University Campuses And Socio

Introduction

The chapter comprises three sections. The first argument is related to the general characteristics of case study of the cities in England which will be introduced. This includes the age of the city, the location of the city, and how the city is developed through the years. Further, the brief information about the land use for the area, inside the cities, is taken for the analysis in chapter 5. In the second section, the detailed introduction of the location of the universities in the hosted cities, the university ranking, and the history of each individual university campus selected by this study will be addressed. This section provides the essential information about each university campuses from the beginning. Finally, in the last section, the Socio-economic dimension for three cities will be discussed. This section provides the report for the crime rate data, the average salary and the average property price for each city from 2008 to 2016.

Cross case investigation of three cities:

As established before, for this research three English cities and universities have been chosen for in depth analysis. This study focuses on the relationship between the university campus and the city specificity in small cities. The reason for chosen these three cities is because they have the same criteria that helps to answer the research question. They are similar in the age of the city, the size of the town and the inhabitant’s population. As well as, each city has the university campus in the different part of the city. This helps the study to discover the physical relationship between the city and the university campus.

4.1.2 The city of Lincoln land use

Figure 5 represents 2 km around the University of Lincoln campus within the city. The map shows that the University of Lincoln campus is located in the centre of the city. The south-east of the map is an industrial and retail area. The retail sector is not only in the southeast but also, it is expanded towards the central and west part of the map. However, the rest of the city is for residential usage. The green space is almost at the edges of the map. In this case, the railway is the major boundary on the west side of the city. As the figure 5 illustrate, the railway becomes as the boundary for the natural green spaces on that area. The natural pool is located in the middle of the city. This pool plays the major pivotal point for the relationship between the city and university and it brings lots of potential elements for the University of Lincoln and city of Lincoln. On the south side of the pool, the University of Lincoln is located. This university, as the figure 5 shows, is the open access to university. Additionally, the university buildings are mixed with other buildings in the city. The map demonstrates (figure 5) that, the university campus is involved with the city; clearly in terms of physical accessibility. The other key note that has to highlight is that, there is lack of the green spaces in the campus of the University of Lincoln. This information will be utilized in observational analysis in the next chapter.

4.1.4 The city of Worcester land use

The land use map in figure 9 demonstrates that there is 2 km area around the University of Worcester main campus. As the map shows (figure 10), the university campus is surrounded by the residential area. Additionally, the large proportion of the city is for residential area. Mainly, South and south-west area are mostly for retail and commercial usage. The river divided the university from the city centre, where almost all the retail areas are located. This river plays essential role in the relationship between the university and the city, especially in the physical accessibility between them. In the case study, 2 km area around the university within the city, includes the one pedestrian bridge and one vehicle bridge that is connected with the campus site to the city centre. The major green area belongs to the Worcester Racecourse site that can be seen to the west side of the river. Although, few green spaces are illustrated on the map, where most of the areas are intersecting the residential areas. It is important to mention that; the main campus of the University of Worcester has not located in the centre of Worcester city. However, the new library for the university and the city (Hive Library) is located near the city centre. This information will be used for the observation analysis in chapter 5.

4.1.6 The city of Bath land use

The land use map for the city of Bath (figure 13) demonstrates there is 2 km area around the campus of the University of Bath. This area is primarily surrounded by green spaces and woods. The major part of the map belongs to the university campus, and the only small area that is occupied by the commercial sector is shows on the west side of the map. Towards to the south and south-east, the area is mostly residential. As the map illustrated (figure 13), the University of Bath placed far from the city centre. This area is connected to the city centre by three main roads. The essential fact needs to highlight here is that the campus has open access with two vehicle entrances and one pedestrian entrance. However, because of the woods that surrounded the campus site, this campus does not have fully open access. This means that, the University of Bath is categorised as the natural gated campus. In this case study, Farmland and green spaces are surround by the urban core. The other key that should be noted in this section is that the green areas Inside the campus as the map shows are clearly visible. As discussed above, this information will be implemented for further analysis in chapter 5.

