Page 26 - Layout 1

The social work students, who gave their I believe that this is the direction in which
course a very high rating, were professionals higher education is going. Of course, from
working closely with their employers who didn’t our point of view, there’s a commercial interest
expect a full university experience. So what is in the university being physically close to the
right for one community in terms of environment city centre because of the footfall (that’s my
may not be right for another. background in urban economics coming out),
because proximity will generate more involvement
The 24-hour, seven-day-a-week vision of
with trade and commerce as well as with
higher education that Andrew has outlined is,
members of the public.
I think, absolutely appropriate. At Lincoln, we
have a traditional university campus but in one And the public is becoming more engaged in
quarter connected to the city we’re developing learning as a social experience, which is a real
a 24/7 environment where the library will not just opportunity for higher education. For example,
be a university library but the county central library the Principal of The Chicago School of Art and
available for students of the university and the Design introduced an evening course in creative
community of all ages. There’s also a student writing expecting that maybe 20 people would
centre that will double as an exhibition centre, sign up. But apparently 250 people are attending
and a performing arts centre that will double these courses now, many of whom are 40–50
as a conference centre. There are shops that year old professionals. They don’t care how
are connected to the city so people will work long the course takes, they like getting out in
through them to the university. In this quarter the evening and doing something different to
people can experience a virtual and physical their day jobs. So the future of higher education
university environment that is inclusive, they is not all virtual. It is still about space and place;
can pitch up there at any point of the day or it’s face to face, it’s engaging and, at one end of
night and buy a cup of coffee or a book, get its rich and diverse spectrum, it gets people out
some help with learning support and go to a in the evening.
show or a conference.

24 Performing in a blend of real and virtual worlds