University leaps in national league tables


The University of Cumbria has risen 27 places to number 81 in the Complete Independent Newspaper’s 2010-11 University Guide, the largest move up the ratings of any university in the UK.


The University is rated as joint fifth best university in the Northwest, placed above other regional universities like Bolton, Liverpool John Moores, Salford, Manchester Met and Edge Hill.


In today’s Times Good University Guide the University sees another jump of five places and is now rated 78th.


Professor Graham Upton, University of Cumbria Vice Chancellor said: “I’m very pleased with these league table results. We’ve advanced so significantly in the Independent’s University Guide and continued to improve in the Times. We are proud of our students who continue to excel and we’re committed to providing the best student experience possible. This is a testament to the quality of our provision.”


Vision for future outlined in new business plan


Academic excellence and profitability are just two of the key goals for the University over the coming years, thanks to a new business plan.


As has been widely reported over the last few months, the University has been reviewing how it functions in order to reshape and resize for the future. The original business plan was drawn up under very different financial circumstances, with forecasts of solid funding and a growth in student numbers.


In the current climate, the original plan is not achievable due to a number of factors. But that’s the past. This is the future: • Existing sites in Carlisle (home to the University of Cumbria) will be known singularly as Carlisle campus, with the vast majority of teaching ultimately taking place on the Fusehill Street site.


• The under-utilised Milbourne Street building in Carlisle will revert to its original purpose and become the main university library in Carlisle from September 2010, complemented by the establishment of access points on the Fusehill Street and Brampton Road sites.


Business Plan 2010–2020


Professor Peter McCaffery


Vice Chancellor & Chief Executive May 2010


• To transform the University from a recurrent loss-making entity to one which makes surpluses of 3–5 per cent each year over the plan period.


• In Lancaster, we intend to invest £12M on the estate including a new district heating system to replace the current 40-year old one, which will also help us to drive down carbon emissions by at least 25 per cent against the 2007 baseline.


The new Business Plan


• We will be the largest and first-choice provider of teacher education in the UK and one of very few rated excellent in both primary and secondary


• All new appointments to the academic staffing establishment will have achieved national excellence in at least one of the four scholarships.


education, as well as recognised pioneers of new modes of continuous professional development responding to national and regional needs for an established masters-level profession.


• We will acquire Research Degree Awarding Powers, be recognised as a University of Advanced Scholarship and all members of academic staff will have achieved national excellence in at least one of the four scholarships: teaching, discovery, application and integration.


• At Newton Rigg, our FE (delivered by another provider) will be a successful progression route to the University. We will not directly manage any farm property but will ensure our students and researchers will have access to local farms, where appropriate, for educational purposes. Newton Rigg already has a great reputation for forestry and we see higher education playing an important part in forestry, environmental and land-based and sustainable provision. Associated activity on the consolidated site will ensure that Newton Rigg generates a financial surplus.


• At Ambleside, we see a prospect for a National Centre for the Outdoors and a Charlotte Mason Educational Leadership Centre drawing on home and international students. These areas will make use of the Newton Rigg estate for research, field trips and enterprise.


The plan has realistic long-term ambitions for the University and for the people of Cumbria. We are very excited about it; there’s a great future here. We want to be faithful to our original vision to be a driver for change, but it is going to take longer than first thought. We will continue to stretch and inspire and continue to have high ambitions for our staff, students and the local communities we serve.


The business plan looks at a 10-year vision for the future and includes what the University will look like by 2020.


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