Episode 6: If Timpson's did Higher Ed - it's the University of Harold Wood

The latest episode of the podcast finds me talking to Richard Brabner, Executive Chair of UPP Foundation and Director of ESG about his very specific imagined university. James Timpson is Richard's (non-cricketing) hero and the university embodies his approach to social purpose, combining this with the civic university ethos championed by the much-missed Bob Kerslake.

The university's home will be a campus in Harold Wood - hence the name -  a less than prosperous community to the north east of London in the London Borough of Havering where Richard grew up. Not only will it be a will be a beautiful, inspiring and sustainable campus, with no concrete visible, it will also have community learning zones distributed across the borough. Student housing will be based on a new model with some on- and off-campus provision.

The undergraduate offer is centred on five novel interdisciplinary degree programmes and includes a major service learning element as a core feature as well as strong community engagement activity.

The university also has, unsurprisingly, an innovative approach to widening participation including a bridging module for the homeless, care leavers and ex-offenders to provide them with an opportunity to start a degree.

As Vice-Chancellor Richard will be aiming to maintain a strong focus on the core mission of the university and keep structures as simple as possible (although he does not rule out expansion to other locations if a big Timpson donation can be secured). He has employed a Director of Happiness to support the well-being of all staff and will seek happiness feedback on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, the only thing banned at Harold Wood Uni is the banning of other people.

Finally, the  institution's anthem is a quirky number by the Kinks which is sure to cause some debate at graduations.