Campus plan holds few surprises
The new Imperial College plan summary for 1995/96 to 1998/99 contains few surprises, with emphasis placed on development of interdisciplinary research centres and the continuing of the "Campus Renaissance" scheme to improve the South Kensington site.
The plan is a revised version of one produced two years ago, and sets out the main objectives for college-wide affairs, and covers the integration of the four medical schools into the college, campus changes, curriculum changes and the budgeting objectives as well as general aims of the college.
The creation of the Imperial College School of Medicine is seen as a major event, and a way of exploiting the "wealth of clinical opportunity in the associated hospitals, and the technological and scientific expertise available in other parts of the college." The merging of medical, scientific and technological aspects are "expected to lead to significant advances", and this is one of the main reasons that multidisciplinary research centres are being set up.
Few changes in the courses or curriculum offered are envisaged, but the plan does refer to the increased demand for graduates to have "scientific and technical communication skills" and "professional development courses" are sited as an area for growth.
The plan also recognises the "existing strengths in music and arts amongst students and staff" and pledges that the new music and arts centre, to be situated on the top floor of the new library, will "extend the breadth of educational and cultural opportunities available to the college’s wider internal and external communities". An Arts and Music centre had been planned for a number of years following a bequest from a former professor, Nevil Blyth. This would have funded the building of music practice rooms on the top of the present library. The money was insufficient to fund the plans, which were shelved for a time, until the Campus Renaissance project required the extension of the library and allowed a Lottery bid to be staged.
This was seen as the perfect opportunity to offset some of the costs of extending the top floor for the arts centre, as the necessary cranes and building works would already be in place. The Arts and Music centre is to be the subject of one of at least three National Lottery grants for Estates, with the facilities required for an excellent range of arts facilities, practice rooms and recital spaces as well as public access (required for the Lottery money) costing in the region of Ł2.3million. The building extension itself will cost Ł1.6million. Sources in the Estates Division suggested that the public access to the Sherfield building would also need to be improved, at a possible cost of Ł1.3million.
Other objectives set out in the plan include the conversion of the Beit Quadrangle Biology buildings into halls of residences and the building of two completely new halls in Princes’ gardens. The plan stresses that opportunities to increase the number of rooms will only be pursued "at a cost that students can afford". Sports facilities are also covered, with the boathouse singled out for mention, but the South Kensington sports facilities are also under redevelopment with plans for another Lottery grant well advanced.
The plan also includes details of the changes to the Queen’s lawn area, with landscaping for improved looks, access and usability, and as a "public focus for college", as detailed in Felix 1071. These plans are the subject of a further lottery grant. Budget plans include continued self-financing to protect against "unpredictable changes in external circumstances".
The proportion of women in college is also set for increase, with an increase from 18% to 27% over the last 10 years, and a target of at least 35% by the year 2000 envisaged.
