When we hear the word ‘education’, most of us (consciously or unconsciously) reach for the ideas of formal education, classrooms, teachers, certificates and authority. These are the easy and obvious stereotypes because they are most prominent in our cultural context. These are the measurable forms, and the ones which gain most funding opportunities because of their familiarity. Read more…
What role do public places play in the lives of people ? What is the value of a pub ? How important is a café ? Why do we need libraries ? Do we just wash clothes in launderettes ? These are some of the questions which I am interested in when I explore the concept of ‘third place’. Pubs, cafes, libraries and launderettes can all be ‘third places’ according to Prof Ray Oldenburg who coined the term. He argues in detail of the importance of these social spaces which exist outside of our homes (first place) and workplaces (second place). Third places are the spaces where we meet and share with other people… Read more…
Come along to The Royal Exchange Theatre Cafe at 2pm to listen to Amber’s talk. Enjoy socialising around learning and finding out something new…
Title of talk:
Not the mafia you know
Bullet points of what you would like to talk about:
This talk will be about Italy’s least famous – but most dangerous – mafia, the ‘ndrangheta. First, I’ll explain that Italy has 3 different mafias, all of which are highly active today. I’ll go over some of the myths, and explain that the reality is a lot less glamorous and a lot more frightening. I’ll talk very briefly about my experiences working in Calabria, where the ‘ndrangheta comes from: some stories of ordinary people whose daily lives are affected by organised crime. I’ll then go over the history of the organization, and look into how, and why, people have been denying that it exists for so long.
Professor Ray Oldenburg has spent many years analysing the social function of what he has coined ‘third places’. His books work to highlight the need for juncture places; places we meet and chew the cud with others in our community and network. Rather than the idea of social separate from economic, he recognises that the two lenses of seeing the world as being intimately bound and tied to each other. Read more…
The World Intellectual Property Organisation(WIPO) refers to the ‘products of the mind: inventions, literaray and artistic works, any symbols, names, images and designes used in commerce’ as intellectual property. This type of property is protected in law by processes such as patents, copyright and trademarks.
This is a 2015 social document of the transitioning of some student support services in British universities to Zero Hours contracts. Over the years, I have had many conversations and emails with various people involved in formal education – much of which remains private between myself and those individuals. Occasionally I ask if I can share some of these conversations and personal correspondences in the public realm as I think they are important first hand accounts of what is happening. Read more…
![An alleged member of the 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate is escorted by Italian Carabinieri police officers [AP]](https://i0.wp.com/www.raggeduniversity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ndrangheta-300x169.jpg?resize=300%2C169)