Birkbeck brings its pop-up university to Willesden Green
Talks and workshops give local residents an opportunity to explore new topics
From 18 March – 31 May 2014, Birkbeck will be popping up on Queens Parade in Willesden Green, in partnership with Willesden Green Town Team. There will be a range of exciting talks and workshops led by the university’s academics between 12pm and 8pm.
The pop-up university will give local residents an opportunity to get inspired, explore new topics, discover new passions, debate big ideas and find out more about undergraduate and postgraduate study at Birkbeck, where courses are all taught in the evening to enable students to combine study with daytime commitments such as families or jobs. Each week the events will cover a different theme such as community, technology, science, money or politics. There will be free tea, coffee and wifi throughout the day.
Annette McCone, Widening Access Manager at Birkbeck, who is coordinating the Birkbeck Pop-up, said: “There will be a very wide range of subjects on offer, from history to law, business to psychology, as well as language classes and practical sessions on wellbeing and career development. Whatever your interests, there’s sure to be a session for you. We know that if it’s been a while since you were last in formal education then signing up to a university course is a big step. The Birkbeck pop-up will give people a chance to explore different subject areas and also to think about how a further qualification might help them to take the next step in their careers, or even switch careers.”
Dr Alex Colas, a lecturer in Politics at Birkbeck and a Willesden Green resident, said: “Following on from recent pop-up shops, galleries and cafes in the area, Birkbeck Pop-up will give people a chance to think about new subjects and perhaps reignite that passion for learning that sometimes gets dampened by the daily nine to five. We’d love to see as many local people as possible come and join us.”
Joel Wolchover, who studied Law at Birkbeck, said: “I had a fantastic time at Birkbeck. The lectures were always very thought-provoking and seminars were a great way to get into a subject in depth. My time at Birkbeck opened up a whole new career. My only regret is not having had more time to attend many lectures in other subjects, so it will be great to see Birkbeck in my local area and I’m looking forward to going along to some of the sessions and hearing from some of Birkbeck's excellent teachers again.”
Elayne Coakes, Chair of Willesden Green Town Team said: “We are very pleased indeed to work in partnership with Birkbeck here in delivering the first UK High Street Pop-Up University. We are certain that residents from 16-80+ years of age, will find something that they can feel passionate about in the programme that will be delivered in this Pop-Up at Queens Parade; and we welcome them all to come and see the ‘university’ in action and perhaps learn a new skill, or even perhaps to teach their own passion as a session alongside the university courses.”
The Birkbeck Pop-up will be open Tuesday – Saturday from 12pm – 8pm. Talks and workshops will be listed on the website.