The University of the West of England (also known as UWE Bristol, or simply UWE) is a public university located in and around the city of Bristol, United Kingdom. The university has a history dating back to 1595, the year when the Merchant Venturers' School of Navigation was founded. The present institution was granted university status in 1992. The Chancellor of the university is Sir Ian Carruthers and Steven West is its Vice-Chancellor.