Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge to launch London Studies courses

17 September 2004

- Modules include 'London: Power and Inequality' and 'A Marriage made in Sainsbury's'

Event: Launch of London Studies by Birkbeck at the Museum of London
Speaker: Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge, Co-founder of London First and Chair of Birkbeck's Board of Governors
Date: Wednesday 22 September
Time: Please arrive by 7.30pm. The launch starts at 7.45pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre, Museum of London, London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN
- followed by a drinks reception
RSVP to Catherine Doherty: tel 020 7631 6569, email c.doherty@bbk.ac.uk

To recognise London's diverse population and unique status as a world city, Birkbeck is launching a new suite of London Studies courses at the Museum of London on 22 September 2004. The launch includes the College's new Foundation Degree, Understanding London: Theory into Practice - the first of its kind because it offers a broad overview of contemporary work-related issues affecting London and Londoners from a social science perspective.

As a specialist in the provision of part-time face-to-face higher education for busy Londoners with day-time commitments, Birkbeck is a unique institution of the University of London and it draws its students almost exclusively from the capital. As a University for London, a central mission for Birkbeck is to support and enhance the effectiveness of organisations in the capital. Joined-up thinking across disciplines is crucial to ensure the maximum effectiveness of London's workforce, and this is how Birkbeck's part-time Foundation Degree - developed in conjunction with cultural institutions, such as the Museum of London, as well as the LDA and the GLA - is designed to help.

Course Director, Dr Rosie Cox, says: "With its strong vocational focus, this two-and-a-half-year Foundation Degree will help equip the London workforce to think outside their traditional areas of expertise and apply different types of knowledge in their workplaces in the very unusual context of London."

Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge is Co-founder of London First - which aims to mobilise organisations to improve and promote the capital - and Chair of Birkbeck's Board of Governors. He will highlight, in his launch speech at the Museum of London, how Birkbeck aims to "provide courses that are useful and inspiring for Londoners and that meet the needs of the city as a whole. We are committed to serving London's diverse population and to providing teaching and research that are relevant to London and Londoners. The Foundation Degree will address real-world issues and the skills that people need. Students will look at London's governance, its economy, population and culture and think about how these elements produce the city."

Dr Rosie Cox adds: "There is nothing else like this Foundation Degree. There is a real need for it because London has become increasingly different from the rest of the country. It has an incredibly diverse population and a different economy, along with problems in transport and housing - but no one is specifically trained to think across these issues peculiar to London. The Understanding London: Theory into Practice Foundation Degree closes this gap.

"We have planners who are good at planning, but they are not trained to understand the social context, or we have people who are specialists in one type of inequality without having practical skills. The Foundation Degree will be beneficial to a broad range of Londoners who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the capital, whether they are working in the public or private sectors, local boroughs or London-wide government, the LDA, the GLA, health, housing and voluntary sector organisations. The course is also designed to meet the needs of private companies that serve the public sector."

Course modules for the Foundation Degree include:

A marriage made in Sainsbury's? Men and women in London today
There are more women than men in London and women are more likely to have well-paid high status work in London than elsewhere in the country. This module explores gender roles and the experiences of men and women in London. It introduces students to the basics of feminist theory and its critics, and examines the implications of gendered experiences for policy, the economy and social relations in the city.

London: power and inequality
This module introduces basic knowledge about London and develops students' study skills. Students will cover the various forms of power that exist in London (political, economic, cultural) and what this means for those with and without power. They will also gain basic skills in note-taking, essay planning, preparing presentations, library use and writing in an academic context.

Divercity: London's unique population
London's population differs substantially from that of Britain and more generally in terms of its ethnic diversity, gender balance and age structure. This module informs students about who lives in London and how and where they live. It considers the outcomes of this diversity in terms of influences on policy, the local economy, environment and cultural life.

Health and ageing in London
Stark inequalities in income, housing quality, nutrition and many other areas mean that Londoners have very different levels of health and use health services in different ways. This module invites students to explore a range of issues surrounding the health and ageing of Londoners and looks at how to manage services for different sections of the community.

