Degrees East: The Making of the University of East London 1892-1992

Abstract

When the University of East London was designated by the Privy Council in June 1992, it already had an institutional history of nearly 100 years. During that time the problems of higher education - problems of numbers, governance, standards, level of work, purpose and funding - received many different solutions in universities, polytechnics and colleges. No institution had a richer experience of these various solutions than the University of East London. The history of the University is thus an example of the changes, controversies and dilemmas of British higher education at large. Now an independent corporation, it began in two bursts of civic enterprise in Stratford and Dagenham. Its students at various times took the degrees of the University of London and the CNAA. Its academic work has been in both the autonomous and service traditions. It has been funded by local authorities and by central government. After 1970 it was a leading force in the establishment of a distinct idea of a polytechnic. Now, the University can be seen as a continuing solution to educational, social and economic problems.