Why “Anglia Ruskin University”?
John Ruskin was an eminent Victorian, a mould-breaking educator who was deeply committed to making education accessible to all and passionate about teaching universally applicable skills. The foundations for our University were laid in October 1858, when Ruskin gave the Inaugural Address at the opening of the Cambridge School of Art. His link with our past and the fact that his values continue to inform our future, make his name the perfect choice for the University. Why change the name now? When we achieved university status in 1992, the term ‘polytechnic’ still had value to students and their potential employers, symbolising as it did, the sort of education that we were known for – equipping students with effective practical skills for the world of work. Nowadays, few remember the old polytechnics and technical colleges, and there is no longer any added value to students or faculty in retaining the word ‘polytechnic’ in our title. Indeed, it is sometimes seen as a hindrance, especial
