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The University of Dundee is the principal university in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee, Scotland.

History

The University has its roots in the earlier university college based in Dundee and the University of St Andrews. During the 19th century, demand for the establishment of an institution in Dundee was in part spurred by increasing population and was considerably helped by a £120,000 bequest from Miss Baxter, a notable lady of the city. In 1881 the ideals of the proposed Baxter College were for the establishment of an institute for 'promoting the education of persons of both sexes and the study of Science, Literature and the Fine Arts'. University College was established as an academic institution and the first principal, William Peterson, was elected in late 1882. When opened in 1883, it comprised five faculties: Maths and Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Engineering and Drawing, English Language and Literature and Modern History, and Philosophy. The University College had no power to award degrees and for some years students were prepared for external examinations of the University of London.

From 1890, the college began to establish links with the University of St Andrews, which was completed by 1897. University College became part of the University of St Andrews, Fife, enabling the University of St Andrews (which was in a small burgh) to support a medical school. Medical students could choose to do their preclinical studies either in Dundee or St Andrews (at the Bute Medical School) after which all students would undertake their clinical studies at Dundee. Eventually, law, dentistry and other professional subjects were taught at University College. By 1904 University College had a students role of 208, making up 40% of the role of St Andrews University generally. But the relationship between St Andrews University and University College was often stormy. In 1947, the Principal of University College, Douglas Wimberley wrote the Wimberley Memo analysing the relationship between St Andrews and Dundee (resulting in the Cooper and Tedder reports of 1952), stating that the incorporation of University College could not continue. In 1954, after a Royal Commission, University College was renamed Queen's College and the Dundee-based elements of St Andrews university gained a greater degree of independence and flexibility. However, these changes, which included the incorporation of the Dundee School of Economics into the College, still left Dundee an integral part of the University of St Andrews. The publication of Robbins Report on Higher Education in 1963, which considered the question of university education expansion throughout the country, provided impetus to establish independent university status in Dundee. Queen's College followed in the footsteps of University of Stirling, and second universities which were created in Edinburgh and Glasgow: Heriot-Watt University and the University of Strathclyde despite having less than 2,000 students.

In 1966, St Andrews University Court and the Council of Queen's College submitted a joint petition to the Privy Council seeking the grant of a Royal Charter to establish the University of Dundee. This petition was approved and the Charter was granted which saw Queen's College became the University of Dundee on the August 1 1967.

The university has grown considerably since securing chartered status. The teaching of medicine, dentistry, law (Dundee is the only UK university where students can choose to read for an LLB in either English law or Scottish Law), nursing, social work and accountancy flourished, a new Faculty of Letters (later renamed the Faculty of Arts) was developed, and in 1974 it began to validate some degrees from Dundee's Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, and by 1988 all degrees from that institution were being validated by the university. By 1994 the two institutions merged with one another, with the college becoming a faculty of the university. In 1996 the Tayside College of Nursing and the Fife College of Health studies became part of the university as a school of Nursing and Midwifery. For several years, Dundee College of Education granted Dundee University degrees, and in December, 2001 the university merged with the Dundee campus of Northern College to create a Faculty of Education and Social Work.

In October 2005, the university became home to the first UNESCO centre in the United Kingdom. The centre is involved in research regarding the management of the world's water resources on behalf of the United Nations.

Although it only became an independent university in 1967, Dundee shares an organisational structure with the ancient universities of Scotland due to its status as a former college of St Andrews and as a result is considered alongside them for a number of matters - although there is some debate as to how close this relationship can be seen to extend and to what degree the university can be placed under the same umbrella as the other four.

In 2005 the University received the accolade of "Higher Education Institution of the Year" from The Times newspaper, and was deemed "Best Scottish University".

The University is celebrating its 40th year of independence from the University of St Andrews this year. A programme of related events is available here

Future plans & construction

Some £200 million is being spent extensively renovating the central campus including the building of a number of new student halls of residence. The majority of the work is scheduled for completion by summer 2007 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Dundee's independence, however there are also larger plans to extend the central campus southwards and to landscape a large section of the centre of the campus into a 'University Green' combining a number of disparate spaces and to open up the lower end of Small's Wynd to provide further student-orientated facilities, including a café beside the relocated New College Shop and the University's book shop.

