Reply #8: Wonder if we Brits are a little "elitist" when it comes to Uni education?

[non sociopath skin]

Certainly, my old alma mater, Hull, was looked down upon scathingly by the older universities in the 60s as a "redbrick" while Universities like Keele and Lancaster offering a more progressive curriculum were seen as Mickey Mouse institutions.

Then, when the Polytechnics - offering good teaching and imaginative research - became universities, the columns of the upmarket newspapers and magazines were full of derision. Dumbing down. They'll be like AMERICAN universities, they said, offering degrees in hairdressing and surfing.

So are Unis for elites only? Should they cater only for public school swots (and a few carefully chosen Grammar School oiks) who wish to "read" Ancient Greek and Hard Sums?

Or are they institutions which can offer quality teaching in ANY area which people wish to study?

The Skin