University Roundup: What’s going on around the UK this week?

Let’s take a look at news from other universities in the UK this week…

Amy Walker News Reporter

University of Sheffield to become a world leader in 6G technology.

The first 6G research facility is set to open at the University of Sheffield. The facility will play a key role in driving innovation in 6G by combining academics and industrial partners, as well as, providing the necessary specialist equipment.

More than 40 companies and institutions bid for the chance to become the new world leader of 6G technology.

Professor Timothy O’Farrell, Professor of Wireless Communication in Sheffield, who will be director of the new facility, said the facility will help “the UK to maintain its place as a global leader in telecommunications”.

Swansea University Students’ Union launched a foodbank for students.

In the midst of the cost-ofliving crisis, a food bank has been launched for students at the University of Swansea after growing concerns over the affordability of food.

President of the SU, Esyllt Rosser and her team helped volunteers to set up a weekly food bank at the university’s Singleton Campus, responding to some students “taking on two or three jobs in order to support themselves”.

This follows the University of Newcastle’s SU launching its student pantry to support students as part of their Costof-Living Crisis Initiative in October of last year, supplying students in need with free food, household items and stationery.

University of East Anglia’s leaders questioned following significant financial challenges.

The University and Colleges

Union’s UEA branch said it had no confidence in the vice chancellor or other senior leaders, after the university proposed compulsory redundancies to make savings

In the 2021-22 academic year, the university reported a £13.9m loss supposedly from the effects of Covid, the tuition fee freeze and rising costs however, university staff are questioning this reasoning.

Labour MP for Norwich

South Clive Lewis said in a tweet that the university’s announcement about job cuts is “worrying” and indicated he had consequently offered help to the trade union for academic staff at UEA, as well as the UCU.

University of Sunderland has been welcomed by David Attenborough in joining the British Academy of Film and Television Albert Education programme

The Albert Education programme aims to tackle the environmental impact of the screen industry, by equipping lecturers at UK universities with the necessary tools in integrating an ‘Applied Skills for a Sustainable Screen Industry’ module.

The module will teach students about the science of climate change and its global impact, the environmental impact of the film and TV industries, sustainable production practices and creating content with a strategic environmental purpose.

Speaking out about the partnership, Sir David Attenborough said informing “future industry leaders is an essential part of the solution”.

Of the Manchester sample, 20.87% married their University partner, and 42.61% had children with their University partner.

Holly, a second-year student at the University of Manchester, said “I would think it would be lower than that [....] Lots of people are so career-driven now, and just focused on their studies at uni.”

The figures for Manchester were notably higher than the average for the 30 Universities sampled. The overall average for meeting a romantic partner at University is 35.63%, whilst marrying a university partner is 12.17%. The average for having children with a university partner is 24.37%.

The University of Aberdeen ranked lowest of the 30 universities for finding a romantic partner, with 6.40% participants finding love at university. The University of Leeds ranked lowest for marrying a university partner (5.00%).

Similar studies in the past have made similar conclusions on the University of Manchester’s likelihood for relationships. One Day University Love League’s 2011 study found, from a sample of 2000 UK graduates, 20% meet the love of their life at university. At the University of Manchester, 21% found love (ranking fifth).