The University
Celebrating 100 Years of Education and Innovation
On 29 September 2009 Loughborough University celebrated one hundred years as a leading educational establishment.
Throughout its esteemed history the University has built itself upon its original ethos of knowledge, truth and industry, which can be seen in everything it does.
From Institute to University
Initially founded as a Technical Institute, its main function was to teach evening classes in technical subjects. The advent of the First World War briefly changed the institution when it became a munitions training centre, training over 2000 women and injured soldiers to work for the munitions workforce of Britain.
The Institute was renamed Loughborough Technical College in 1918 and then Loughborough College in 1920. In 1919 the University moved to its current campus location and in 1938 Hazlerigg Hall opened. The formation of many existing academic departments took place over the next few decades and on 19 April 1966, the College was granted its Royal Charter to become Loughborough University of Technology. Its name was shortened to Loughborough University in 1996.
The Students’ Union
The formation of what we now know as the Students’ Union probably began in 1918 with the advent of the first student magazine ‘The Limit’. The active student culture has always been a constant theme of life at Loughborough and throughout the years, the students, through the Union, have raised money for charities through its RAG efforts, embraced the latest sports clubs and societies, and aimed to provide entertainment suitable for all tastes.
The current home of the Students’Union was opened by Michael Palin and Terry Jones of the then ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’ in 1979 and has attracted bands and artists that have gone on to become internationally renowned, including U2, Pink Floyd and The Police, and more recently, Scouting for Girls, Ash and the Sugababes. The Union has a continual commitment to the students of Loughborough and has a unique stance of being predominately run by the students for the students.
A strong working ethos
In the early days of the University, students were actively designing and building campus facilities and furniture. Today the sports pavilion still stands on its original site where it was designed and built through a competition set for students in the Department of Civil and Building in 1932.
Other examples of work include the grand chairs used in hall ceremonies and the furniture in the Hazlerigg /Rutland buildings, designed and built by students.
Continuing to celebrate student and staff success
The success of our students and staff has helped raise Loughborough’s international standing and reputation over the years. Each year the University offers a large number of highly regarded prizes, rewarding both academic and non-academic achievement amongst students. Additionally,for newly appointed professors,the University organises an inaugural lecture series.
As part of our Centenary celebrations Loughborough organised a set of lectures given by eminent thinkers of our time to reflect on the major issues of today. Speakers included: Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, Professor Marcus du Sautoy, Professor Lord Robert Winston, Associate Professor Peter Jamieson, Professor Richard Sennett, Professor John B. Heywood, Dame Barbara Stocking and Sir Jonathon Porritt.