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Cranfield University
Motto:	Latin: Post Nubes Lux – 'After darkness, light'[1]
Established	1946
Type:	Public
Chancellor:	Lord Vincent of Coleshill
Vice-Chancellor:	Professor Sir John O'Reilly (from 2007)[2]
Staff:	1,800
Students:	4,160 [3]
Undergraduates:	90 [3]
Postgraduates:	4,075 [3]
Location	Cranfield and Silsoe, Beds.; Shrivenham, Oxon., United Kingdom
Campus:	Rural
Affiliations:	University Alliance, ACU
Website:	http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/

Cranfield University is a British postgraduate university based on three campuses. The main campus is at Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England. The others are at Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, and Silsoe, also in Bedfordshire, some 15 miles (24 km) south of the main campus. All three locations are pleasant rural locations but with good access to London and local major towns. Activities on the Silsoe site will all be relocated to the Cranfield campus by 2008 and the site will then close. Silsoe's history is being actively recorded prior to closure of the site.^[4]

Over a third of students are from overseas, historically this means that students have come from nearly every country on the globe. Latest statistics from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that ca.95% of students enter managerial, professional or technical positions, or embark on further study, within six months of graduation. The University's research income, as a percentage of turnover, puts Cranfield in the top five UK research intensive universities together with University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and University College London.

The main campus is unique in the United Kingdom by having its own operational airport (Cranfield Airport) next to the main campus. It has a 1,800 m asphalt concrete main runway and it is possible to learn to fly both fixed and rotary wing aircraft at various flying schools located at the airport. The facility is also used by Cranfield's own aircraft in the course of aerospace teaching and research.

The new School, 'Cranfield Health' under construction; view from the Library in June 2007.

Cranfield campus is approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of central London and adjacent to the village of Cranfield,^[5] Bedfordshire. The nearest main towns are Milton Keynes and Bedford, the centres of which are both about 8 miles (13 km) away.

Silsoe is about 35 miles (56 km) north of central London and adjacent to Silsoe village. The nearest main town is Luton, about 6 miles (10 km).

Shrivenham is about 55 miles (89 km) west of London, adjacent to Shrivenham village, 7 miles (11 km) from the centre of the nearest town, Swindon, and around 15 miles (24 km) from Oxford.

Bedford, Milton Keynes, Oxford and Swindon all have fast rail services to central London termini, good access to the main Motorway network and London Heathrow airport.

The University was formed in 1946 as the College of Aeronautics on the former Royal Air Force base of RAF Cranfield^[6] which opened in 1937. (See also entries on Harold Roxbee Cox, Sir Stafford Cripps and Roy Fedden, all individuals associated with the foundation of the original College of Aeronautics). Between 1955 and 1969 a period of diversification took place. In 1967 the college presented the Privy Council with a petition for the grant of a Royal Charter along with a draft charter for a new institution to be called Cranfield Institute of Technology. The Cranfield Institute of Technology was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1969, giving the institution its own degree-awarding powers.

Since then the former National College of Agricultural Engineering established at Silsoe near Luton, Bedfordshire, during the 1950's, was incorporated. An academic partnership with the Royal Military College of Science (RMCS) at Shrivenham was formed in 1984. RMCS, whose roots can be traced back to 1772, is now a part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and now forms the Defence College of Management and Technology, known as 'DCMT'. In 1993 the Royal Charter changed the institution's name to Cranfield University.

The first 50 year history of Cranfield University is described comprehensively, but concisely, by the book Field of Vision.^[7]

Army helicopter display team, graduation 2004.

RAF Red Arrows display team, Shrivenham graduation, July 2003.

Staff, honorary graduates and dignitaries, Shrivenham graduation 2003.

In 2006, it was decided that activities on the Silsoe site would be relocated to the main campus at Cranfield. As a result, there is currently a substantial building programme underway, which includes the provision of departmental buildings and additional accommodation and other facilities for students and staff.

