Liverpool Hope University
The University has a rich tradition of over 160 years in higher education. Two of its three founding colleges were established in 1844 and 1856, the third opening in the 1960s. It is the only Ecumenical University in Europe. In the Guardian University guide 2006, Hope achieved a 48 place rise in the league tables and according to UCAS, applications were up 11.6 per cent. A recent survey - one of the most comprehensive undertaken - has concluded that Hope Graduates enjoy an overall employability rating of 91 per cent, this is likely to be among the highest in the sector. The University is part of two National Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning - leading a centre for 16 other well-known UK Universities. Hope has two campuses, a leafy 30 acre Hope Park (main campus) and Hope at Everton: A £17.5m, beautiful, Grade II listed building dedicated to the Creative and Performing Arts.
History of the University
Liverpool Hope University is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the North West of England. It has a rich tradition stretching back over 160 years of opening up opportunities for a well-rounded education. The University is the UK's only fully ecumenical institution with 7,329 students and over 800 staff. The University attracts students from some 60 different countries worldwide. The values to which the University aspires include the fulfillment of its mission "to educate the whole person in mind, body and spirit" through striving to be open, accessible and inclusive to those of all faiths and beliefs.
Two of the University's founding colleges, Anglican S.Katharine's (1844) and Catholic Notre Dame (1856) were established in the 19th century. They provided some of the first opportunities for women to enter higher education in England. They were supplemented on Merseyside in 1964, over a century later, when a second Catholic education college, Christ's College, admitted its first students. It was the imaginative thought, vision and determination of Archbishop Derek Worlock and Bishop David Sheppard that inspired these three colleges to combine in 1980 into an ecumenical federation under the holding title of The Liverpool Institute of Higher Education. Dr James Burke was appointed its first Rector. Under the leadership of a new Rector & Chief Executive Professor Simon Lee, LIHE's name was changed to Liverpool Hope University College and achieved taught degree awarding powers in 1996.
In 2003, Professor Gerald J. Pillay, from Otago University in New Zealand, was appointed Rector & Chief Executive. In 2005, Hope received full University status under the leadership of Prof. Pillay who is now the University's Vice-Chancellor. Confirmation of the University title recognises the academic achievements in a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes including the Humanities and Theology, Creative & Performing Arts, Education, Social Sciences, Computer Science, Marketing and Business Management.
The University is committed to providing a distinctive, supportive and top quality learning experience where teaching is research informed. In recent years, the University has attracted a number of eminent scholars from the UK and abroad who are actively involved in its scholarly life and work. On the 25th of January 2006, Baroness Caroline Cox of Queensbury, Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, was installed as the University's Foundation Chancellor.
The Vice-Chancellor & Rector
Professor Gerald John Pillay was born on the 21st of December 1953 in the former British colony of Natal in South Africa.
He was awarded a BA, a BD (with Distinction) and Doctor of Theology from the University of Durban and also achieved a DPhil in Philosophical Theology from Rhodes University. On 1st September 2003, Professor Pillay was appointed Head of Liverpool Hope University. In 2005, Professor Pillay was elected a Life Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce.
After lecturing at the University of Durban-Westville, he became Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of South Africa in 1988, a post he held for eight years. During this period he was also Guest Professor at North Western University, Illinois; Research Fellow at Princeton University; Guest Professor at Rhodes University and Visiting Professor at the Graduate School at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS), Indiana, USA.
In 1997 he became Foundation Professor at Otago University, New Zealand. Whilst in 1998, he became Executive Head of the School of Liberal Arts within that University.
Professor Pillay has served on editorial boards of two international journals (Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae and Verbum et Ecclesia), has presented papers at numerous international conferences and has served on various public and educational bodies. He has published extensively and is an internationally respected scholar. He has been involved in recent research and lecturing at Cambridge, Oxford, Pretoria, California, Canada and Munich. A New Zealand citizen, Professor Pillay is married with two sons.
Famous and Notable Alumni
Willy Russell studied at S. Katharine’s College of Education [1]. His play Educating Rita was turned into a movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters, it was filmed at Trinity College, Dublin. Willy Russell is currently a Visiting Professor of Popular Theatre at Hope.
Cllr Mike Storey, former Leader of Liverpool City Council, currently a Headteacher at a large Liverpool Primary School.
Peter Kilfoyle, Member of Parliament for Liverpool Walton, qualified as a teacher at Christ's College of Education.
Stel Pavlou, the screenwriter for the film The 51st State, studied at LIHE when it came under the auspices of the University of Liverpool, before its decision to become Liverpool Hope University.
Diane Allahgreen hurdles champion, double European gold medallist, British Junior record for 100m hurdles, Diane reached top ranking for women at 100mh in Britain in 1997.
Prof. the Rt.Hon Lord David Alton, Baron of Liverpool, trained and qualified as a teacher at a founding college of the University.
