Media
Celebrating 150 years of global access to education for all
Press Release: 11 January 2008 - Hong Kong launch event
Contacts:
Binda Rai +44 (0) 20 7862 8545
Peter Quinn +44 (0)20 7664 5584
The University of London External System, which pre-empted contemporary distance learning by more than 100 years, celebrates its 150th Anniversary during 2008.
The year-long celebrations start this month with four launch events, the first of which takes place in Hong Kong on Sunday 13 January. The Hong Kong event is being held in conjunction with HKU SPACE (The University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education), which teaches study programmes offered by the University of London External System. This will be followed by launch events in London and Delhi on 23 and 28 January respectively, and Lagos on Friday 15 February.
A key feature of these events will be the launch of an illustrated book that not only traces the history of the University of London External System, but looks forward to the future. The book is entitled The People’s University: 150 Years of the University of London and its External students.
“With 41,000 students studying on more than 100 study programmes in 180 countries, it was only right that the launch of our 150th Anniversary should reflect our global nature”, said Sir Graeme Davies, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London.
Sir Graeme said: “It is only befitting that we should celebrate this momentous achievement with the people that have supported us and contributed towards our success over the past 150 years. Indeed, the events in Delhi and Lagos have been jointly organised with the British Council, with whom we have a long-standing relationship in that they facilitate our examinations in many parts of the world.”
He added: “I believe our External System has been unique in its approach to education by ensuring that the University of London degree has been available for so long to anyone that could not come to London to study. And, quite appropriately, it was referred to as ‘The People’s University’ in a publication produced by Charles Dickens, which very aptly describes what we stand for.”
-ENDS-
Editors Notes
- The University of London was established in 1836 and is one of the oldest, largest and most diverse universities in the United Kingdom.
- The University’s founding principle is to provide education for all, irrespective of race, creed or political belief.
- In 1858, the University of London was granted its fourth charter, which paved the way for the establishment of the University of London External System.
- The University of London External System pre-empted distance education by more than 100 years.
- The University of London External System is a unique global network of 41,000 students in 180 countries, on more than 100 study programmes ranging from social sciences to law to health.
- The External System has been instrumental in the formation of British higher education – all English and Welsh universities founded between 1849-1949 offered University of London degrees before obtaining charters to award their own.
- Between 1946-1970, the External System played a significant role in establishing many Commonwealth universities under a unique scheme of ‘special relations’.
- Through the External System higher education was made available to a much wider range of social classes; it pre-empted 20th Century developments in open, flexible and distance learning by more than 100 years.
- Famous former students and alumni of the External System include five Nobel Prize Winners: Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins, Ronald Coase, Wole Soyinka, Derek Walcott and Nelson Mandela.
- Further information is available on www.londonexternal.ac.uk/150
- Photographs are available on request.
For further information contact:
Binda Rai
Head of Global Media and Public Relations
University of London External System
Email: binda.rai@london.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7862 8545 (office)
07920 476483 (mobile)
Peter Quinn
Senior Communications Manager
University of London External System
Email: peter.quinn@london.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7664 5584 (office)