Manchester Metropolitan University
Encyclopedia
Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) is a university in North West England
. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester
, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire
. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the Open University
and its neighbour the University of Manchester
. It is a member of the University Alliance
and is classed as a new university.
was formed by the amalgamation of Manchester College of Art and Design, Manchester College of Commerce (founded 1889) and John Dalton
College of Technology. On 1 January 1977, the polytechnic merged with the Didsbury College of Education and Hollings College, and on 1 January 1983 with City of Manchester College of Higher Education. In 1987 the institution became a founding member of the Northern Consortium
. Having previously been a local authority institution, the polytechnic became a corporate body on 1 April 1989, as allowed by the terms of the Education Reform Act 1988
.
It was granted university status as "Manchester Metropolitan University" by the Privy Council
on 15 September 1992 under the provisions of the Further and Higher Education Act, 1992. The university absorbed Crewe and Alsager College of Higher Education on 1 October 1992 and the Manchester School of Physiotherapy in 2003.
Its headquarters and central campus stands to the south of Manchester city centre adjacent to the University of Manchester
and the Royal Northern College of Music
on Oxford Road. There are a further four campus locations situated in other parts of the city, including Hollings in Fallowfield
, Elizabeth Gaskell campus near the Manchester Royal Infirmary
, The Manchester Metropolitan Business School in the city centre and the Institute of Education in Didsbury
.. Further afield there are campuses at Crewe
, known as MMU Cheshire and until Summer 2010 there was the Alsager
Campus also in Cheshire. Alsager
was closed in September 2010 and most courses and staff transferred to the Crewe
campus with small contingent of staff moving to the Manchester School of Art
As of 2010 a £300 million investment programme is under way and will produce the largest physical change to the University's estate since its foundation. The university administration hopes the consolidation from seven to two sites will bring benefits in terms of academic and research collaboration and opportunities for interdisciplinary work and courses. This "rationalisation" will involve the closure of the Elizabeth Gaskell, Hollings and Didsbury campuses and the condensing of the teaching from those sites on the new campus. This will necessitate a significant reduction is available space. The cost of space is considered excessive by the university management. The building of the Birley Fields Campus on an area of green space in the neighbouring Hulme district is being resisted by a considerable number of Hulme residents.
It is organised into eight faculties:
The Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre
is a drama school, which trains students to become professional actors. The course offered is a BA (Hons) in Acting. The school is one of the 22 members of the conference of drama schools
and the National Council for Drama Training
, which means the course is a nationally acclaimed programme. Students who complete the course successfully are eligible for full equity status. The school has links with many local theatres and television companies, such as Granada
and the BBC
. Graduates from the school of theatre include Amanda Burton
, Steve Coogan
, Richard Griffiths
, Graham Fellows
, Julie Walters
and Burn Gorman
.
In the last academic session, the University had over 34,000 students. The University employs 4,400 staff, comprising almost 1,500 full-time teaching staff, 700 part-time teaching staff and 2,200 support staff.
has buildings on the All Saints, Crewe and Alsager campuses. The Students' Union MMUnion exists to represent all members at the Manchester Metropolitan University and students on accredited external courses. MMUnion is controlled by the Union Officers Group formed of seven students and graduates of the university, elected by the students to control the Union on their behalf.
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North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
and its neighbour the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
. It is a member of the University Alliance
University Alliance
The University Alliance is a group of 23 British universities which focus mainly on business.As major providers of professional and postgraduate education, Alliance universities work with 27% of all UK students.-Members:...
and is classed as a new university.
History
On 1 January 1970 Manchester PolytechnicPolytechnic (United Kingdom)
A polytechnic was a type of tertiary education teaching institution in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. After the passage of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 they became universities which meant they could award their own degrees. The comparable institutions in Scotland were...
was formed by the amalgamation of Manchester College of Art and Design, Manchester College of Commerce (founded 1889) and John Dalton
John Dalton
John Dalton FRS was an English chemist, meteorologist and physicist. He is best known for his pioneering work in the development of modern atomic theory, and his research into colour blindness .-Early life:John Dalton was born into a Quaker family at Eaglesfield, near Cockermouth, Cumberland,...
College of Technology. On 1 January 1977, the polytechnic merged with the Didsbury College of Education and Hollings College, and on 1 January 1983 with City of Manchester College of Higher Education. In 1987 the institution became a founding member of the Northern Consortium
NCUK
The Northern Consortium is an educational charity, owned by eleven universities in the north of England, which provides pre-university courses for international students as preparation for study outside of their home country...
