The following year, Sir Ron Dearing and Buxton signed an agreement that gave the polytechnic accreditation from the Council for National Academic Awards.

In the following year, the Kaspar project received a £180,000 donation from an international grant making foundation, which was used to further the university's research into the use of robotics to support the social development of children with autism.

These include Kate Bellingham, British engineer and television presenter and Alistair Spalding, chief executive and artistic director of Sadler's Wells Theatre.

In these two cases, the halls were named in recognition of Bellingham and Spalding's attributes of intellectual depth and adaptability and professionalism, employability and enterprise.

The artist, Regina Valkenborgh, was a Master's student in August 2012, when she set the pinhole camera attached to one of the telescope domes in the Observatory.

The university runs on a three-term calendar in which the academic year is divided into three terms: Autumn (September–December), Spring (January–April), and Summer(April–May).

[25] The university offers over 800 undergraduate, postgraduate, CPD, online distance learning and short courses[26] in its 7 schools of study, within which there are around 50 academic departments and 24 research centres.

The large Weston Auditiorium is present on the de Havilland campus, adjacent to the Learn Resource Centre.

[citation needed] A third 50-hectare site in Bayfordbury houses the university's astronomical and atmospheric physics remote sensing observatory,[43] Regional Science Learning Centre,[44] field stations for biology and geography programmes.

[46] Home to some Schools within the Health and Human Faculty, this building is located on the edge of Hatfield town centre, off College Lane campus.

Skills facilities and ambulances for paramedic training are also situated at Meridian House, aside from counselling programme and staff offices.

The black gown and square cap familiar to all readers of the Beano had evolved into their present form in England by the end of the Reformation.

The crest, a Phoenix rising from an astral crown, represents the university's evolution from a technical college training apprentices for the aviation industry.

The two harts supporting the shield represent the county of Hertfordshire, with the covered cups referring to A.S. Butler, who donated the land upon which the original campus was built.

[39] Four of the university's schools achieved scores of 98 per cent: physics; astronomy and mathematics; health and social work; law and education.

[66] The Complete University Guide ranked UH courses in Food Science, Social Work, Optometry Ophthalmology & Orthoptics and Medical Technology as the top 20 in the UK in 2019.

This is above the band medium of 18.5, possibly suggesting that more students are dissatisfied with the outcome of internal complaints procedure's, compared to universities of a similar size.

[76] The university has also never been named in an OIA annual report for a shortfall in practice, or a failure to comply with a recommendation set by the Adjudicator.

Also an expanding research profile with key strengths in areas of nursing, psychology, history, philosophy, physics and computer science.

The Kaspar project began in 2005, drawing upon previous researches to develop a social robot for engaging autistic children in a variety of play scenarios.

[81] The Kaspar research has shown that robots may provide a safe and predictable tool for children with autism, that enables the children to learn social interaction and communication skills, addressing specific therapeutic and educational objectives (for example, being able to engage in direct eye-contact or shared eye-gaze), in an enjoyable play context.

[82] As part of the final year Aerospace Project, students and staffs from the University of Hertfordshire designed, built and tested a full sized rocket powered car under the mentorship of Ray Wilkinson, a senior professor from Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.With support from BBC - Bang Goes the Theory and Host Dallas Campbell, the Vauxhall VX220 sports car, was fitted with a large hybrid rocket motor that is designed to produce over half a tonne of thrust was tested in the Duxford Aerodrome.

[83][84] The project got lot of attention for its unprecedented success story and was showcased in local places to build interest in STEM.

This reflects the University of Hertfordshire's determination to provide not only an attractive education setting but also one which will inform, enlighten and enhance the life of its students, staff and the local community.

The collection has a diverse portfolio including photography, textile, ceramics, sculpture, mixed media and works by Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, Andy Goldsworthy, Alan Davie, and Diane MacLean.

The scheme started in 2006, when it is initially provided with the 700-car facility at Angerland Common, off South Way, Hatfield, in a bid to get cars off surrounding roads.

Since 2006, the university has planned on opening a second venue, with 150 spaces, at the south side car park at Stanborough Lakes in Welwyn Garden City.

[87] Uno (formerly UniversityBus) is a bus service operated by the University of Hertfordshire,[88] serving members of the general public, and also its own students and staff, at a discounted rate.

The main source of nightlife is the Forum, which houses three entertainment spaces, a restaurant, a café, multiple bars and onsite parking.

After 1988 it began to campaign on issues such as improvements to the canteen, lifting the ban on religious or political activity within the then Hatfield Polytechnic, and for a formal students' union.