46-753: Loughborough Students Rugby Football Club represents Loughborough University in rugby union competition. Of the British universities, Loughborough has unparalleled success, having won the BUCS championship (in its former guises as the BUSA and UAU championship) on twenty-seven occasions. It fields sides in the BUCS league, (inter-university) and in the fourth tier of the English rugby union system , National League 2 West . The club has fielded over seventy internationals (male and female), many of whom won caps while playing for
92-502: A "mascot" consisting of an oversized knight 's helmet with a lowered visor, commonly called "Thor". This was constructed in 1958 by students of Hazlerigg-Rutland hall in the college welding shop. In the late 1980s Thor was displayed in the Students' Union foyer, but it has since gone missing. The university has 20 academic departments and over 100 research groups, institutes and centres currently divided between nine schools. Previously
138-437: A 50-metre swimming pool, squash, badminton and netball courts, an indoor tennis centre and outdoor courts, and two gyms. In March 2023, the university opened an extension to its Powerbase gym. The new facility spans a combined 3,200m and includes 46 lifting platforms, 8 fully instrumented racks and platforms with integrated VALD force plates, Output Sports velocity-based training systems, and Performance Analysis technology. It
184-409: A British Universities championship win was concerned, however, the drought continued until, under the coach Paul Westgate, back to back wins were achieved in 2005 and 2006. Dave Morris took over as head coach from Westgate and immediately gained League promotion in 2007 to Midlands 1. The next season promotion was achieved to National League 2 North making the team the first student side to take part in
230-570: A College of Advanced Technology and then to a university in 1966. In 1977, the university broadened its range of studies by amalgamating with Loughborough College of Education (formerly the Training College). More recently, in August 1998, the university merged with Loughborough College of Art and Design (LCAD). Loughborough College remains a college of further education. Herbert Schofield became principal in 1915, and continued to lead
276-692: A centre of excellence in the field of sports and sports science . It has graduated a number of world-class athletes including Paula Radcliffe and Lord Coe . In keeping with this tradition, Loughborough students have won the British Universities & Colleges Sport Association (BUCS) championship every year for four decades. The university is the home of the England and Wales Cricket Board's National Academy , opened in November 2003. The university (and Loughborough College before it) once had
322-611: A domicile breakdown of 79:5:16 of UK:EU:non-EU students respectively with a female to male ratio of 39:61. Loughborough was named University of the Year 2019 in The Times and Sunday Times University Good University Guide. Loughborough is one of only four universities, along with Bath, Oxford and St Andrews, to have won the title twice. Loughborough also moved up to 5th overall in the Good University Guide. Loughborough
368-482: A famous cedar , which has often appeared as a symbol for the university. A heavy snowfall in December 1990 led to the collapse of the upper canopy which gave the tree its distinctive shape. The Pilkington Library opened in 1980. It covers 98,608 sq. ft. (9,161 square metres) over four floors with 1375 study places – up from 780 prior to the renovation in late 2013. The library has a history of undertaking research in
414-1211: Is Professor Nick Jennings CB , FREng, FRS, who took up the post in October 2021 following the departure of Robert Allison , who left the post at the end of the 2020/21 academic year. The university has won seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education for work with the aeronautical and automotive industries (1994); support for developing countries (1998); for a pioneering role in developing applications of modern optics and laser technologies (2000); for its world leading roles in sports research, education and development (2002); for its world leading role in social policy in recognition of its outstanding and widely respected work in evaluating and helping develop social policy-related programmes, such as those for cared for children, social security policy, crime prevention, education initiatives and young carers (2005); for recognition of its vehicle, road and driver safety research (2007); and for its impact through research and skills development in High Value Manufacturing to create economic growth (2013). The university has
460-613: Is commonly known, is home to researchers in European politics and international relations. It evolved from the Department of European Studies, which was established in 1972. In 2003, the department took the decision to invest in the study of Politics and International Relations and began to offer undergraduate degrees in International Relations . It was after this that the department had a change of name and became
506-728: Is home to the University's Boxing Centre of Excellence and the Athletic Union Boxing club. The ECB National Academy which is also known as the National Cricket Performance Centre has been based at Loughborough since 2003 and provides indoor and outdoor training facilities for cricketers. Loughborough was chosen by the British Olympic Association as the training base and official Preparation Camp for Team GB in
