The 2015 Dearing Memorial Lecture CHURCH FOUNDATION, PLURALIST PRESENT, UNCERTAIN FUTURE? The role and calling of faith-based institutions in Higher Education today 1 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
Introduction In this 7 th lecture in memory of Lord Dearing, after a brief Introduction, we will look at three main parts: Church Foundation, Pluralist Present, Uncertain Future? My purpose is to examine the role and calling of faith- based institutions in Higher Education today and the contribution the Cathedral Group might make to HE. We are facing a crisis in HE today, so first we need some scene setting – how did we get here? 2 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
Introduction “Universities today have a moral obligation to assist our fellow human beings in a global context” Context: King’s College London senior leadership ‘retreat’ to consider our ‘vision’ for next 25 years ‘retreat’ and ‘vision’ spiritual, even religious, words Going away into silence? 200 yards, consultant As Dean, I referred to our Anglican foundation, yet many nervous about doing so in our world today Dominant consideration was student satisfaction in the world of £9,000 tuition fees – ‘NSS is king’! 3 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
Introduction Discussion was part of a debate which goes back to Socrates arguing in the Agora, and Plato’s Academy Newman’s The Idea of the University 1852, 1887 Robbins Report on HE, 1963 – ‘common culture’ 7 th Memorial: Various Dearing Reports 1994 on the National Curriculum 1996 Exam system, bringing schools and technical training closer 2001 Church schools for Synod 2007 Languages in schools 4 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
Introduction 1997 ‘Higher Education in the learning society’ Involved 240 meetings and 380 public submissions Nearly 2,000 pages and 93 recommendations Vision for next 20 years A ‘learning society’ Discussed HE purpose ‘main business’ of HE Addressed HE funding ‘Graduate contribution’ - but recouped through income contingent means 5 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
Introduction What is the relationship between the market and academy? View across Agora from the Acropolis towards Plato’s Academy Socrates’ divine mission as ‘wisest man’ from the oracle to question business & politics; ignorant of ignorance; led to death 6 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
Introduction Dearing took as their ‘starting point’ the 1963 Robbins Committee which identified four aims and objectives of higher education, summarised as: “instruction in skills for employment ; promoting the general powers of the mind ; the advancement of learning and search for truth the transmission of a common culture and common standards of citizenship .” These were then reinterpreted in 1997 for the vision for the next 20 years of the ‘learning society’: 7 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
Introduction Para 5.11 “The four main purposes of higher education are: to inspire and enable individuals to develop their capabilities to the highest potential levels throughout life, so that they grow intellectually, are well-equipped for work , can contribute effectively to society and achieve personal fulfilment; to increase knowledge and understanding for their own sake and to foster their application to the benefit of the economy and society; to serve the needs of an adaptable, sustainable, knowledge- based economy at local, regional and national levels; to play a major role in shaping a democratic, civilised, inclusive society .” (Dearing Report, p. 72) 8 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
Introduction First point about individual fulfilment, work & society Next two are about the economy Shaping society in the final point Report led to fees, end of grants – against his wishes Dearing set up by Secretaries for Education & Employment 2001 Dept for Education & Skills 2007 Dept for Innovation, Universities & Skills 2009 Business, Innovation & Skills: agora>academy 9 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
Introduction BIS Green paper, Nov 6 th Stress on teaching standards, Teaching Excellence Framework Focus on student satisfaction and graduate employability Greater social diversity / mobility Allows successful to raise fees Opening up for new universities Reforming HE ‘architecture’ Implications for research funding 10 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
Introduction 5.46 There may be less emphasis now on the role of higher education in transmitting a common culture than there was at the time of Robbins, partly because cultures within the UK have become more diverse, and partly because there are so many other forms of cultural transmission available through the mass media. But this reinforces the need for higher education to preserve and transmit those forms and aspects of culture which may be, for the time being, unfashionable or in danger of being overwhelmed by the majority culture. (Dearing last para, p. 80) 11 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
Introduction Business and politics in the Agora, the market-place, are no longer between religion & Academy The market has taken over churches & universities In an individualistic and increasingly diverse society, what is the role and calling of higher education institutions with a religious foundation? Is it merely to ‘preserve and transmit . . aspects of culture which may be unfashionable or in danger of being overwhelmed by the majority culture’? Or might it offer something to or even save culture, or at least, save the academy from the marketplace? 12 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
1 Church Foundation The Cathedrals Group: ‘sixteen universities with Church foundations’ ‘Ethical principles informed by faith- based values’ ‘Share a common faith heritage’ Clear links to the three Churches 13 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
1 Church Foundation In 1999 I preached before HM Queen at the 750 th anniversary service of the 1249 grant of William of Durham for the ‘great hall of the University’, Oxford. Influenced by, and based, on the example of Paris Definition of a university: a quad v benefaction! Right up to the 19 th century, the English ancient universities of Oxford and Cambridge required staff and students to be communicant members of the Church of England: Shelley. An Anglican ‘lock - out’ stopping others having higher education. All changed in pluralism after the Napoleonic Wars 14 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
1 Church Foundation 1826: Founding of University College London by mix of utilitarians, dissenters, Catholics, Jews. Human rights in the American and French revolutions: ‘ Freedom from religion’ – French secularism, or ‘freedom for religion’ – USA free market? 15 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
1 Church Foundation June 19 th 1828 – The London paper Evening Standard announces a meeting to ‘to establish on Christian and constitutional principles a great metropolitan school’ ‘With such a seminary in a prosperous position, there will be neither motive nor excuse for any parent to inflict upon his offspring the disgrace of education in the infidel and godless college in Gower Street.’ Leads to the founding of King’s College London 16 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
1 Church Foundation Proposal to instigate King’s by Reverend Dr George D’Oyly , Rector of Lambeth 21 st June 1828 – Founding meeting takes place with present: Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington (PM in the Chair) the Archbishop of Canterbury eight other archbishops and bishops attend with a number of prominent laymen Caricature from 1828: the bishops’ involvement in the founding of King’s weighs down one end of the see- saw against the “University of London”! 17 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
1 Church Foundation Duel between the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchilsea over Catholic emancipation and founding King’s, Saturday 21 March 1829, Battersea Fields 18 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
1 Church Foundation 1829 Royal Charter: the objects of King’s College are to keep the connection of ‘sound learning’ with teaching the ‘doctrines and duties of Christianity’ and ‘the various branches of literature and science’ 19 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
1 Church Foundation To ensure this Christian vision King’s Principals had to be ordained clergy of the Church of England William Otter was the first Principal of King’s College London, 1831– 1836 Bishop of Chichester, 1836 – 1839 Bp Otter College founded as a memorial April 1839 1.25 million children in Sunday schools by 1831 Leads to 20 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL
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