University history seminars and symposiums
The Research Group on University History organises regular seminars and symposiums. Our events consider the history of universities in their broadest sense and we have welcomed speakers from across the UK and Europe.
Upcoming events
Check back for more information about events that are coming up.
Previous events
Here's a summary of some of our previous seminars and symposiums.
This one-day symposium considered the long and broad history of the spaces, places and communities of universities. The symposium looked at questions including:
- The importance of geographical locations for the development of universities, such as their proximity to capital cities and other institutions or their siting in out of town locations;
- The spaces created for learning and research including libraries, laboratories and museums;
- The communities that universities have built and how they have interacted with the communities that surround them;
- The architectural symbolism of university architecture for the institutions and their vicinity;
- How history can help us understand the dilemmas facing universities as they seek to develop into global institutions rooted in specific locations.
The event was opened with a keynote address from Sir Peter Scott, Emeritus Professor of Higher Education Studies at the UCL Institute of Education.
Download the seminar programme (PDF, 65KB).