The University has, from the 1st of August 2006, been restructured from its original seven faculty arrangement into four colleges.

The present stage of building work is continuing rapidly, with the new Belmont Halls of Residence and the Heathfield Halls of Residence now completed. Work still continues on both sides of Heathfield however, with the new Heathfield School of Education & Social Work buildings, which will replace the Gardyne Road campus, and the extended sections of the Institute of Sport and Exercise still very much under construction.

There is still a good deal of building work on Small's Wynd - to the north being related to the extension to the Central Library, and to the south being related mainly to the complete renovation of the Old Medical School building.

The side of the Carnelly building on College Green facing onto Park Place (opposite the Scrymgeour building) is also being extended. In early 2007, the old Jam Factory building in the proposed new University Green was demolished and has been temporarily replaced with carparking spaces.

Chancellors

• Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1967-1977)
• The 17th Earl of Dalhousie (1977-1992)
• Sir James W. Black OM (1992-2006)
• Lord Naren Patel, Kt (2006-Present)

In May 2006 Sir James Black retired from his position as chancellor at the age of 82 and was succeeded by Lord Patel of Dunkeld.

Principals

The Principal of the University is formally titled the Vice Chancellor, however the two titles are often used interchangeably or together in the form 'Principal and Vice Chancellor'.

The Principal effective fulfils the role of a chief executive of the University. When the University formed Queen's College, this function was carried out by the Master of Queen's College.

Principals of University College

• William Peterson (1882-1895)
• John Yule Mackay (1895-1930)
• Douglas Wimberley (1946-1954)

Masters of Queen's College, Dundee

• D. R. Dow (1954-1958)
• Arthur Alexander Matheson (1958-1966)
• James Drever (1966-1967)

Principals of the University of Dundee

• James Drever (1967-1978)
• Adam Neville (1978-1988)
• Michael Hamlin (1988-1994)
• Ian James Graham-Bryce (1994-2000)
• Sir Alan Langlands (2001-)

Governance and organisation

The University of Dundee is organised under the provisions of its Royal Charter (see here in pdf format), registered on 27 July 1967, which creates and governs the functions and operation of the University Court, the Senatus Academicus, the Students' Association, the Graduates' Council and the Academic Council.

University Court

The University Court meets six times a year and is officially chaired by a lay member. It is responsible for most of the general governance, for example the disposal of income and the employment of staff, of the university. It consists of 23 members as follows: the Chancellor, the Principal, the Rector, the Chancellor's Assessor, the Rector's Assessor, the Lord Provost of Dundee City Council, 2 Graduates' Council Assessors, 2 Professors and 2 Readers/Senior Lecturers/Lecturers elected from the Senate, 2 members elected from the Academic Council, a member of non-academic staff elected by the non-academic staff, the President of the Students' Association, and seven other co-opted lay members.

Senatus Academicus

The Senatus Academicus (see: Academic Senate), often simply 'the Senatus' or 'the Senate', is the supreme academic body of the University of Dundee. The Vice Chancellor (Principal) functions as the president of the Senatus and contains all significant academic staff, alongside the President of the Students' Association and two other DUSA nominees.

Often the functions of the Senatus are devolved to its committees.

Divisions of the University

The University is, as of August 2006, organised into four colleges, which each contain a number of schools. In addition to this, there are two schools which have something of a special status within the structure and contain schools of their own. The head of each college has the position of a Vice Principal of the University, and individual schools are formally headed by a Dean. The following is a full list of the academic divisions of the university:

The College of Art, Science & Engineering

Containing the Schools of:

Architecture
Computing
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design

Containing its own schools of Design, Fine Art and Media Art & Imaging.

Engineering Physics & Mathematics

The College of Arts and Social Sciences

Containing the Schools of:

Accountancy & Business Finance
Education, Social Work and Community Education
Humanities
Law
Postgraduate School of Management and Policy

Containing the Centre for Energy, Petroleum & Mineral Law & Policy, the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science and the Centre for Enterprise Management

Psychology
Social Sciences

The College of Life Sciences

Containing the Schools of:

Life Sciences Research
Life Sciences Teaching

The College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing

Containing the Schools of:

Dentistry
Medicine
Nursing & Midwifery

Students

Students at Dundee are represented by the University's Students' Representative Council and the Rector in common with other universities in Scotland sharing the ancient organisational structure.

