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16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 1
Foundation Hour 2016
CHURCH FOUNDATION,
PLURALIST PRESENT,
UNCERTAIN FUTURE?The role and calling
of a faith-based
institution in
Higher Education
today
In this FH lecture (following my Dearing Lecture) 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 University of Chester might make to HE.
We are facing a crisis in HE today, so first we need
some scene setting – how did we get here?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 2
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’!16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 3
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 death16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 4
Introduction
Newman’s The Idea of the University 1852, 1887
Robbins Report on Higher Education, 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.”
Reinterpreted a generation later by Dearing 199716th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 5
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 means16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 6
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)
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 7
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>academy16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 8
Introduction
BIS Green paper, Nov 6th 2015
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 funding16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 9
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)16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 10
Introduction
Business and politics in the Agora, the market-place,
are no longer placed 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? 16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 11
Introduction
In 1999 I preached before HM Queen at the 750th
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 19th 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 Wars16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 12
1 Church Foundation
1826: Founding of University College London by
mix of utilitarians, dissenters, Catholics, Jews.
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 13
1 Church Foundation
Human rights in
the American
and French
revolutions:
‘Freedom from
religion’ – French
secularism, or
‘freedom for
religion’ – USA
free market?
June 19th 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 London16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 14
1 Church Foundation
Proposal to instigate King’s by Reverend Dr George D’Oyly, Rector of Lambeth.
21st 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”!
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 15
1 Church Foundation
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 16
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
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’16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 17
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
1.25 million children in Sunday schools by 1831
Bp Otter College founded as a memorial April 1839
Leads to
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 18
1 Church Foundation
Chester’s earlier foundation January in 1839 also
involved future prime ministers like Gladstone and
Earl of Derby as well as Archbishop of Canterbury
Original buildings the first purpose built for the
training of teachers, opening in 1842.
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 19
1 Church Foundation
1839 Chester Diocesan Training College
1921 Affiliated to Liverpool University
1933 Future secured by the then Bishop of Chester,
Geoffrey Fisher, later +London, then ++Canterbury.
1960s Chester College of Education, post-Robbins
1996 University College Chester
2002 Warrington merger
2003 Degree awarding powers
2005 University of Chester
2007 Research degree powers; 2008 RAE success16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 20
1 Church Foundation
Part of Cathedrals
Group: ‘sixteen
universities with
Church foundations’
‘Ethical principles
informed by faith-
based values’
‘Share a common
faith heritage’
Clear links to the
three Churches16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 21
1 Church Foundation
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 22
1 Church Foundation
Many founded during
1840s – 1850s
Second wave in 1960s
post Robbins
Teacher training
Our church foundations lie in the 19th century
response to religious pluralism in Europe and
a deep desire to save children from child labour
by training teachers to educate them instead.
This happened a generation before the state’s
provision for universal primary education in 1870.
This was repeated again in the pluralistic 1960s.
Our church foundations were motivated by a
strong faith in God who wants everyone to grow.
This is surely something in which to take pride!16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 23
1 Church Foundation
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 24
2 Pluralist Present
And yet it takes several steps to find history
pages and many seem coy or embarrassed:
Oxford has some old pictures and narrative
Cambridge starts with a scary dinosaur
before pages work through its various periods
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 25
2 Pluralist Present
King’s overview:
‘founded by
King George IV
and the Duke of
Wellington (PM)’
‘in the tradition
of the Church
of England’
‘now welcomes
all faiths and beliefs’.
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 26
2 Pluralist Present
Foundation of KCL:
‘eminent politicians,
churchmen, others.
They wanted a
Church of England
alternative to UCL’
But more interested
in the Duke’s duel
than in Archbishop
of Canterbury!
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 27
2 Pluralist Present
Cathedrals group: a strong and proud statement
about ‘founded by the churches for purpose of
training teachers before state provided education
for all’ and admitting ‘women on an equal footing’16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 28
2 Pluralist Present
When you follow the links:
the four Catholic members
identify themselves: Heythrop,
Leeds, St Mary’s, Newman
Liverpool Hope is ‘ecumenical’
Of the others, only Chester and
Bishop Grossteste say ‘C of E’
Rest prefer to stress other
attributes, location, community,
facilities – being ‘different’ 16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 29
2 Pluralist Present
Welcome / Home page: ‘faith-based values’
Excellent list of four areas where faith-based
values will have an important impact.
