The Concept of The Ragged University

Ragged University is a concept, an idea which no one individual can control – “everyone is a unique and distinct body of knowledge, accredited by their experience and with a membership of one.”

The Ragged website is a hub for developing an open network of people interested to share knowledge with each other, making life richer and more interesting whilst improving our lots.  The project is informal and knowledge sharing is what we do. With the technology which is easily accessible, the Ragged project aims to recapitulate the some of the principles of the ‘enlightenment’ and embrace renaissance thinking whilst having a bit of fun.  We are all capable of learning any subject and eclecticism is important in learning new ways of thinking.
Read more…

The Beginnings of Ragged by Will Bentinck

Grant and Jess introduced me to Al, because Al wanted to start organising some events, inspired by the Ragged Schools, and Grant thought I might like to help. I was hugely interested – I think education is the single most important thing – so joining a small team of friends on an exciting journey of experimenting with new ways of taking pleasure in learning and in teaching sounded like an opportunity I couldn’t miss. Read more…

How The Ragged Uni Idea Came About by Grant Crozier

Sometime in 2010 Alex Dunedin, Jessica Haley, Will Bentinck and I met up for a pint, because Al had had an Idea.

The idea was simple: we had spent so many great evenings together talking to each other (and also to complete strangers) about subjects we were passionate about, and had learnt so much from each other (and from the strangers), that Al figured surely there could be a way of creating an environment in which anyone, no matter who they were or their background, could get together in an informal setting and share their passion and knowledge. Read more…

A Bitesize History of The Ragged University

Where it started ?….  The whole thing crystalised around a table in Stoke Newington in London.  I had been asked to help out the Street Performers Community Organisation with sorting out their office.  James Tonner and Roy Gurvitz had been thinking about doing a festival in Hackney Marshes. The question was asked what would be a good thing to do which was interesting, fun and brought people together.  Around that table three other friends agreed on the idea and after some background work, I left to set it up in Glasgow whilst Jes Haley, Grant Crozier, and Will Bentinck did the first events at the Palatine Bar in Dalston. Read more…

Historical Document: Glasgow Ragged University

A group of people in Glasgow decided to put on Ragged University events with the help of people across cities to do things like graphic design, webdesign, developing the project documents, publicity, etc… Many events were organised and delivered by Carrie Westwater, David Hughes, David Newman, Heather Sinclair and others. Unfortunately there are no further events planned at the moment in Glasgow as the coordinators there have been focusing on different areas of work. Supreme thanks to them for putting on so many brilliant and fun talks and activities. Read more…