Location:University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE
Description
The University of Central Lancashire is going global – and is
evolving every minute of every day. We are now one of the largest
universities in the UK with a student and staff community of more than
35,000 students, 500 undergraduate courses and 180 postgraduate courses
– and it’s not stopping there.
UCLan was only created in 1992 but its roots go way back to
1828 and the humble beginnings of the founding of the ‘Institution for
the Diffusion of Knowledge’. From this small acorn, the university has
propelled itself into becoming a major player, both at home and across
the world.
Around 70 percent of UCLan’s students come from the North West and
the University is proving to be a vital heartbeat to the region’s
booming regeneration. It employs 3,000 people, has a turnover of £120m
a year and contributes £300m to the regional economy.
The University is in the heart of the UK’s newest city, Preston, and
is a key element in the shaping of this exciting city’s bright future.
Overseas, UCLan has launched new programmes such as fire engineering
with partners in Hong Kong, the Gulf and Russia. A spectacular show on
the streets of Hong Kong marked the launch of the University’s new
International Fashion Institute (IFI).
During 2009 IFI will launch the UK’s first MBA in fashion to a
worldwide market. The exciting initiative will enable IFI graduates to
succeed in the workplace by combining creative flair with sound
business acumen and expertise.
Another new international initiative is the newly opened Confucius
Institute which promotes and supports the development of Chinese
language and culture throughout the North West region.
In the latest Research Assessment Exercise the University submitted
17 subject areas for rigorous review and was rated as having produced
research of international excellence in all of them. No fewer than 11
areas were assessed as containing research which is world-leading.
UCLan has invested £60m on new campus developments – including the
£15.3m ‘media factory’ to aid work in art, design and performing arts
plus help graduates get a helping hand in business.
The University is also getting its teeth into the region’s dental
crisis with the launch of the £5.5m School of Dentistry and the first
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences in Lancashire, which both
opened in September 2007.
And the facility upgrades are set to continue with the announcement
of plans to build a new £16 million indoor sports centre on the Preston
Campus (completion early 2011) which will complement our outdoor
multi-million pound facility (Preston Sports Arena) which was recently
visited by Lord Sebastian Coe and is now listed as a potential holding
camp for teams competing in the 2012 Olympic Games.
A new £12.5 million facility for the University’s renowned forensic
science courses has also been unveiled (due for completion 2011). The
new building will house a range of science focused students including
those studying on UCLan’s new MSc in Forensic and Conservation Genetics
which applies the DNA profiling expertise of UCLan staff to the
investigation and prosecution of wildlife crimes and allows students to
take part of their studies at our well-established Masaai Conservation
Centre in Kenya.
An initiative to further boost the employability skills of UCLan
students was unveiled in 2008 through the launched of the Futures
Centre. Located at the heart of the University’s Preston campus, the
facility brings together the huge range of services already on offer at
UCLan, including advice on careers and work placements, employability
and enterprise course electives, business start-up and self-employment
services and a host of extra-curricular workshops, competitions,
seminars and events.
UCLan continues to build on its long association with the nuclear
industry, from bases at Preston and its West Cumbrian Campus at
Westlakes. Educational provision, research and consultancy for the
industry are being undertaken in areas such as leadership,
environmental science, materials science, engineering, chemistry,
genetics, epidemiology and sustainable development.
The University’s unique partnership with the National Skills Academy
for Nuclear has inspired the development of an exciting raft of
qualifications specific to the nuclear sector. These range from
foundation degrees in nuclear related technologies to innovative
leadership programmes for nuclear team leaders. UCLan’s foundation
degree in Nuclear Decommissioning is the first in the UK.
UCLan has a strong sustainable development agenda and in 2008 it
became one of only two universities and 10 organisations nationally to
achieve the new Carbon Trust Standard for demonstrating a reduction in
its carbon emissions year-on-year. It has the largest solar panel array
of any UK university.
In the latest People and Planet’s University Green League for
environmental performance UCLan improved its position from 5th spot in
2008 to 4th position in 2009 (out of 119 universities).
People thrive here – and we are proud that. Our commitment to
student enterprise, knowledge transfer and regional wealth generation
was recognised recently in the 2009 Higher Education Business and
Community Interaction survey. UCLan was placed in the top five
nationally and top regionally for the number of graduate start-up
businesses being nurtured by the University.
UCLan continually produces students equipped to thrive in a modern, ever-changing world. You, too, could be one of them.
The Placement Learning Support Unit (PLSU) is a dedicated unit that
provides administrative and academic support for Schools within the
Faculty of Health and Social Care across a range of Professional
Programmes where practice learning is a curriculum requirement.
Students undertake learning in practice settings appropriate
to their curriculum learning outcomes, professional body requirements
and placement availability. PLSU works in close collaboration with
Practice Partners to identify the most suitable placements that can
offer maximum potential for student learning. Placements are currently
provided by NHS Trusts, Social Care and Social Services, or the
Private, Independent and Voluntary Sector across the North West of
England. All placements are audited according to university, QAA and
Professional Body regulations.
Infrastructure & Facilities
The Facilities Management (FM) Team provide a wide ranging suite of support services including.
* Student accommodation services
* Catering, conferencing & full event management & hospitality service
* Sport & leisure facilities
* Security service 24/7
* Development & management of the University's built estate
* Planned, preventative and reactive maintenance & statutory compliance
* Safety, Health and Environmental advice and training
* Buildings management, grounds and recycling operations
* Property management including room bookings services
Courses
