Media
Reinvention key to success
Press Release: 23 January 2008
Contacts:
Binda
Rai +44 (0)20 7862 8545
Peter Quinn +44 (0)20 7664 5584
Pictures available from: Picture Partnership - 020 8665 5745
Picture
caption - left to right: Professor Jonathan Kydd, Dean of the External System; Gordon
Taylor, Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers' Association; Gisela Stuart MP; Rt
Hon Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills;
Sir Graeme Davies, Vice-Chancellor, University of London
“Reinvention lies at the heart of the 150 years’ success of the University of London External System”, said Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
Speaking at the London launch of the University of London External System’s 150th Anniversary, Mr Rammell said: “With over 40,000 students across the world, the University of London External System is a pioneer in the field of flexible and distance education. Its immense success can be attributed to its ability to look forward continuously and reinvent itself.”
He added: “As the 150th Anniversary book – The People’s University – illustrates, the External System continues to evolve in a way that keeps it relevant to new student needs. Through its activities, the University of London External System supports the Government’s access agenda. Through its study programmes, it supports the Government’s international development agenda relating to global issues of health, education and sustainable development, amongst others” the Minister added.
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Gordon Taylor, Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers' Association; Gisela Stuart MP |
Looking to the future, Professor Jonathan Kydd, Dean of the University of London External System, commented: “We are growing fast, particularly in what in the business world would be called the frontier segment of emerging markets – Nigeria, Ghana, Bangladesh, Pakistan – so we have to think about access and quality in often quite challenging situations. High quality, accessible, internationally recognized higher education can make a great contribution to countries’ successful and peaceful integration into the global economy.”
Sir Graeme Davies, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, said: “The External System’s unique business model allows it to deliver high quality programmes at an affordable cost to students worldwide. The result is that we have graduates from all walks of life and from all parts of the globe, many of whom have made their mark on the world stage. These include five Nobel Prize winners, academics, lawyers, business leaders, engineers and politicians.”
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Sir Graeme Davies, Vice-Chancellor, University of London, and Rt Hon Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills; |
Sir Graeme added: “We’re immensely proud of our 150-year track record, which has opened up the possibility of gaining a world-class University of London award to people studying in their home countries. The commitment of our students is enormously impressive, as many juggle busy lives, fitting their study around work and family commitments. This has been made possible by the University of London External System, which anticipated 20th Century developments in open, flexible and distance learning by more than 100 years.”
Editors Notes
The University of London
- 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 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.
The top 20 countries the External System operates in:
| 1. Singapore | 6. Pakistan | 11. Mauritius | 16. Russia |
| 2. Hong Kong | 7. Bangladesh | 12. UAE | 17. Kenya |
| 3. UK | 8. USA | 13. Jamaica | 18. Malta |
| 4. Trinidad | 9. Sri Lanka | 14. Nigeria | 19. Germany |
| 5. Malaysia | 10. Canada | 15. India | 20. Japan |
For further information on ‘The People’s University’ please visit:
www.londonexternal.ac.uk/150/book
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)