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Universities a lot of people look down upon. :yep:
Reply 2
It's short for ex polytechnic. They're universities formed from polytechnic colleges, which were higher education institutions usually offering vocational courses aswell as some other forms of tertiary education. In 1992 they were allowed university status by the government.
Reply 4
To use some of my post from just a couple of hours ago.

Universities that gained uni status in 1992, after years being polytechnics. These generally specialist in techincal and vocational teaching, including teaching, architecture, enginnering and just general applied science. They also taught traditional academic subjects and, although they their own degree awarding powers they was a central body that awarded degrees on their behalf.

The government recognised that the distinction between polys and tradiitional unis was become irrelevant so, under the Major government, were given uni status. Greatly increasing the number of universities in the country.

Ever major city has at least one "ex-poly" equivalent. Northumbria (Newcastle), Hallam (Sheffield), Trent (Nottingham), Manchester Met, Leeds Met, University West England (Bristol)...Often unfairly criticised by many (who don't see them as real unis, or see them as inferior instiutions.
Reply 5
River85
To use some of my post from just a couple of hours ago.

Universities that gained uni status in 1992, after years being polytechnics. These generally specialist in techincal and vocational teaching, including teaching, architecture, enginnering and just general applied science. They also taught traditional academic subjects and, although they their own degree awarding powers they was a central body that awarded degrees on their behalf.

The government recognised that the distinction between polys and tradiitional unis was become irrelevant so, under the Major government, were given uni status. Greatly increasing the number of universities in the country.

Ever major city has at least one "ex-poly" equivalent. Northumbria (Newcastle), Hallam (Sheffield), Trent (Nottingham), Manchester Met, Leeds Met, University West England (Bristol)...Often unfairly criticised by many (who don't see them as real unis, or see them as inferior instiutions.


Interesting, although I take the risk of turning this thread into a debate, may I ask why they are seen as inferior institutions?
Reply 6
ReLimp
Interesting, although I take the risk of turning this thread into a debate, may I ask why they are seen as inferior institutions?


Concentration on more vocational courses, these being less academic. Lack of history and therefore prestige in some opinions. They generally have lower entry requirements.
Reply 7
personally i prefer ex poly's. Because of the previous bad rep's they have been trying to prove everybody wrong so constantly have the extra drive to improve. They are often given extra government grants to improve facilities, teachers etc.

At the very least, polytechnics were traditionally in the middle of cities, so the uni's which have now taken over are in the heart of the city! better facilities, transport, location etc..... all a bonus! :smile:
Reply 8
ReLimp
Interesting, although I take the risk of turning this thread into a debate, may I ask why they are seen as inferior institutions?


Snobbey really.

There are some quite weak institutions out there, that can't be denied. Even so, there are some such as Northumbria, Trent or Oxford Brookes who are amongst the leading new universities. They can compete with many of the more traditional unis and are fairly strong in a number of "academic areas". All of those three have decent law schools, for example. Northumbria in particular (the only uni to offer a law degree that exempts students from the LPC - the academic stage of qualifying as a solicitor).

It's also the ex-polys that may concentrate on "niche" courses, things such as computer animation. They also tend to be quite strong in the professional courses, things like education, psychology, the medical courses etc.

There are historical reasons. As I said, polys traditionally concentrated on vocational/techincal/applied courses and, although many did still teach the academic subjects, they were very much in the shadow of the universities. Some of whom have a long history of teaching subjects like the liberal arts (and were able to award their own degrees).

It takes a long time for people to appreciate times have changed, not helped by the poor institutions that do exist (and were polys).

There are many threads about the worth of ex-polys. I see there was just one created yesterday or so. I keep away from them now. That "feeling sorrry for ex-poly students" thread, which ran for what seemed at eternity, just annoyed me. This is also the issue. I said that some see them as "inferior" institutions. These people are usually sixth formers or the general public, not necessarily employers. Esepcially not in the professions (engineering, nursing, surveying, teaching, psychology...even law to a much lesser extent) when ex-polys can also offer accredited degrees.
Reply 9
I love ex-polys,they have generally seemed better for what im looking to do due to location and just the modern feeling about them.woooooooo go ex-polys:biggrin:
Reply 10
River85

I said that some see them as "inferior" institutions. These people are usually sixth formers or the general public, not necessarily employers. Esepcially not in the professions (engineering, nursing, surveying, teaching, psychology...even law to a much lesser extent) when ex-polys can also offer accredited degrees.


