Telling it Straight: Timeline

Just recently, BBC Newsnight released information on Ed Lester the (Chief Executive of the Student Loans Company) had received his £182,000 salary without deductions for tax and national insurance. This scandal amongst many others contributes to the history of British Universities.

In light of this I have designed a timeline, displaying key notable dates covering the history of British University as well as highlighting scandals which have happened over recent years.

Oxford University

1096 – First British University founded in Oxford commonly known as the first out of seven Universities within the ‘Ancient Universities’ group. Oxford was known asan important town geographically, commercially and favoured by Royalty.

1209 – University of Cambridge – Britain’s second oldest University was founded by two scholars who had left Oxford. They briefly lived in lodgings in town, eventually hiring houses as hostels with a Master in charge of the students. By 1226, vast amount of scholars had migrated to Cambridge, leading to an organisation starting which was represented by an official called a Chancellor, arranging regular courses of study.

1413 – Scotland’s first University: The University of St. Andrews was founded. Each of the Universities founded in Scotland during the 15^th and 16^th Centuries were modelled on different European institutions, taking their curriculum and teachings from the latest trends in Continental Education Practice.

1592 – The last ‘Ancient’ University founded is located in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The Irish University was founded via a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth just before the Tudor Monarchy had completed the task of extending authority over the whole of Ireland. Unlike the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge which comprise of several constitution colleges, there is just one Dublin College: Trinity College known formally as ‘Trinity College Dublin’ today.

Proffessor RB Mcdowell talking about Trinity College Dublin

1836 - Turn of the 19^th Century witnessed three new Universities founded via Royal Charter. On 28^th November 1836, The University of London became the third oldest University in England. The two founding colleges: UCL and Kings College London both pre-date the University as do many of the Universities institutions. The University of London was initially established to act as an examining body for its colleges and other ‘approved institutions’.

Library
Kings College, London

1880 - The term ‘red brick’ Universities is an informal description used to describe six particular Universities founded in the major industrial Cities of England before World War I. Notably Victoria University of Manchester became England’s first civic University when it was granted a Royal Charter in 1880 .

Youtube - History of Manchester University

1893 – The University of Wales is founded as a federal University which had three foundation colleges: University College Wales (known as Aberystwyth University), University College North Wales (known as Bangor University) and University College South Wales and Monmouthshire (known as Cardiff University). The University was recognised by the working population as their way out of poverty, a nation which hungered to learn.

By 1914, all universities except Oxford and Cambridge relied on the state for up to a third of their funding, and this incipient national system was consolidated by the creation of the University Grants Committee (UGC) in 1919. The UGC distributed state grants while respecting university autonomy, and in the 1920s and 1930s was a conservative force.

Central Hall - York University
Copyright of Johnteslade.

1960(s) – Emergence of plate glass Universities referring to the several Universities founded in the era of the Robbins Report on Higher Education. The term Plate Glass was coined by Michael Beloff, reflecting the modern architectural design of Universities comprising of plate glass in steel or concrete frames. The term also establishes the contrast with red brick universities and the ancient universities. The University of York which opened in October 1963, is a prime example. The University's Central hall is an example of plate glass architectural design.

1968 – The Open University was the world’s first successful distance teaching University. The Open University was founded on the belief that technology could bring high quality degrees to people who did not have the opportunity to attend campus universities.

1992 – Former Polytechnics, Central Institutions or Colleges of Higher Education were given University status by John Major’s government through the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

Mid 1990(s) – The explosion of the internet made the Open University the World’s leading e-University. Today more than 180, 000 students are interacting with the Open University online from home.

2003 – The Sunday Times Universities Guide places the Open University above Oxford for teaching quality. The Open University shared the same record number of University Challenge wins as Magdalene College Oxford.

Newspapers reaction to Student protesting
Image by Monika Ciapala.

2010 – The Browne Review was published in October of that year, proposing to remove the cap on tuition fees which resulted in a vast amount of students protesting and holding demonstrations to oppose increasing the fees to £9,000.

2011 – The Government won a vote in the House of Commons which would let Universities being able to charge students up to £9,000 tuition fees per year. Sixty four Universities have announced their intention to charge the full £9,000 from 2012.

2011 – The Telegraph published an article discussing a survey of 80 plus Universities revealing that academic misconduct was soaring at institutions across the board. More than 17,000 incidents of cheating were recorded by Universities during the academic 09/10 year.

University of Cambridge
Image taken by andrew_j_w .

2011 - The University of Cambridge takes the top spot in 2012 Guardian University Guide league table, breaking its arch rivals Oxford six year reign as the UK’s leading institution. The Guardian analysis shows that Universities with low rankings are almost likely to be planning to charge maximum tuition fees of £9,000 as those with high rankings.

2011 – The University of Wales – Second largest in the Country, is abolished after visa scandal. An investigation revealed how overseas students at Rayat London College were sold diploma exam answers in advance of taking the test resulting in them being awarded UoW MBA degrees, allowing them to apply for UK visas, and exempted them from most of the work.

2011 – In the aftermath of the University of Wales scandal, the institution has merged with Trinity St David in Camarthenand Lampeter and Swansea Metropolitan University. A move which sees the University of Wales recreated under a new brand.

2012 – BBC Newsnight finds out that Ed Lester, Chief Executive of the Student Loans Company received his £182,000 salary without deductions for tax and national insurance.