University of Greenwich School of Engineering Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Medway
The University of Greenwich’s School of Engineering is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its arrival in Medway. The school was officially opened by the Chief Royal Engineer General Sir John Stibborn in October 1997.
The School of Engineering has over 1000 students based at the Medway Campus. It offers courses in Civil, Electrical and Electronics, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Marine and Public Health Engineering together with Computer Systems Networking, Computer Engineering, Information & Communications Technologies and Mobile Communications Engineering.
The school also includes five research groups: the Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, the Electronics Manufacturing Engineering Research Group (EMERG), the Computer and Communications Engineering Research Group, Civil Engineering Materials Research Group and Innovative Product Development.
Professor Ndy Ekere, Head of the School of Engineering, says: “Over the last ten years we have forged excellent links with local schools, industry and the community generally and are playing a major role in regenerating the region. Significant investment in new facilities and hard work from our staff and students has left the school well placed to meet the needs of industry, locally, nationally and internationally.”
Recent developments within the school include the appointment of Professor James Gao as Medway Chair of Manufacturing Engineering and the appointment of Professor Chun Li, as Atkins Professor of Civil Engineering under a five-year £700,000 sponsorship deal. New facilities include a new rapid processing facility together with two new test rigs, one for giant concrete slabs and another to improve the filling efficiency of road and railway tankers. Earlier this year 15 engineering courses at Greenwich were given formal accreditation by the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Ten facts about the University of Greenwich at Medway:
- The first students, studying Earth & Environmental Sciences (now part of the School of Science) arrived in Medway in September 1994.
- The University of Greenwich acquired the Natural Resources Institute in May 1996.
- The School of Chemical & Life Sciences (now the School of Science) relocated to Medway in the summer of 2003.
- The number of students at the University of Greenwich at Medway has grown from around 200 in 1994 to around 6,000 full and part-time students today.
- Greenwich has itself invested over £20m in facilities including high quality laboratories, lecture facilities, IT facilities and student residences. This is in addition to the shared Universities at Medway development.
- This year also marks the tenth anniversary of Greenwich’s Pembroke lectures by such speakers as explorer Benedict Allen, chef Michael Barry, architect Terry Farrell and the Bishop of Rochester with titles and subjects including Siberian Ice Dogs, My Great Grandad was at Trafalgar and the role of the Isle of Sheppey in the history of UK aviation.
- As well as science and engineering courses, other options including business, management, IT and nursing are available at the campus. New degrees available for the first time this year include Forensic Science with Criminology, Electric & Electronic Engineering, and Sports Science with Coaching.
- Greenwich, along with the universities of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church and with Mid Kent College, form the Universities at Medway partnership launched by HM the Queen in May 2002.
- The campus has hosted visits by the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP (then Chancellor of the Exchequer), John Prescott MP (then Deputy Prime Minister) and Charles Clarke MP (then Secretary of State for Education & Skills).
- Greenwich together with Kent, jointly owns and operates the Drill Hall Library and Pilkington Building.
Media enquiries:
Photos are available on request from the Press Office.
For more information:
Nick Davison
Public Relations Unit
University of Greenwich
0208 331 8092