University of Gibraltar
| File:The Arms of The University of Gibraltar.JPG | |
| Motto | Scientia est Clavis ad Successum |
|---|---|
Motto in English | Knowledge is the Key to Success |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 2015 |
Academic affiliation | Association of Commonwealth Universities |
| Chancellor | Sir Lindsay Hoyle |
| Vice-Chancellor | Catherine Bachleda |
| Location | , 36°06′40.4″N 5°20′52.9″W / 36.111222°N 5.348028°W |
| Website | www |
The University of Gibraltar is a degree-awarding Higher Education institution established by the Government of Gibraltar through the University of Gibraltar Act 2015. The founding of the University was described by Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo as “a coming-of-age” for the British Overseas Territory.
The University’s main campus is at Europa Point, the southernmost part of the Rock of Gibraltar, within a range of sensitively restored former military buildings, part of the rich heritage of the centuries-old fortifications, which are such a prominent feature across the landscape.
Aligned to UK standards, the range of disciplines offered for research and study include Business & Management, History & Culture, Education, Natural Sciences & Environment, Health & Sport Sciences and Responsible Gaming. A number of business-led professional courses are also offered including Accountancy, Gibraltar Tax and Law.
The Research Hubs of the University carry out research regionally and internationally, building on local strengths and addressing environmental and societal needs, working with the public, voluntary, commercial and industrial sectors alongside academic partnerships.
The University is a member of a number of academic and international organisations, including the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).
Organisation and Structure
Leadership & Governance
A largely ceremonial role, the formal Head of the University is its Chancellor, currently Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker of the House of Commons in the British Parliament). The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Catherine Bachleda, is responsible for the overall management of the University, supported by the Executive Committee comprised of senior operational staff and Directors. There are a number of Boards and Committees involved in the Leadership and Governance of the University, including:
The governors supervise the management, administration and control of the property, revenue and business of the University of Gibraltar.[1] The Academic Board established through the HM Government of Gibraltar University of Gibraltar (Academic Board) Regulations 2018, the Board undertakes the academic governance of the University.
Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA) – Provides external regulatory oversight of the governance of the University.
Finances
The Annual Report and Financial Statements are publicly available on the University website, covering each Academic year since inauguration in the 2015-2016 Academic Year.
Programmes and Courses
The University of Gibraltar offers professional development opportunities as well as undergraduate, postgraduate and research-level programmes.
Scholarships
A number of prestigious scholarships are hosted or directly provided by the University, including the Parasol Scholarships for prospective Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA), Gibraltar Commonwealth Scholarships, Europa Scholarships and Bursaries, and HM Government of Gibraltar Scholarships for local residents.
Research
The Research Hubs of the University reflect societal needs, heritage and a sense of place as well as the natural environment.
Natural Sciences & Environment
The geographical location of Gibraltar, linking the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Africa, Europe and the Straits of Gibraltar provide an ideal natural laboratory for research into marine science, ecology, palaeoecology and soil science. Associate campuses such as HM Government of Gibraltar’s Department of the Environment, Gibraltar Botanic Gardens and the Gibraltar National Museum strengthen and extend the University’s research capacity in these areas.
History & Culture
Situated at a major crossroads in world history, Gibraltar is exceptionally located for cultural and historical research, particularly in areas such as colonial and postcolonial, religion, geopolitics, identity, ethnicity and nationalism studies. Associate Campuses such as the Gibraltar Garrison Library and the Gibraltar National Archives provide unparalleled access to unexplored source material.
Business & Management
Gibraltar’s established business and enterprise community with its innovative developments in areas such as Blockchain and FinTech provide opportunities for research into many subjects including legal frameworks, governance, privacy, marketing, human resource management and organisational behaviour.
Education
The combination of Gibraltar’s thriving education system and its distinctive demography create a unique opportunity for pedagogical and broader educational research. A strong partnership with the HM Government of Gibraltar’s Department of Education facilitates access to a wide range of research opportunities.
Health & Sport Sciences
Due to its relatively small community and strong links with the wider international health and sport sectors, Gibraltar is the ideal place to conduct innovative case study research in areas such as population and genetic studies, mental health, sports science and nutrition. Access to facilities provided by the Gibraltar Health Authority in its capacity as an Associate campus supports and extends our research provision.
Centre of Excellence for Responsible Gaming
The Centre at the University of Gibraltar will advance evidence-based research in the area of responsible gaming, feeding into the development of national and gaming sector policy and practice.
School of Postgraduate Medicine
The primary focus of the School is on impactful academic research aimed at continuously improving the quality of medical, dental and clinical practice. The small size of Gibraltar and its community make it a perfect place to undertake cohort-based studies that have the potential to positively affect the lives of people globally.