. Having previously been a local authority institution, the polytechnic became a corporate body on 1 April 1989, as allowed by the terms of the Education Reform Act 1988
Education Reform Act 1988
The Education Reform Act 1988 is widely regarded as the most important single piece of education legislation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the 'Butler' Education Act 1944...
.
It was granted university status as "Manchester Metropolitan University" by the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
on 15 September 1992 under the provisions of the Further and Higher Education Act, 1992. The university absorbed Crewe and Alsager College of Higher Education on 1 October 1992 and the Manchester School of Physiotherapy in 2003.
Campuses
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
and the Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music
The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...
on Oxford Road. There are a further four campus locations situated in other parts of the city, including Hollings in Fallowfield
Fallowfield
Ladybarn is the part of Fallowfield to the south-east. Chancellors Hotel & Conference Centre is used by the University of Manchester: it was built by Edward Walters for Sir Joseph Whitworth, as were the Firs Botanical Grounds.-Religion:...
, Elizabeth Gaskell campus near the Manchester Royal Infirmary
Manchester Royal Infirmary
The Manchester Royal Infirmary is a hospital in Manchester, England which was founded by Charles White in 1752 as a cottage hospital capable of caring for twelve patients. Manchester Royal Infirmary is part of a larger NHS Trust incorporating several hospitals called Central Manchester University...
, The Manchester Metropolitan Business School in the city centre and the Institute of Education in Didsbury
Didsbury
Didsbury is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Mersey, south of Manchester city centre, in the southern half of the Greater Manchester Urban Area...
.. Further afield there are campuses at Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
, known as MMU Cheshire and until Summer 2010 there was the Alsager
Alsager
Alsager is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, to the north-west of the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and east of the railway town of Crewe...
Campus also in Cheshire. Alsager
Alsager
Alsager is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, to the north-west of the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and east of the railway town of Crewe...
was closed in September 2010 and most courses and staff transferred to the Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
campus with small contingent of staff moving to the Manchester School of Art
As of 2010 a £300 million investment programme is under way and will produce the largest physical change to the University's estate since its foundation. The university administration hopes the consolidation from seven to two sites will bring benefits in terms of academic and research collaboration and opportunities for interdisciplinary work and courses. This "rationalisation" will involve the closure of the Elizabeth Gaskell, Hollings and Didsbury campuses and the condensing of the teaching from those sites on the new campus. This will necessitate a significant reduction is available space. The cost of space is considered excessive by the university management. The building of the Birley Fields Campus on an area of green space in the neighbouring Hulme district is being resisted by a considerable number of Hulme residents.
Organisation
The University is led by the Board of Governors which is responsible for the character, educational direction and policy of the university. The University's Vice Chancellor is Professor John Brooks, who, with the directorate and executive are responsible for the implementation of the vision across the university and the operation and management of university. The Directorate comprises the Pro-Vice Chancellors and Deans of faculties.It is organised into eight faculties:
- Art and Design
- Health, Psychology and Social Care
- Humanities, Law and Social Science
- Science and Engineering
- MMU Business School
- MMU Cheshire
- MMU Institute of Education
- Hollings Faculty
The Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre
The Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre
The Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre is a drama school, situated in the city of Manchester, UK. It is part of The Manchester Metropolitan University. The school is one of the 22 members of the Conference of Drama Schools...
is a drama school, which trains students to become professional actors. The course offered is a BA (Hons) in Acting. The school is one of the 22 members of the conference of drama schools
Conference of Drama Schools
The Conference of Drama Schools comprises 22 accredited drama schools in Britain. Founded in 1969, the 22 member schools offer courses in Acting, Musical Theatre, Directing and Technical Theatre training.-Members:...
and the National Council for Drama Training
National Council for Drama Training
The National Council for Drama Training is a partnership of employers in the theatre, broadcast and media industry, employee representatives and training providers....
, which means the course is a nationally acclaimed programme. Students who complete the course successfully are eligible for full equity status. The school has links with many local theatres and television companies, such as Granada
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. Graduates from the school of theatre include Amanda Burton
Amanda Burton
Amanda Burton is an award-winning actress from Northern Ireland. Burton is best known for her high-profile television roles as Karen Fisher in Waterloo Road , Sam Ryan in the BBC crime drama series Silent Witness, Clare Blake in The Commander, Beth Glover in Peak Practice, and Heather Black in the...
