A University for Herefordshire - Hereford Times/Journal letter pages Home page
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Hereford Times = H T Journal = H J
Here is the original letter:
Paragraph numbers will help readers when they reply.
Letter page H J 9 April p 7
University would be a huge folly
1
'TO my dismay, I see there is a move afoot to add to the motley collection of universities in this country by siting another in our own embattled county of Hereford. (Shire is Saxon for 'county' and should never have been put on recently replaced road signs.)
2
Can no-one see that the reason the UK is still over a trillion pounds in debt and in almost perpetual decline is primarily attributable to the fact that we are not producing things anymore?
3
I am convinced that only a third of the young people who attend university should do so and that Tony Blair's discredited mantra 'Education, Education, Education' has been a recipe for failure, resulting in a whole generation being conned into thinking that the only way to achieve success in life is to attend 'uni'.
4
This is a 21st century holy cow inflicted upon them by insidious and subtle indoctrination from the time they enter school to the time they leave college, mainly to satisfy the Government's imposed targets and to encase them in debt - leaving them little time to rebel or question the system.
5
What we really need are more 'doers' and less frustrated academics, a lot of whom go on to jobs which have nothing to do with the degree they have obtained.
6
And finally, to cast an eye on our often lamentable and misguided council! Why are they even contemplating a seminary for higher tertiary education when we are told that they scarcely have the resources to keep the public libraries or toilets open?
7
If there. is money to spare for such a doubtful undertaking as a local university, why are they making savage cuts in almost every other direction, and can they please get their priorities right before committing themselves to another futile and money-squandering exercise.
STEPHEN CONSTANCE
St Martin's Street
Hereford
Date and page number to preceed.
For publication - this version includes repetition of the Carer World links at the end.
Stephen Constance's letter of 9 April makes sense in the economic climate but, judging from the website devoted to "A New University for Hereford" (NUH), his opening remark on the "Shire" aspect of the situation seems irrelevant. His economic-based comments, however, need a more in-depth treatment as seen on NUH.
Readers need not look for the website as they will find it and lots of supporting information via carerworld.info and then via the Updates page.
Both websites indicate where the money will come from. One result is that over £77 million per year will be added to the local economy.
NUH is clear in its mission and how/when that will be achieved. It doesn't hide its head in the sand and deals with the various negative issues relating to our County.
NUH focuses on Mr Constance's "doers". The matter of students going on to "jobs which have nothing to do with the degree they have obtained" is dealt with on the website.
It asks questions like " What is the purpose of higher education in the 21st century?" and gives answers - Universities are an integral part of the supply chain to business — a supply chain that has the capability to support business growth and therefore economic prosperity."
It is forward-looking to the extent of ". . in 2050, businesses will look very different from today, and will be virtually unrecognisable from those of thirty years ago. Successful organisations will be capable of adapting their operational and intellectual infrastructures as their businesses, customers and markets evolve." Just what our County needs - education for success!
We are informed that " The New University will be working in close collaboration with Herefordshire College of Arts, Hereford & Ludlow College, and the Royal National College for the Blind to ensure that Herefordshire is recognized as a national centre of excellence in education."
One of my pages looks at the innovative Hereford & Ludlow College which is already developing the pathway for those in Further Education to make the transition to Higher Education. Similar organisations will follow.
Lastly, for the moment, readers of my website will find out about " The placement of higher education as a key catalyst in Herefordshire Council’s economic regeneration plans" in small bites.
There's an abundance of difficult questions to be asked and answered concerning a new University for Hereford. Through the auspices of Hereford Times and Hereford Journal and working together, we'll find answers which guide our aspirant undergraduates to a tailor-made university on their doorstep.
Alan F Harrison (Prof, ret'd)
Ross-on-Wye carerworld.info or http://carerworld.yolasite.com/ then via Updates
16 April 2014
The letter with links
Paragraph numbers will help readers when they reply to the author.
1
Stephen Constance's letter of 9 April makes sense in the economic climate but, judging from the website devoted to "A New University for Hereford" (NUH), his opening remark on the "Shire" aspect of the situation seems irrelevant. His economic-based comments, however, need a more in-depth treatment as seen on NUH.
2