Beacon Professors
A rare honorary title - represented symbolically by the Lighthouse at Europa Point - awarded to individuals whose standing in their fields of expertise acts as a ‘beacon’ to others, spreading the light of knowledge, inspiring students and illuminating their life paths. The current Beacon Professors are:
Parasol Library and Gibraltar Repository
The Parasol Library is the University Library, endowed by the Parasol Foundation Trust and its chief benefactor Ruth Parasol. As well as providing library & information services and quiet study space for researchers and students the Library is the home of the Gibraltar Repository. The Libraries of the Associate Campuses of the University and other local collections are members of the Gibraltar Libraries Forum (GLF) whom together are developing the Gibraltar Repository - a joint online portal to their Gibraltar-related collections. Any material about Gibraltar or written by a Gibraltarian on any subject is eligible to be added to the Repository.
History
The University campus is at Europa Point on the Rock of Gibraltar, an area steeped in history both ancient and modern, natural and man-made.
The area includes what is thought to be a Moorish cistern, now known as the Nun’s Well, though it could pre-date the arrival of Tarik in 711 AD. The earliest known inhabitants of the area though were the Neanderthals, and the nearby Gorham’s Cave complex they occupied is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[2] In mythology Gibraltar is one of the Pillars of Hercules, standing astride the point at which the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea.
There is archaeological evidence of Europa Point, the end of the known world in Classical times, being a place where ritual offerings were made, including during the Phoenician period. Today the site still holds religious significance as seen by the presence of the medieval Shrine of Our Lady of Europe (built over an earlier 14th century mosque) and the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, inaugurated in 1997.[citation needed]
Military heritage on the site includes Harding’s Battery with an 1870s 12.5 inch 38 ton RML gun.[3] The battery, buried under a mound of sand for years was refurbished an in 2010 , and its underground magazine vaults turned into a visitor centre with information panels on the history of the area.
Another prominent feature of the site, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar and with symbolic significance to the University, is the Europa Point Lighthouse. It is the most southerly lighthouse operated by Trinity House. When it was automated in 2016 the 1950s second order optic Fresnel Lens was donated to the University and is on display in the main concourse.
The buildings of the University’s Europa Point campus were part of the Southern defences of the Rock of Gibraltar. The bombproof barracks which now house the principal rooms of the University were constructed by the Royal Engineers in 1841 and feature finely executed terracotta brick-tile vaulted ceilings supported by massive square limestone pillars. The window ledges alone are over a metre thick. The ashlar stone blocks used in the construction were probably imported from Portugal. The rougher masonry used is of local limestone. Once separated by open space a second defensible barracks, built into the sea-wall defences themselves, forms the most southerly part of the campus. After a period of being used as a school in the 1980s the buildings fell out of use until the ambitious restoration and development plan to turn the site into the home of Gibraltar’s first University was implemented.
Local architects Xavier Ozores Pardo and Pedro Carcelen Fernandez won the design competition and work got underway in early 2015 and was completed within seven months of the commission.
A marble-tiled, glass-roofed light and airy Atrium forms the centrepiece of the renovated buildings, bringing together the separate parts into a coherent whole. Other additions include integrating outbuildings into a range of offices surrounding a peaceful courtyard. The restoration work was recognised when the University became the recipient of the 2015 Heritage Award from the Gibraltar Heritage Trust. The original buildings are listed under the Heritage and Antiquities Act of 2018,[4] ensuring their continued protection.
University Coat-of-Arms
The University Coat-of-Arms (see top of page) is based on Coat of arms of Gibraltar which were designed by Isabella, Queen of Spain, and granted to Gibraltar in 1502, featuring a castle and key. The University motto Scientia est Clavis ad Successum translates as ‘Knowledge is the Key to Success’.
Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of the University of Gibraltar
Chancellors
| 2019 – Present | The Right Honourable Sir Lindsay Hoyle |
| 2015-2019 | The Right Honourable The Lord Luce (Founding Chancellor) |
Vice-Chancellors
| 2018 – Present | Professor Catherine Bachleda |
| 2015-2018 | Professor Daniella Tilbury |
References
- ^ Board of Governors "Board of Governors". University of Gibraltar. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Gorham's Cave Complex". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
- ^ "Visit Gibraltar". Visit Gibraltar. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
- ^ "Heritage and Antiquities Act 2018". GibraltarLaws.gov.gi.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Further reading
- HM Government of Gibraltar – Laws of Gibraltar. University of Gibraltar Act 2015. Available online at: https://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/legislations/university-of-gibraltar-act-2015-3913
- University of Gibraltar website: https://www.unigib.edu.gi/
- Darren Fa and Clive Finlayson ‘The fortifications of Gibraltar 1068-1945. Osprey Publishing, 2006. Online ISBN 9781472806338. https://ospreypublishing.com/the-fortifications-of-gibraltar-1068-1945
- Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). Website: https://www.acu.ac.uk/
