YOU see the signs everywhere, but what do you actually know about Bournemouth University and the Arts University College at Bournemouth (AUCB)?

Yes, you may have seen young people in questionable clothes trying to booze their bodyweight for a tenner.

But in big and little ways they contribute to the area’s well-being.

This week is Universities Week so let’s celebrate five good reasons to love Bournemouth University and the AUCB.

1: They put us on the global map – especially through the media More than 50 Bournemouth University graduates worked to bring Avatar to the screen – the first film to generate two billion US dollars in revenue.

In particular, the animation supervisor, Paul Kavanagh, completed his master’s degree at Bournemouth in 1991.

Graduates from the AUCB include German photographer Wolfgang Tillmans who won the Turner Prize in 2000 for photos that capture everyday life in an unusual way – like a joyful naked man rolling about the in the sand dunes.

Another is Oscar-winner Simon Beaufoy, the scriptwriter for The Full Monty and Slumdog Millionaire.

2: They bring money into the local economy – lots of it Research found Bournemouth University student spending off campus contributes around £240m to the region.

Investment spruces up neglected areas too – look at the new Business School and student accommodation at Lyme Regis House in Bournemouth’s Lansdowne.

The AUCB’s currently has business projects with companies including marketing firm Aylesworth Fleming in Bournemouth, Banyards landscapers in Wimborne, and Siemens Traffic in Poole.

3: They do vital scientific research In 2009 Bournemouth had its first ever paper published in the highly rated journal Science – and then two more.

One of them was Professor Matthew Bennett’s discovery of 1.5 million-year-old Homo Erectus footprints that showed our ancestors walked much as we do today.

In October, Bournemouth got a £6.3m grant, along with the University of Bath, to found the Centre for Digital Entertainment.

There is also innovation – design graduate Franziska Conrad’s pop up tent is now a music festival favourite, selling more than 20,000 units.

4: They are on the up Bournemouth University was ranked the UK’s number 1 new university in the Guardian University Guide 2009 and 2010 – and in 2009 there was a 13 per cent increase in undergraduate applications.

The AUCB was also rated 4th in the UK for graduate employment by the Times Higher Education in 2008, and the most recent survey by the watchdog the Quality Assurance Agency gave it the highest possible grade.

5: They contribute to Dorset’s culture and community The Student’s Union at Bournemouth has been working hard to build bridges with its I Love Bournemouth campaign – and recent volunteering work stretches as far afield as a Bulgarian orphanage.

The practical nature of the university’s courses also helps – for example event management students have organised around 30 fundraisers this year, mainly with Dorset charities.

You can also watch free art house films, take in the sculpture and fine art collection, attend open, and take part in business networking evenings.

The AUCB is one of only 15 higher education institutions in the UK devoted solely to the study of art, design and media – it holds regular public displays of work by students and famous alumni.