Southampton Solent University

History

The university's origins can be traced back to a private School of Art founded in 1856, which eventually became the Southampton College of Art. Mergers with the Southampton College of Technology, and later the College of Nautical Studies at Warsash, led to the establishment of the Southampton Institute of Higher Education in 1984.

Southampton Institute became a university on 12 July 2005, adopting its current name on 15 August 2005. Prior to 2005, students at Southampton Institute received degrees awarded by Nottingham Trent University. In 2015 the University came to an agreement with New College of the Humanities, London whereby it will validate some of their degrees.

Campus

Southampton Solent University has two campus, one of them is the City Campus, and the other one is the Warsash Maritime Academy.

Southampton Solent University has a location facing East Park in the centre of the city of Southampton on the south coast of England in the UK. Warsash Maritime Academy is located on the eastern bank of the Hamble River overlooking Southampton Water.

Halls of residence

The University has six major student Halls complexes:

All are located away from the main teaching buildings. Five of the six halls are located South East of the city centre, between the St Mary's and Ocean Village areas of the Southampton, while Emily Davies is located to the north west of the city centre, near to the Southampton Civic Centre.

Academic profile

Southampton Solent university's maritime courses have been ranked among the best in the world. The university conducts undergraduate and post graduate level courses on Maritime Business, Supply chain management, Logistics and Maritime law.

The university also has courses on media, marketing, sports and business. It works with local business and professional bodies (for example the British Computer Society, Creative Skillset and the PTC).

The student yachting team has often consisted of Olympians and are previous world champions. Other courses at the university with an established reputation amongst academics include Journalism and Photography, both of which are accredited by industry bodies and professionally recognised.

Southampton Solent University continues to offer research degree awards validated by the Nottingham Trent University.

Rankings

Southampton Solent ranks 57th out of 90 universities in Media courses.

Research

The University also has a dedicated research and innovation unit, providing cohesive support for research and innovation through a researcher development programme and the Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange Awards.

It is a centre of applied research in design and advanced technology, geography, maritime, fine art, history of collecting, film, media and cultural studies, law and a broad range of business disciplines.

Business and society

Currently, the growth areas for business and society research are the ‘visitor economy’, SME partnerships, international economic development and entrepreneurship, as well as research into criminality, drug use, cyber-crime, and other contemporary areas of academic interest.

Solent Students' Union

Established in 1965 the Union forms an integral part of student representation within the University. It is an affiliated full member of National Union of Students. It has four sabbatical officers – President, Vice President of Education, Vice President Welfare & Community and Vice President Employability & Engagement – and thirteen part-time officers primarily based on the NUS liberation groups – BME, LGBT+, Mature, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, EU & International, Women's & Part-Time alongside a Warsash Cadets Officer and six Faculty Reps [1 undergraduate and 1 postgraduate from each of the 3 faculties (Creative Industries, Maritime and Technology & Business, Sport and Enterprise)] – as well as several full-time, permanent members of staff.

The President is the students' representative on the Board of Governors and other Sabbatical Officers attend university committees such as Academic Board, Faculty Boards and Course Committees to ensure effective representation for all students – full and part-time, undergraduate and postgraduate.

There are many clubs and societies which are funded through the Union and run by students. Facilities and services include the Student Advice Centre which offers a comprehensive and confidential information and advice service to students, a Student Shop, a cash-point machines and a cafe/bar.

Entertainment is provided on site by the Union, running a fully licensed bar and catering operation hosting balls, themed nights and with various social meetings taking place throughout the year. The Students' Union holds many formal events over the year including the Freshers Ball, Graduation Ball and Summer Festival. The student union has for many years played an integral part of the student scene on campus within its Commercial Services / Catering departments offering students the opportunity to earn money.

The summer of 2007 saw the refurbishment of the middle floor, with the Executive officers residing there, as well as Radio Sonar and Sonar TV, a Student Union Shop and Wifi Lounge

In 2011, the Union registered officially with the UK Charity Commission after changes in the Charities Act. The Union now has a Trustee Board to govern and work alongside the University Board of Governors.

The first President was Zyg Nilski in 1965 until 1966 under the name of Southampton College of Technology Students' Union. The current President of Solent Students' Union is Megan Maddex, who is serving her first term in office.

Student media

The student media outlets at Southampton Solent University are covered by the umbrella brand of 'Sonar Media'. These outlets are considered Special Status Societies within the Students' Union and are run entirely by students. The four societies under the brand include Radio Sonar, the student radio station; SonarTV, the student television station; Sonar Magazine, the student magazine; and Sonar Film, the student-run cinema. Southampton Solent's University Life has been featured in several The Daily Touch articles - courtesy of StudentCrowd

TV station

The student-run Television Station operated under the name SonarTV. The station was founded in 2009 as part of the student media rebrand within the Students' Union. SonarTV are the only outlet within the university that can affiliate with NaSTA (The National Student Television Association), and in 2012 was selected to be joint host for the first ever NaSTAvision broadcast with Staffs TV of Staffordshire University. At the 2013 NaSTA Awards, they placed 3rd for Best Broadcaster in the 40th annual edition of the NaSTA Awards, hosted by XTV of Exeter University

Radio station

The student run Radio Station is called Radio Sonar. The University radio station was founded by Giacomo Shimmings in 1998 and was originally known as Sin FM. the name came from the first 28-day FM radio licence held by the station. After applying for a Low Powered AM (LPAM) licence, the station changed its name to Sin Radio and at the same time became an online radio station. The name of the station was changed in 2009 to Radio Sonar. The rename was in conjunction with all Student Union media, part of Sonar Media rebrand. Radio Sonar has won the prestigious "Outstanding Contribution to Student Radio" at the National Student Radio Conference in 2010 and again in 2011. in 2012 Mel Lewis won Best Female Presenter. Radio Sonar was nominated in the 2014 SRA awards for 'Best Chart Show' and achieved 3rd place.

Sport

The university has a long tradition of achieving at sailing and have won the student national yachting championships on numerous occasions.

Notable alumni