The increase in tuition fees to a maximum of £9,000 a year led to a drop in the number of English students applying for university places this autumn.
The fear of a lifetime of debt, coupled with the lack of jobs available in the current economic climate, means more and more school and college leavers are opting for apprenticeships, internships and sandwich courses over full time studies, as they are seen as more effective ways of earning while learning.
As application numbers continue to dwindle for next year’s intake, universities across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ have realised the need – in a very competitive market – to upgrade their facilities to appeal to students applying in the future. In a world of ‘helicopter parents’, appeal and attraction has to be directed towards both parents and students.
Gone are the days when people are there to just enjoy student life and drink away their student loan. Those who are willing to take on the debt, or see it is an investment in their future, are also willing to work for their degree. Therefore, universities need to review their study areas, libraries and computer facilities to ensure students have all the necessary tools they need to work.
Monteith Scott recently completed phase one of a £1 million state-of-the-art library refurbishment for the University of Northampton. The facility is used by more than 14,000 students and has a 30-strong team of academic librarians.
The interior architects designed the 4,000 sq m library with the future of commercial working practice balanced against the changing needs for absorbing information in a multi streaming world.
A variety of different seating areas and furniture, supplied by Demco Interiors, encourages collaborative working, while additional computer stations and laptop docking stations enable students to work remotely. It was also important that the function and flow of the space was improved and that staff had increased visibility to students.
The bespoke joinery was designed, delivered and installed within six weeks. When sourcing market solutions we concluded that the specific challenge of the way in which students had been using the space, and the way the academic librarians felt they need to use the new environment, required a unique solution. The early feedback has been very positive from staff and students alike as the focused nature of ‘silent’ study is being upheld.
The facility has become ‘well smart’, a statement that seems to best demonstrate the reaction and that the desired impact has been achieved for its current users and prospective students looking to study at the university.
It is now a much more professional environment. It’s more grown up – reflecting the caliber of students now attending university – and prepares graduates for a real working environment. The library is now an appropriate place to hold the unique collection of tanner’s books from Northampton’s leather tanning heritage.
Phase two of the refurbishment will begin in summer 2013. This will include book stock areas for the business school, health, and history, and a school experience area that includes bespoke split level study booths, collaborative video reference, history collections, and private reading.
The University of Northampton is just one of many universities upgrading its services for students.
Worcester’s £60 million library and history centre, The Hive, opened to the public this summer. It is one of the first fully integrated and jointly-run university and local authority libraries.
A partnership initiative between Worcestershire County Council and the University of Worcester, The Hive covers 10,000 sq m of space over five floors, and brings together 250,000 books, documents and archive items from both the public and university libraries under one roof. It houses one of the largest children’s libraries in the country along with council services, meeting rooms, study areas, a shop and café.
Layouts and furnishings across all levels of the library were designed and installed by Demco Interiors, which also provided shelving with integrated lighting throughout.
The idea of bringing a university and a public library together is a fantastic way to encourage young people to read and inspire them to achieve their academic goals. It also acts as a subtle introduction to higher education from an early age and could be instrumental in shaping their attitude towards going to university in the future.
Birmingham’s new £189 million public library, which will have an outdoor amphitheatre, is due to open in September 2013. The 10-storey development in Centenary Square replaces the Birmingham Central Library in Chamberlain Square.
Elsewhere in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, a £11 million extension of Durham University’s library has recently been completed. The Bill Bryson Library provides a variety of study environments, ranging from quiet to collaborative, with an additional 500 study places, 30 individual and group study rooms and new computer areas.
The library project forms part of a wider £48 million scheme that also includes the construction of The Palatine Centre, which will centralise key student support services, and Durham Law School.
Many young people are now seeing university, and the financial costs that come with it, as an investment for their future.
However, they also want value for money and universities need to upgrade their facilities to ensure their establishment is the number one choice for students.
