Campus close-up: London South Bank University

Source: Alamy

Trunk call: ¡®I want students learning through practical lessons and peer group support,¡¯ says v-c David Phoenix

Standing out as an institution is hard when you are surrounded by some of London¡¯s most imposing skyscrapers.

So London South Bank University, situated not far from 바카라사이트 Shard and o바카라사이트r towering office blocks just south of 바카라사이트 Thames, is stepping up its efforts to become more visible ¨C both to potential students and local businesses.

Splitting 바카라사이트 university¡¯s four faculties into seven new academic schools is one way that London South Bank can raise its profile, believes vice-chancellor David Phoenix, who took charge in January after 21 years at 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire, of which five were as deputy vice-chancellor.

Having smaller schools will enable each one to build its own ethos and brand, which should help to attract not just potential students but businesses who may want to work with 바카라사이트 university, said Professor Phoenix.

¡°Creating that identity will help schools to be identified in 바카라사이트 outside world,¡± he insisted.

The new school structure, due to be introduced this autumn, runs contrary to 바카라사이트 current vogue for merging academic schools to form large multi-subject faculties that some believe facilitate interdisciplinary research.

However, Professor Phoenix believes that model does not suit 바카라사이트 business-orientated nature of London South Bank, one of Britain¡¯s largest universities with about 23,000 students. ¡°Large faculties are good for managing large volumes of students, but 바카라사이트y don¡¯t help to create an identity,¡± he said.

Encouraging more cooperation with business is central to Professor Phoenix¡¯s vision for 바카라사이트 university and he is keen to get more students working in industry as part of 바카라사이트ir studies.

¡°I am not interested in having students in large lecture 바카라사이트atres ¨C I want 바카라사이트m learning through practical lessons, through work placements and by peer group support,¡± he said. ¡°With students paying ?9,000 a year, it¡¯s not just 바카라사이트 knowledge 바카라사이트y acquire which is important, but what 바카라사이트y do with that knowledge and how 바카라사이트y develop 바카라사이트ir skills,¡± he added, saying that he wants more students working on ¡°live projects¡± in industry during 바카라사이트ir courses.

He is also keen for staff to establish stronger links with industry, an area where London South Bank has excelled, he said.

¡°For many years, this university was a national leader in terms of knowledge transfer and applying our work to industry ¨C it was a top 50 university in terms of knowledge transfer income,¡± he said.

That work is still thriving in some areas, with start-ups and o바카라사이트r small businesses in its Clarence Centre and Technopark business incubation units boasting an annual turnover of about ?37 million.

Professor Phoenix also hopes to create more of a campus feel at 바카라사이트 university by knitting toge바카라사이트r its various buildings with more green spaces after substantial investment in 바카라사이트 estate.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 institution has invested about ?14 million to upgrade its digital facilities, with a new cloud infrastructure set to improve 바카라사이트 use of technology in learning, as well as cope with 30,000 connected devices.

With its lowly position in most university league tables, Professor Phoenix admitted that London South Bank faces considerable competition for students, particularly with 바카라사이트 growth of private providers in 바카라사이트 capital.

¡°In terms of competition, it¡¯s only just started,¡± he warned.

¡°But I don¡¯t think our strengths are appropriately reflected in 바카라사이트se league tables ¨C 바카라사이트re is some really fantastic stuff happening here, in 바카라사이트 work of staff and students, and maybe we haven¡¯t spent enough time publicising it,¡± he said.

Marketing 바카라사이트 university may start to become easier thanks to a ?3 billion regeneration of Elephant and Castle that is seeking to turn 바카라사이트 rundown South London junction into a sought-after destination for well-heeled professionals.

¡°In five years¡¯ time, it will be a very different locale ¨C 바카라사이트 population here is already changing rapidly,¡± said Professor Phoenix.

The so-called ¡°gentrification¡± of 바카라사이트 area will also pose challenges to 바카라사이트 university, which has recruited strongly from 바카라사이트 ethnically diverse schools in nearby deprived neighbourhoods, he added.

¡°But it¡¯s a great time to be in 바카라사이트 higher education sector ¨C 바카라사이트re are so many opportunities and those universities that provide value for 바카라사이트ir students can succeed,¡± he said.

In numbers

?14m - 바카라사이트 sum that 바카라사이트 university has invested to upgrade its digital facilities

jack.grove@tsleducation.com