Not clear how are these based on faith or
whether other universities would not also say
the same without values being based on faith.16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 30
2 Pluralist Present
‘only grouping in HE . . informed by faith-based values’
‘a distinctive contribution . reflects our identity & values’
‘a distinctively ethical perspective in HE landscape’
‘celebrates our heritage as Christian foundations’
strong statements – how do they get worked out?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 31
2 Pluralist Present
‘Church / Christian foundation’ – only in past?
‘Strong ethical principles’
‘Social justice’ and the ‘public good’
‘Responsible stewards of the environment’
‘Embrace diversity, combat prejudice, respect’
Uncertain link between the first and the rest?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 32
2 Pluralist Present
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 33
2 Pluralist Present
Mission stresses Church of England foundation
and ‘guided by Christian values’
Vision all well and good – but nothing distinctive;
‘guided by Christian values’, religious/spiritual?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 34
2 Pluralist Present
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 35
2 Pluralist Present
How did we move from strong church foundation
to present pluralist coyness or embarrassment?
1960’s ‘death of God’ and rise of ‘new atheists’,
R Dawkins etc – hence references to ‘no faith’.
Multicultural and pluralist challenge of recent
decades, immigration, international students.
BIS’ stress on equality, diversity and inclusivity.
Chester and CG universities need to compete in
the market place: will the values and mission be
still ‘faith-based’ and distinctive, or the same as
everybody else’s in the uncertain future?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 36
2 Pluralist Present
Understandable tendency to assume that this
slide from proud ‘church foundations’ through a
‘pluralist present’ will lead inexorably to the end
of Christian distinctiveness in Cathedral Group.
Final section will argue that this is not inevitable:
partly because of changes in our society
partly because of initiatives already happening
at Chester and within the Cathedral Group.
But now is the time for action to be taken.
First, a view from over the water in the USA:16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 37
3 Uncertain Future?
“Many American universities were founded as religious
institutions, explicitly designed to cultivate their students’
spiritual and moral natures. But over the course of the
20th century they became officially or effectively
secular. Religious rituals like mandatory chapel services
were dropped. Academic research and teaching replaced
character formation at the core of the university’s mission.
Administrators and professors dropped spiritual language
and moral prescription either because they didn’t know
what to say or because they didn’t want to alienate any part
of their diversifying constituencies.”
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 38
3 Uncertain Future?
“Universities are more professional and glittering than
ever, but in some ways there is emptiness deep down.
Students are taught how to do things, but many are not
forced to reflect on why they should do them or what we
are here for. But things are changing. . . Institutes are
popping up — with interdisciplinary humanities programs
and even meditation centers — designed to cultivate the
whole student: the emotional, spiritual and moral sides and
not just the intellectual. The trick is to find a way to talk
about moral and spiritual things while respecting
diversity.”
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 39
3 Uncertain Future?
The failure of the secularization hypothesis:
1960s theory that religion would die away.
Yet perhaps it is the most important political
and social issue facing the world in 21st century
–and the one most misunderstood by politicians
1960s-1970s assumption that science would
have all the answers & put God out of business
Star Trek ‘to boldly go’ came home with the 4th
series, Voyager; nostalgic prequel, Enterprise.
Post-Christian – or post-atheistic? R Dawkins?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 40
3 Uncertain Future?
Church-going may have declined recently:
5 million members; 2-3m in church on Sundays.
Compare 350,000 at Premier League matches.
Total capacity Premier League grounds: 750,000
Total capacity of 92 football grounds: 2 million.
Total membership of all political parties: 700,000
150k Conservatives; 110k SNP; 61k LibDem;
65k Greens; 42k UKIP; 290k Labour (plus 148k
union affiliates and 112k £3 members to vote).
