Development

Abstract

The ten institutions called technological universities are an odd group. Two of them — the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) and Chelsea College — are not universities at all, but colleges of federal universities. Only two of the remainder — Loughborough and Bath — have ‘technology’ in their titles. And Chelsea doesn't even concentrate on technology. The main thing they have in common is that they were all formerly colleges of advanced technology, and before that, technical colleges. The story of their development is one of the most remarkable in education. It is hard to find examples of where the intentions of founders have been so thoroughly submerged by the aspirations of their successors. The early ideals to provide educational opportunities for the working class, often allied with attempts to offer social facilities as well, have been increasingly eroded by the ambition of the colleges for self advancement and status. From technical colleges meeting local, social and industrial demands at all levels, they have developed into national institutions awarding degrees to an increasingly middle class clientele selected from the length and breadth of the country.

Citation

Pratt, J. (1969), "Development", Education + Training, Vol. 11 No. 6, pp. 222-228. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb016142