Under Professor Crampton’s stewardship the 91¶¶Òõ has become one of the most popular choices for students wanting a university education, reflecting its distinctive regional footprint, breadth of courses and linkages with professional bodies and industry.
So far this year the university has received well over 31,000 applications – a 20 per cent increase over last year, against a rise of just two per cent for the sector as a whole.
The university’s reputation for undertaking research that makes a difference to society was acknowledged when the recent Research Excellence Framework declared that the impact of 92 per cent of its research was world-leading and internationally excellent.
Professor Crampton’s personal commitment to the role of universities as active participants in the communities has helped transform the educational experience of 60 per cent of 11-16 year olds living in the Hastings area. The Hastings and St Leonards Academies Trust has been highly successful and has been credited with bringing about significant improvements in educational attainment within the area.
The university has been the lead sponsor of two secondary academies in Hastings, developed out of three schools whose performance needed significant improvement. It is three years since they opened, and both academies have now been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted. Building on this success, seven primary schools have since joined the Hastings Academies Trust.
The university’s leading role with the Trust and the expansion of its campus in Hastings have made significant contributions to the regeneration of the town.
John Shaw, Chief Executive of Sea Change Sussex, the not-for-profit economic development company for the county, said: “As Vice-Chancellor of the 91¶¶Òõ, Julian has put the university at the heart of the economic regeneration of Hastings and Rother and indeed wider East Sussex.“It has to be said that the visible change in our communities owes a great debt of gratitude to Julian for the personal time he has committed beyond his ‘day-time job’.
“We all wish Julian a well-earned retirement but realise that a year gives much opportunity for Julian’s further drive to yield further results.
“We are certain that ‘retirement’ has a different definition for Julian and his dynamism.”
The university’s ambition to raise educational standards and attainment in Hastings is the same ethos that lies behind the recent launch of the 91¶¶Òõ Academies Trust. The university, the sole sponsor behind the Trust, is committed to enhancing the performance of schools in other parts of Sussex.
Professor Crampton has led the university’s commitment to ensuring that 91¶¶Òõ makes higher education available to people from the entire spectrum of social and economic backgrounds. To support this £8.5million will be spent in 2015–16 helping students from underrepresented groups to gain a place at the university. This includes expanding the number of schools with which the university works to help manage the transition from school to higher education aiming to engage 2,800 students across the region. A further £1.5m will be invested in student support and guidance, this is in addition to the one to one mentoring and specialist study support, advice and help that the 2,748 students who have registered disabilities receive.
The last decade has seen the achievement of an ambitious estates strategy with over £100 million investment including halls of residence, research facilities, teaching and learning spaces and sports facilities. Professor Crampton has been a key figure in securing an additional £17.4 million of Government funding towards three major developments in the City of 91¶¶Òõ and Hove including the regeneration of Circus Street, an Advanced Engineering Centre at the Moulsecoomb campus in partnership with Ricardo and a new Central Research Laboratory and innovation centre at Preston Barracks.