Университет Гринвича: обучение в исторических зданиях флота и выдающиеся выпускники

Few universities can say their students study in buildings once used to train Royal Navy officers – but the University of Greenwich can, as first reported by our sister title London Now. Set within the historic Old Royal Naval College, the university combines centuries of maritime history with a reputation for academic excellence, making it one of south east London's most distinctive places to study. Beyond its striking campus, the University of Greenwich has produced an impressive list of alumni, including Nobel Prize winners, acclaimed authors, musicians, campaigners and pioneers in science and technology. You can read the original London Now feature to discover more about the university's rich history and some of the notable figures who have studied there. The University, perched beside the River Thames, occupies part of the illustrious Old Royal Naval College, a site that is both an architectural marvel and one of southeast London’s recognisable landmarks. Behind these grand columns and domes, however, is another story—a university with roots stretching back more than 130 years, intertwined with a strong academic ethos, societal impact, and a legacy of innovation. Greenwich: More Than Just a Historic Campus Dating back to the late 17th century, the present buildings of the Old Royal Naval College started life as the Royal Hospital for Seamen. The riverside complex, designed principally by Sir Christopher Wren—who is famed for St Paul’s Cathedral—initially served as a home for retired sailors. Read more - 1,500 London bus drivers to strike - more than 40 routes affected - London's cleanest and dirtiest boroughs for food hygiene have been revealed - This student is giving away free coffee on the London Underground In the 19th century, the hospital closed and the site took on a new role as the Royal Naval College, where generations of naval officers were educated and trained. Over the years, the University of Greenwich has been a guardian of this historical legacy, occupying part of the estate that forms maritime Greenwich—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More than just an academic institution, the campus serves as a historical movie star of sorts as locations have appeared in productions including The King’s Speech, Les Misérables, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and The Queen. But despite the historical buildings, the university's own journey started somewhere else. Birth and Growth: The Roots in Woolwich The beginnings of the University of Greenwich can be traced back to Woolwich Polytechnic, established in 1890. This institution was the second polytechnic in the UK and was officially opened to students a year later. Located close to the Royal Arsenal and surrounded by factories and workshops, the institution maintained a focus on practical education and maintained strong connections to the local community. By 1907, degree-level work was the order of the day, and in 1935, the institution blazed a trail with the introduction of what the university describes as the UK's first sandwich courses, which combined academic learning with practical work periods. The institution’s journey in the 20th century was marked by constant changes and expansions. Woolwich Polytechnic became part of the newly established Thames Polytechnic in 1970, which incorporated more colleges in the following years—including Dartford College in 1976, Avery Hill College in 1985, and Garnett College in 1987. In 1992, Thames Polytechnic became the University of Greenwich—a major milestone in its journey. Four years later, another major chapter was added with the joining of the Natural Resources Institute. Throughout its growth and transformation over the years, the university emerged as the product of numerous educational institutions and generations of students stretching back to Victorian London. Giants Among Alumni: Scientists, Authors and Campaigners Among the generations of students at the university and its predecessor institutions, some have gone on to change the world. One of the most celebrated former students is Sir Charles Kao. After studying electrical engineering at Woolwich Polytechnic and graduating in 1957, Kao’s research into transmitting information through optical fibres revolutionised global communications. His demonstration that glass fibres could transmit enormous quantities of digital information using pulses of light laid the foundation for much of today’s telecommunications and the internet. For his work on the transmission of light in fibres for optical communication, Kao was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2009 and was knighted the following year. Described as the "father of fibre optics" by the university, Kao even found love in Greenwich, meeting his future wife while studying at Woolwich Polytechnic. The university's reach extends beyond science, with political figures among its alumni. In 2019, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, particularly following Ethiopia's peace agreement with neighbouring Eritrea. Abiy graduated in 2011 with an MA in Transformational Leadership and Change, thanks to the University of Greenwich’s partnership with the International Leadership Institute in Ethiopia. Diverse Alumni: Authors, Musicians, and Gaming Pioneers Award-winning author Malorie Blackman is another notable member of Greenwich's alumni. She is famed for the creation of the 'Noughts & Crosses' series and served as Children’s Laureate from 2013 to 2015, advocating for greater diversity in children's literature. To recognise her contributions, the university awarded her an honorary Doctor of Letters in 2005. Music lovers will be interested to learn that before Dave Rowntree made his mark as the drummer for Blur, he was studying computers at Greenwich. Rowntree, who obtained an HND in Computer Science from the university's predecessor in 1984, boasts a multifaceted career as a musician, computer pioneer, and politician. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by Greenwich in 2017. Sir Ian Livingstone, a prominent figure in the UK's video games industry, is another well-known alumnus. Livingstone, who studied at Garnett College in the 1970s (which later became part of the University of Greenwich), co-founded Games Workshop and played a major role in shaping the British games industry. He was knighted for his services to the video games industry in the 2022 New Year Honours. Among the university's notable alumni is Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon, the mother of murdered Eltham teenager Stephen Lawrence. A champion for justice and institutional reform, following the racist murder of her son Stephen Lawrence in 1993, Baroness Lawrence’s association with Greenwich carries particular significance in the area. The university continues to bolster this relationship through its partnership with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, which includes a scholarship programme in her son’s name. Bridging the Past and Present: The Modern-Day Campus What sets the University of Greenwich apart is the juxtaposition of its historical heritage and its contemporary role. While students study in buildings built for Britain’s mariners of the past, they participate in modern education that spans from business and computing to architecture and science. Alongside traditional buildings, the university has invested in updating its facilities. In 2014, it opened the £76 million Stockwell Street Building, which accommodates the campus library, film and television studios, and editing suites. University students write a new chapter to the university's history, adding their generation's contributions to the institution's legacy. The institution is an array of varying stories and histories. From Sir Charles Kao’s work in revolutionising the fibre optic world to Malorie Blackman’s novels, Dave Rowntree’s music, Baroness Doreen Lawrence’s notable activism, and the impact of Greenwich’s numerous other alumni, each generation weaves their own unique narrative into the university's historical tapestry. With over 130 years of its educational story beginning in Woolwich, today's University of Greenwich showcases a harmonious blend of different centuries where the past is almost impossible to escape. These stories—of royalty, sailors, naval officers and the Thames, of Woolwich Polytechnic, and of generations who studied at Greenwich and its predecessor institutions, leaving their mark on the world—continue to shape and inspire the university community today and into the future.