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#1732776702416552-584: Is one of the few university sides to play in the English football league system , currently competing in the United Counties League . The stadium includes a digital scoreboard, conference facilities and 14 changing rooms. In 2018 it hosted four matches in the group stages of the European Under-17 Championships . Loughborough University is headed by a vice-chancellor and is organised into nine schools: Each of
598-498: Is part of the Sports Technology Institute. SportPark, based at the university provides a home for national sporting bodies including Youth Sport Trust, British Swimming and several other national governing bodies. Ian %22Dosser%22 Smith Ian Robert " Dosser " Smith (born 26 November 1957), is a former English Rugby player and schoolmaster . He played as flanker for Leicester Tigers . He
644-555: Is renowned in the UK for its sports provisions. Loughborough University has been ranked number 1 in the world for sport-related subjects for in the QS World University Rankings by Subject since 2017. As of the 2024 league, Loughborough is ranked first in the British Universities and Colleges Sport league table. Loughborough students have held the BUCS champion title for 42 consecutive years. Loughborough Sport
690-505: Is the brand identity for the sport-related activities and facilities at the university. The university is host to a number of sports governing bodies including England cricket, British swimming, British Triathlon, England Netball, British athletics and British weight lifting The university is home to the country's largest concentration of world-class facilities across a wide range of sports. Facilities include an indoor athletics centre and outdoor stadium, sports halls and all-weather pitches,
736-468: The 9 deans. In May 2022, the university launched a new strategy called “Creating Better Futures. Together”, which sets out to guide Loughborough's activities and development over the next decade. The official colour of the university is African violet . The coat of arms incorporates several symbols relevant to the history of the Loughborough area, including Offa of Mercia 's cross (a symbol of
782-399: The 9 schools has a senior leadership team consisting of deans, associate deans for education and research, and operations managers. The University Executive Board is made up of the vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor, chief operating officer, chief finance officer, the pro vice-chancellors for equity, diversity and inclusion, education and research, director of organisational development and
828-626: The College of Technology until 1950. Under his guidance, the college changed almost beyond recognition. He bought the estate of Burleigh Hall on the western outskirts of the town, which became the nucleus of the present 438-acre (1.77 km ) campus. He oversaw the building of the original Hazlerigg and Rutland halls of residence, which are now home to the university's administration and the vice-chancellor's offices. An experienced educationist, Herbert Haslegrave took over as college principal in 1953. By increasing breadth and raising standards, he gained
874-511: The Department of Politics, International Relations and European Studies (PIRES). PIRES was declared a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence by the European Commission . The name was later changed to the Department of Politics, History and International Relations (PHIR). Notable alumni of PHIR include Paula Radcliffe , Tanni Grey-Thompson and James Gibson . Academics include Ruth Kinna , Professor of Political Theory. Loughborough
920-510: The National Leagues. They finished in sixth place and in the same season achieved a win over England under-20s . Loughborough University Loughborough University (abbreviated as Lough or Lboro for post-nominals ) is a public research university in the market town of Loughborough , Leicestershire , England. It has been a university since 1966, but it dates back to 1909, when Loughborough Technical Institute
966-602: The Paralympic competition Loughborough-linked athletes secured a further 22 medals. Loughborough was connected to more than 100 athletes at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. At the Paralympic Games, 21 medals – six gold, six silver and nine bronze – were won by athletes with Loughborough connections. Loughborough is home to the world's largest university-based sports technology research group, which
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#17327767024161012-596: The Students' Union, two gyms, gardens and playing fields. Of particular interest are The Walled Garden, with its Garden of Remembrance, the Hazlerigg-Rutland Hall fountain-courtyard, the old cottage, and the Bastard Gates donated by and named after William Bastard, the Chairman of College Governors, which form the official entrance to Rutland Hall. In the central quadrangle of the campus stands
1058-743: The Students' Unions of the University of Technology and the Loughborough Colleges merged and the Loughborough Students Rugby Club was formed. The first Chairman of the new club was Tony Field. The team won the Middlesex 7s for the first and only time as Loughborough Students, Loughborough Colleges having won it four times previously. The team won the UAU in 1977, 1978 and 1979, with the 1978–79 side captained by
