Leading barrister and Keele alumnus delivers first talk of Chancellor’s Lectures series

A Keele alumnus and leading human rights barrister delivered the first in a new series of Chancellor’s Lectures at Keele University this week. 

Michael Mansfield KC was the first speaker in the new series, addressing a packed Salvin Room at Keele Hall to share his thoughts on the future of universities, of Keele specifically, and how the university’s founding principles can be adapted for the modern day. 

Hosted by Keele’s Chancellor Carol Shanahan OBE, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Kevin Shakesheff, the Chancellor’s Lectures are the latest addition to the University’s programme of flagship events, where distinguished speakers share thought-provoking, insightful and inspiring ideas about the past, present and future. 

Throughout his address Michael spoke candidly about his own experience of studying at Keele in the 1960s, and how it informed his approach to practising the law.  

He also spoke about how the University’s historic approach to Foundation Years, interdisciplinary study, and a non-specialist introduction to higher education, and how reviving this principle would be beneficial for today’s students and have a positive knock-on effect for society. 

Mr Mansfield said: “The pressure that universities are under is to provide “oven-ready” graduates who can walk from the university straight into a job and get it right. That’s not my vision of what university’s about, because if you do that you’re missing out on the Foundation Year and other ways of approaching these particular topics.  

“That’s the reason I’m here; because the pressure being placed by Government, because of the global economic crisis, is for universities to do that, so you’re getting articles now asking “is university worth it?”, and I’m horrified.”