University Centre Weston
 | |
| Established | 2016 |
|---|---|
Parent institution | Weston College |
| Principal | Dr Paul Phillips |
| Director | Jo Watson |
| Students | 862 |
| Location | , England |
| Campus | Urban |
| Affiliations | University of the West of England, Bath Spa University |
| Website | www.ucw.ac.uk |
University Centre Weston, also known as UCW, is a university centre based in the town of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England.[1] The centre was formed by Weston College in 2016 following the college's announcement of university centre status with UWE Bristol and Bath Spa University in November 2015.[2][3]
UCW is currently based at Weston College's Knightstone Campus, with some degree level provision based at its South West Skills and University Campuses.[4]
History
[edit]Weston College has delivered higher education courses since 1993. Under the leadership of Dr Paul Phillips, who became its principal in 2001, the college expanded its degree-level provision and gained university centre status first with Bath Spa University in May 2014.[5]
In November 2015, at Weston College's annual business breakfast, Dr Phillips announced that the college would further expand its university-level provision through university centre status with UWE Bristol.[6] This partnership was further developed with the announcement of the creation of an Institute of Professional Education in July 2016.[7]
UCW's new logo was debuted on the hoarding surrounding the seafront portion of Weston-super-Mare's Winter Gardens Pavilion, part of which will house the organisation when it is reopened in 2017.[4]
The university centre scored 88% in the National Student Survey's 'overall satisfaction' survey, above the national average of 86%.[8]
Campuses
[edit]
UCW is primarily based in Weston College's Knightstone Campus, with floors five and six dedicated to the college's degree courses. Expansion of the higher education provision resulted in the creation of the University Campus in 2007 and the Future Technology Centre, from which UCW teaches its university-level engineering courses.[9]
The university centre's logo was debuted on the hoarding surrounding the Winter Gardens Pavilion in 2016.[4]
Courses
[edit]University Centre Weston runs 34 courses at levels 5 and 6 of the UK's National Qualifications Framework. It is the only educational establishment in North Somerset that provides higher level qualifications in engineering.[9]
UCW has courses in the following subjects: animal management, art, business, care and early years, computing, counselling, engineering, film and media, games and animation, graphic design, music, performing arts, public and environmental health, sport, teaching, and uniformed and public services.[10]
Assessment
[edit]In 2016, nearly a quarter of UCW's Honours Degree students, and 47% of its applied computing students, achieved First Class Honours.[11]
Awards
[edit]- 2017 - Teaching Excellence Framework 'Gold'
- 2016 - Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education 'Quality Mark' for higher education.
References
[edit]- ^ "University Centre Weston". UCAS. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ Yong, Michael (26 November 2015). "University Centre status for Weston College paves the way for town's regeneration". Bristol Post. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ "Weston College awarded University Centre status - North Somerset Council". North Somerset Council. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ a b c Robins, Sheridan. "NEW: Latest from Weston College's Winter Gardens development". Weston Mercury. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ Evans, Bethan. "New university centre for Weston after college's successful Government bid". Weston Mercury. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ Prideaux, Sophie (25 November 2015). "Weston-super-Mare step closer to becoming university town as college given University Centre status". Bristol Post. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ Burlison, David. "College and UWE Bristol to launch Institute of Professional Education | Weston College". www.weston.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ "University Centre Weston-super-Mare improves in survey". Weston Mercury. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ a b Booth, Dominic. "College rolls out engineering courses". Weston Mercury. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ "Courses". University Centre Weston. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ Robins, Sheridan. "Weston-super-Mare's star students celebrate University Centre graduation". Weston Mercury. Archant. The Weston mercury. Retrieved 31 October 2016.