1104-476: The UAU final for the first time. They lost in a closely fought match to Swansea , whose win was the sixth in seven seasons. It was in the post-Second World War period that Loughborough's reputation began to be made. Two future captains of England, Eric Evans and Jeff Butterfield played for the club in this period, as did Ray Williams , who eventually became Secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union . It
1150-515: The ancient kingdom of Mercia , within whose borders the town now stands) and the peafowl from the arms of the Dukes of Rutland . The motto of the university is veritate scientia labore ("with truth, wisdom and labour", or, alternatively, "with truth, knowledge and work", depending on the translation). The university has a strong tradition in both engineering and sport. From its strong engineering and technical background it has now expanded, becoming
1196-641: The club. The history of the club predates the formation of Loughborough University . The students of Loughborough College formed what is considered the original side in September 1919. Loughborough began competing in the Universities Athletic Union ( UAU ) in the 1930–31, and the Loughborough Colleges XV beat Nottingham University 8 – 0 in their first match. It was not until 1939 that the Loughborough Colleges reached
1242-510: The departments and research institutes had been split between three faculties: Science, Engineering and Social Science & Humanities. It has 18,295 students; 13,885 of whom are undergraduates and 4,410 are pursuing postgraduate courses and/or research (based on 2022/23 figures). Its current Chancellor is Lord Sebastian Coe , (the previous chancellor, Sir Nigel Rudd retired from the position in summer 2015, having served for five years). Loughborough University's vice-chancellor and president
1288-402: The field of library and information work. Holywell Park Conference Centre is a conference and meeting venue located on campus. It was used as the kitting out location for Team GB prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics . The £4 million stadium for the university's rugby and football first teams was opened in 2012 and has a capacity of 3,000. It is home to Loughborough University FC , which
1334-514: The fifth time since 2009. Loughborough University was ranked 4th in the 2019 Guardian University League table. Loughborough kept its position as the best university in the world to study sports-related subjects in the global 2018 QS higher education league table. In 2017 Loughborough achieved a five star plus rating in the QS Stars University Ratings. The Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology , or CREST, runs
1380-863: The first British Lions coach. During his tenure at Loughborough, the UAU was won from 1962 to 1968 with only 1965 eluding the club. John Robins left Loughborough in 1967, and was replaced by the Scotland and Lions international Jim Greenwood . In 1970 Greenwood coached the Colleges to victory in the Middlesex Sevens, and in the first Twickenham UAU final, the Colleges beat Nottingham University 22 – 3. The 1970–71 side included six future internationals, Lewis Dick , David Cooke , Clive Rees , Fran Cotton , Steve Smith , and Dick Cowman . While at Loughborough, Jim Greenwood 's pivotal coaching books, "Total Rugby" and "Think Rugby" , were penned. In 1976,
1426-415: The image of the plate glass universities of the period, which had also been created under Robbins. In 1977, Loughborough Training College (now Loughborough College of Education) was absorbed into the university. In 1996, the university dropped the "of Technology" from its title, becoming Loughborough University. The Arts College was also amalgamated with the university in 1998. These additions have shifted
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1472-582: The institution the status of Colleges of Advanced Technology in 1958. He persuaded the Department of Education to buy further land and began a building programme. In 1963, the Robbins Report on higher education recommended that all colleges of advanced technology be given university status. Loughborough College of Technology was granted a Royal Charter on 19 April 1966, and became Loughborough University of Technology (LUT), with Haslegrave as its first vice-chancellor. It gradually remodelled itself in
1518-681: The internationally recognised masters programme in renewable energy. The Centre for Research in Social Policy is an independent research centre based within the Department of Social Sciences. It is responsible for calculating the Minimum Income Standard in the United Kingdom for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation . The Department of Politics, History and International Relations , or PHIR as it
1564-466: The largest sports scholarship programme in the UK, with over 250 international athletes studying and training. In terms of average UCAS points of entrants, Loughborough ranked 30th in Britain in 2014. According to the 2017 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, approximately 17% of Loughborough's undergraduates come from independent schools. In the 2016–17 academic year, the university had