From 2007 the five academic schools are:

• School of Engineering, known as SoE and incorporating the original College of Aeronautics
• School of Applied Sciences, known as SAS and formerly the School of Industrial and Manufacturing Science
• Cranfield School of Management, known as SoM
• Defence College of Management and Technology (DCMT), Shrivenham
• Cranfield Health

• HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh - DSc(Hon), former University Visitor
• HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent - DSc(Hon), current University Visitor
• Mr Neil Armstrong - DSc(Hon), astronaut
• Sir Roger Bannister - DSc(Hon), athlete
• Prof. John Fozard - DSc(Hon), DCAe(Cranfield, 1950), deceased, Chief Designer, Harrier Jump Jet. See the Cranfield 50th Anniversary lecture ^[8]
• Sir Roy Fedden - DSc(Hon), deceased, designer, Bristol aero engines
• Mr Stelios Haji-Ioannou - DSc(Hon), founder, easyJet
• Sir Freddie Laker - DSc(Hon), deceased, founder, Laker Skytrain
• Sir John Rose - DSc(Hon), CEO, Rolls-Royce plc
• Sir Jackie Stewart - DSc(Hon), Formula One World Champion
• Air Cdr Sir Frank Whittle - DSc(Hon), deceased, inventor, jet engine
• Mr Woodrow Whitlow Jr. - DSc(Hon), Director, NASA Glenn Research Center
• Lord Winston - DSc(Hon), medical scientist

There are a number of companies located on the Cranfield University Technology Park (see external link) ranging from large international companies to small start-ups. Major companies on the park include:

• The Nissan Technical Centre^[9] Europe, which designs and develops cars for the European market. The NTC Europe facility occupies 19,700 square metres (212,050 square ft) of the Technology Park, representing an investment of £46m by Nissan.
• Io Systems Limited,^[10] a major supplier of Warehouse Control Systems and Warehouse Management Systems to clients in the UK, Europe and USA. The company occupies modern air-conditioned offices with excellent facilities for clients and staff.
• Trafficmaster plc^[11] occupies a 10 acre site for its European Headquarters. A leading company in telematics Trafficmaster's advanced technology enables cars and roads to be used more efficiently.
• Innovation Centre: the Technology Park is also the location for a large number of smaller companies.

An extension to the Technology Park is currently (2007) under construction. An additional Aerospace Park on the northeastern part of the campus is projected but there are currently (2007) no firm plans

1. ^ The Arms of the University. Cranfield University. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
2. ^ Sir John O'Reilly. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK. Retrieved on 2007-06-09.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2005/06. Higher Education Statistics Agency online statistics. Retrieved on 2007-03-31.
4. ^ Silsoe College timeline 1875-2008. Cranfield University.
5. ^ Cranfield Village Newsletter including a history and information on the airfield. Cranfield Parish Council.
6. ^ RAF Cranfield, College of Aeronautics and subsequent history leading to postgraduate University status. Cranfield University. Retrieved on 2007-06-09.
7. ^ Barker, Revel; Field of Vision - The First 50 Years, Cranfield University Press, 1996, ISBN 1-871315-60-3,
8. ^ Barker, Revel, Editor; From the Stringbag to the Jumping-Jet, Rolls Royce lecture by John Fozard, Cranfield University Press, 1996, ISBN 1-871315-61-1,
9. ^ Nissan UK. Nissan, UK. Retrieved on 2007-06-10.
10. ^ Io Systems Limited. Io Systems Limited. Retrieved on 2007-06-10.
11. ^ Trafficmaster plc. Trafficmaster plc. Retrieved on 2007-06-10.

• Cranfield University website
• Cranfield Technology Park
• Link to Google map with high definition satellite view including main runway and Cranfield village to the east, View showing in June 2007 was taken around 08.00 in June 2006.

Coordinates: 52°04′24, 00°37′40