rated newcomer Each year we make one commitment to in this year’s table, joint-second nationally for our Edge Hill University’s Governing Body: campus environment and top in the region for that the University this year will be support and welfare, centralised facilities and our Students’ Union. And, comparing our weakest even stronger and better regarded than performance (2006) with our best (2013/14), we the year before. have climbed 57 places in national newspaper league tables, more than any other university. I have no doubt we achieved this. As we were We are confident that this trend will continue. putting the finishing touches to this Annual Review, Edge Hill University was announced To ensure this, we have invested over a quarter by the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards of a billion pounds in the campus in the past as University of the Year. decade, with fourteen new buildings and over 1400 new student residences – all en-suite, with This is the most prestigious accolade in the televisions, computers, even fridges. We offer two Higher Education sector and the University was theatres and sector-leading sports facilities, with chosen as the winner from a list of six shortlisted a new £30m sports centre coming on stream in institutions after a comprehensive judging 2014/15, and this year alone have added five new process. It is a privilege to work alongside all science laboratories, a newly-refurbished building those who strive to fulfill Edge Hill University’s for Geography, our £17m computing, music, film commitment to changing lives – our staff, and TV production facility (Creative Edge), a lake students, alumni, Students’ Union, our partners and even a beach! and our friends and it is rewarding to see this spirit recognised. Our research base continues to grow, with a 240% increase in entries to the 2014 Research This outstanding accolade rounded off a year Evaluation Framework, the results of which of accomplishments. We were named as the top we await with optimism and anticipation. diversified university according to the Graduate And, with new programmes in Digital SFX, Social Mobility Index, which compares the socio- Games Programming, Music, Network Security economic background of students at entry and and Forensics, BioScience, Child Health and the proportion obtaining graduate jobs after Children’s Learning, we are confident that the completing their degrees. We believe that virtuous circle of recent years will continue. education should be a transformational process, improving lives and life chances, and this measure Finally, I would want to acknowledge the people recognises our, and our graduates’, success. who are making this happen, the people who are changing lives – our staff, our students, our Part of this achievement reflects the fact that, alumni, our Students’ Union, our partners and following on from record numbers of our friends. Thank you. We look forward to applications, average entry grades for students at working with you as part of a university which the University have improved by over a quarter in really is ‘going places’. the past five years, with more than one-third of our intake having ABB+ or equivalent grades at Dr John Cater A level or BTEC. But it is also reflected in Vice-Chancellor 5 Welcome Edge Hill University has been Edge Hill named University of the Year in the 10th annual Times Higher University: Education (THE) Awards. The award is the most prestigious accolade in the Higher Education sector and the University University of the was chosen as the winner from a list of six shortlisted institutions which included Swansea Year 2014-15 University, the University of Glasgow and Birkbeck, University of London. The judging involved a comprehensive assessment process culminating in a visit to the “Congratulations to all the staff campus in Ormskirk by Times Higher Education and students (and old boys and girls editor John Gill. At this visit in September, John met staff and students from all levels, across the like me) of Edge Hill on their richly university’s beautiful campus to discover just deserved award of University Of what sets Edge Hill apart from the competition. The Year at the THE awards 2014. A fitting tribute to a brilliant In the run up to the announcement, members of the Edge Hill community shared their thoughts institution.” through social media on why the University should win the title, and following the Writer, Broadcaster and Edge Hill announcement, #THEawards was a top 10 trending UK twitter topic. Alumnus Stuart Maconie 6 Annual Review 2013-2014 The University of the Year award was collected by “It is a deserving winner of the University of Vice-Chancellor Dr John Cater at a glittering the Year title.” awards ceremony in London hosted by comedian Jack Dee at the end of November 2014. Vice-Chancellor Dr John Cater added: Following the announcement, the Times Higher “I’m delighted and extremely proud that Edge Education wrote that the judges in the awards Hill has won University of the Year. The were impressed with how Edge Hill had steadily University is stronger than ever before and I’m built its reputation with strong performances and honoured to have been involved in its consistent year-on-year improvement since it gained growth and improvement during my tenure as university status in 2006. Vice-Chancellor.” This was capped with an exceptional year in Hundreds of nominations for outstanding 2012-13, when it was one of only four universities institutions, departments and individuals were in England to benefit from an increase in submitted across 18 categories covering the full applications in the first year of higher fees. range of university activity. These awards showcase the pioneering spirit, adaptability and John Gill, Times Higher Education editor, said: sheer quality of the Higher Education sector. “Edge Hill is a great success story, having quietly established itself as an institution that improves The University’s Learning Services department and impresses year after year. was also shortlisted in the Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development “Its achievements in student satisfaction and category in the 2014 awards. graduate employment were noted by our judges, as was its financial performance and the part it plays in transforming lives in the local region. “Its investment in academic staff, the strengthening of its research profile, the growth in applications and its innovation were all notable achievements. 7 Top 10 Achievements of the Year Top Top in the North West for Overall Student Satisfaction – 10 National Student Survey 2014 Achievements of the Year Strong levels of graduate employment with 95.3% of first degree and other undergraduate award holders finding employment or further study within six months of graduating. This makes us one of the top eight public universities for graduate Winner of employment in England (DLHE survey by the Higher Education Statistics University Agency 2014) of the Year Top Times Higher Education University of the year for 2014-15, as well as shortlisted in 2007-8, 2010-11 and 2011-12 Two university in the UK for Social Mobility based on Edge Hill’s success in developing a broad range of students to achieve graduate jobs (Social Mobility Graduate index 2014) 8 Annual Review 2013-2014 Top 20 240% English University for a great first increase in Research Excellence impression – making students feel Framework (REF) submissions at home straight away compared to the 2008 figure (YouthSight 2014) Top Over for Personal Development and Assessment and Feedback in the region (National Student Survey 2014) 1000 nominations received in the 2014 student-led staff awards Summer 2014 saw our Safest Largest Campus Ever in the North West for third year running graduating cohort – and remains in the top 10 nationally almost 4,000 students graduated (Complete University Guide 2014) in 16 ceremonies across 5 days 9 Student Experience 10 Student Experience With one of the most welcoming campuses in the country, and rated one of the top two for Social Mobility, our students truly experience life changing opportunities at Edge Hill. With industry standard facilities, one of the safest campuses in England and Wales, employability focussed courses and being top in the region for teaching excellence, we provide the best overall student experience in the North West and fantastic opportunities for our students. Student Experience Open for Creativity Renowned broadcaster, author and alumnus Stuart Maconie returned to campus to officially open Creative Edge, the University’s £17 million 1 flagship media and computing hub. The stunning – and sustainable – addition to Edge Hill’s ‘creative campus’, which opened its doors to staff and students in September 2013, got the celebrity treatment with a formal launch in March this year. During the high profile event, VIP guests were able to see examples of students’ work, the TV and recording studios and listen to The Inkhearts and Hooton Tennis Club, two bands signed to the University’s own record label.