The Values of a Good Education

Wed, Aug 17th 2022 at 12:50 pm - 2:00 pm

Chris Lusk MBE has done important work on this.

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Dr. Chris Lusk, recently honoured with an MBE for services to young people, head of Special Projects at St Andrews University, spoke to members on ‘The value of a good education’. Dr Lusk posed the question what was a good education? and it quickly became clear that there was no easy answer. Did one get a good education if one went to a good university? But then, what was a good university? Was it an old and respected one or one with many staff doing cutting edge research (even if academics doing great research are not necessarily great teachers capable of inspiring and educating their young charges)? It quickly became apparent that answering these questions was far from easy. Importantly, a university should have a top class student support service. Dr Lusk persuasively showed members that though St Andrews University had many students from privileged backgrounds, they, like others less privileged, required health support. To that end the University set up ‘The Health Hub’ at the St Andrews Community Hospital, catering for students’ physical and mental health needs. Services give practical, sensible advice to young people who are away from home for the first time with no parents at hand to help. Dr. Lusk argued strongly that the chance of getting a good degree should be open to all including the disabled or those from a disadvantaged background. Likewise she argued that opportunities at university should be open to all, giving as an example the Ski Club, theoretically open to everyone but not in reality as skiing is an expensive sport. Money from trust funds has now been made available to provide equipment and travel bursaries to the less well off. Dr Lusk highlighted some of the imaginative projects recent students had been involved including taking ambulances to Mongolia and teaching young children in Zambia. Her message? Never underestimate the students of St Andrews University. She also became closely involved in the issue of human trafficking when research by St Andrews academics into climate change revealed that people fleeing Syria and other Middle Eastern countries frequently simply disappeared; further research indicated many were being trafficked. It had become apparent that this problem is much greater than previously thought, and that policies were being promoted by the Government without appropriate knowledge. This stimulated Dr Lusk and the University to take a close interest in how to counteract this serious ongoing problem. This was a stimulating and fascinating talk, very much enjoyed by Club members.

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