4.2.1.3 University of Lincoln League Tables

As the figure 14 illustrates, three different rankings for the University of Lincoln by the Complete university guide, the Guardian and the Times. Each classification is based on the various range of criteria where each ranking has been used differently. However, they are in common in some criteria such as NSS. The Guardian ranked the University of Lincoln 117 in 2008. This ranking dramatically decreased until 2013 which reached 47. This classification had been variable from 2008 to 2018 until reached the same level (47) in 2018. However, suddenly ranking decreased by 25 levels in the league table in 2019, where the University of Lincoln was ranked in the 22nd. Along with, the complete university guide shows slightly different ranking for the university than the Guardian. As the figure shows, the ranking for the University of Lincoln 109 in 2008 by the complete university guide. Between 2008 to 2014 the ranking gradually decreases and in 2014 the university ranking has been reached 52. Between 2015 and 2018, the highest ranking in the league table is referred to 55 in 2015, and the lowest was 49 in 2017. However, the classification of university suddenly dropped from 50 to 43 in 2019. The Times ranking shows, as the other two rankings illustrated, the same pattern of ranking between 2008 and 2018. The Times ranking for the University of Lincoln started in 2008 with 103. In the following year, the ranking was stable. As the figure shows, from 2009 to 2013 the classification was decreased from 103 to 52. Nevertheless, from 2013 to 2016, the ranking increased and ranked as 62 in 2016.

The Times ranking suddenly reduced in the league table from 2016 to 2017 with 11 levels. Although, all the rankings show that the university ranking is continually increasing from 2008 to 2019 and almost the pattern for all the ranking is similar, still in some years the ranking is slightly different. As the figure shows, in 2015 the University of Lincoln in the UK university league table was ranked 65 by the Guardian, 60 by the Times and 55 by the complete university guide. Notwithstanding, the complete university guide and the Guardian ranking decreased from 2015 to 2016 but the Times ranking increased. This happened one more time from 2016 to 2017 for the university. However, that time the Guardian ranking rose between 2016 and 2017. Besides, the most differences between ranking are related to 2019 where the Guardian ranked the University as 22 whereas the complete guide university ranked by 43. This progress is linked to a variety of reasons. The most influential factors are discussed below.

The ranking for the University of Worcester published from 2008, by the complete university guide, the Guardian and the Times. The figure 15 shows the timeline of University of Worcester ranking. In 2008, the ranking of the university was 54 by the Guardian and rose gradually until 2012 which the ranking reached 105. Though this process had changed in a year and the ranking decreased ten rates in the university league table in 2014. In 2014, the classification was known as 95 by the Guardian. But again, the ranking increased to 108 in 2016. And finally, in 2019 the University of Worcester would be ranked 91 by the Guardian. On the other hand, the complete university guide in figure was ranked the University 83 in 2008. Then, from 2008 to 2014 the ranking has been progressively increased and reached 109. In contrast, this progress of ranking switched from 2014 to 2017. Between 2014 to 2017, the ranking has been decreased slowly and by 2017 the complete university guide ranked the university 97 in the university league table. Once again, the ranking increased 13 level from 2017 to 2019, and in 2019 the University of Worcester reached the highest ranking that has never been.
However, the ranking results slightly different when referring to the Times ranking. As the figure 15 shows, the Times ranking ranked the University of Worcester 92 in 2008, furthermore decreased the number to 81 by 2009. This ranking was stable for a year more and from 2010 started to increase slowly until 2015. In 2015 the university reached 107 in the university league table. Between 2015 to 2017 the ranking decreased suddenly from 107 to 90. Finally, in 2018 the University of Worcester has been ranked 102 by the Times.
As shown above, the pattern of the ranking between the Guardian, the complete university guide and the Times point out although they are in the same range of the ranking in the university league table within 2009 to 2019 between 80 to 110. Still, the pattern between them is different. Significantly the Guardian is notably different than the rest of them. For example, between 2013 to 2014, the complete university guide and the Times have shown that the ranking of the university is increased. Instead, the Guardian has demonstrated entirely different results. Another critical point is related to the classification in 2008 which shows a big gap between the ranking of the Guardian and the rest. In overall, all the ranking confirms that the University of Worchester increased gradually in the university league table from 2008 to 2019.