This is probably the best comment I've read on the subject thus far. I'd just add that it's also worth remembering that the distinction between ex-poly students and those of supposed good universities gets even more blurred at the postgraduate level: it's not that unusual to find graduates from new universities pursuing research and other postgraduate degrees at what are deemed good or elite universities (or vice versa for that matter). Were you to takes some of the opinions voiced on these forums seriously, you'd think that this would be an impossible transition to make (given the supposedly much lower quality of their education) - yet they are judged capable by postgrad admissions tutors and tend to do just as well as their peers from more respected institutions.

Also, what a lot of people seem to neglect in their discussions is the quality of education received. Only the most naive would assume that a high entry requirement and a decent reputation is a guarantee of good educational practice: it's quite possible to go to what's regarded as a very good university, only to find some of their classes dominated by lecturers who, preferring to spend their time conducting research, will expend only the bare minimum of effort in fulfilling their teaching duties. Similarly, it's possible to experience a very high quality of teaching and pastoral care in ex-polys.

All in all River85 is right. The people who most veheremently condemn the ex-polys are usually people who are in no position to comment, spouting off ragged clichés and regurgitating ill informed received wisdom as if it was some bold insight of theirs.
It's worth pointing out that the "ex-polys" are only part of what constitutes the "new universities". We have a lot of college of further and higher education that have been upgraded to university-status recently. This has allowed more people to go to university to study for a degree. The degrees of these smaller colleges were usually validated by more traditional universities (Winchester used to be validated by Southampton, Westminster used to be validated by Oxford etc), but now they can award their own degrees.

When people are being snobby towards new universities, they tend to forget that these universities were backed by more more established universities today (but I don't hear people being snobby towards Oxford because of it...)
Reply 12
I would however be happier saying that I go to the "Royal Polytechnic Institution". Sounds much better than University of Westminster.

It may be a new university but some of the Victorian history of the uni is brilliant
lazza
I would however be happier saying that I go to the "Royal Polytechnic Institution". Sounds much better than University of Westminster.

It may be a new university but some of the Victorian history of the uni is brilliant


I don't know if my post triggered yours, but I didn't,know Westminster was called the Royal Polytechnic Institution - sounds great!

Westminster College is the college in Oxford that wasn't part of the University of Oxford, but the degrees were validated by Oxford. In 2002 Westminster College was merged with Oxford Brookes. Some of the old students didn't like it because they thought of themselves as a proper Oxford college, which was never actually the case.

I know what you mean about histories. Many (most?) of the new universiteis have been educational establishments for years (in some cases centuries).
Reply 14
not all ex polys became universities under the 1992 higher education act, some developed that way via the traditional route under expansion in the 1960s such as city, brunel and salford
andy_85
not all ex polys became universities under the 1992 higher education act, some developed that way via the traditional route under expansion in the 1960s such as city, brunel and salford


I didn't realise Salford is an ex-poly.
Reply 16
The Boosh
I didn't realise Salford is an ex-poly.

different types of poly, salford was a technical institution, which is essentially the same thing as a poly but minus academic subjects, ie it was purely vocational. these institutes became universities at the time because of the high demand for engineers in the rebuilding and modernisation of postwar britain.
andy_85
different types of poly, salford was a technical institution, which is essentially the same thing as a poly but minus academic subjects, ie it was purely vocational. these institutes became universities at the time because of the high demand for engineers in the rebuilding and modernisation of postwar britain.


Oh OK.

That's pretty much the kind of history that most universities have been through!
Reply 18
The Boosh
Oh OK.

That's pretty much the kind of history that most universities have been through!

well exactly, thats how the council run polytechnics finally earned their right to become universities in the early 90s, and that also came down to a growing need for graduate level education. though this time it was for our growing service led economy rather than the previous boom in engineering that led to the growth in he, there will always be a need for changes and expansion over time
Reply 19
sheashea123
I love ex-polys,they have generally seemed better for what im looking to do due to location and just the modern feeling about them.woooooooo go ex-polys:biggrin:


i agree, im going to coventry for that reason, i knew the moment i visited it that is where i wanted to go, i went to Kent and even though im not sure whether its an ex-poly or not, but i thought it was very snobby, although my mate is going there...