Introduction
At my last Vice-Chancellor’s Assembly in April 2008 I asked colleagues to express their views on the project and to suggest new areas of activity or ways in which the University could undertake existing activities differently.
The Ultimate Campus University for the 21st Century (UCU21C) Project Steering Group have considered the ideas and suggestions made and as I agreed I am now making public a summary of the suggestions made together with a statement on which suggestions the Steering Group have identified for further consideration.
The responses received have highlighted the value of the exercise and I am grateful to all of you that contributed suggestions. The Steering Group have identified a number of ideas that it will be giving further consideration to. The Steering Group has also identified a number of suggestions which it believes are not feasible at this time and the reasons for not pursuing these have been explained.
SUMMARY OF THE SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS SUBMITTED
The ideas and suggestions have been summarised under the following headings:
- Facilities for the University Community
- Energy Generation
- Curriculum Development
- IT Infrastructure
- Global Dimension
- Traffic and Travel
- Miscellaneous.
Facilities for the University Community
- A number of suggestions were aimed at the development of facilities for the enjoyment of the University community. These included the provision of additional and improved sporting facilities, e.g. a swimming pool, new tennis courts and the refurbishment of the athletics track.
- The development of specific facilities for children who live on campus e.g. play areas for children of all ages, and a youth centre.
- Facilities to attract local residents to the University were highlighted these included sporting facilities and cultural facilities, such as an arts centre. It was also suggested that the campus should be promoted as an attraction for the general public to visit at the weekends.
Energy Generation
- Keele becoming a demonstrator of 21st Century energy sources and technologies.
Curriculum Development
- In line with the University’s green agenda, the development of an energy studies undergraduate programme encompassing all energy options was proposed.
- The development of facilities to support the curriculum were also suggested these included the development of a large room that could be adapted to support a number of layouts of familiar legal and political forums such as a mock court room.
- The development of the University’s IT infrastructure to exploit its virtual dimension. The importance for Keele of developing a connectivity agenda in order that services available on campus were also accessible in virtual form to staff and students off campus e.g. library services.
Global Dimension
- Investing in the transnational nature of education and exploring how these global issues impact on the design and running of an “ultimate” campus university.
Traffic/Travel
- The development of traffic and public transport proposals to meet the needs of the growth of the new development site.
Miscellaneous
- The establishment of a centrally located permanent / portable showcase of Keele developed technologies to provide visitors to the University with a simple but informative display of what Keele has done and is doing locally and nationally.
ULTIMATE CAMPUS UNIVERSITY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY PROJECT STEERING GROUP RESPONSE TO SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS
Facilities for the University Community
The Steering Group welcomes the ideas suggested that are aimed at opening up the University campus to the general public. A number of current University projects have as part of their respective objectives the promotion of access to the University campus:
- Development of the Keele Observatory Visitor Centre
Keele University’s observatory is set to be restored in a £700,000 project to promote astronomy and the physical sciences to students and the community.
Further details can be found here
- Heritage, Lakes and Valleys Project
The project aims to restore woodlands, lakes and parklands surrounding Keele Hall by improving the water quality of the lakes and increase public access to the woodlands.
- Re-development of Union Square
The re-development of Union Square, capturing the area between the Union Building, the Library and the Chapel to create an attractive high quality environment that provides a community focus, and can support the many activities that Keele hosts, e.g. graduation, theatrical performances, Students’ Union fairs.
- Public Lecture Series, Keele Art Gallery and other cultural events.
All of the above events and facilities attract the general public onto the University campus.
The Steering Group would welcome further suggestions from staff and students on ways to attract the general public onto the campus.
A number of suggestions were made for additional and improved sporting facilities e.g. a swimming pool, new tennis courts and the refurbishment of the athletics track, on campus for the benefit of the University community and the local population. The University Council in April this year approved a Sports and Active Recreation Strategy 2008 – 2013. The purpose of the Sports and Active Recreation Strategy is to provide opportunities for the personal development and well-being of all the University’s students and staff. The objective of the strategy is to identify the areas for developing sporting activities, facilities and the initiatives for improving health and well-being over the next five years. A number of associated initiatives are being explored such as the possibility of ‘green gyms’ on campus, which would consist of physical work outside, including activities such as gardening etc.
The building of a swimming pool on campus has been a long held ambition, and the University is actively exploring proposals to achieve this. With regards to refurbishment of the athletics track, the University will not be pursuing this suggestion due to the regional desire to focus athletics facilities at Northwood Stadium in Stoke- on-Trent, which is the focus for athletics in the area.
The Steering Group considered the suggestions calling for the University to develop specific facilities for children who live on campus e.g. play areas for children of all ages, to be financially prohibitive. The option is open to campus residents to work with the Parish Council to secure funding to develop such facilities. It should be noted that this summer the Klub House Holiday club provided a six week programme of events for children aged between four and sixteen years.
Energy Generation
Suggestions relating to Keele becoming a demonstrator of 21st Century energy sources and technologies are currently being addressed through the creation of the Keele Hub for Sustainability which will form a unique hub for research, development and demonstration of a range of environmental and sustainable technologies. Keele is exploring a range of exciting options for alternative energy sources and energy management.
Further details regarding the Keele Hub for Sustainability can be found at:
http://www.keele.ac.uk/feature/energyplans.htm
Curriculum Development
The suggestion for the development of an energy studies undergraduate programme encompassing all energy sources would require more engineering subject content than the University has resources for at present. The proposed new MSc in Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology will have as one of its core modules renewable and sustainable energy sources.
In response to the suggestion of developing a large room which could be adapted to be used to replicate familiar legal and political forums. The Steering Group is exploring the possible use of the Senate room for this purpose.
The Steering Group acknowledges the growing importance of developing the University’s IT infrastructure to exploit its virtual dimension and its impact on a wide range of areas, for example, curriculum development, learning and teaching, the Library, the campus experience of staff, student and visitors, marketing and the work practices of staff. Given its increasing importance the possibility of establishing an IT infrastructure UCU21C project group is being considered.
Global Dimension
The Steering Group is of the view that the idea of the University exploring how global issues impact on the design and running of an “ultimate” campus university has considerable merit. The Steering Group feels that the idea could be explored within the context of energy management by looking at what other Universities in Europe were doing in the areas of energy management and its impact on campus design.
Traffic and Transport
The suggestions made with regard to the development of traffic and public transport proposals to meet the needs of the growth of new development site, are being addressed by the public dialogue exercise that has been conducted over the past academic year. The public dialogue exercise on travel and transport enabled key stakeholders to enter into discussions and deliberations regarding travel/transport issues to, from and around the whole campus and the hospital site.
A University management response to the final report on the public dialogue on travel and transport can be found at (to be arranged)
A number of traffic calming measures have been implemented as a result of the new development site. These include the provision of two new Toucan Crossings and Vehicle Speed Activated Signs on the A525 on either side of the roundabout at the entrance to the University and a traffic management scheme at Gallowstree Lane and Sneyd Avenue.
Further details can be found at:
http://www.ultimatekeele.co.uk/keele-in-the-community/travel_plans.asp
http://www.ultimatekeele.co.uk/keele-in-the-community/accessibility_on_campus.asp
Miscellaneous
The Steering Group considers the suggestion of developing a centrally located permanent /portable showcase of technologies developed by Keele will be realised by the development of the planned Keele Hub for Sustainability.