to social innovation and entrepreneurship by being designated a 'Changemaker Campus' by Ashoka U. Northampton was the first Changemaker Campus in the UK and joins a global network of 21 other Changemaker Campuses.
=== Research ===
Research, consultancy and knowledge transfer at the university are centred on a number of cognate research groupings. It carries out internationally renowned research into lift engineering and technology, using the Express Lift Tower in the town, reflecting the town's historic role in lift manufacturing.
== Student life ==
=== Students' Union ===
The Students' Union operates out of the redeveloped Engine Shed location on the Waterside Campus, which also operates as a daytime cafe and food outlet. The Students' Union is led by five full-time Sabbatical Officers, backed by volunteers including an extended Elected Officer Team of Part Time Officers and is supported by almost 200 staff – both student and career staff.
=== Sports ===
The Students' Union has 35 sports clubs and enters 24 teams in Wednesday BUCS Leagues each week. The Students' Union operate on a policy of free sports membership, meaning all teams are free to join with no membership fee and offers a wide variety of sports including rugby league (Gremlins RL), football, netball, basketball, hockey and lacrosse. They are also one of a select SUs to offer equestrian as a sports club for their students. Sports is overseen by the Sports Coordinator with an elected Sports Part-Time Officer acting as a representative for the voice of student sports.
Since the start of the 2018–19 academic year, the Students' Union has contested a Varsity event against the University of Bedfordshire, with each institute taking it in turns to host the event each year. The SU also hosts an end of year Sports Awards event to recognise the achievement of all clubs, with awards including both performance based awards as well as charity and individual awards.
=== Societies ===
Approximately 60 student societies are affiliated with The University of …