, Steve Coogan
Steve Coogan
Stephen John "Steve" Coogan is a British comedian, actor, writer and producer. Born in Manchester, he began his career as a standup comedian and impressionist, working as a voice artist throughout the 1980s on satirical puppet show Spitting Image. In the early nineties, Coogan began creating...
, Richard Griffiths
Richard Griffiths
Richard Griffiths, OBE is an English actor of stage, film and television. He has received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Actor and a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor...
, Graham Fellows
Graham Fellows
Graham David Fellows is an English comedy actor and musician, best known for creating the characters of John Shuttleworth and Jilted John.-Early life:...
, Julie Walters
Julie Walters
Julie Walters, CBE is an English actress and novelist. She came to international prominence in 1983 for Educating Rita, performing in the title role opposite Michael Caine. It was a role she had created on the West End stage and it won her BAFTA and Golden Globe awards for Best Actress...
and Burn Gorman
Burn Gorman
Burn Hugh Gorman is an American-born English actor and musician. Burn is best known for his roles as Owen Harper in Torchwood and as William Guppy in Bleak House.-Personal life:...
.
In the last academic session, the University had over 34,000 students. The University employs 4,400 staff, comprising almost 1,500 full-time teaching staff, 700 part-time teaching staff and 2,200 support staff.
Research
MMU has eight research institutes:- Dalton Research Institute (DRI)
- Education and Social Research Institute (ESRI)
- Healthcare Science Research Institute (HSRI)
- Institute of Humanities and Social Science Research (HSSR)
- Institute for Performance Research (IPR)
- Manchester Institute for Research and Innovation in Art and Design (MIRIAD)
- Research Institute for Business and Management (RIBM)
- Research Institute for Health and Social Change (RIHSC)
Students' Union
The Students' unionStudents' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
has buildings on the All Saints, Crewe and Alsager campuses. The Students' Union MMUnion exists to represent all members at the Manchester Metropolitan University and students on accredited external courses. MMUnion is controlled by the Union Officers Group formed of seven students and graduates of the university, elected by the students to control the Union on their behalf.
Notable alumni
This partial list of alumni of Manchester Metropolitan University includes those who attended institutions which became part of present-day MMU. MMU's Alumni website provides profiles of its most notable alumni.Honorary graduates
2009 honorands were:- Edward de BonoEdward de BonoEdward de Bono is a physician, author, inventor, and consultant. He originated the term lateral thinking, wrote a best selling book Six Thinking Hats and is a proponent of the deliberate teaching of thinking as a subject in schools.- Biography :Edward Charles Francis Publius de Bono was born to...
- Sir Alex FergusonAlex FergusonSir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
- Mike Jones – Foundation for Management Education
- Professor Kevin Mackway-Jones – Manchester Royal Infirmary
- Nicola ShindlerNicola ShindlerNicola Shindler is a British television producer and executive, the founder of Red Production Company, one of the foremost independent television drama production companies working in the UK today....
– producer - Barney Storey – paralympian
- Sarah StoreySarah StoreySarah Joanne Storey, née Bailey OBE is a British swimmer, track and road cyclist, multiple gold medal winner at the Paralympic Games, and twice British national track champion....
– paralympian - Gerry Yeung – Yang Sing
Reputation and rankings
| 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Times Good University Guide | 98th | 95th | 90th | 92nd= | 90th | 97th | 75th | 73rd | 69th | 75th | 71st | 69th= | 69th= | 71st= | 74th= | 75th= | 66th= | 68th= | 53rd= | 61st= |
| Guardian University Guide | 104th | 97th | 92nd | 96th | – | 73rd | 100th | 88th | 62nd | |||||||||||
| Sunday Times University Guide | 78th | 78th | 84th= | 86th | 85th | 75th | 65th | 67th | 68th | 66th= | 64th | 65th | 70th | |||||||
| The Complete University Guide | 89th | 82nd | 88th= | 98th | ||||||||||||||||
| The Daily Telegraph | 98th | 59th | ||||||||||||||||||
| FT Good University Guide | 70th | 73rd | 70th | 62nd |
Video clips
- Manchester Metropolitan University YouTube channel
- MMU Business School YouTube channel
- MMU Innospace YouTube channel
- MMU CFV Online Cinema
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