Letter: Come and Hear About the Challenges Facing The University of Surrey From The Students Themselves

Published on: 3 Feb, 2018
Updated on: 3 Feb, 2018

University of Surrey’s stag sculpture.

From Gordon Bridger

hon alderman and former Mayor of Guildford

British universities are one of our greatest national assets and much of our future depends on their success and development. Britain’s natural resources, such as iron and coal which enabled us, together with new technologies, education and human energy to play a key role in creating the modern world, no longer give us an overwhelming advantage.

We are now challenged by others, no less able and energetic than ourselves, who sometimes enjoy access to better, more plentiful natural resources. To make our way in the 21st century we need a higher educated, enterprising and highly skilled population and our universities and technical colleges are the keys to success.

However, universities have come under a good deal of justified criticism, with ridiculously overpaid vice chancellors and exam grade inflation, the result of financial pressure which also leads them to try and cater for an excessive number of students, many of whom would have had better more economically useful careers in technical colleges or apprenticeships. This undermines their longer-term value (incidentally, many of the greatest British world technological breakthroughs were made by inventors who had no university training).

Nonetheless, have been fortunate in Surrey in having a university which, since it was established 50 years ago, has become a centre of excellence in many fields and has one of the best record of employment in the country.

But not everyone in Guildford has been content with the university and its impact, mainly because of the pressure on housing, and poorly maintained, sometimes overcrowded, housing.

With careful planning, these problems can be solved and a successful university is essential for future generations.

The Guildford Society have invited student representatives from Surrey University to meet members and the public to have the chance to tell us about their problems and their achievements. This will be on Thursday, February 8 at 7pm for 7.30 at the Guildford Institute in Ward Street.

The representatives will not be in a position to deal with future planning proposals – but it will be a chance a chance to discuss and exchange ideas which we need to solve by working together.