Dundee University Students' Association

Main Article: Dundee University Students' Association

The Dundee University Students' Association (DUSA), unlike many other Students' Unions in the United Kingdom, is not affiliated to the National Union of Students due mainly to cost concerns and political objections, instead being affiliated to the Coalition of Higher Education Students in Scotland (CHESS) and the National Postgraduate Committee. Membership of the body is automatic for all students of the University, although it is possible under statutes to renounce this membership at any time. The Dundee University Students' Association, as with its neighbours in the other ancient-organised universities in Scotland, is co-existent with the University's Students' Representative Council.

The office-holders of the Students Association are the President, the Deputy President, the Honorary Secretary and four Vice Presidents holding portfolios for Representation, Communications, Services and Education and Careers. All of these are sabbatical offices with the exception of the Honorary Secretary and Deputy President.

The DUSA building is located in Airlie Place, in the centre of the University's Main Campus and caters as a private members' club offering bar, nightclub and refectory services for many students, particularly undergraduates in the early years of their degrees. It is also responsible for the operation of a number of small shops throughout the university's campuses. In 2004, it underwent major refurbishment work. This included adding a new nightclub, and redesigning the interiors of the bars and recreational spaces. The building also contains the University's main swimming pool. DUSA also provides a number of other typical students' union services such as advocacy on behalf of its membership and assistance to individual students.

The main DUSA bar, The Liar, takes its name from a novel by former Rector Stephen Fry who was held in high regard by students and staff.

The Dundee Students' Union (as it was then known) gained its first accommodation by the renting of the Ellenbank building of University College in 1905 with £4,000 raised from the University College Bazaar - a fairly regular event of official speakers, entertainments, live music, comedy and stalls - held in October 1903. Ellenbank was separated by levels, providing separate rooms for the male and female students - with the ladies entering up a flight of stairs to the rear and the gentlemen having sole use of the "handsome" entrance hall. Despite the segregation, this was probably the first Students' Union in the United Kingdom to admit both men and women to the same association and also to allow them use of the same building. Ellenbank later which underwent extensive renovation in the 1920s. By 1969, it was decided that new and larger premises were necessary and a new building, named New Dines, was completed in 1974. New Dines was demolished in 1986 and the new Central Library and Students' Union building were constructed on the site thereafter.

Dundee University Sports Union & Sports Facilities

The Dundee University Sports Union is a body, like the Students' Union, of which all matriculated students of the university are automatically a member. It elects its own executive committee, although is linked with the Students' Union through the Students' Representative Council.

As of early 2007, there are 44 clubs affiliated with the Sports' Union. There is an annual award ceremony for the sports clubs, and a Blues & Colours Ball (see University Sporting Blue) to provide social interaction between the clubs. A popular but informal event is sports clubs joining together on Wednesday night to attend the Students' Union, enabled by the university ending most classes early on a Wednesday afternoon to allow for sports participation - which is particularly appropriate in winter when the sun can set in the mid-afternoon due to Dundee's northerly location.

The Institute of Sport and Exercise, unlike the Sports Union, is directly controlled by the university - but works closely with the students' organisations. Its chief building is located on Old Hawkhill in the main campus, which contains the main indoor sporting facilities and the university's gym. The building is presently being extensively extended.

Outdoor facilities are mainly based in the Riverside Sporting Ground, within a reasonable walking distance and bordering the Tay, although there are others - such as tennis courts - spread throughout the main campus. There are plans to upgrade the facilities at Riverside to include a pavillion and new social areas. The ISE's swimming pool is located within the Students' Association building on Airlie Place.

Rector

Main Article: Rector of the University of Dundee

The current Rector of the University is Craig Murray, former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan and twice President of the Students' Association at Dundee.

Murray was elected by students on the 16th of February 2007 by a vote of 632 to 582, beating competition from former Scotland rugby captain and British Lions star Andy Nicol. Although he presently has all the duties of Rector, he has yet to be formally installed.

Murray took over from the previous Rector, Ms Lorraine Kelly who served the term from 2004-2007 defeating ex-MI5 agent David Shayler and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch to win the post. Previous Rectors have included Sir Clement Freud and Stephen Fry, each serving two terms; and Sir Peter Ustinov, Tony Slattery and Fred MacAulay each serving one. Prior to the University's independence, there was an honorary position of President of University College, however the position of Rector was vested in the Rectorship of St Andrews.

