Example script narrative with no advert. Episode “Town and Gown”, part of the Jisc Edu 4.0 Series

Hello everyone and welcome to this FINAL episode (WAH) in our Education 4.0 series with friends at Jisc, looking at the changing world of education in the fourth industrial era. A big shout out to Jisc for supporting the series, to all our amazing guests and to you for listening in. What’s been your favourite episode in the series? We’d love to hear from you; tweet us using the hashtag #edu4_0 with what you’ve learnt or shared over the series…

This week’s episode is all about town and gown. How can town and gown work together to reinforce our social fabric? To kick off this episode, I spoke to Fiona Boyd, at J.Wippel and Company, one of the largest gown makers for Universities, about the history of the term…

*Use of the renaissance music - Renaissance Lute John Dowland Album.mp3 *

up to 3:33 “so the relevance of the term just refers to Oxbridge.

As Fiona mentions, the history of the academic gown evolved from garments warn by , which were practical for drafty buildings like churches and Universities. In Roger Kemp’s Town and Gown Relations: A Handbook of Best Practices, this item of clothing also serves as a social symbol, as it was impractical for physical manual work. I can’t imagine painting whilst in one, for example, or washing up. So, in their distinctive clothing students were set apart and distinguished from the citizens of the town and Inevitably, this led to tensions.

22:22 – 23:41 “that division of town and gown can be”

That’s James Asfa, a former Oxford student now working in community engagement between citizens and Universities. James had a Croydon accent, different to most of his fellow students. For the students that went before him, differences in the students spoke and dressed also caused tensions. Many university students were foreign and spoke . Students often could not speak the local dialect, and most uneducated townspeople spoke no Latin.

Recurring themes of language barriers, unfair rental agreements, University campus sprawl, impunity from civil laws and rowdy student behaviour underpinned the tension between “Town” or local citizens and “Gown” i.e. The incoming students. Here’s Christopher Day, University Lecturer, and Fellow of Kellogg , Oxford University, talking about one of the largest escalations of town and gown violence, the Battle of St. Scholastica Day at Oxford, a protracted two-day battle in which local citizens armed with bows attacked the academic village, killing and maiming scores of scholars on 10 February 1355.

In this clip, Christopher reminds us that much of our University structure today has been forged through the combined needs of town and gown. Indeed, the was also originally set up after a fight between the townspeople of Oxford and scholars from the forced many scholars to flee to a new location in 1209. But whilst tensions still exist – and it’s easy to think of the dichotomies of the liberal University-educated elites vs. the people put forward by populist media – it’s interesting to think about what forms an evolving university in the 21st century might take, forged with local needs and wants.

I spoke to Joysy John, Head of Education at Nesta earlier on in the year about broadening out what education means, hyperlocalising what’s on offer.

Joysy talked about diversity and role models. Going back to the Croydon accent again, one of Croydon’s most famous citizens is the hugely successful British rapper and singer Stormzy. Stormzy financed a scholarship programme for Black students at Cambridge University, one of our most revered Universities set in Britain’s most unequal city. He talks about the backlash to the programme here;

So how do we create more opportunity and dialogue between town and gown, and make the University more porous? More of us are going to University than ever before, but who decides who shouldn’t enter? How do we broaden the concept of Gown; who is within the University fold, and does this end with the students and scholars or go far beyond? If interdisciplinarity is shaking up the University curriculum, can we take the same approach to who we bring into the education family?

Joysy was one of my favourite interviews this year, because she was so open about the role of her mother in her own educational journey and opportunities.

One organisation hoping to harness this energy, is Parent Power.

Remember him? That’s James Asfa, Lead Organiser of Citizens UK, and founder of the Parent Power programme with King's College London. Pioneered by King’s Widening Participation department and community organising charity Citizens UK, Parent Power has trained more than 200 parents in university access, student finance and tutoring. Here he talks about Parent Power started

In past episodes in this series, we’ve talked about the evolution of the University campus. Here James talks about the faceless building of a University for those who don’t feel involved;

Lilliana Torres is an active member of Parent Power. She talks about the impact it’s had on her own life and family life:

So, whilst Education 4.0 has expanded access to the University experience in terms of numbers both within a physical and online campus, student wellbeing is also demanding better communication and personalisation of needs depending on each of our circumstances.

This is as much about old-fashioned face to face relationship building as it is about technology

And even though new University models are popping up, the need for rootedness in the local context and in traditions is still clear:

And that’s it from this Education 4.0 series. It’s been a real pleasure to have you with us. Some of my favourite episodes have been only connect looking at hybrid campuses and partnerships. I also loved my interview with the passionate team at the University of Northampton. I hope you’ve got your favourites too.

That’s all for now. If you’re having episode withdrawal symptoms go and find out our new series which kicks off this month.

You can also continue the conversation online at #edu4_0 at JISC and at podcastedtech on all the social medias. If you’ve got a gown, give it a swish and if you’re from a town, voice that accent loud and proud.

Thanks also to my guests and you for listening.

For all the show notes it’s www.theedtechpodcast.com

Have a great week.

BLOODY STUDENTS

Bye Bye!