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 to The University of Northampton Students’ Union. These range from special interest societies such as Doctor Who and Anime to faith-based societies such as the Christian Union and Hindu Society. NUMedia, the student-led, run and managed media society, was launched in September 2011 and is responsible for the NUNews newspaper, NURadio broadcasts and NUTube video productions. University technical colleges The university is an academic sponsor of two university technical colleges which opened in September 2013. Daventry University Technical College specialises in engineering, construction and environmental sustainability, Silverstone University Technical College in motorsports engineering, event management and hospitality. Notable people Staff Henry Bird, taught drawing at the art school; his students included the architect Will Alsop Dave Hill, political and educational activist, professor of education (2007–12) Robert Kirk, professor emeritus in the department of philosophy Alumni Will Alsop, modernist architect; graduated from Northampton College of Art Jon Bewers, footballer James D. Boys, academic and media consultant Dallas Campbell, television presenter and stage actor Andrew Collins, writer and broadcaster James Densley, academic and author Bill Drummond, artist, musician, writer and record producer Felippe Moraes, visual artist, art researcher and independent curator Daniel Middleton, YouTuber and writer Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2012–2014); graduated from Leathersellers College Lisa Davina Phillip, actress and singer Denys Watkins-Pitchford, prolific author of children's books and of rural affairs; illustrator and artist; graduated from Northampton College of Art See also Armorial of UK universities College of Education List of universities in the UK Northamptonshire Credit Union University of Northampton (13th century) References External links Park Campus Memories (PCM) - a tribute project about the former Park Campus, Boughton Green Road Avenue Campus Memories (ACM) - a tribute project about the former Avenue Campus, St. George's Avenue University website Educational institutions established in 1999 1999 establishments in