In common with other University Rectors the position is largely ceremonial, although it does involve representing the students on the University Court. The Rector appoints an Assessor, currently Mike Arnott, who can carry out the Rector's functions on his behalf when he is absent.

The University within the City

The University is largely based within the West End of the City of Dundee, which has been subject to a large degree of studentification and an expansion of both the university and the city centre to meet. By attracting a number of non-local students from across the UK and other countries, the university has evolved into something of a separate community from Dundee itself. While town and gown relations are generally cordial, there have been suggestions that the West End (which is currently being rebranded as the 'Cultural Quarter' or 'Academic Quarter' of the city in parts close to the centre) is distancing itself from the city generally and emerging as a so-called "West End Bubble".

It has been suggested that certain establishments which cater to students, particularly the Students' Union, have actively pandered to this divide in order to hold on to the student market in the city. As of the start of the 2006/07 term, the university's student newspaper (published by the Students' Association) has been renamed The Magdalen, after Magdalen Green - one of the West End's main public spaces. Meanwhile the development of the West End has established a broad artistic community, with the university co-operating with local projects such as Dundee Contemporary Arts (the DCA) and the Dundee Repertory Theatre.

Traditions

Dundee students participate in a number of traditional events during the academic calendar. Towards the start of the year, a standard British Freshers' Week is organised, with a secondary one held when the University reconvenes after the Christmas vacation.

Traditions remaining from Dundee's days as a college of the University of St Andrews include the Gaudie Night (taking its name from the first line of the students' anthem, De Brevitate Vitae) - held early in the first semester and organised both as a Students' Union night and an event organised by the individual schools (for example by the Medical, Law and Dentistry Societies) where students are assigned academic 'parents' from the senior years. Some weeks later, a Raisin (alternatively spelled 'Raisen') weekend is held to all new students to repay their their academic parents' hospitality. Generally the school society run events are more traditional in nature than the Students' Union event.

Since 2004, the University has organised the Discovery Days series of public lectures hosted by University and visiting academics and persons of note, providing introductions into a number of major fields of work taking place at Dundee. Further details are available here.

Prior to the reorganisation of the University's departments in 2006, there were associated faculity colours. These can be seen in university scarves here, however since the reorganisation these no longer sell in campus shops.

Alumni

See also: Alumni of the University of Dundee

Business

George Mathewson – Chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Brian Souter - Founder of the Stagecoach Group.

Entertainment & Media

Kate Atkinson - Author.
Gary Lightbody – Lead singer of Snow Patrol.
David Jackson – Musician, best known for his involvement in Van der Graaf Generator.
Alan Johnston - BBC correspondent based in Gaza, famously kidnapped in 2007.
Fred McAuley – Comedian and former Rector of the University.
Karine Polwart - Scottish folk musician.
John Suchet - Channel Five News anchor, formerly of ITN.

Law and Politics

Dr Lynda Clark, Baroness Clark of Calton - first Advocate General for Scotland, Court of Session judge.
Frank Doran – Labour MP.
Donald Findlay QC - Notable advocate.
Bruce Millan – Labour MP.
Alex Neil - Scottish Nationalist MSP and former Labour Party MP.
George Robertson KT, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen - former Secretary-General of NATO, MP and UK Secretary of State for Defence.
Alan Turnbull - Court of Session judge
Brian Wilson - Former Labour Party MP and Minister of State.

Science

Sir James W. Black - Notable pharmacologist. Nobel Laureate.
Sir James Alfred Ewing – Engineer and physicist.
Sir Patrick Geddes- Biologist, botanist and urban planning theorist.
Narendra Patel, Baron Patel of Dunkeld – Notable obstetrician, present Chancellor of the University.
Sir Robert Alexander Watson-Watt – Pioneer of Radar.
D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson – Biologist, mathematician and classical scholar.

Miscellaneous

Craig Murray – Controversial former UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan, former President of DUSA, present Rector-elect of the University.
David Shayler - MI5 officer who revealed state secrets to the public, editor of Annasach magazine while at the university.