Governing global London: policies, agencies and issues
This module investigates the complexities of London's governance in detail. It examines which agencies have which responsibilities, how they work, and what problems arise from this pattern of governance. It also looks at other groups that influence the running of London such as community groups, pressure groups and the economically powerful. It discusses these in the context of academic theories on urban governance and politics.

Capital culture: managing London's heritage
The tourism and heritage industries are extremely important for the capital but their needs do not necessarily coincide with those of other sections of industry or the community. This module examines the growth of London's cultural and heritage industries and considers the challenge this poses. It encourages students to think broadly about issues such as infrastructure, economy and the cultural identity of Londoners and how these can be successfully addressed.

Landscapes of London
Integrating natural history, history of architecture and heritage, this module examines how London looks, why it is this way and what this means for those living, working and recreating in the capital. It addresses issues to do with preserving and enhancing London's built form and asks questions about how different groups interact with the physical environment and whether competing needs or agendas can be addressed. It includes field visits to sites of interest.

Course enquiries:
Dr Rosie Cox, Course Director: tel: 020 7631 6497, email: r.cox@bbk.ac.uk or visit www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/london

NOTES TO EDITORS:

New London Studies courses at Birkbeck's Faculty of Continuing Education:

Birkbeck already has a well established and highly regarded MA London Studies and a Certificate and Diploma programme in the History of London. In addition, we now offer three new programmes about contemporary London that are particularly work-related for people in the public and voluntary sectors:

1. Foundation Degree Understanding London: Theory into Practice:

This is Birkbeck's fifth Foundation Degree, adding to the existing Foundation Degrees in IT, Management, Media and Business Applications, and Science. The flexible, modular design ensures that students can focus on their own areas of interest and can join or leave the course at different points as appropriate. Students who are new to academic study can choose to access extra support before the foundation degree starts and during the first year. Those with more experience can gain credit for prior learning. The course is suitable both for new adult learners without familiarity of higher education and for those with more experience who would like to update their skills and knowledge of contemporary London. The unique approach that the course takes, considering London as a totality and integrating the skills necessary to deal with issues raised, makes this course particularly valuable for staff working in the public sector in London. Students successfully completing this foundation degree can opt to study for a further two years part-time at Birkbeck to gain the BA Understanding London or to apply for entry to other degree programmes. Birkbeck can design modules specifically tailored to the needs of employers who would like to enrol their staff on this programme of study.

2. Certificate and Diploma in Understanding London:

London is a vibrant and dynamic city with a fast moving economy and ever-changing population. It is a political capital, a cultural magnet and a command centre of the global economy, but alongside the wealth, power and privilege, London contains poverty, deprivation and disenfranchisement. The Certificate and Diploma programme in Understanding London explore the nature of contemporary London, the social problems of today and the opportunities for the future. The modules look at how London is governed, the problems and pleasures of living in such a diverse city and the impacts of London's role as a cultural centre. The certificate can be studied flexibly over one to four years and will give students the chance to gain credits equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree. After completing the certificate students can opt to complete the diploma or to transfer to the Foundation Degree Understanding London: Theory into Practice.

3. Certificate and Diploma in Discovering London:

Discovering London allows students to investigate diverse elements of London life from its history and archaeology to creative writing, literature, garden history and social policy. The modules offer students the chance to pursue their interests in all aspects of life in London and to combine courses from diverse subject areas. The certificate can be studied flexibly over one to four years and will give students the chance to gain credits equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree. After completing the certificate students can opt to complete the diploma by carrying out a research project on a relevant topic.

For more information, email london@fce.bbk.ac.uk or visit www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/london

Contact:
Catherine Doherty, Media and Publicity Officer
External Relations, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HX
Tel 020 7631 6569
Fax 020 7631 6351
Email c.doherty@bbk.ac.uk

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