Tag Archives: United Kingdom

September 7, 2012 · 11:57

Students bring back life to our campuses, after summer

by Alexandra den Heijer

This week the academic year has started in the Netherlands. I was happy to see the students again for many reasons, including the fact that they really bring back life to our campuses and buildings, after summer. Today, I am in England, enjoying the hospitality of University of Salford. Yesterday I gave a dinner speech (see DOWNLOADS for hand-out) and I got a chance to see parts of their campuses, including MediaCity:UK, a campus they share with the BBC, Adobe and ITV (among others).

MediaCity:UK on a sunny Thursday, 2 weeks before the students arrive

MediaCity:UK is located at Salford Quays on the banks of Manchester’s historic ship canal. The vision is to become a leading international hub for the creative and digital sectors, and a vibrant destination to work, live and play. The students will arrive in two weeks, when the new academic year starts for UK universities. For more information see http://www.mediacityuk.co.uk/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaCityUK.

University of Salford has more campuses and is very much aware of the university’s role in the local economy: “With a turnover of some £180.5m, we take our responsibility towards the city of Salford very seriously. The University is one of the area’s biggest employers and makes a significant contribution to the local economy.” (source: http://www.salford.ac.uk/)

one of the “red-brick buildings” on University of Salford’s campus

In the Netherlands the academic year has started last Monday. I wish our students a very productive and inspiring year. Our building has changed from BK (holiday) village to BK city again…

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April 13, 2012 · 23:49

Film “Out of the Box”

by Alexandra den Heijer

At the AUDE conference in Loughborough last week, a 9-minute film “Out of the Box” was released, produced by the Higher Education Design Quality Forum (HEDQF): “A short film showcasing some European universities and how they are distinguishing themselves with radical architecture, design and branding. To achieve their ambition, many have reinvented the academic workplace.” (text from youtube.com)  The film by Rod McAllister and William Pine includes TU Delft’s case BK city and my ’15 seconds of fame’ … (starting at 2:30 with the sad memories of our unforgettable fire and continuing at 5:50 and 7:50)

The film shows new academic places to work and learn (United Kingdom: University of Greenwich, Ravensbourne College, Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts, Napier University Business School, Loughborough University, Finland: Aalto University, Netherlands: TU Delft, Faculty of Architecture / BK city). It also states that “The last year research has shown that 36% of British students rejected a university due to the quality of its estate”. Voice-over and producer Rod McAllister adds: “Perhaps we should give the box more credit…”. Rod McAllister works for architecture practice Sheppard Robson in London (www.sheppardrobson.com). More information about the activities of HEDQF (www.hedqf.com, which redirects to architecture.com). More about case BK city: CASE BK CITY.

BK city's facility manager Dennis Cruyen

BK city - home of TU Delft's Faculty of Architecture

"my 15 seconds of fame" about BK city's brief and concepts

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April 2, 2012 · 16:28

“Leading the way” AUDE conference 2012

by Alexandra den Heijer

On April 2, 2012 I was invited to speak at Loughborough University for the AUDE conference (the UK Association of University Directors of Estates). The hand-out of the presentation can be found under DOWNLOADS after my presentation. The 3-minute movie “The making of BK city” can be found with a link to YouTube under CASE BK CITY.

European Univer-cities in the top 150 worldwide - figure from Flavia Curvelo Magdaniel's research

Lessons so far:
-1- the importance of ‘managing expectations’ – engaging both students and staff in the strategic, financial and physical context (and challenges) to put their functional demands into perspective, which also is a key factor in their satisfaction;
-2- the relation between the physical campus and regional knowledge economy (‘town gown’ – univer-city) – see figure Knowledge cities in Europe, representing universities in the global top 150, source QS Times Higher Education ranking 2011, edited by PhD researcher Flavia Curvelo Magdaniel, see BOOK DESIGN for her background and résumé;
-3- balancing the strategy of ‘creating a community and home base’ and sharing space and collaborating with partners in higher education, business or industry;
-4- considering students as long-term stakeholders and not as customers; when students become alumni the value of their diploma will be associated with the quality of the institution for life and alumni could (and do) also play an important role in education and research, in the primary processes (giving lectures) and in branding their ‘alma mater’ in practice. This could be a basis for alumni funding.

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March 23, 2012 · 21:12

EUA conference “Sustainable Universities”

by Alexandra den Heijer

I really enjoyed the annual EUA conference, hosted by the University of Warwick. I will write more about the content later. My contribution (presentation about innovative campus management) can be found under DOWNLOADS – including a link to my propositions in English, German, French, Spanish and -of course- Dutch: 10 PROPOSITIONS .

20120323-191208.jpg

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September 4, 2011 · 18:23

I must have roots in Scotland

by Alexandra den Heijer

Just returned from another visit to Scotland. This time I presented my research + case BK city at the SAUDE conference in Inverness (see DOWNLOADS for PDF). SAUDE is the Scottish Association of University Directors of Estates. With the high concentration of redheads in Inverness I felt quite at home: just one of the many signs for having roots in Scotland.

Leaving from Glasgow with some Scottish colleagues/friends we took the train to Aberdeen, to visit the new University of Aberdeen library. This building by Danish architects “schmidt hammer lassen” will be open for students and staff in two weeks (see photo and http://www.abdn.ac.uk/newlibrary/ for more information). After a one-hour we were on the next train through the Scottish landscape to Inverness.

University of Aberdeen library - almost open for students and staff (photo visit September 1, 2011)

The SAUDE conference (like SCUP last month) confirmed that European (and North American) universities need strategic, financial, functional and physical (campus) management information to support policy makers’ (campus) decisions. I elaborated on this in my presentation, like in my book. This message was also emphasized by the presentation after mine, about Building Information Modelling (BIM). Maggie Barlow (Space Strategies) and Nahim Iqbal (www.bimacademy.ac.uk) illustrated many possibilities. I want to thank Maggie for putting so much effort in linking their presentation to mine.

International references of campus management certainly help and the link to the local, regional and national knowledge economy should certainly be made. This was also illustrated by principal James Fraser in his welcoming speech to the University of Highlands and Islands (UHI). On the website (www.uhi.ac.uk/en/campuses) UHI states: “Our campus is very different from most university campuses; we offer you the choice of studying at one of our 13 colleges and research centres, over 50 local learning centres, or online from wherever you are.” This shows that UHI is a network university and has ambitious plans for a new Inverness campus, which also has a goal to keep talent and economic activity in the region.

The train back from Inverness to Glasgow (through Perth) showed the beauty of the landscape. I look forward to be back in Scotland. It always feels like a home away from home.

P.S. When I came back my mailbox contained messages from Ireland, France and Sweden, all emphasizing the collective task and suggestions to make use of the available knowledge in the European network. I am glad I can contribute and I will definitely prepare a position paper for the annual EUA (European University Association) next spring, to support my lecture there.

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May 23, 2011 · 00:14

Back from Scotland

After a very inspiring visit to Scotland – University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, Strathclyde University – it is confirmed (again) that Europe has so much to offer: a combination of campuses that breathe academic history in vibrant knowledge cities.

University of Glasgow campus - the value of academic history and heritage buildings

I also discovered that we (in the Netherlands) offer students beautiful housing: spacious rooms and apartments that could be used as a competitive advantage for the Dutch learning experience.

PS I uploaded some new publications (see DOWNLOADS).

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