1610-455: The munitions industry. Following the war, the institute was divided into four separate colleges: The last would become the nucleus of the present university. Its rapid expansion from a small provincial college to the first British technical university was due largely to its principals, Herbert Schofield , who led it from 1915 to 1950, and Herbert Haslegrave , who oversaw its further expansion from 1953 to 1967 and steered its progress first to
1656-622: The professional teams in the league and in 1998 a full-time Director of Rugby, Ian "Dosser" Smith , was appointed. Alan Buzza took over from Smith in 2001 and is credited with modernizing the club. League promotions in 2001–02 and 2002–03 engendered confidence and the club was further enhanced by the presence of a number of excellent players including Tom Evans Jones , Edward Binham , Justin Abrahams , Andy Vilk , Peter Janes , James Jones , Sam Ulph and captain Charlie Cooper. As far as
1702-556: The run-up to the London 2012 Games . Students and graduates of Loughborough won four bronze medals and six Paralympic medals (one gold, three silver and two bronze) in the 2012 Summer Olympics. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, over 120 athletes from Loughborough represented 8 teams, across 10 sports. In total, 35 medals were won by athletes with Loughborough connections; 13 bronze, 13 silver and nine gold medals. If Loughborough
1748-481: The technological leaning of the institution, causing it to function more as a traditional university, with a combination of humanities, arts and sciences. The shortened name "Lboro", "Lufbra" or "Luff" is commonly used by the students' union, the alumni association and others. The university's main campus is in the town of Loughborough. That campus (once the estate of Burleigh Hall) covers an area of 523 acres, and includes academic departments, 17 halls of residence,
1794-655: The third round of the John Player Cup , going out to London Wasps . The same team won the UAU Championships. At the inception of the RFU League, the team was offered a place in National 2. They turned this down and in 1996, when the Students did apply to join they had to join at the bottom of the league system. It was soon apparent that the standard of rugby at the university had been left behind by
1840-479: The young centre Clive Woodward . Rex Hazeldine, later England's first fitness coach, replaced Greenwood and is credited with being an integral part of the revolution of attitudes to the game at international level. In 1984 the UAU was won once again, as was the Leicestershire Cup. A touring Australian Universities side was also defeated. In the 1985–86 season a team led by Andy Robinson won through to
1886-615: Was a country, the university would have finished 11th on the medal table at the 2014 Games. In 2016 over 80 students, graduates and Loughborough-linked athletes travelled to Rio to participate in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games . In the Olympic competition their athletes secured 12 medals, including 5 golds. Loughborough-linked coaches also played a key role in the Games, with alumni guiding Team GB, Canada and Fiji to gold medals. During
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1932-695: Was also given the title of university of the year at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018. In the 2020 ranking exercise by Times Higher Education, Loughborough was ranked 59th in the world for the Best 'Golden Age' Universities, defined as those universities established for over 50 years, but less than 80 years. In 2018 Loughborough was named best in the UK for student experience in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey for
1978-452: Was captain in the mid-1980s and later coach. He made 331 first XV appearances for Leicester, including five John Player Cup finals (1978–1982), of which three were won, and scored a total of 67 tries. However, he was not capped by England. He was director of coaching at Oakham School , then at Uppingham School . His son, centre/winger Matt Smith , played for Leicester Tigers from 2006 to 2019. This English rugby union biography
2024-488: Was founded in the town centre. There followed a period of rapid expansion led by principal Herbert Schofield , during which there was renaming to Loughborough College and development of the present campus. In early years, efforts were made to mimic the environment of an Oxbridge college, e.g. students wore gowns to lectures, while maintaining a strong practical counterbalance to academic learning. During World War I, it served as an "instructional factory", training workers for
2070-605: Was founded. In March 2013, the university announced it had bought the former broadcast centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as a second campus. The annual income of the institution for 2022–23 was £369.1 million, of which £48.3 million was from research grants and contracts, with an expenditure of £339.1 million. The university traces its roots back to 1909, when the Loughborough Technical Institute
2116-526: Was no surprise when, in 1953, Loughborough Colleges finally won the UAU for the first time. The club became one of the Midlands leading clubs and in 1959 they won the Middlesex Sevens . In the sixties an already impressive fixture list was enhanced by John Robins, the coach from 1962. It included Leicester , Gloucester , Rosslyn Park , Moseley and London Irish . John Robins went on to become
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