British Humanist Association 40k; Secular similar16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 41
3 Uncertain Future?
16th March 2016
2011 National Census:
59.3% Christian (2001: 71.1%);
4.8% Muslim (3%); 1.5% Hindu
(1%); 0.8% Sikhs (0.5%); 0.5%
Jews (0.5%); 0.4% Buddhist
(0.3%); 25.1% ‘no religion’
(14.1%); 7.2% ‘no answer’
Large Christian majority, with
a tenth for other world faiths and
a quarter stating ‘no religion’.
Linda Woodhead’s recent lecturesRev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 42
3 Uncertain Future?
‘They’re all old people –
what about students today?’
CUE project 2010-2013 in
five different HE contexts
51% Christian; 34% none;
15% others. Backed up by
other surveys, 44-50%
Christians: 50% church in
term, and 66% in vacations
King’s surveys: students
more religious than staff16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 43
3 Uncertain Future?
‘Faith-based values’: what is the
doctrinal basis for our ethics?
Compare EIAG policies; needed
to be distinctively Christian
How does Creation–fall–election
–incarnation–atonement–eschat
-ology drive our view of human
beings? This can provide a real
‘faith-basis’ for ethical values.
See also Mike Higton Theology
of Higher Education OUP 2012 16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 44
3 Uncertain Future?
Chester Vision 2020
Corporate Plan
Begins with your
Mission, Vision and
Foundational Values
Moves through
student experience,
learning & teaching,
research innovation,
partnerships to
measures of success16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 45
3 Uncertain Future?
How to
maintain the
link between
Foundation,
Mission and
the overall
Vision?
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 46
3 Uncertain Future?
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 47
3 Uncertain Future?
These are
excellent
Values, but
under threat
in market-
driven HE.
How will you
honour & hold
yourselves
‘accountable
to them’?
Key Measures of Success are all impressive but
how are they derived from the mission and vision
and how ‘accountable’ to the foundation values?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 48
3 Uncertain Future?
What are the ‘measures of success’ for:
The ‘dignity and worth of every individual’? What if
some individuals stop getting into the top %ages?
‘education in the service of society’? There is the
target of 35,000 hours of community engagement,
but how to measure how you ‘serve society’?
What happens if the ‘pursuit of truth and freedom of
enquiry’ get in the way of achieving some of the
financial or institutional targets?
We need to cultivate the gift of wisdom to guide us.16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 49
3 Uncertain Future?
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 50
3 Uncertain Future?
The roundel is a fantastic summary of values
‘Founded in faith’
‘Creating community’
‘Serving society’
And holding yourselves ‘accountable’ to the values.
But are they challenged by market-driven approach
to HE ever since Dearing and BIS reports?
Graeme Davies, HEFCE, 1995, had Golden Rule:
“the man who has the gold, makes the rules!”
Jesus’ Golden Rule different: “God and Mammon”16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 51
3 Uncertain Future?
We have looked at the role & calling of faith-based
institutions in Higher Education today in the light of
Church Foundation,
Pluralist Present,
Uncertain Future?
Churches in the 1840s and 1960s responded to
needs of society and to challenge of pluralism
Extraordinary vision of founders and foundation
We must draw on this deep and sound
foundation to go forward into a certain future.16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 52
Conclusion
The contribution the Cathedral Group might make
to HE today is clear in all the various web-sites
Chester in particular is refreshingly bold and
distinctive in its mission, vision & foundation values
The challenge is to build on the church foundations
Ensure values are truly faith-based and distinctive
How to market this USP and measure success?
Can the ‘faith-based’ academy challenge the
Agora/market-place in future – or will it actually be
assimilated & its distinctive individuality erased?
Return to theme of ‘wisdom’ in tomorrow’s Sermon.16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 53
Conclusion
Challenge of relationship between the market and academy?
View across Agora from the Acropolis towards Plato’s Academy
Today I may have been Socrates, goading some questions
But I hope and pray we can all avoid drinking the hemlock!16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 54
Conclusion
16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 55
Foundation Hour 2016
CHURCH FOUNDATION,
PLURALIST PRESENT,
UNCERTAIN FUTURE?The role and calling
of a faith-based
institution in
Higher Education
today
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