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design

Main Article: Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design is a school of the University, formerly independent but now fully integrated within the College of Art & Design, Architecture, Engineering and Physical Sciences. It is named after James Duncan of Jordanstone, a major benefactor to the College in 1909. Prior to its independence and incorporation into the University, it existed as part of the former Dundee Institute of Art and Technology.

DoJ College ranks amongst the best art schools in the United Kingdom, having been the largest of them all during its period of independent operation. It is presently situated mainly in a purpose-built facility on Perth Road, on the southern tip of the University of Dundee's main campus, which was constructed in the 1950s.

Residences

The University has a number of student residences spaced around the city. There is at present an attempt to move some of these halls of residence closer to the main campus. With the closure and re-building of West Park Hall in 2005, all of the halls are now self catered.

At present, there exists the following university residences:

• Belmont Hall (including Balfour Flats) - Based in the main campus and consisting of three main sections: Belmont Tower, a 1950s construction; the Balfour Flats, a long and low building connected to the tower, and; the new halls of residence, completed in 2006.
• Heathfield - A new (2006) hall of residence. Major construction work finished in December 2006. All students who were accepted to it for the 2006/2007 session have since moved in. It is located on Old Hawkhill, immediately across from Belmont Hall.
• Seabraes - A number of buildings comprised of flats, with a new hall identical in style to the new Heathfield and Belmont Halls being build at the foot of the complex. Located near to the south side of the main campus on Roseangle.
• Tay Mills - A number of flats in a converted mill (which is shared with private student accommodation) to the east of the campus and on the edge of the city centre. The flats are beginning to look rather dated.
• West Park - Located some distance to the west of the main campus, these halls were traditionally popular with medicine students due to their proximity to Ninewells Hospital. Consists of a relatively new complex known as West Park Villas, which are essentially student flats. The old hall (separate from the Villas) was largely torn-down in 2005 (leaving behind only the listed parts of the building) and the new complex (generally known as 'West Park Flats' by the University) will be available from the start of the 2007/08 term.

Some older halls, despite remaining open in the interim until building works were finished, are now out of use - the last students moving out in early 2007. These are:

• Airlie Place & Springfield - A number of flats located in old terrace housing on the main campus, comprising of two streets mainly owned by the University.
• Peterson Hall - An almost Brutalist style building to be found further down Roseangle from Seabraes. This hall was traditionally a non-smoking hall of residence.
• Wimberly Houses - The furthest university residences from the main campus, Wimberly - also the closest to Ninewells Hospital in the far west of the city. The residences themselves were a complex of buildings, each comprising a 'house' which served as an independent flat for a number of students. Largely considered the least desirable university residence (they were also the cheapest).This, and its white and run down appearance, led to it acquiring a number of nicknames, notably 'Siberia'. They were favoured by some medical students for their proximity to Ninewells Hospital. The halls are currently for sale

Trivia

• Dundee won University Challenge in 1983.
• The University's turnover is some £160 million a year.
• Dundee was declared 'Scottish University of the Year' in 2004-05 by The Sunday Times.
• Rated number one for teaching in the UK by The Times, 2005.
• In the The Times University Ranking tables, was placed forty-fourth in a list of 109 UK universities.
  
• Ranked in Top 10 for the following subjects: Social work (#3), Architecture (#7) and Biological sciences (#8).
• The popular band Snow Patrol was formed in Dundee at the Dundee University Bands Society who helped fund their early demos.
• The University also runs the Botanic Gardens in the West End of the City.
• The Infamous Medical Society "Hecklings" made the national newspapers in 1988 for its riotous behaviour.

See also

• Academic Senate - the supreme academic body of an ancient university in Scotland
• Cyclacel - Spin-off pharmaceutical company from the university
• University Court - the governing body of an ancient university in Scotland

References

1. ^ "Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2005/06". Higher Education Statistics Agency online statistics. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
2. "University of Dundee announces new Chancellor". University of Dundee, External Relations, Press Office. Retrieved 2006-06-06.
3. "Lorraine is Dundee's new Rector". University of Dundee External Relations. Retrieved 2004-04-28.
4. ^ O'Leary, John. "Good University Guide 2007" (HTML). Times Online. The Times. Retrieved 6 September. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

External links

• University of Dundee Website

• University of Dundee
• Nursing schools in the United Kingdom
• Educational institutions established in 1881