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[frenchgirl]

Anyone have any knowledge about, or experience with, Keele University? I have an upcoming interview there for a lectureship position.

TIA.

[sandgrounder]

It used to have a kind of liberal arts system where degrees took 4 or 5 years (5 if year abroad/placement) and the first year was a 'mix any bizarre combination of subjects' system. They gradually seemed to abandon that although you can still do some really odd joint honours degrees. Back when I applied for university in the early nineties, it was the place you applied to because you really liked the idea of their system - I get the impression now that they find it harder to have a distinctive profile and perhaps (this might be unfair) aren't getting as good students as they used to. Some departments have very interesting people in them and they seem to like people who are a bit out of the mainstream (although I don't think this has helped them in RAE terms).

Otherwise rather nice small campus university - Keele Hall is lovely. Can't say I'm wild about the Potteries area myself - Stoke, Stafford etc seem depressing although the countryside is pretty enough - but then again in this climate a job is a job. It seems to be a place people either really love and settle for years or they hate it and only last a year or two.

[drpud]

I know someone else who has an upcoming interview there as well. But neither of us have met anyone who has ever been to Keele Univ. or worked there or had much to do with the place. The only thing I've heard is that the surrounding countryside is nice. Not much to go on, frankly.

[hegemony]

I've taught there.  It's something of an isolated place, and a bit economically depressed, but not dreary.  Sort of 19th-century rural in the countryside.  The students are often first-generation university-goers.  Many of them are very hard working because of this.  Not all of them were high-fliers, but there were some really good and interesting students.  There was great camaraderie among many of the faculty.  It's not a region chockablock with intellectual stimulation, but it's not a bad area.  You could do a lot worse.

[qrypt]

Is Sue Scott still trying to get rid of the labor studies department?  I was hoping the BSA would censure her for that one...

[snape]

It has on campus housing for staff (faculty) which is quite unusual in UK. I believe that it was a POW camp during WW2.

Possibly lost its radical edge in recent years (see previous comments).

Good luck

[drspouse]

It has on campus housing for staff (faculty) which is quite unusual in UK. I believe that it was a POW camp during WW2.

I assume you mean the campus - the staff housing is 50s semis and quite pleasant, though a little isolating (especially if you have no car, a position a friend of mine was in).

[embitteredhistorian]

The English department has had some very good lecturers in recent years.