Russell Group expands

[marigold]

For those of us who care, there is an article in The Guardian today ( G2 page 3 ) stating that Exeter, Durham, York and St Mary's have now joined the Russell Group.

I also discovered that it is called the Russell Group after the hotel where all the Vice Chancellors met in 1994 to discuss how to protect their research funding.
I hope I have made a few more alumni happy about their educational background!

[Belinda]

.

[Kesteven]

For all that they would like to think they represent la creme de la creme; the Russell Group is really just a club or trade association. The fact that institutions such as St Andrews and Bath are not members gives the lie to their being objectively the top notch tier.

[marigold]

Exactly, it is all about money, like so many things. The article yesterday seemed to imply that the group would welcome more members. I am so looking forward to my local (not at all top flight ) university , AngliaRuskin, joining. Just imagine the horror amongst that group of parents for whom even the words "1994 group" bring on the vapours.