Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds
Encyclopedia
The Institute for Transport Studies (ITS) is a school within the Environment Faculty of The University of Leeds in the UK.
The Institute is one of the leading centres for teaching and research in transport in the United Kingdom
, and attracts a number of students from outside the UK for its Masters and PhD
programmes.
The Institute is based on University Road, in the main University of Leeds campus, housing approximately 60 staff. ITS received royal recognition in 2009 by winning a prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education- the prize was awarded for "sustained excellence - 40 years' impact in transport research and teaching."
These are considered amongst the best available in the world, and attract students from around the world including from a number of European, Asian and African countries.
Most full-time students obtain jobs in transport consultancy, whereas most part-time students are already working in transport planning for a consultancy or a local authority.
ITS research is particularly notable for its breadth and depth, the international quality of which has been verified by the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) stretching back over a period of 20 years. This is a function both of the size and nature of ITS; the inter- and multi-disciplinary approach brings together researchers of various backgrounds and means that ITS has the capability to research any given topic from a combination of differing perspectives.
ITS research is sponsored by a wide variety of organisations, including the UK Department for Transport, the European Commission, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council – see the 'Research Projects' section of the ITS website for details.
UoLDS is a major research facility and was established in 2006 at a cost of over £1m. It provides the scope to undertake a wide variety of research, including much that would not be safe, ethical or cost effective to do on real roads. It is supported and operated by an expert team, who can tailor virtual scenarios and experimental data collection to the exact requirements of a particular investigation. Research projects include:
For details please visit University of Leeds Driving Simulator website.
Academic staff are organised into 4 research groups:
The current Director of the Institute for Transport Studies is Professor Mark Wardman, who took up post in January 2008, having previously served as ITS' Research Director. As the 7th Director of ITS, Prof. Wardman succeeded Prof Oliver Carsten. Previous incumbents include Professors Tony May, Peter Mackie, Chris Nash, Ken Gwilliam, Coleman O’Flaherty.
Staff profiles are available via http://www.its.leeds.ac.uk/people/
Internationally:
There are also alumni from other departments of the University of Leeds in high profile transport positions:
The Institute is one of the leading centres for teaching and research in transport in the United Kingdom
Transport in the United Kingdom
Transport in the United Kingdom is facilitated with road, air, rail, and water networks. A radial road network totals of main roads, of motorways and of paved roads. The National Rail network of 10,072 route miles in Great Britain and 189 route miles in Northern Ireland carries over 18,000...
, and attracts a number of students from outside the UK for its Masters and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
programmes.
The Institute
The University of Leeds first offered a Transport Planning & Engineering Masters programme in 1965, and this evolved by 1971 into a fully fledged Research Institute within the University.The Institute is based on University Road, in the main University of Leeds campus, housing approximately 60 staff. ITS received royal recognition in 2009 by winning a prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education- the prize was awarded for "sustained excellence - 40 years' impact in transport research and teaching."
Teaching
Teaching at ITS focuses on three levels, with perhaps the best known of these being the Masters programmes, which attract students from around the world.Undergraduate
Undergraduate programmes are offered in conjunction with other departments of the University of Leeds, such as Geography and the Business School. A range of ITS elective modules are available for students from any discipline and staff of the Institute regularly teach on undergraduate modules hosted in other Faculties.Masters
ITS offers five Masters programmes, available as 1 year full-time or 2–3 years part-time:- MSc (Eng) Transport Planning and Engineering
- MSc Sustainability (Transport)
- MA Transport Economics
- MSc Transport Planning
- MSc Transport Planning and the Environment
These are considered amongst the best available in the world, and attract students from around the world including from a number of European, Asian and African countries.
Most full-time students obtain jobs in transport consultancy, whereas most part-time students are already working in transport planning for a consultancy or a local authority.
Doctoral
PhD research at ITS attracts students from around the world, and ITS supervised students can now be attached to a Doctoral Research Centre (DTC). Research students are highly valued by ITS and despite often being at the early stages of their careers, are expected to make important contributions. Each student is encouraged to play an active role in the range of activities undertaken both within and across Research Groups.Research
ITS is one of the world's leading international centres for transport research. Research accounts for around two-thirds of all ITS activity and ranges from blue-skies exploration of new concepts through to applied research and work commissioned by specific clients.ITS research is particularly notable for its breadth and depth, the international quality of which has been verified by the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) stretching back over a period of 20 years. This is a function both of the size and nature of ITS; the inter- and multi-disciplinary approach brings together researchers of various backgrounds and means that ITS has the capability to research any given topic from a combination of differing perspectives.
ITS research is sponsored by a wide variety of organisations, including the UK Department for Transport, the European Commission, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council – see the 'Research Projects' section of the ITS website for details.
Research facilities
The University of Leeds Driving Simulator (UoLDS) is one of most advanced worldwide in a research environment and allows research into driver behaviour to be performed in accurately controlled and repeatable laboratory conditions.UoLDS is a major research facility and was established in 2006 at a cost of over £1m. It provides the scope to undertake a wide variety of research, including much that would not be safe, ethical or cost effective to do on real roads. It is supported and operated by an expert team, who can tailor virtual scenarios and experimental data collection to the exact requirements of a particular investigation. Research projects include:
- Intelligent Speed Adaptation
- Driver distraction by in-vehicle systems
- Speed choice and road environment
- Driver comprehension of traffic signs
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
- Vehicle design: active bonnet system
- Driver behaviour in narrow lanes
- Reduction of fatigue related accidents
For details please visit University of Leeds Driving Simulator website.
Staff
The Institute has around 60 staff members, consisting primarily of academic staff (teaching/research) and support staff. The precise number fluctuates, as ITS welcomes visiting staff on a regular basis, whom typically stay for periods of 3–6 months.Academic staff are organised into 4 research groups:
- Economics
- Modelling
- Sustainable Transport Policy
- Safety
The current Director of the Institute for Transport Studies is Professor Mark Wardman, who took up post in January 2008, having previously served as ITS' Research Director. As the 7th Director of ITS, Prof. Wardman succeeded Prof Oliver Carsten. Previous incumbents include Professors Tony May, Peter Mackie, Chris Nash, Ken Gwilliam, Coleman O’Flaherty.
Staff profiles are available via http://www.its.leeds.ac.uk/people/
Alumni
The vast majority of ITS graduates go on to take up employment in the transport sector, commonly but not limited to, roles in academia, consultancy, government and operators. ITS alumni in prominent positions in the UK transport sector, include:- Richard Cuthbert - Chief Executive, Mouchel plc
- Michele Dix - Managing Director, Planning, Transport for London
- Andrew Forster - Editor, Local Transport Today
- Nigel Foster – Director, Arup
- Ben Still - Director of Strategy, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
- John Thomas - former Director of Competition and Regulatory Economics, Office of Rail Regulation
- Richard Turner - former Chief Executive, Freight Transport Association
Internationally:
- Bekele Geleta - Secretary General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
- Richard Humphreys – Transport Program, The World Bank
- Fotis Karamitsos - Head of Maritime Transport & Intelligent Transport, The European Commission
- Jamie Leather - Transport Specialist, Asian Development Bank
- Man Ho Lee - Chief Transport Officer, Hong Kong Government
There are also alumni from other departments of the University of Leeds in high profile transport positions:
- Peter Hendy - Commissioner, Transport for London
- Wilben Short - Head of Transport, London 2012 OIympics