“Through Learning We Progress” is more than just a motto here at Kingston University. It is a lived experience. Let me tell you about this remarkable institution.
Kingston University London is a public research university. It sits within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in South West London. Its history stretches back to 1899. That year marked the founding of the Kingston Technical Institute.
Kingston gained university status in 1992. Before that, it was known as Kingston Polytechnic. Today, Kingston University has around 17000 students. Its annual turnover is impressive at approximately 192 million pounds. The university has four campuses. They are spread across Kingston and Roehampton.
Kingston University specializes in several fields. These include arts, design, fashion, science, engineering, and business. The university is divided into four faculties. There is the Kingston School of Art and the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences. Also the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education and the Faculty of Engineering Computing and the Environment. The Kingston Business School holds CNAA MBA degree approval.
The Guardian University Award for teaching excellence was won by Kingston in 2017. Kingston University is a member of several prestigious groups. These include the European University Association and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. It is also part of the University Alliance group.
Kingston University’s Town House building is a highlight. It opened in January 2020. The Town House won the 2021 Royal Institute of British Architects RIBA Stirling Prize. This prize is for the best new building in the UK. In 2022, it won the Mies van der Rohe architecture award. This award recognizes the best building in the EU.
The Kingston Technical Institute founded in 1899 initially offered courses. These included chemistry, electrical wiring, construction, and nursing. Gipsy Hill College opened in 1917. It was a teacher training college and a predecessor to Kingston University. Belle Rennie created Gipsy Hill College. Lillian Daphne de Lissa an Australian led it.
The Kingston School of Art separated from the Technical Institute in 1930. It became Kingston College of Art in 1945. In 1946, Gipsy Hill College moved to Kingston Hill. The first Penrhyn Road campus buildings opened in 1951. The Ministry of Education recognized Kingston as a Regional College of Technology in 1957.
The College of Technology merged with the College of Art in 1970. This formed Kingston Polytechnic. It offered 34 major courses including 17 at degree level. Kingston merged with Gipsy Hill College of Education in 1975. The college’s faculty became part of Kingston’s Division of Educational Studies.
Kingston achieved university status through the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The Roehampton Vale campus building opened in 1993. Kingston acquired Dorich House in 1995.
Kingston launched its Future Skills campaign in June 2021. The campaign highlights the importance of skills for innovation. It emphasizes their vital role in driving a thriving UK economy. Surveys in 2021 and 2022 showed key attributes valued by employers. Problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and creativity were among them.
Penrhyn Road is the main university campus. It is close to Kingston town center. Students here study many subjects. These include Arts and Social Sciences and Civil Engineering. Also Computing and Information Systems, Mathematics, and Earth Sciences and Geography. There are also Statistics, Biosciences, Pharmacy, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science, and Radiography. The Union of Kingston Students moved into the main building in 2015. Penrhyn Road also houses the refurbished Fitness Centre.
Kingston Hill caters mainly to several fields. These include Nursing, Education, Business, Music, and Social Care. Before 1989, this campus was known as Gipsy Hill. The Business School moved to a new building on the Kingston Hill Campus in 2012.
Knights Park campus is home to Kingston School of Art students. It is located on Grange Road. Architecture, art, and design students study here. The campus sits on the Hogsmill River’s northern banks. It opened in 1939.
The Stanley Picker Gallery is the Faculty’s exhibition space. It presents research-based projects fellowships and exhibitions. Kingston University runs Dorich House Museum. It houses Dora Gordine’s work and Russian Imperial art and furniture. Dorich House serves as a meeting and conference venue.
Kingston University. A place where learning leads to progress. A place where history meets innovation. A place where futures are shaped.