Unless you have been in hiding for the last week, you can’t have failed to notice that our beloved university has been named Times University of the Year. Whether you’ve seen it plastered across the front of the forum, or clogging up your Facebook homepage, it’s safe to say it’s big news on campus.
After being short listed four times in the past decade for the award, Exeter has finally nabbed the top spot and bumped its way up to 7th place in The Times’ league tables, its highest ranking yet. Undoubtedly, the huge investments made to student services in the last few years, culminating in the completion of The Forum in May, have cemented Exeter as a forerunner in the higher education of this country and internationally.
On campus, the reaction to the news has been generally positive, with students speaking of feelings of ’pride’ towards the university, and with others using it as opportunity to gloat, confirming to ourselves, and others, that Exeter is definitely a university on the rise. Students have also commented on the fact that the prestige it brings will attract prospective undergraduates, despite the increase in fees. The recognition is particularly important for the coming years.
However, despite the boost in reputation many feel the award will give us, others have taken a much more blasé attitude. With many claiming not to have even heard of the award before it was received last week, some are questioning how prestigious it actually is and whether the university is making a bit of a mountain out of a molehill. Others are unsure what the implications of the award are and if it will actually positively affect any of us on a personal level. Although no one is claiming that the award is the be-all and end-all in university league table positions, it clearly should be received as welcome news and will serve to remind employers of the quality of education and experience an Exeter student will graduate with.
Whatever your feelings are about the award, Her Campus can only recommend lapping up this, albeit potentially short-lived, glory. Whether you are indifferent to the news or are embracing the positive publicity it’s brought about, sing with extra gusto when you next proclaim ‘Oh Exeter is wonderful,’ because now we aren’t the only ones who think we really do have a lot to shout about.