The figure 16 shows the history of ranking for the University of Bath from 2008 to 2019 by the complete university guide, the Guardian and the Times. Each individual ranking is including different criteria. However, they have similarity in NSS. The Guardian ranking ranked the university 10 in 2008. The highest ranking is related to 2012 with the score 14 by the Guardian. From 2012 until 2015 this ranking decreased dramatically from 14 to 4. In 2015 the ranking reached to the lowest point in the university league table in the whole history of the University of Bath. Although this was an excellent achievement for the university, the ranking increased a year after that and by 2017 reached 10. since 2017 until 2019 this ranking dropped by 4 level in the university league table (figure 16). On the other hand, the complete university guide ranked the University of Bath 9 in 2008. This ranking has been increased from 9 to 14 in 2009, and it was the highest ranking between 2008 to 2019 in the university league table by the complete university guide. Nevertheless, a year after that in 2010 the ranking decreased suddenly reached 9. From 2010 to 2016 the classification changed only by 1 or 2 level. In the same period in 2015, the University of Bath reached the lowest ranking since 2008. After all, the complete university guide shows that the University of Bath achieved the fix status in the university league table from 2016 to 2019.

In addition, The Times ranking is similar than the complete university guide. In 2008, the university was ranked 9 by the times. This ranking increased suddenly to 15 in 2009. As the figure illustrated, this ranking is the highest ranking since 2008 for the university in the Times ranking. After that, the ranking decreased until 2014 which reached 7. In 2014, the university recorded the lowest ranking according to the Times. Instantly this result was decreased by 5 level in 2 years. In 2016, the university ranked 12, and since that time the ranking has not changed according to the Times. Altogether, the complete university guide and the Times shows the similar pattern for the University of Bath. Maybe they are ranking with little differences, but they highlighted the same years for the highest and lowest rankings, as well as, they both highlights that the University of Bath has the stable ranking since 2016.While the Guardian ranking has the different pattern to compare with the Times and the complete university guide. It should point out that the Guardian and the complete university guide still has the similarity from 2008 to 2011. It is important to realise that even though these results are different in terms of the numbers of ranking, the ranking of the University of Bath has shifted just a few levels since 2008. In fact, the patterns for the rankings demonstrate that the development of university strategy functions excellently.

Summary and discussion:

This chapter has shown that the university has an impact on the socio-economic aspect of three case study cities. There is a relationship between the university and the city growth economically and socially. The city of Lincoln is one of the best examples of this relationship. Since the new campus of the University of Lincoln opened in the city centre of Lincoln, the city of Lincoln has been improved as a social and economic entity. This improvement is not just for the city of Lincoln. As discussed above, the city of Worcester and the University of Worcester started collaboration to make that improvement happened. One of the important results was happened in 2012 with opening the Hive library. The concept of this library was to bring the local and students community together, which worked perfectly. Moreover, the socio-economic aspect between the city of Bath and the University of Bath illustrate that the university has a significantly increased its economic growth in recent years that affect directly to the economic growth of the city.

In conclusion, three universities case studies show that they had an impact on their cities under different approaches. The University of Worcester has more influences on the social aspect, the University of Bath also has more impact on the economic and the University of Lincoln on both economic and social approaches. These results show that, the substantial social and economic relationships between the university and the city. Besides, this chapter highlights that, the outcome of the socio-economic relationship between the city and university impacted to improve their cities from 2008 to 2016, directly and indirectly. However, it is important to mention that, the universities and the cities in case studies they are aware of the significant results. That is the reason three case studies have a strong strategic plan for the future for more collaborations between the city and university to improve both University and city. Although this chapter discussed the socio-economic relationship between the city and the university, for answering the research questions the physical relationship need to analyse. Hence, In the next chapter, the physical accessibly between the university campus and the city will be investigated.

Continue your exploration of Understanding Mass Concentration with our related content.